Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
In computing, BIOS (/ ˈ b aɪ ɒ s,-oʊ s /, BY-oss, -ohss; Basic Input/Output System, also known as the System BIOS, ROM BIOS, BIOS ROM or PC BIOS) is a type of firmware used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the booting process (power-on startup). [1]
The exponential growth of PC memory sizes, driven by the equally exponential drop in memory prices, was also a factor in this, as the duration of a memory test using a given CPU is directly proportional to the memory size. The original IBM PC could be equipped with as little as 16 KB of RAM and typically had between 64 and 640 KB; depending on ...
When the CPU cache was moved inside the CPU, the CPUs implemented fixed-range MTRRs which cover the first megabyte of memory to be compatible to what PC-BIOSes provided at that time. These are used to control the cache policy needed for VGA accesses and all other memory-accesses done while the system is in real mode.
Direct memory access (DMA) is a feature of computer systems that allows certain hardware subsystems to access main system memory independently of the central processing unit (CPU). [ 1 ] Without DMA, when the CPU is using programmed input/output , it is typically fully occupied for the entire duration of the read or write operation, and is thus ...
In computing, an input–output memory management unit (IOMMU) is a memory management unit (MMU) connecting a direct-memory-access–capable (DMA-capable) I/O bus to the main memory. Like a traditional MMU, which translates CPU -visible virtual addresses to physical addresses , the IOMMU maps device-visible virtual addresses (also called device ...
After it is switched on, a computer's central processing unit (CPU) has no software in its main memory, so some process must load software into memory before it can be executed. This may be done by hardware or firmware in the CPU, or by a separate processor in the computer system. On some systems a power-on reset (POR) does not initiate booting ...
Apple M1 system on a chip A system on a chip from Broadcom in a Raspberry Pi. A system on a chip or system-on-chip (SoC / ˌ ˈ ɛ s oʊ s iː /; pl. SoCs / ˌ ˈ ɛ s oʊ s iː z /) is an integrated circuit that integrates most or all components of a computer or electronic system.
Nonvolatile BIOS memory refers to a small memory on PC motherboards that is used to store BIOS settings. It is traditionally called CMOS RAM because it uses a volatile, low-power complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) SRAM (such as the Motorola MC146818 [1] or similar) powered by a small battery when system and standby power is off. [2]