3DLABS Permedia3 User Manual

The Permedia®3 Create!

Graphics Accelerator

User’s Guide

3Dlabs,® Inc.

480 Potrero Avenue

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

408 - 530 - 4700

www.3dlabs.com

3Dlabs and Permedia are registered trademarks of 3Dlabs, Inc. or 3Dlabs Inc. Ltd. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel. OpenGL is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Colorific is a registered trademark of Sonnetech Ltd. Microsoft and Windows NT are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

AUTION

Changes or modifications to the Permedia3 Create! graphics accelerator card not

expressly approved by 3Dlabs, Inc. void the user’s warranty.

FCC Notice:

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. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. If product is not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, it may cause harmful interference to radio communications; however, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna.

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

Consult 3Dlabs or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance.

Compliance with FCC Rules requires that a shielded cable be used to connect to other equipment. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and 2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This Class B digital apparatus meets all the requirements of the Canadian InterferenceCausing Equipment Regulations. Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le material brouilleur du Canada.

3Dlabs, Inc. makes no representation that the use of its products in the manner described in this publication will not infringe on existing or future patent rights, nor do descriptions contained in this publication imply the granting of licenses to make, use, or sell equipment or software in accordance with the description.

June 3, 1999, Rev. A

Table of Contents

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v

Welcome to 3Dlabs!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii

Chapter 1 - Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Getting Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Before You Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Installing Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

To remove an old card from your system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

To install your Permedia3 Create! card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Installing Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

To install the Permedia3 Create! driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

To install Colorific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

To install PowerDVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Registering Permedia3 Create! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

To register on-line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Chapter 2 - Software Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

The Permedia3 Create! Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

The Task Bar - based Configuration Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Display Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Information Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Setup Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

DirectX Support Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

OpenGL Support Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chapter 3 - Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Monitors and Display Resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Systems and Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Online Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

iii

Appendix A - Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Permedia3 Create! Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Monitor Resolutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Appendix B - Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Terms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Appendix C - Software License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Software License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Software License and Restrictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Limited Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Limited Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Confidentiality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Restricted Rights Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Appendix D - Regulatory Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

iv 3Dlabs Permedia3 Create! User’s Guide

NTRODUCTION

Welcome to 3Dlabs!

Thank you for selecting a 3Dlabs® Permedia3 Create! graphics accelerator!

Whether you’re running hard core 3D applications or your favorite games,

Permedia3 Built on fifteen years of quality from 3Dlabs, Permedia3 Create! integrates advanced silicon with quality drivers, delivering vibrant 32-bit color graphics at desktop resolutions up to 2048 x 1536. With Virtual Texturing for massive amounts of textures per scene and a Triple-blend texture core for realism, you have the professional graphics platform that doesn’t forget how you like to spend your play time.

Create! has the power you need to work fast all day and play hard all night.

Overview

Your Permedia3 Create! card has the following features:

•The Permedia

The Permedia3 graphics processor accelerates advanced rendering operations, including single-cycle triple-blend multi-texturing and bump-mapping.

•Pentium

Permedia3 Create! is fully optimized for Pentium III and 3DNow! to maximize 3D geometry and lighting performance.

• Virtual Texturing

Virtual Texturing is a hardware-based, full demand-paged virtual texture storage sub-system. With it, your Permedia3 Create! card can cache up to 256MB of textures stored in main system memory.

• 32 MB memory

32 MB of SDRAM memory supports high-precision, high-performance acceleration.

• High-precision, high resolution display

Permedia3 Create! has a 300 MHz RAMDAC enabling flicker-free resolutions up to 2048 x 1536.

3 graphics processor

III and 3DNow! optimization

vi 3Dlabs Permedia3 Create! User’s Guide

System Requirements

• 16, 24, and 32-bit Z-buffer

The Z-buffer provides the highest level of depth-precision, even at the highest resolutions.

•

Full AGP sideband addressing

Sideband addressing ensures high-performance 3D acceleration through the advanced features of the AGP bus.

•PowerDVD software

PowerDVD from CyberLink is a high quality, DVD playback software solution, featuring 720 x 480 MPEG-2 video resolution and 5.1-channel AC-3 surround audio that rivals MPEG hardware performance.

