Glossary

ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface): a power management specification that allows the operating system to control the amount of power distributed to the computer’s devices. Devices not in use can be turned off, reducing unnecessary power expenditure.

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port): a PCI-based interface which was designed specifically for demands of 3D graphics applications. The 32-bit AGP channel directly links the graphics controller to the main memory. While the channel runs at only 66 MHz, it supports data transmission during both the rising and falling ends of the clock cycle, yielding an effective speed of 133 MHz.

ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface): also known as IDE or ATA; a drive implementation that includes the disk controller on the device itself. It allows CD- ROMs and tape drives to be configured as master or slave devices, just like HDDs.

ATX: the form factor designed to replace the AT form factor. It improves on the AT design by rotating the board 90 degrees, so that the IDE connectors are closer to the drive bays, and the CPU is closer to the power supply and cooling fan. The keyboard, mouse, USB, serial, and parallel ports are built-in.

Bandwidth: refers to carrying capacity. The greater the bandwidth, the more data the bus, phone line, or other electrical path, can carry. Greater bandwidth, then, also results in greater speed.

BBS (BIOS Boot Specification): is a feature within the BIOS that creates, prioritizes, and maintains a list of all Initial Program Load (IPL) devices, and then stores that list in NVRAM. IPL devices have the ability to load and execute an OS, as well as provide the ability to return to the BIOS if the OS load process fails for some reason. At that point, the next IPL device is called upon to attempt loading of the OS.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System): the program that resides in the ROM chip, and provides the basic instructions for controlling your computer’s hardware. Both the operating system and application software use BIOS routines to ensure compatibility.

Buffer: a portion of RAM which is used to temporarily store data, usually from an application, though it is also used when printing, and in most keyboard drivers. The CPU can manipulate data in a buffer before copying it, all at once, to a disk drive. While this improves system performance --- reading to or writing from a disk drive a single time is much faster than doing so repeatedly --- there is also the possibility of losing your data should the system crash. Information stored in a buffer is temporarily stored, not permanently saved.

S5372-LC specifications

Tyan Computer S5372-LC is a cutting-edge server motherboard designed to cater to the needs of modern data centers and high-performance computing environments. As a product of Tyan, a brand known for its reliable server solutions, the S5372-LC embodies robust performance, scalability, and a range of features tailored for enterprise applications.

One of the standout features of the S5372-LC is its support for dual Intel Xeon Scalable processors. This dual-socket configuration allows organizations to maximize processing power while ensuring efficient task parallelization. The motherboard supports multiple cores and threads, making it ideal for compute-intensive applications such as virtualization, data analytics, and scientific computing.

In terms of memory support, the S5372-LC can accommodate up to 2TB of DDR4 RAM across 16 DIMM slots. This vast memory capacity combined with support for Intel Optane technology ensures that data-intensive applications run smoothly and efficiently. The motherboard also supports advanced memory features such as ECC (Error-Correcting Code) to enhance data integrity and reliability.

Storage is another critical aspect of the S5372-LC, offering a variety of connectivity options. It includes several SATA and NVMe slots, allowing for high-speed storage solutions that can handle extensive data workloads. The flexibility to configure RAID setups enhances data redundancy and performance, which is crucial for mission-critical applications.

Networking capabilities are extensive as well, with built-in dual 10GbE ports ensuring high-speed connectivity. This feature is particularly beneficial for data centers requiring high bandwidth for data transfers, streaming, and heavy-duty applications.

The S5372-LC also prioritizes manageability and monitoring, incorporating a dedicated Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) that provides remote management features, including system monitoring, recovery, and updates, ultimately contributing to reduced downtime and operational efficiency.

Furthermore, the motherboard supports advanced security features, such as Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX), which can protect sensitive data during processing.

In summary, the Tyan Computer S5372-LC is a powerful server motherboard designed for enterprises seeking high performance, extensive memory capacity, versatile storage options, and robust networking capabilities. Its combination of these characteristics makes it a compelling choice for numerous demanding applications in today's technology landscape. Whether utilized in private clouds or high-performance computing, the S5372-LC stands out as a reliable and innovative solution.