The AGP interface uses your computer's random access memory (RAM) to refresh the monitor image and to support the texture mapping, z-buffering, and alpha blending required for 3-D image display. AGP offers high-speed data transfer to and from RAM, optimizing the use of memory and minimizing the amount of memory necessary for high-performance graphics. The AGP main memory use is dynamic, meaning that when not being used for accelerated graphics, main memory is restored for use by the operating system or by other applications. AGP runs at several times the bus speed of conventional Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI). Because of this, the data transfer rate using AGP is significantly greater than with PCI video cards. AGP employs eight sideband address lines, so multiple data transfers can take place concurrently.