TYAN Tempest i5100W, User Manual

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IRQs, it is vital that you do not double up devices on a single line. Plug-n-Play
devices will take care of this for you.
Doze mode: in this mode, only the CPU’s speed is slowed.
DRAM (Dynamic RAM): widely available, very affordable form of RAM which has
the unfortunate tendency to lose data if it is not recharged regularly (every few
milliseconds). This refresh requirement makes DRAM three to ten times slower than
non-recharged RAM such as SRAM.
ECC (Error Correction Code or Error Checking and Correcting): allows data to
be checked for errors during run-time. Errors can subsequently be corrected at the
same time that they’re found.
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM):
also called Flash BIOS, is
a ROM chip which can, unlike normal ROM, be updated. This allows you to keep up
with changes in the BIOS programs without having to buy a new chip. TYAN’s BIOS
updates can be found at http://www.tyan.com
ESCD (Extended System Configuration Data): a format for storing information
about Plug-n-Play devices in the system BIOS. This information helps properly
configure the system each time it boots.
Fault-tolerance: a term describing a system where one component can quickly be
replaced without causing a loss of service, such as in a RAID system.
Firmware: low-level software that controls the system hardware.
Form factor: an industry term for the size, shape, power supply type, and external
connector type of the Personal Computer Board (PCB) or motherboard. The
standard form factors are the AT and ATX, although TYAN also makes some Baby-
AT and ATX Footprint boards.
Global timer: onboard hardware timer, such as the Real-Time Clock (RTC).
Handshaking:
a process where two devices initiate communications. One device,
typically the server, sends a message to another device, typically a client, in order
to request establishment of a communications channel. The two devices will then
exchange messages back and forth in order to settle on a communications protocol.
HDD: stands for Hard Disk Drive, a type of fixed drive.
H-SYNC: controls the horizontal synchronization/properties of the monitor.
IC (Integrated Circuit): the formal name for the computer chip.
IDE (Integrated Device/Drive Electronics): a simple, self-contained HDD interface.
It can handle drives up to 8.4 GB in size. Almost all IDEs sold now are in fact
Enhanced IDEs (EIDEs), with maximum capacity determined by the hardware
controller.