Video Card
A equipment to output image or data to display device.

AGP
Accelerated Graphics port. The AGP is a slot specifically designed for video and graphics - faster alternative to the PCI bus, which is shared among many peripherals. The AGP allows graphics programs to temporarily store large amount of data - for example, a texture map - in the computer's system memory. The graphics card can then use this memory as if it were its own, and thus to process files larger than it otherwise could - this is called AGP texturing. The speed at which the graphics card can access and use the information stored in the AGP memory (referred to as AGP 2X or AGP 4X) determines the speed of the output. This output can be further accelerated through Fast Writes which enable even faster data transfer.

PCI
PCI is a self-configuring PC bus architecture designed by Intel. PCI has gained wide acceptance.

Twin View
nVIDIA's innovative dual display architecture. Through TwinVew, GeForce2MX series supports wider range of dual display configuration. You can connect virtual any combination of TVs and monitors.

nVIDIA
A vender of GeForce2, TNT2 series graphics chips www.nvidia.com

SIS
A vender of SiS6326, 305 graphics chips www.sis.com.tw

Memory Interface
Connection between memory and other device. Wider connection makes faster data transfer. 128-bit wide data bus can communicate faster between memory and graphics engine than 64-bit wide data bus.

Graphic Engine
An engine which processes taking information from a 3D application and display it as a final image.

GPU
Graphics Processing Unit

NVCLK(MHz)
Operational core clock/speed

MCLK (MHz)
Operational memory clock/speed

Voltage
Operation voltage

3D Triangle peak rate
Maximum number of triangles (portions of an image) drawn to the frame buffer in one second. This is a common industry metric for characterizing performance.

Peak Fill rate
Maximum speed at which your graphics card can render pixels onto your screen - usually measured in millions of pixels per second. The higher the fill rate, the better the performance.

Memory Bandwidth
Data-carrying capacity and is expressed in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz). In the case of RAM, bandwidth is a function of its rated speed and the size of its data path.

RAMDAC
Random Access Memory Digital-to Analog Converter. This portion of microchip sits on VGA chipset and translates the digital representation of a screenful of information into an analog signal that the monitor can display. The faster the RAMDAC (measured in MHz), the higher the screen refresh rates that the card will support at each given resolution.

Maximum resolution
The highest the number of pixels which can be displayed on the screen.

PCI Express Overview
PCI Express is the most significant update to PC architecture in the past decade. PCI Express is a new I/O technology designed to allow computer systems to scale to new levels of performance. The underlying design of the PCI Express architecture differs completely from that of the "classical" PCI bus. For one thing, PCI Express uses a serial data transfer scheme, which allows for higher clockspeeds. In addition to higher frequencies and bandwidth, it offers many advantages over existing AGP/PCI architectures, including simplified PCB routing, advanced power management, robust error recovery, hot plugging and swapping, virtual channels and traffic classes.
The advantages of PCI Express:

1. PCI Express performs higher frequencies with two directional links; one for upstream transfer and another is for downstream. For PCI Express x16, each link consists of 16 lanes and each one lane can provide 250MB/s. Moreover, if counting in both directions, PCI Express X16 will get 8GB/sec.
2. PCI Express offers significantly higher bandwidth in both the upstream and downstream directions than AGP 8X. Furthermore, it supports full duplex transfers (ie. both directions simultaneously), while AGP can only support transfers in one direction at a time. Note that this important capability is only supported in native PCI Express design.

Windows Vista™ Overview
Windows Vista™ is the name of the next version of Microsoft® Windows®, a proprietary graphical operating system used on personal computers. Windows Vista™ has hundred so new features, the most significant of which include an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and completely redesigned networking, audio, print and display sub-systems. Windows Vista™ also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on home network using peer-to-peer technology, making it easier to share files, password settings, and digital media between computers and devices.

NVIDIA® PureVideo™
NVIDIA® PureVideo™ technology is the combination of a high-definition video processing core and software that delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for video content with minimal CPU utilization and low power consumption.

NVIDIA® TurboCache™
The revolutionary TurboCache™ technology utilizes the additional bandwidth of the PCI Express graphics bus to reach higher levels of graphics performance than traditional video memory solutions.

NVIDIA® SLI™
NVIDIA® SLI™ technology is a revolutionary platform innovation that allows you to intelligently scale graphics performance by combining multiple NVIDIA® PCI Express graphics solutions in a single system with an NVIDIA® nForce® SLI™ media and communications processor (MCP).

ATI Avivo™ and ATI Avivo HD
ATI® Avivo™ is the new reference for advanced imaging and video. Integrated into ATI’s latest generation of graphics and TV tuner products, ATI® Avivo™ also enables universal, professional-quality connectivity for TVs and displays, ensuring the ultimate entertainment experience on your PC.

ATI Avivo HD technology is designed for high-end, high definition video playback in home theater systems. ATI Avivo HD includes fully integrated HD audio capabilities and supports playback of multi-channel (5.1) audio streams. When combined with the integrated HDCP copy protection, ATI Avivo HD enables a one-cable HDMI™ connectivity solution to high definition home theaters.

ATI® CrossFire™
ATI® CrossFire™ is the ultimate multi-GPU performance gaming platform, enabling game-dominating power from ATI® CrossFire™ ready motherboards and multiple ATI graphics cards.

ATI® HyperMemory™
ATI® HyperMemory™ is ATI’s innovative technology that enables a reduction in the amount of on-board memory on a PCI Express graphics card without compromising its overall performance.

Under Windows XP(32bit and 64bit):

Under Windows Vista:

HDTV
High-definition television (HDTV) refers to the broadcasting of television signals with a significantly higher resolution than traditional formats (NTSC, SECAM, PAL) allow. The current HDTV standards are defined as 1080 active interlaced or progressive lines, or 720 progressive lines, using a 16 :9 aspect ration in ITU-R BT. 709.

Daul-link DVI
DVI cables send information using a digital information format called TMDS (transition minimized differential signaling). Single-link DVI uses a 165MHz transmitter to provide resolutions up to 1920x1080 at 60Hz. For higher resolution, starting with 1920x1080 at 85Hz and upwards to 2048x1536 and 2560x1600 pixels, dual-link DVI is required (two transmitters).

XHD
Extreme High Definition, or XHD, is achieved by using one or two dual-link DVI ports. The higher bandwidth allows the cards to reach a maximum resolution of 2560x1600. XHD cables provide far superior video definition and the highest resolution video performance for HDTV and today’s high-resolution signals. Cables include composite video, S-Video, component video, VGA, DVI, HDMI, digital audio and others.