TYAN TOMCAT N3400B Manual page 87

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, it
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.
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.
Global timer: onboard hardware timer, such as the Real-Time Clock (RTC).
HDD: stands for Hard Disk Drive, a type of fixed drive.
H-SYNC: controls the horizontal synchronization/properties of the monitor.
TM
HyperTransport : a high speed, low latency, scalable point-to-point link for
interconnecting ICs on boards. It can be significantly faster than a PCI bus for an
equivalent number of pins. It provides the bandwidth and flexibility critical for today's
networking and computing platforms while retaining the fundamental programming
model of PCI.
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.
IDE INT (IDE Interrupt): a hardware interrupt signal that goes to the IDE.
I/O (Input/Output): the connection between your computer and another piece of
hardware (mouse, keyboard, etc.)
IRQ (Interrupt Request): an electronic request that runs from a hardware device to
the CPU. The interrupt controller assigns priorities to incoming requests and
delivers them to the CPU. It is important that there is only one device hooked up to
each IRQ line; doubling up devices on IRQ lines can lock up your system. Plug-n-
Play operating systems can take care of these details for you.
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