FireGL X3-256 TM User’s Guide P/N 137-50048-20 ATI
ii Copyright © 2004, ATI Technologies Inc. All rights reserved. ATI and 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. Features, performance and specifications are subject to change without notice. Product may not be exactly as shown in diagrams.
iii L IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS • Read Instructions - All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated. • Retain Instructions - The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference. • Heed Warnings - All warnings on the product and the operating instructions should be adhered to.
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v Table of Contents Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 System Requirements Before You Begin Record Your Serial and Part Numbers Update Your AGP Chipset Drivers Uninstall Previous Graphics Card Drivers 2 2 2 3 4 Installing Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Quick Installation Detailed Installation Installing the Card Connecting Display Devices 7 7 9 10 Installing Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
vi Limitations Getting Additional Accessories Compliance Information FCC Compliance Information Industry Canada Compliance Statement CE Compliance Information Informations de conformité de la CE Electrical Safety VCCI Class B ITE Compliance Information MIC Certification Information BSMI Certification Information 39 39 39 40 40 40 41 41 41 41 42
1 CHAPTER 1: Getting Started Your ATI FireGL™ card is an advanced workstation 3D graphics card based on a high-bandwidth, parallel pipeline geometry and rendering architecture. The card delivers workstation-class performance to designers, engineers, and animators, and runs the latest OpenGL® and Microsoft® DirectX® applications. Features of your FireGL™ workstation graphics card: • Real-time photo-realistic rendering and animation. • Stable and reliable software support for Windows® and Linux® platforms.
2 System Requirements System Requirements Hardware • Intel® Pentium® 4/Xeon®; AMD Athlon® 64/K7/XP or compatible. • 128 MB of system memory; 256 MB or more for best performance. • Motherboard with free AGP 8X/4X slot and correct chipset driver. • CD-ROM drive (required for installation software). • 350 watt or greater power supply (recommended). Operating System • Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 1 (or higher). • Windows® XP Home or Pro with Service Pack 1 (or higher). • Linux® XFree86 4.X.0.
Before You Begin 3 Serial and Part Numbers X Serial number (S/N) Y 102 part number (P/N) Update Your AGP Chipset Drivers Your new ATI FireGL™ card uses the AGP bus, and so it requires not only display drivers, but also drivers that enable AGP functionality for the motherboard chipset. To ensure a successful installation of your new ATI graphics card, you must make sure that your have installed the latest AGP chipset drivers before replacing your current graphics card.
4 Before You Begin • • • • AGP VXD Driver Chipset Driver GART Driver VGART Often you will see the name of a motherboard chipset in connection with these terms. For example: • ALi GART Driver • AMD AGP Miniport • Intel VGART • VIA AGP Driver The chipset manufacturer’s name will appear as part of the device name. Once you have determined the chipset manufacturer for your motherboard, obtain and then install the latest AGP drivers from that manufacturer’s Web site.
Before You Begin 5 To uninstall previous drivers With your current graphics card still in your computer: 1 Close all applications that are currently running. 2 Navigate to the Control Panel and select Add/Remove Programs. 3 Select your current graphics card drivers and select Add/Remove. The wizard will help you remove your current display drivers. Note: If the previously installed graphics card has any additional software installed, it should also be removed at this point.
6 Before You Begin
Quick Installation 7 CHAPTER 2: Installing Hardware This chapter will guide you through the physical installation of your FireGL™ card. Quick Installation Experienced users and system administrators can follow these brief instructions for installing the FireGL™ card in the shortest possible time. To perform a quick installation 1 Uninstall the drivers and software for your old graphics card if you have not already done so.
8 Detailed Installation FireGL™ Power Connections Diagram X FireGL™Graphics Card Y Power Supply Z Hard Drive [ Power Cable Connector \ 4-Pin Power Connection ] Power Extension Cable: Power Connector to Graphics Card ^ Power Extension Cable: Power Connector to Hard Drive _ Power Extension Cable: Power Connector to Power Supply ` Hard Drive a Power Connector to Hard Drive
Detailed Installation 9 Installing the Card 1 Turn off the computer, monitor, and other peripheral devices. 2 Unplug the computer’s power cord and disconnect all cables from the back of your computer. L 3 WARNING - Wait approximately 20 seconds after unplugging the power cord before disconnecting a peripheral or removing a component from the motherboard to avoid possible damage to the motherboard. Remove the computer cover. If necessary, consult your computer’s manual for help in removing the cover.
