accelerated graphics port

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Accelerated Graphics Port
AGP
AGP graphics

   <hardware, graphics> (AGP) A {bus} specification by {Intel}
   which gives low-cost 3D {graphics cards} faster access to
   {main memory} on {personal computers} than the usual {PCI}
   bus.

   AGP dynamically allocates the PC's normal {RAM} to store the
   screen image and to support {texture mapping}, {z-buffering}
   and {alpha blending}.

   Intel has built AGP into a {chipset} for its {Pentium II}
   microprocessor.  AGP cards are slightly longer than a PCI
   card.

   AGP operates at 66 {MHz}, doubled to 133 MHz, compared with
   PCI's 33 Mhz.  AGP allows for efficient use of {frame buffer}
   memory, thereby helping 2D graphics performance as well.

   AGP provides a coherent memory management design which allows
   scattered data in system memory to be read in rapid bursts.
   AGP reduces the overall cost of creating high-end graphics
   subsystems by using existing system memory.

   Specification
   (http://developer.intel.com/technology/agp/downloads/agp20.htm).

   (2004-07-19)