FireGL™ T2-128 User’s Guide P/N: 137-50026-10 © Copyright 2003, by ATI Technologies Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this manual, or parts thereof, in any form, without the express written permission of ATI Technologies Inc. is strictly prohibited. ATI and all ATI product and product feature names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ATI Technologies Inc. All other company and/or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Disclaimer While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, ATI Technologies Inc.
Contents Getting Started .............................................................. 1 Using this Guide ........................................................................................... 2 Viewing the User's Guide Online.......................................................... 3 Do you Need a Printout of the Online User's Guide? ............................ 3 FireGL Card Features ....................................................................... 4 System Requirements and Tools ............
Reference .................................................................... 39 Removing the FireGL Drivers.................................................................... 39 Troubleshooting .......................................................................................... 41 Technical Details ........................................................................................ 44 Product Specifications .........................................................................
1 C HA P T E R 1 Getting Started Your ATI FireGL card is an advanced workstation 3D graphics accelerator based on a high-bandwidth, parallel pipeline geometry and rendering architecture.
2 Getting Started Using this Guide For your convenience, this online User's Guide comes in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need the latest Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® software available from www.adobe.com. Many hyperlinks provide easy access to any information you may want. To make it useful in a printed format, too, a hyperlinked - table of contents and page numbers are provided.
Getting Started 3 Viewing the User's Guide Online You can easily read the User's Guide online - important hypertext links, such as Table of Contents entries, World Wide Web, and E-mail addresses are active. Place your mouse cursor over Table of Contents entries or main headings. If the hand icon changes to a pointing index finger, simply click and you will move to that place in the document.
4 Getting Started FireGL Card Features FireGL T2-128 pictured FireGL VPU Video Memory FireGL T2-128 FGL 9600 128 MB Rendering Pipelines 4 VPU: Visual Processing Unit • Video memory: DDR SDRAM - unified frame buffer, Z-buffer, texture storage - 128-bit floating point precision frame buffer for photo-realistic renderings. - 128-bit memory interface for fast 3D graphics • Pixel pipeline architecture provides enhanced rendering power.
Getting Started • Supports AGP 3.0 standard (AGP 4X/8X), providing a two way high-speed interface between the graphics subsystem and the workstation • OpenGL 1.3 with 1.4 extensions DirectX® 9.0 functionality in OpenGL® • Full DirectX® 9.0 support • DDC1/2b/2b+ monitor support on all operating system platforms • Support for two analog or digital monitors High resolutions up to 2048 x 1536, 32-bit Independent resolutions and refresh rates for any two connected monitors 9.
6 Getting Started System Requirements and Tools Computer system Operating system • Intel® Pentium® 3, Pentium® 4, Xeon® AMD® Athlon® XP/MP/Opteron or compatible • 128 MB of system memory 256 MB or more for best performance • Motherboard with free AGP slot and correct AGP chipset-driver • CD-ROM drive • Windows®2000 with Service Pack 1 (or higher) • Windows®XP • Linux XFree86 4.X.
Getting Started 7 Quick Installation • Brief instructions on how to get to work with the FireGL card in the shortest possible time. • Recommended for experienced users and system administrators only. • For more detailed information on installation and operation of your graphics accelerator, please refer to Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. Installation Steps 1 Un-install the drivers and software for your old graphics card. 2 Disable any on-board graphics solution on the motherboard.
8 C HA P T E R 2 Installing the Hardware and Software IN THIS CHAPTER...
Installing the Hardware and Software 9 Preparing your Computer Information Before you Start Do This First! Install the latest AGP chipset driver for your motherboard. • Each motherboard requires the installation of a custom-built virtual GART (AGP) driver. This chipset driver is required by your FireGL card to function correctly with your motherboard. • You must install the correct AGP chipset driver before installing the FireGL card in your system.
10 Installing the Hardware and Software Turn off the power to your system and discharge your body's static electric charge by touching a grounded surface (for example, the metal surface of the power supply) before performing any hardware procedure. The manufacturer assumes no liability for any damage, caused directly or indirectly, by improper installation of any components by unauthorized service personnel.
