RAM
(Random Access Memory):
Temporary memory used to store information
that the processor is presently working on.
RAMDAC (Random
Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter):
A converter which transforms the digital data contained
in the graphics board memory into analog data for
the monitor to read and display. The higher the RAMDAC's speed, the greater
the refresh rate, and the better the image's stability.
Rasterization:
The transformation of a 3D polygonal representation
to a 2D image. The polygonal lighting intensities are translated into actual
color values for pixels. Real time 3D graphics boards
take 3D co-ordinates from the CPU for a given frame
and render them to the screen. (Calculating visibility, viewpoint and perspective
of objects as well as rendering surfaces and textures
onto surfaces).
Real
time:
Where the modification carried out happens
immediately.
Refresh
rate:
The number of times a computer
can vertically retrace a picture in one second. The higher the frequency value,
expressed in Hertz (Hz), the better the quality of the display.
Rendering:
The creation of a graphic representation of
an abstract mathematical 3D model.
Resolution:
The vertical and horizontal measure of the
density of pixels on-screen, for example, 1024x768.
The higher the resolution, the more realistic the image.
RGB
(Red, Green and Blue):
RGB refers to the way in which color is created
on-screen. Each pixel is made up of three sub-elements;
1 red, 1 green and 1 blue, which when stimulated begin to glow. The variation
in intensity causes the creation of different colors.
ROM
(Read-Only Memory):
This data cannot be written over or erased,
but merely read by the CPU.