Dell PowerEdge 2650 - Manual (Page 43)

The logical circuitry that provides—in combination with the monitor—your system's video capabilities. A video adapter may support more or fewer features than
a specific monitor offers. Typically, a video adapter comes with video drivers for displaying popular application programs and operating systems in a variety of
video modes.
On some systems, a video adapter is integrated into the system board. Also available are many video adapter cards that plug into an expansion-card
connector.
Video adapters often include memory separate from RAM on the system board. The amount of video memory, along with the adapter's video drivers, may
affect the number of colors that can be simultaneously displayed. Video adapters can also include their own coprocessor for faster graphics rendering.
video driver
A program that allows graphics-mode application programs and operating systems to display at a chosen resolution with the desired number of colors. A
software package may include some "generic" video drivers. Any additional video drivers may need to match the video adapter installed in the system.
video memory
Most VGA and SVGA video adapters include memory chips in addition to your system's RAM. The amount of video memory installed primarily influences the
number of colors that a program can display (with the appropriate video drivers and monitor capabilities).
video mode
Video adapters normally support multiple text and graphics display modes. Character-based software displays in text modes that can be defined as x columns
by y rows of characters. Graphics-based software displays in graphics modes that can be defined as x horizontal by y vertical pixels by z colors.
video resolution
Video resolution—800 x 600, for example—is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down. To display a program at a
specific graphics resolution, you must install the appropriate video drivers and your monitor must support the resolution.
VRAM
Abbreviation for video random-access memory. Some video adapters use VRAM chips (or a combination of VRAM and DRAM) to improve video performance.
VRAM is dual-ported, allowing the video adapter to update the screen and receive new image data at the same time.
W
Abbreviation for watt(s).
WH
Abbreviation for watt-hour(s).
win.ini file
A start-up file for the Windows operating system. When you start Windows, it consults the win.ini file to determine a variety of options for the Windows
operating environment. Among other things, the win.ini file records what printer(s) and fonts are installed for Windows. The win.ini file also usually includes
sections that contain optional settings for Windows application programs that are installed on the hard drive.
Running the Control Panel or Windows Setup program may change options in the win.ini file. On other occasions, you may need to change or add options to
the win.ini file manually with a text editor such as Notepad.
Windows 2000
An integrated and complete Microsoft Windows operating system that does not require MS-DOS and that provides advanced operating system performance,
improved ease of use, enhanced workgroup functionality, and simplified file management and browsing.
Windows NT
High-performance server and workstation operating system software developed by Microsoft that is intended for technical, engineering, and financial
applications.
write-protected
Read-only files are said to be write-protected. You can write-protect a 3.5-inch diskette by sliding its write-protect tab to the open position or by setting the
write-protect feature in the System Setup program.
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