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In computing, an Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC) is a more complex Programmable Interrupt Controller (PIC) than Intel's original types such as the 8259A. APIC devices permit more complex priority models, and Advanced IRQ (Interrupt Request) management.
One of the best known APIC architectures, the Intel APIC Architecture, has largely replaced the original 8259A PIC in newer x86 computers. Starting with SMP systems in late 2000, APIC replaced proprietary SMP solutions. APIC also became standard on uniprocessor systems around late 2000 when Microsoft began encouraging, and later (as part of PC2001) required, PC vendors to enable it.
AMD and Cyrix once used the similar OpenPIC architecture; this can support up to 32 processors. After its failure however, AMD decided to license the Intel APIC Architecture for its AMD Athlon and later processors.
