User manual AOPEN AP53-OV

[. . . ] Chapter Overview 1 The AP53 is a high-performance Pentium®-based system board that utilizes the PCI/ISA architecture. It integrates the Intel 430HX PCIset, a super I/O controller, a PCI mode 4 enhanced IDE controller with bus master support and a 256-KB pipelined-burst cache to enhance system performance. [. . . ] It also offers an error checking and correction (ECC) feature that enables the system to detect, as well as correct the DRAM errors. The Intel 82439 that comes in a unique ball-grid array (BGA) packaging, acts as the memory controller data path and the DRAM data bus buffer. The Intel 82371 operates as the PCI/ISA bridge and IDE controller. 1. 3. 3 BIOS The board supports the AMI basic input-output system (BIOS). The BIOS is a program that performs the power-on self test (POST) upon booting. During POST, this program activates the peripheral devices, tests onboard memory and prepares the system for operation. For more information on AMI BIOS, see Chapter 3. 1-4 Overview 1. 3. 4 Expansion Slots The board has three ISA and four PCI expansion slots. The ISA expansion slots are the black parallel bars on the system board. The PCI slots are those with white color and are shorter than the ISA slots. There are rows of golden pins inside each slot that serve as a clutch to secure the contacts of the expansion board. For information on how to install the expansion boards, see Chapter 2. 1. 3. 5 DRAM Sockets The system board has four 72-pin SIMM sockets that allow you to expand system memory to a maximum of 512 MB. Chapter 2 tells how to install memory modules and the different memory configurations available. 1. 3. 6 Second-level Cache The AP53 motherboard comes with an onboard 256-KB pipelined-burst second-level cache. This pipelined-burst cache improves system performance by shortening the DRAM read prefetch time resulting to a faster data transfer rate. 1. 3. 7 Two-channel PCI Mode 4 Enhanced IDE Interface The AP53 board integrates a two-channel PCI mode 4 enhanced integrated drive electronics (E-IDE) interface that allows the system to support four E-IDE devices (including hard disks with more than 528-MB capacity) via two onboard IDE connectors (see section 1. 1). [. . . ] A PS/2 keyboard connector is an option. 1. 3. 10 Mouse Connector The board supports both serial and PS/2 mouse connectors. See Chapter 2 for details on how to connect a serial and a PS/2 mouse connector. 1-6 [. . . ]