Appendix 4: Glossary
ACPI
Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface for short.ACPI specifications allow
OS to control most power of computer and its extended devices. Windows 98/98SE, Windows
2000 and Windows ME are all support ACPI, it provide users a flexible system power
management.
ATX
AT extended, a motherboard layout according with modern standard replaced BabyAT. It
changes disposal of many components, and do some new high efficiency design, so it is widely
used now.
BIOS
Basic in/out system.It’s a kind of software including all in/out control code interface in PC. It will
do hardware testing while system booting, then system runs, it provides an interface between
OS and hardware. BIOS is stored in a ROM chip.
BUS
In a computer system, it’s the channels among different parts for exchanging data; it’s also a
group of hardware line. BUS here means part lines inside CPU and main components of
memory.
Chipset
Integrated chips for executing one or more function.Here “Chipset” means system level chipset
structured by Southbridge & Northbridge; it decides motherboard’s structure and main
functions.
CMOS
Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor, a widely used semiconductor with the
characteristic of high speed but low power. CMOS we mention here means part of obligate
space in on-board CMOS RAM, for saving date, time, system information and system
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