10 Detailed Installation Note: Before turning your computer on again, connect the appropriate display devices. Connecting Display Devices The following connections are available: FireGL™ Baseplate X DVI-I Connection Y Stereographics Connection Z DVI-I Connection Your FireGL™ card can connect one or two monitors, either DFP/digital CRT or analog VGA, as well as a stereographics device. You will need to use an adapter to connect analog VGA devices to the DVI-I connections.
Detailed Installation 11 Using a VGA-to-DVI-I Adaptor X VGA Monitor Connector Y VGA-to-DVI-I Adaptor Z DVI-I Connection Make sure all cables are securely connected before turning on your system. Display Configurations Your FireGL™ graphics card provides dual display functionality as well as quad-buffered stereographics. The following table lists the different ways you can connect displays to your card.
12 Detailed Installation Display Configuration Connector(s) Used Comments DFP display + Quad-buffered stereographics device DVI-I connector + Quad-buffered stereographics CRT display + Quad-buffered stereographics device VGA connector with VGA-to-DVI-I adapter + Quad-buffered stereographics DFP display + DFP display DVI-I connector + DVI-I connector CRT display + DFP display VGA connector with VGA-to-DVI-I adapter + DVI-I connector CRT display + CRT display VGA connector with VGA-to-DVI-I adapt
Detailed Installation 13 Turning on the System L WARNING - Turn on your monitor before you turn on your computer. Failure to do so could damage your monitor. If you have properly installed your graphics card, operating system messages will appear once the boot procedure is finished. Your monitor will be running in a basic video mode. Higher refresh rates are not available at this stage of the installation.
14 Detailed Installation
HYDRAVISION™ Multi-monitor Management 15 CHAPTER 3: Installing Software This chapter will guide you through the installation of the drivers and software associated with your FireGL™ card. 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.
16 Installing Drivers and Software in Windows® Your operating system must be installed and running before you can install the FireGL™ drivers. You must also have Service Pack 1 (or higher) for Windows® 2000 or Windows® XP installed. Make sure your monitor cable is properly attached before you begin. Note: The installation dialog will display in English if your operating system’s language is not supported. To install ATI drivers and software 1 Start your system.
Monitor Configuration 17 8 After the system reboots, the Found New Hardware message may display the Digital Signature Not Found message. Click Yes or Continue to complete the driver installation. Monitor Configuration Once the drivers and software have been installed, you can configure your monitor. To configure your primary display 1 Navigate to the Control Panel and choose Display or right-click on the desktop and choose Properties.
18 Reinstalling Drivers Note: When you use multiple monitors with your FireGL™ card, one monitor will always be Primary. Any additional monitors will be designated as Secondary. Reinstalling Drivers The software installation procedure detailed in this chapter describes how to install the drivers for your graphics card after you have installed a new card for the first time and have rebooted your computer.
ATI Displays Tab 19 CHAPTER 4: Display Properties This chapter describes how to use the advanced display, multiple-monitor, and 3D graphics features in ATI’s Display Properties options. ATI Displays Tab The ATI Displays tab provides control over multiple-monitor features. Here you can enable/disable display devices and swap the assignment of Primary and Secondary displays.
20 ATI Displays Tab ATI Displays Tab Scheme Displays the drop-down list of available display-device configurations that have previously been created. New configurations can be entered here and then saved using the Save button. Hotkey Associates a hotkey with a scheme. To input the hotkey, highlight the field and press the appropriate key combination on your keyboard.
ATI Color Tab 21 1 Click the enable/disable button want to have active. 2 Type a name into the Scheme drop-down list field. 3 Click Save to save the scheme. for the display devices you Dynamic Display Reassignment You can change the assignment of your Primary and Secondary display on the fly, without rebooting.
