AMD ATI FireMV 2400 User Manual page 62

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programmers simulate this by using less detailed, lower resolution texture maps
on distant objects. These texture maps are merely scaled down versions of the
main texture map used when the object is up close, and they use less memory.
Offscreen Memory
An area of memory used to preload images so that they can be quickly drawn to
the screen. Offscreen memory refers to all of the remaining video memory not
taken up by the front buffer, which holds the contents of the display screen
currently visible.
OpenGL
Short for "Open Graphics Library," this is an industry standard for cross-platform
3D graphics development. It consists of a large number of functions that can be
called upon in various programs, such as games, CAD, and virtual-reality
systems, to produce complex 3D objects from simpler, more "primitive" building
blocks. Implementations currently exist under Windows®, Mac OS® X, and
various forms of Unix, including Linux®.
PCI
Acronym for "Peripheral Component Interconnect," which is the specification
for a type of computer bus used for attaching computer peripherals to a
computer's motherboard. PCI encompasses both integrated motherboard
components (such as built-in graphical processors) and peripherals that fit into
an expansion card slot, such as a separate graphics card. PCI replaced the older
ISA and VESA bus standards, and was itself superseded by the AGP standard for
the main graphics card bus.
PCI Express (PCIe)
The successor standard to the PCI and AGP bus standards, with a significantly
faster serial communications system, further opening up bandwidth for more
communications between such peripherals as graphics cards and the computer's
CPU. PCIe cards can come in several physical configurations, the fastest currently
being X16, which is typically used for graphic cards, and X1, typically used for
other peripherals, such as separate multimedia cards.
Pipeline
In relation to computer graphic processors, refers to the number of separate
arithmetic units available for rendering the output on a display. In general, more
pipelines available on a graphical processor means there are more 3D rendering
capabilities available, increasing overall 3D performance.
Pixel
All computer images are made up of tiny dots. Each individual dot is called a pixel,
a word created from the term "picture element." A pixel is the smallest indivisible
unit of a digital image and can be only a single color. The size of the pixel depends
on how the display resolution has been set. The smallest size a pixel can be is
determined by the display's dot pitch, which is measured in millimeters (mm).
Refresh Rate
Also referred to as "vertical refresh rate." This is the rate at which a monitor or
television can redraw the screen from top to bottom. NTSC television systems
have a refresh rate of approximately 60 Hz whereas computer displays typically
have refresh rates of 75 Hz or more. At refresh rates of 70 Hz and lower, screen
flicker is often noticeable.
ATI FireMV 2400/ATI FirePro 2450
Glossary - Workstation Products
© 2008 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.