Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
• Thunderbolt high-speed serial data interface integrating both PCI-Express and DisplayPort over
a single cable.
• Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus interface.
• Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) interface for higher-performance video cards than could be
implemented via PCI.
• PCI Express (originally known as 3GIO), the interface selected by the PCI Special Interest
Group (PCI SIG) to replace both PCI and AGP as the high-performance bus for PCs.
• Industry-standard motherboard form factors such as ATX (including variations such as
microATX and FlexATX) and BTX (including variations such as microBTX, nanoBTX, and
picoBTX). ATX is still the most popular, and beginning in 1996-1997, it replaced the
somewhat long-in-the-tooth IBM-designed Baby-AT form factor, which had been used since the
early 1980s.
• Front Panel I/O form factor defining the connectors, cables, and signals used to connect
motherboards to the external switches, LEDs, and front ports on industry standard chassis.
• Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) to provide a standard method for controlling
Serial ATA (SATA) host adapters.
• HD Audio specification defining the architecture and control of audio controllers on the PCI
bus.
• Wireless Display (WiDi) to transmit 1080p HD video and 5.1 surround sound from devices to
displays through a wireless connection.
• Desktop Management Interface (DMI) for monitoring system hardware functions.
• Dynamic Power Management Architecture (DPMA), Advanced Power Management (APM),
and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standards for managing power use in
the PC.
Intel dominates not only the PC, but the entire worldwide semiconductor industry. According to the
sales figures compiled by iSuppli, Intel has nearly twice the sales revenue of the next closest
2.1
).
Table 2.1. Top 25 Semiconductor Companies Ranked by 2011 Semiconductor Sales