22 ATI Color Tab The Color Tab ATI Color Tab Desktop radio button Select Desktop to configure your desktop color settings. Full Screen 3D radio button Select Full Screen 3D to configure the color settings for your 3D applications. Note that the configured settings will only be apparent within a full-screen 3D application environment. Profiles for Indicates whether the profiles in the drop-down list are for your Desktop or a full-screen 3D environment.
ATI Color Tab 23 ATI Color Tab Save button Saves your current color settings to a Desktop or Full Screen 3D profile, using the name you specified in the list box. To restore these settings later, simply select the Profile name from the list and click Apply or OK. Delete button Deletes the profile that is selected in the Profiles list box. All Colors checkbox Adjusts the Gamma, Brightness or Contrast for Red, Green, and Blue simultaneously.
24 ATI Color Tab To create a Desktop or Full Screen 3D profile 1 Choose either the Desktop or Full Screen 3D radio button, as desired. 2 Adjust the Gamma, Brightness, and Contrast sliders to the desired settings, either individually or using the All Colors checkbox. 3 Type a profile name in the Profile list box. 4 Click Save. To apply the settings for a specific Desktop profile 1 Choose the Desktop radio button. 2 Select the profile name from the drop-down list box. 3 Click Apply or OK.
ATI Color Tab 25 The Color Hotkeys Settings dialog To access the Color Hotkeys Settings dialog 1 Select the Full Screen 3D radio button. 2 Click the Hotkeys button to access the Color Hotkeys Settings dialog.
26 ATI Options Tab ATI Options Tab The ATI Options tab provides detailed driver information and access to your graphics card’s versioning and specifications. You can also enable or disable the ATI taskbar icon from this dialog. The Options Tab ATI Options Tab Version Information Shows the driver build version. Details button Gives access to the Details tab, which lists the card’s hardware details and driver information.
ATI Configuration Tab 27 ATI Options Tab Enable ATI taskbar icon application Enables/disables the ATI taskbar applications and removes the ATI icon from your system tray. Show ATI icon on taskbar Removes/replaces the ATI icon from the system tray without disabling the ATI icon applications. Disable quick resolution feature The quick resolution feature is accessible by left-clicking the ATI icon in the system tray. Checking this option disables this feature.
28 ATI Configuration Tab The Configuration Tab Activating a configuration profile The Configuration Profiles listbox displays a number of common applications whose optimal configuration profile are factory-set by default. To activate a particular profile, select the application name from the list and click Apply. This will add the information to the necessary Windows registry settings. If prompted, restart Windows.
ATI Advanced Settings Tab 29 Modifying the configuration parameters To change the configuration settings of a specific application, select the name of that application from the Configuration Profiles listbox. Click the Modify button. Now select or clear the rest of the configuration controls on this tabbed dialog to obtain the desired display parameters for the selected application.
30 ATI Advanced Settings Tab The Advanced Settings Tab How to Use SMOOTHVISION™ The Application preference setting provides OpenGL® and Direct 3D® applications with the ability to enable anti-aliasing automatically. If an application does utilize an anti-aliasing setting, it is disabled. This option results in high-quality images at the price of a negligible reduction in the application’s performance.
ATI Advanced Settings Tab 31 How to Use Stereo Glasses with Your FireGL™ Card The Enable Quad Buffer Stereo option requires a stereographics connection on your FireGL™ card. Enabling this feature while using compatible stereo glasses and applicable software provides an immersive 3D-stereo display. L The Enable Quad Buffer Stereo option is only available for graphics cards that come with a stereographics connection.
32 ATI Advanced Settings Tab
Troubleshooting 33 CHAPTER 5: Reference This chapter offers troubleshooting tips and provides customer-care, warranty, and compliance information. Troubleshooting The following troubleshooting tips may help if you experience problems. ATI’s documentation contains helpful installation/configuration tips and other valuable feature information. Please contact your dealer for more advanced troubleshooting information. More troubleshooting information can be found on the ATI Web site. Please visit ati.