Installing the Hardware and Software What monitors do you need? 11 Your FireGL card is configured to be combined with digital flat-panel (DFP) displays and digital CRT displays. Note: Your DFP monitor must have a data cable with digital-only DVI plug (DVI-D) - but not with integrated analog/digital DVI plug (DVI-I). Check with your monitor's documentation. You can also connect the FireGL card to highresolution MultiSync or multi-frequency monitors or other VGA monitors.
12 Installing the Hardware and Software Replacing an existing graphics card Before you install your FireGL card, we recommend that you first uninstall the driver for your current graphics card. Replacing integrated graphics Please refer to the manual or contact your motherboard manufacturer to determine how to disable your on-board graphics. Illustrations The illustrations provided in this section are for instructional use only; the card shown may look different than the one you purchased.
Installing the Hardware and Software 13 Installing the Card To install your graphics accelerator card, follow these steps: 1 Switch off your computer and all external options (monitor, printer, and others). Then disconnect all cables from the back of your computer. Unplug all power cables from the electrical source.
14 Installing the Hardware and Software 2 Remove the computer cover. If necessary, consult your computer system manual about removing the cover. 1 Power Supply. Remember to discharge your body's static electricity by touching the power supply or the metal surface of the computer chassis.
Installing the Hardware and Software 3 Remove any existing graphics card from your computer. • • • Unscrew the screw attached to your existing graphics card. Then pull the card straight out. If the old graphics card sticks rock it gently from end to end. Remember to save the screw. If your computer has any on-board graphics capability, you may need to disable it on the motherboard. Refer to your computer's manual for more information.
16 Installing the Hardware and Software 4 Insert the card into the AGP slot. Note: The FireGL card fits in either AGP 8x or AGP 4x slots. • Locate the AGP slot. Refer to your computer's manual for more information. • If necessary, remove the metal slot cover from the AGP slot. Save the screw to secure the graphics card later. • Align the FireGL card with the AGP slot, and press it in firmly until fully seated. 1 2 FireGL card AGP expansion slot AGP cards are designed to fit one way only.
Installing the Hardware and Software 5 Replace the screw to fasten the card in place. • • 6 Align the slot in the mounting bracket of the card with the screw holes in the rear panel of the computer case. Use the screw you removed from the expansion slot cover or a previously installed graphics card to secure the card in place. Reassemble your computer. • Secure ribbon cables and gently push them down and out of the way before you replace the system cover. • Replace the computer cover.
18 Installing the Hardware and Software Connecting the Cables and Completing the Installation Connecting the Monitor Cables You may connect one or two monitors, either DFP/digital CRT or analog VGA to the FireGL card. i This FireGL card does not support the dual monitor combination DFP/digital CRT + DFP/digital CRT. Connecting analog VGA Monitors Securely attach the monitor’s data cable to the VGA output connector (1) on the card. Attach the cable to the monitor according to the monitor's instructions.
Installing the Hardware and Software 19 Connecting analog VGA Monitors to DVI connectors If the data cable connector on your VGA monitor does not fit into the DVI connector on the card, use the DVI-to-VGA adapters provided with your FireGL card.. a Monitor cable c b DVI connector on card d VGA connector from monitor DVI-to-VGA adapter Setting the Monitor Impedance If you can switch the impedance values on your monitor, use the following recommended settings: • RGB video input: 75 Ohm • Sync: 2.
20 Installing the Hardware and Software Start your System Switch on your monitor before you switch on your computer. Failing to do so could damage your monitor. If you have correctly installed the card, operating system messages will appear on your monitor when the boot procedure is finished. i Your monitor is running in a basic video mode. Higher refresh rates are not available at this stage of the installation.
Installing the Hardware and Software 21 Installing the Software • Before you Start: Information, Tips, and Hints • Software Installation for Windows 2000 and Windows XP You will need to install the FireGL drivers and software in the following cases: • After you have installed the card in your system. • After you have re-installed or upgraded your operating system.
22 Installing the Hardware and Software Before you Start: Information, Tips, and Hints Before you install the drivers for your FireGL card, make sure your monitor cable is properly attached to the card. Do you need a special driver installation? The software installation procedure later in this chapter describes how to install the drivers for your graphics card after you have installed the new card for the first time and have rebooted your computer.
