AGP System Architecture

The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) interface is a new platform bus specification that enables high performance graphics capabilities-especially 3-D and video-over networks and on individual PCs. Platform independent, AGP is supported by numerous hardware and software vendors, and is now standard on Pentium II computers. Software and hardware engineers working with graphics must have a good understanding of this important technology.

AGP System Architecture provides an overview of the technology, a detailed description of the specification, and a practical tutorial for mastering AGP. Comprehensive and concise, it presents all the information you need to understand and utilize this proliferating technology. In particular, this book focuses on 3-D graphics and video-related issues-the applications most served by AGP.

You will find coverage of the following essential topics.
AGP advantages over PCI graphics for rendering 3-D images
AGP signaling requirements, including electrical AC and DC specifications and AGP driver and receiver characteristics
Signals for AGP-compliant masters and targets
AGP arbitration, with a look at optimization of grant pipelining
AGP transaction requests and ordering rules
AGP and Fast Write transactions in the 1X, 2X, and 4X data transfer modes
AGP hardware environment, including add-in cards, connectors, and the motherboard
AGP-specific configuration registers

This indispensable resource will enable you to utilize AGP tools, design a high quality AGP device and support AGP in software applications.

The PC System Architecture Series is a crisply written and comprehensive set of guides to the most important PC hardware standards. Each title is designed to illustrate the relationship between the software and hardware, and thoroughly explains the architecture, features, and operation of systems built using one particular type of chip or hardware specification.