User`s guide

Frequently Asked Questions
B-2
Q: Why the AOpen mainboards (MB) do not have cache module expansion
slot?
A: Faster CPU speed requires more difficult and complex MB timing design.
Every trace and components delay must be taken into consideration. The
expansion cache slot design will cause 2 or 3ns delay in PBSRAM timing,
and the extended trace length to the cache module through the golden finger
will further delay the timing by 1 or 2ns. This may result in unreliable system
once the cache module and slot becomes worn. All AOpen MBs support
512KB PBSRAM onboard. For better performance (around 3% higher than
256KB), we strongly recommend you to use 512KB onboard. Otherwise,
reliable 256KB is better than unreliable 512KB with cache module. AOpen is
the first company to promote this concept since the fourth quarter of 1995.
Q: What is MMX?
A: MMX is the new single-line multiple-instruction technology of the new Intel
Pentium PP/MT (P55C) CPU. A new Pentium Pro CPU (Klamath) with MMX
technology is also expected to be released soon. The MMX instructions are
specifically useful for multimedia applications (such as 3D video, 3D sound,
video conference). The performance can be improved if applications use
these instructions. All AOpen MBs have at least dual power onboard to
support PP/MT, it is not necessary to have special chipset for MMX CPU.
Q: What is USB (Universal Serial Bus)?
A: USB is a new 4-pin serial peripheral bus that is capable of cascading
low/medium speed peripherals (less than 10Mbit/s) such as keyboard,
mouse, joystick, scanner, printer and modem/ISDN. With USB, the
traditional complex cables from back panel of your PC can be eliminated.
You need the USB driver to support USB device(s). AOpen MBs are all USB
ready, you may get latest BIOS from AOpen web site
(http://www.aopen.com.tw). Our latest BIOS includes the keyboard driver
(called Legacy mode), that simulates USB keyboard to act as AT or PS/2
keyboard and makes it possible to use USB keyboard if you don't have driver
in your OS. For other USB devices, you may get the drivers from your
device vendor or from OS (such as Win95). Be sure to turn off " USB
Legacy Support" in BIOS "Chipset Setup" if you have another driver in your
OS.
Q: What is P1394?
A: P1394 (IEEE 1394) is another standard of high-speed serial peripheral bus.
Unlike low or medium speed USB, P1394 supports 50 to 1000Mbit/s and can
be used for video camera, disk and LAN. Since P1394 is still under
development, , there is no P1394 device currently available in the PC