Accelerated Graphic Port (AGP)(Understanding Expansion Buses)

Accelerated Graphic Port (AGP)

The AGP was created by Intel as a new bus specifically designed for high-performance graphics and video support. AGP is based on PCI, but it is physically, electrically, and logically independent of PCI. PCI is a true bus with multiple connectors (slots), while AGP is more of a point-to-point high performance connection designed specifically for a video card in a system because only one AGP slot is allowed for a single video card. The AGP specification 1.0 originally was released by Intel in July of 1996 and defined a 66MHz. Clock rate with 1X, 2X (1x means single signal send in 1 cycle, 2X means two signals are send in one cycle and so on.) signaling using 3.3 volts. AGP version 2.0 was released in May 1998 and added 4X signaling as well as a lower 1.5v operation capability.
The latest version of AGP specification for PC,s is AGP 8X, which was announced in August 2000. It defines a faster 8x transfer mode for ever-greater performance then before. AGP command is found only on Pentium II and late compute systems The standard AGP 1x/2x, AGP 4x and AGP pro slots are compared to each other in the pictures.

Accelerated Graphic Port

Introduction To MotherBoard

Introduction of Motherboard:-

Motherboard is a circuit board also called main board. All components of a computer are connected together using motherboard. (It is called mother board because it connect all components together, like a mother). Components on a motherboard are connected together using a set of wires called buses. All important components of computer (like processors, RAMs, Cards) are connected directly to motherboard while other components are connected using ports available on a motherboard. Computer motherboard has Sockets, Slots, Bays and Ports to connect different components.

Socket:-

A socket is usually a square shape connector. It connects chips in in it. Today Microprocessors are mostly in form of a chip and are inserted in Sockets.

Slots:-

Slots are usually rectangular connectors. There are many types of slots present on computer motherboard. slots are used to ad extra features to motherboard. Slots are used to insert cards. Following slots are available on motherboards. Slots are also called edge connectors.
RAM Slots
PCI Slots
AGP Slots
ISA Slots
EISA Slots

Bays:-

Bays are used to connect drives (CD-ROM, Floppy, Hard Disk, Tape etc.) to computer motherboard.  Most commonly used bay is ATA (Advance Technology Attachments). It is available in PATA (Parallel Advance Technology Attachments) and SATA (Serial Advance Technology Attachments). Modern motherboards mostly coming with only SATA bays as it is faster then PATA.

Ports:-

Ports are mostly available on the back panel of Motherboard. These Ports are used to connect devices to computers. A variety of ports are available now a days. PS2 ports are used to connect Keyboard and Mouse, Serial Ports are used to connect many devices including mouse, joysticks etc. LPT port is used to connect printers. Sound ports are used to connect audio jacks. VGA Port is used to connect monitor or LCD. DVI port is also available for Monitor and LCDs. HDMI port is avail able for Video interfaces.

The most widely used ports today are USB Ports (Universal Serial Bus). almost each and every devices are available in USB connection. Thats why Modern motherboards come with very fewer slots. USB ports are HOT PLUG&Play Ports.

The Motherboard Introduction (Images)

Computer Case Front

Computer Case Back

Motherboard Components

Motherboard Back Panel