• Colorific

screen-to-print color matching

Colorific from Sonnetech simplifies color matching without sacrificing accuracy.

System Requirements

Your system needs the following features in order to support Permedia3 Create!:

• Intel-compatible, 166 MHz (minimum) system

•Windows

• 64 MB RAM (Random Access Memory)

• 16 MB minimum available hard drive space

• AGP expansion slot for AGP-based cards

• PCI expansion slot for PCI-based cards

• VGA multisync monitor

95, 98, or NT 4.0 (or later) operating system

Introduction vii

HAPTER

1 - I

NSTALLATION

Getting Ready

To successfully use your new Permedia3 Create! card, you must install the card and the accompanying driver software. Whether you install your new card or the driver first depends on whether a video card is already present in your system.

If there is a video card in your system: Install the driver first. Once the driver is loaded, remove the old card and install your Permedia3 Create! card. The driver installation instructions begin on page 6.

If there is not a video card in your system: Install your new card as described in the Installing Hardware section, below, then install the driver.

Be sure to register your new card using one of the options

OTE

described on page 7.

✏

Before You Start

• Take every possible precaution against static electricity as you prepare to install the card: static can damage components. We have included an anti-static wrist strap for you to wear while installing the hardware: you should also try to work in a static free area (such as on a tile floor rather than carpet). You might even consider wearing special ESD, or at least rubber-soled, shoes.

• Save any work in progress and exit any open applications. Always back up your system before you install new hardware or software.

• Have your anti-static strap and a Philips-head screwdriver ready.

Chapter 1 - Installation 2

Installing Hardware

Permedia3 Create! cards are available in PCI and AGP versions. Check the documentation for your system for the location of PCI and AGP expansion slots in your system.

✏

To remove an old card from your system

Turn off and unplug the power source for your system and each of its peripherals.

Unplug the monitor cable from the old card.

Remove the cover from your system.

Attach the anti-static strap to your wrist, and attach the other end to a bare, conductive (as opposed to painted or sticker-covered) area of your system’s chassis.

Remove any screws securing the card to the chassis.

Lift the card out of the slot.

✏

To install your Permedia3 Create! card

Turn off and unplug the power source for your system and each of its peripherals, if you have not already done so.

Remove the cover from your system so you can access an appropriate expansion slot. See your system documentation for AGP and PCI slot locations.

3 3Dlabs Permedia3 Create! User’s Guide

Installing Hardware

Determine which slot you are going to use and remove its slot cover.

Attach the anti-static strap to your wrist, and attach the other end to a bare, conductive (as opposed to painted or sticker-covered) area of your system’s chassis.

Remove the card from its anti-static packaging. Write down the serial number for registration and future use.

Place the card into the expansion slot and seat it firmly.

MPORTANT

See your system documentation for instructions on securing the card to the chassis. Loose cards and connections can cause grounding and operating problems.

Chapter 1 - Installation 4

Installing Hardware

Remove the anti-static strap and replace the cover on your system.

Connect the video cable from your monitor to the video connector on the card.

Plug in and start up your system, including peripherals, and log on to your operating system.

Video connector

5 3Dlabs Permedia3 Create! User’s Guide

Installing Software

The Permedia3 Create! CD-ROM includes OpenGL and DirectX video driver software, which lets you set image quality and performance preferences for your card. It also includes the PowerDVD playback solution, and Colorific screen-to-print color matching software. Installing PowerDVD will enhance DVD playback resolution and audio, while Colorific ensures that what you see is what you print.

This section describes the three software installation processes for supported Windows systems.

✏

To install the Permedia3 Create! driver

Start up Windows and log onto an account with administrator privileges.

Place the Permedia3 Create! CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. When the installation window opens, choose the driver installation.

Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. (Be sure to read the software license agreement.)

Restart your system at the prompt. You have installed your driver software successfully!

✏

To install Colorific

Place the Permedia3 Create! CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. When the installation window opens, choose the Colorific installation.

Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

✏

To install PowerDVD

PowerDVD is compatible with the Windows 98 operating

OTE

system exclusively.

Place the Permedia3 Create! CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. When the installation window opens, choose the PowerDVD installation.

Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Chapter 1 - Installation 6

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