ATI Technologies 100 437807 - Radeon X1950 Pro HD PCI Express 256MB Video Card, User Manual

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Glossary
2D
Acronym for “two dimensional,” a term applied to computer graphics that are
“flat.” Typical desktop applications such as word processors, spreadsheet
programs, or other programs that manipulate print or simple graphics (such as
pictures or line art) are generally considered to be operating within a 2D
environment, even when they include simple three dimensional elements,
such as buttons.
3D
Acronym for “three dimensional,” referring to computer graphics that appear
to have volume and depth. Various modeling processes take the representation
of a three dimensional object provided by the computer program and render it
by using various lighting components, applying textures, and setting layers of
transparency or opacity as required in order to produce a realistic
representation of a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional display.
3Dc™
An ATI hardware-based compression technology that reduces the size of 3D
texture data, rendering more finely-grained texture surfaces with greater
efficiency. It significantly minimizes the memory footprint of normal maps
containing information on how light reflects off textured surfaces, allowing
game programmers to include more texture and lighting details without
affecting performance.
AGP
The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) is a slot on the computer motherboard
designed specifically for 3D graphics cards. AGP runs 3D images much more
smoothly and quickly than was previously possible with PCI video cards;
AGP runs at several times the bus speed of PCI and employs sideband
addressing, so multiple data transfers between the graphics processor and the
computer can take place concurrently. AGP is currently being phased out in
favor of PCI Express
®
(PCIe™).
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-- Monday, October 30, 2006