EPOX EP-3C1A, Manual

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Introduction EP-3C1A
Page 1-8
Accelerated Graphics Port
(AGP or A.G.P.)
Typically, 3D graphics rendering requires a tremendous amount of memory, and
demands ever increasing throughput speed as well. As 3D products for the
personal computer become more and more popular, these demands will only
increase. This will cause a rise in costs for both end users and manufacturers.
Lowering these costs as well as improving performance is the primary motivation
behind AGP. By providing a massive increase in the bandwidth available between
the video card and the processor, it will assist in relieving some of these pressures
for quite sometime.
The EP-3C1A provides the AGP 2.0 interface. The AGP Interface Specification
revision 2.0 enhances the functionality of the original AGP Interface Specifica-
tion (revision 1.0) by allowing 4X data transfers (4 data samples per clock) and 1.
5 volt (power supply) operation. The AGP 2.0 interface, along with Direct
Rambus memory technology, allows graphics controllers to access main memory
at over 1GB/s. In order to match the 1X, 2X and 4X AGP Card. The EP-3C1A
used the Universal AGP connector. To maximize add-in flexibility. (such as 1.5
volt for 1X, 2X and 4X or 3.3 volt for 1X and 2X AGP Card).
Ultra ATA/66
The ICH provides two channel Ultra ATA/66 Bus Master IDE controller, that
support Ultra ATA/66 protocols, perfect for such demanding applications as real-
time video, multimedia, and high performance operating system. A new IDE cable
is required for Ultra ATA/66. This cable is an 80 conductor cable; however the
connectors are, of course, backwards compatible with ATA/33.
Hardware Monitoring
Hardware monitoring allows you to monitor various aspects of your systems
operations and status. The features include CPU temperature, voltage and RPM of
fan.