34 Troubleshooting General Problems Problem Possible Solution Computer Does Not Boot-Up Properly • Verify that the installation instructions were properly followed. • Check that the card is properly installed in your system and connected to your monitor. • If you have problems during start-up, restart your computer in Safe Mode. While starting Windows® 2000 and Windows® XP, press and hold F8 until you see the Windows® Advanced Options Menu. Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and press Enter.
Troubleshooting 35 Problem Possible Solution Off-Center Screen Image, Odd Colors or No Picture • 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. Note: The Screen Position settings in Display Properties > Advanced > Displays > Adjustments tune the position of the picture on the screen via the video signal.
36 Customer Care Problem Possible Solution Bus Address or Interupt Conflicts • It is necessary to ensure that the I/O and memory addresses reserved for the graphics board are not used by other hardware devices. • The integrated on-board VGA controller of your FireGL™ card uses the following addresses (hex): I/O Address: Standard VGA I/O: 3B0-3DF Memory Addresses: Video RAM: A000-BFFF Video ROM: C000-C7FF Note: You cannot change the addresses of your FireGL™ card.
Customer Care 37 Service Access Additional Info Telephone Europe +49-1803-347345 • 10:30AM - 7:00PM GMT. Monday to Friday. • Complimentary for registered users. • International and local toll charges to Germany will apply. • Support available in English, German, and French. Telephone Argentina +0800-333-5277 • 9:00AM - 5:30PM EST. Monday to Friday. • Toll-free • Support available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Telephone Brazil +0800-891-9068 • 9:00AM - 5:30PM EST. Monday to Friday.
38 Warranty Information • ATI Customer Care is unable to assist with refunds, returns, or exchange-specific inquiries. If resolving the problem being experienced is critical to your decision to keep the product, it is your responsibility to ensure that you know and are within the period of time your reseller will allow for refunds, returns, or exchange. • ATI is not responsible for any expense incurred accessing Customer Care.
Getting Additional Accessories 39 Limitations • This warranty is valid only if the online Product Warranty Registration form at: ati.com/online/registration is successfully submitted within 30 days of purchase of said product. • 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.
40 Compliance Information FCC Compliance Information This FireGL™ product complies with FCC Rules part 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.
Compliance Information 41 Informations de conformité de la CE Directive EMC 89/336/CEE et amendements 92/31/CEE et 93/68/CEE, pour dispositif numérique de Classe B. EN 55022:2003/CISPR 22:1997, - Classe B - Limites et méthodes de mesure des caractéristiques d'interférences radiophoniques, Matériel des technologies de l'information.
42 Compliance Information BSMI Certification Information
43 Index Numerics 102 part number 3D full-screen 2 21 A Advanced Settings tab AGP drivers chipset drivers 29 3 ATI taskbar applications disabling 26, 27 enabling 26, 27 B brightness 23, 24 21 color settings C card specification information color hotkeys 23 color preview color settings 23 color settings brightness 21 color preview 23 contrast 21, 23 desktop 22 gamma 21 Hotkeys 24 profiles 22 Color Tab 21 configuration multiple monitors 17 primary monitor 17 Configuration Tab contrast 23, 2
44 Direct 3D ® 30 display corruption DVI 27 high resolution 27 displays Hotkey 20 primary 19 scheme 20 secondary 19 Displays Tab 19 driver information drivers 26 installing 16 reinstalling 18 uninstalling 5 DVI operational mode F full-screen 3D 21 G gamma 23, 24 color settings 21 gamma correction H Hotkeys color settings 24 23 HYDRAVISION™ 15, L Linux installation 15 O OpenGL ® 30 Options Tab 26 P primary display 19 primary monitor assigning profiles color 22 21 27 16
45 R registration 2 S safety instructions iii secondary display 19 serial number 2 SMOOTHVISION™ 30 stereographics enabling 31 troubleshooting 35 system requirements 2
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Addendum Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive Compliance This product was manufactured by ATI Technologies Inc.
