Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller

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APIC

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.

In computing,  a programmable interrupt  controller (PIC)
is a  device that is  used to combine several  sources of
interrupt  onto one  or  more CPU  lines, while  allowing
priority   levels  to  be   assigned  to   its  interrupt
outputs. When  the device has  multiple interrupt outputs
to  assert, it  will assert  them in  the order  of their
relative priority

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Programmable_Interrupt_Controller