Installing the Hardware and Software 23 HYDRAVISION™ Multi-monitor Management The HYDRAVISION™ multi-monitor and desktop management software will install automatically with the Express driver installation of the ATISETUP utility. If you do not want to install HYDRAVISION™ select the Custom driver installation and clear the HYDRAVISION™ check box. ReadMe file Select Readme from the ATISETUP start menu to display a readme file. Refer to this file for additional and ‘last minute’ information.
24 Installing the Hardware and Software 7 Follow the Wizard’s on-screen instructions to complete the installation. The Express installation option is recommended. The HYDRAVISION™ multi-monitor and desktop management software will automatically be installed, along with the ATI driver, by selecting this option. Not all software components are installed using the Express installation. Custom installation allows you to select individual software components for installation.
25 C HA P T E R 3 Using Your FireGL Card IN THIS CHAPTER... ■ Using Two Monitors on page 27 ■ Changing the Video Settings on page 29 ■ Using Application Profiles and Advanced Functions on page 34 As part of its Windows drivers, FireGL installs additional tabs to your Display Properties control panel. They are named as follows. Information Adjustment DualScreen Configuration Advanced Settings The Information tab displays card-specific hardware and driver information.
26 Using Your FireGL Card Use the DualScreen tab to enable the following functions: • duplicate the display of the primary monitor on the second monitor • special video mode for high-resolution monitors Use the Configuration tab to customize application profiles for individual application settings.
Using Your FireGL Card 27 Using Two Monitors You can set resolutions, refresh rates, and display adjustment independently for any two connected displays. i For two-monitor configuration settings you need the following: • Two monitors connected to the card • Both monitors switched on when you start your computer • Use the Display Properties > Settings tab for the basic two-monitor configuration settings.
28 Using Your FireGL Card Using the DualScreen Tab i To see the DualScreen tab displayed, you need the following: • Two monitors connected to the card • Both monitors switched on when you start your computer 1 Select the DualScreen tab via Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > DualScreen. Refer to the context sensitive online help for more information on setting up your DualScreen configuration.
Using Your FireGL Card 29 3 Select Clone Mode if you want the display of the primary monitor duplicated on the second monitor. 4 Click the Apply or OK button to enable your DualScreen setting. Changing the Video Settings The tabs in the Display Properties menu allow setting and adjusting the video settings to best suit your specific requirements • Setting Resolution, Color Depth and Refresh Rate • Adjusting the Monitor Display How to Switch to the Display Properties? 1 Start Windows.
30 Using Your FireGL Card 4 Refresh Rate: Select the Monitor tab via Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > Monitor. Select a refresh rate from the Refresh Frequency list (Screen refresh rates in Windows XP.) 5 Click Apply 6 To preview the new settings, click OK. 7 To accept the settings, click Yes; otherwise, click No. 8 If the display becomes garbled or unusable, simply wait and Windows will restore the original settings .
Using Your FireGL Card Adjusting the Monitor Display Using this tab you can adjust the display of the connected monitor. For more information on adjusting the monitor's display refer to the context sensitive online help. 1 Select the Adjustment tab via Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > Adjustment.
32 Using Your FireGL Card 2 Monitor Tuning - available only for VGA monitors • With the buttons in the Move and Size sections you can tune the position and size of the monitor's display for the indicated resolution and refresh rate 1 First use the hardware setting controls on your monitor, if available, to adjust your display size or position. Then, if needed, use the software controls in 'Adjustment - Monitor Tuning.
Using Your FireGL Card 3 33 Gamma Correction Adjustment: Adjust the monitor's gamma correction for optimal brightness with the red, green and blue slider bars. When these sliders are changed the gamma correction table modifies each pixel's color value. The brightness produced at the face of the display is proportional to the input voltage raised to the power gamma. This nonlinearity must be compensated to achieve correct reproduction of the image's brightness.
34 Using Your FireGL Card Using Application Profiles and Advanced Functions Use the Configuration tab to customize application profiles for individual application settings. Use the Advanced Settings tab to enable the following functions.
