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Chapter 6
System Resources
Glossary
ACPI
(Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is a power manage-
ment specification that allows the operating system to control the amount of
power distributed to the computer’s devices. Devices not in use can be turned
off, reducing unnecessary power expenditure.
AGP
(Accelerated Graphics Port) is a PCI-based interface which was
designed specifically for demands of 3D graphics applications. The 32-bit
AGP channel directly links the graphics controller to the main memory.
While the channel runs at only 66MHz, it supports data transmission during
both the rising and falling ends of the clock cycle, yielding an effective speed
of 133MHz.
AT
was the original form factor of IBM’s PC.
ATAPI
(AT Attachment Packet Interface), also known as IDE or ATA, is a
drive implementation that includes the disk controller on the device itself. It
allows CD-ROMs and tape drives to be configured as master or slave devices,
just like hard drives.
ATX
form factor was designed to replace the AT form factor. It improves on
the AT design by rotating the board ninety degrees, so that the IDE connec-
tors are closer to the drive bays, and the CPU is closer to the power supply
and cooling fan. The keyboard, mouse, serial, USB, and parallel ports are built
in.
Bandwidth
refers to carrying capacity. The greater the bandwidth, the
more data the bus, phone line, or other electrical path, can carry. Greater
bandwidth, then, also results in greater speed.
A
BBS
(Bulletin Board System) is a computer system with a number of
modems hooked up to it which acts as a center for users to post messages and
access information.
The
BIOS
(Basic Input/Output System) program resides in the ROM chip,
and provides the basic instructions for controlling your computer’s hardware.
Both the operating system and application software use BIOS routines to
