AMD ATI FireMV 2400 User Manual page 60

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DVI
Acronym for "Digital Video Interface," a standard video connection used on many
current computer displays. There are three types of DVI connections: DVI-A
(analog), DVI-D (digital), and DVI-I (integrated, capable of either analog or digital).
It supports high-bandwidth video signals over 160 Hz, so it is most often used for
high-resolution displays.
Flat Shading
A lighting technique that shades each polygon of a 3D object based on where the
source of the light is and the angle of the polygon in relation to it. It enables
relatively fast rendering of 3D objects, although it can make those objects appear
"faceted" as each visible polygon is set to a particular color value, and
consequently does not produce as realistic an effect as obtained when using
Gouraud shading.
Fog
Term used to describe the blending of an object using a fixed color as objects are
made to appear more distant from the viewer.
Frame Buffer
The portion of the memory buffer on the graphics card used to store the image
being displayed. All rendering processes have been accomplished by this stage
and this buffer contains only a one-to-one relationship of the data to be relayed
to the display.
Frames Per Second
In terms of 3D graphics, refers to the rate at which the graphic processor can
render new screens per second. Higher rates equals better, more naturalistic
performance for such things as games set in a 3D environment. Sometimes
abbreviated to "fps."
Gamma
Sometimes confused with brightness, gamma actually refers to the correction
that is applied to any display device in order to produce more gradual increases
or decreases in the perceived brightness for that device. A change in gamma
produces a non-linear change in the color curve, ensuring that perceived
changes in color and intensity are consistently applied.
Gouraud Shading
A shading method used to produce a smooth lighting effect across a 3D object. A
specific color is used at each vertex of a triangle or polygon and interpolated
across the entire face.
GPU
GPU is an acronym for "Graphics Processing Unit." The GPU powers the
operations of a graphics card including support for 2D/3D and video.
HDCP
HDCP is an acronym for "High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection." It is a form of
digital rights management designed to protect copyright of signals being
transported across DVI or HDMI connections. Several international regulatory
bodies have recommended its incorporation into high-definition display and
playback devices.
HDMI
HDMI is an acronym for "High Definition Multimedia Interface." It is a 19-pin
connector used for transferring combined digital audio and video. HDMI
supports standard, enhanced, and high-definition digital video signals, and is
ATI FireMV 2400/ATI FirePro 2450
Glossary - Workstation Products
© 2008 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.