Using Your FireGL Card 35 Adding a new application profile Click the Add button in the Configuration Profiles section and enter the new application for which you want to set the configuration parameters. Modifying the configuration parameters To change the configuration settings of a specific application, for example, CATIA, select the application from the list in the Configuration Profiles section and click the Modify button. To remove the selected configuration profile completely, click Delete.
36 Using Your FireGL Card If you add or modify a configuration profile, select or clear the checkboxes in the Settings section according to your requirements. Default Settings Enable 8-Bit double-buffered Overlay Planes Use 8 bits of each 32-bit frame buffer pixel as double-buffered overlay planes. Force copy swap Force blit copy during double-buffer swap from back to front buffer. Wait for vertical retrace Buffer swap 'synched' to the refresh rate of the monitor.
Using Your FireGL Card 37 Setting Advanced Functions Switching to Advanced Settings Select Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > Advanced Settings. SMOOTHVISION™ SMOOTHVISION improves image quality by removing jagged edges (Anti-Aliasing) from 3D images, resulting in smoother, more natural looking objects. Anti-aliasing: Application Preference: This gives OpenGL/Direct 3D applications the ability to enable anti-aliasing.
38 Using Your FireGL Card Always on: You can apply anti-aliasing using different sample patterns and sample points such as 2X or 4X. Moving the slider to the right increases sampling to provide the most realistic 3D image, at the cost of some 3D performance. Note: The Always on setting overrides the applications' antialiasing setting. Reduce DVI frequency on high-resolution displays Resolves display corruption or no image at high resolutions for example, 1280x1024 at 75Hz - using a digital DVI display.
39 C HA P T E R 4 Reference IN THIS CHAPTER... ■ Removing the FireGL Drivers on page 39 ■ Troubleshooting on page 41 ■ Technical Details on page 44 ■ Customer Care and Warranty Service on page 50 ■ Compliance Information on page 53 Removing the FireGL Drivers This section describes how to properly remove your graphics card software from your system should you need to do so.
40 Reference 4 Click Add/Remove Programs. 5 Select ATI Display Driver from the list of software programs. 6 Click Change/Remove button. The ATI uninstall dialog appears. 7 Click Yes to remove the ATI Display Driver. 8 Click Yes to restart your computer. After you have removed the software according to the instructions, you may remove the hardware. 1 Shut down your computer. 2 Remove the computer case as outlined in the hardware installation instructions.
Reference 41 Troubleshooting Your board is a complex electronic device and can only be repaired by authorized technical personnel with special equipment. Do not attempt to change or repair any parts of this product as doing so will void your warranty. If you experience a problem using the FireGL card, check the following sections for advice on how to solve your problem.
42 Reference Screen image is off-center, color balance is wrong, or there is no picture • • • • Operating system warns that the video card is not configured properly • How to enable a two-monitor desktop? • • • Try adjusting the brightness, sharpness, contrast, and color balance controls of your monitor. Try adjusting the centering and positioning controls of your monitor to position the picture on the screen.
Reference 43 Checking for address and interrupt conflicts • Resolving Interrupt Conflicts To support the special graphics processor on the FireGL card the system BIOS should automatically assign a system interrupt to the AGP slot where the card is installed. However, there may be problems if your graphics card does not receive an interrupt or a system interrupt is used for more than one device.
44 Reference Technical Details ■ Product Specifications on page 44 ■ Pin Assignments on page 46 ■ Video Modes on page 48 Product Specifications Operating environment Windows® 2000, Windows® XP, Linux System requirements Intel® Pentium® 3, Pentium® 4, Xeon®; AMD® Athlon® XP/MP/Opteron or compatible Certifications FCC/DOC, ICES-003, CE/DOC, SMA C-Tick, MIC, BSMI, VCCI Dimensions Length: 171.5 mm (6.75 inches) Width: 108.0 mm (4.25 inches) Power requirements + 3.3 Volts DC:3.
Reference 45 Data width 256 bit - graphics core 128-bit memory interface Connectors VGA output connector: 15-pin D-shell, female DVI-I output connector: analog and digital output, female H/V Sync output signals Separate horizontal and vertical sync at TTL levels FireGL card addresses The FireGL card is 100% IBM VGA compatible and occupies the same memory area and specific addresses in the I/O range.
46 Reference Pin Assignments DVI Output Connector Pin Function 1 T.M.D.S. Data2- 2 T.M.D.S. Data2+ 3 T.M.D.S. Data2/4 Shield 4 T.M.D.S. Data4- 5 T.M.D.S. Data4+ DVI: Digital Visual Interface 6 DDC Clock DDC: Display Data Channel 7 DDC Data T.M.D.S: Transition Minimized Differential Signal 8 Analog Vertical Sync 9 T.M.D.S. Data1- 10 T.M.D.S. Data1+ MicroCross Pins: 11 T.M.D.S. Data1/3 Shield C1 Analog Red Video Out 12 T.M.D.S. Data3- C2 Analog Green Video Out 13 T.M.D.S.
Reference VGA Output Connector Pin Function Pin Function 1 Red 9 + 5V (fused 750 mA 2 Green 10 ground (sync return 3 Blue 11 not connected 4 not connected 12 SDA (DDC Data) 5 ground (analog) 13 Horizontal Sync (+) 6 Red Return (ground) 14 Vertical Sync (-) 7 Green Return (ground) 15 SCL (DDC clock) 8 Blue Return (ground) 47
48 Reference Video Modes All video modes comply with VESA DMT (Discrete Monitor Timing) or VESA GTF (General Timing Format) standards. The FireGL card supports HiColor, 16-bit modes and TrueColor, 32bit (24 color, 8 alpha) modes. There is no support for 8-bit modes. Analog and digital monitors with 15-pin VGA connector Resolution Line Rate (kHz) Refresh Rate (Hz) Color Depth (Bits) 640 x 480 31.5, 37.5, 43.3, 50.9 60, 75, 85, 100 16 / 32 800 x 600 37.7, 46.9, 54.1, 63.
Reference 49 Digital Monitors with DVI connector Resolution Refresh Rate (Hz) Color Depth (Bits) 640 x 480 60, 75 16 / 32 800 x 600 60, 75 16 / 32 1024 x 768 60, 75 16 / 32 1152 x 864 60, 75 16 / 32 1280 x 1024 60, 75 16 / 32 1600 x 1000 60 16 / 32 1600 x 1024 60 16 / 32 1600 x 1200 60 16 / 32
50 Reference Customer Care and Warranty Service If you require assistance to get the most out of your product, the following options are available: • Online: For product information, video drivers, Frequently Asked Questions and Email support visit: http://www.ati.com and select CUSTOMER CARE. • FireGL Workstation dedicated support line: *905-882-2600 Available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST. *Access to Telephone Support is available to workstation users at no additional cost.
Reference 51 Warranty Service Information Online Warranty Support: Customers can place warranty service requests online using the Online Warranty Service Request Form. This form is available online at: http://www.ati.com/online/warrantyform Please be prepared to enter all required information. Once completed, the form will be submitted to ATI for processing. After ATI Technical Support receives your request an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number will be issued out to you.
52 Reference Limitations • All warranties for this product, expressed or implied, will expire three (3) years* from date of original purchase. *All accompanying cables and accessories are warranted for 90 days. • No warranties for this product, expressed or implied, shall extend to any person who purchases the product in a used condition. • The liability of ATI in respect of any defective product will be limited to the repair or replacement of such product.
Reference 53 Compliance Information FCC Compliance Information The FireGL family of products complies with FCC Rules art 15. Operation is subject to the following two conditions • This device may not cause harmful interference, and • This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
54 Reference CE Compliance Information EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and amendments 91/263/EEC, 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC, Class B Digital Device EN 55022:1998/CISPR 22 Class B, Limits and Methods of Measurement of Radio Interference Characteristics Information Technology Equipment.
Reference VCCI Class B ITE Compliance Information Contact for further compliance information ATI Research Inc.
Addendum Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive Compliance This product was manufactured by ATI Technologies Inc.
