3DLABS VX1 User Manual

The Oxygen

TM

OxygenTM GVX1

Graphics

Accelerator

User’s Guide

3Dlabs,® Inc.

480 Potrero Avenue

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

408 - 530 - 4700
www.3dlabs.com

VX1

and

Copyright 1999 by 3Dlabs, Inc.
3Dlabs, GLINT and Permedia are registered trademarks, and Oxygen and PowerThreads are

trademarks of 3Dlabs, Inc. or 3Dlabs Inc. Ltd. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel.
OpenGL is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Soft Engine is a trademark of
Vibrant Graphics, Inc. AutoCAD is a registered trademark of AutoDesk 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.

Caution: Changes or modifications to the Oxygen VX1 or Oxygen GVX1 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:

1.

Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna.

2.

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

3.

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

4.

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.

Rev. B, September 9, 1999

ONTENTS

C

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

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

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii

System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Software Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix

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 Oxygen card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

To install additional Oxygen GVX1 cards for multiple monitor support. . . . . .5

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

To uninstall an old video driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

To install the Oxygen Windows NT driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

To install the Oxygen Windows 98 driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

To install Soft Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

To install Colorific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Registering Oxygen VX1/Oxygen GVX1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Chapter 2 - Software Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

The Oxygen VX1/Oxygen GVX1 Driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

The Task Bar - based Configuration Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Display Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Information Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Setup Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Direct3D Support Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

OpenGL Support Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Monitor Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Configuring Multiple Monitors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

To configure additional Oxygen GVX1 cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

iii

Using the Windows Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Configuring your Oxygen GVX1 Card for Stereo Viewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

To set up and configure stereo viewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Chapter 3 - Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Monitors and Display Resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Systems and Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Online Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Appendix A - Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Oxygen VX1 Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Oxygen GVX1 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Monitor Resolutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Appendix B - Software License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Software License and Restrictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Limited Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Restricted Rights Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Appendix C - Regulatory Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Appendix D - Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Terms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

iv 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1/GVX1 User’s Guide

NTRODUCTION

I

Welcome to 3Dlabs!

Welcome to 3Dlabs!

Thank you for selecting a 3Dlabs® Oxygen™ graphics accelerator card!

®

The Oxygen VX1 accelerator uses 3Dlabs’ new GLINT
genuine, industrial strength workstation graphics for the same price as a games-only board.
Oxygen GVX1 is the first workstation graphics board to bring the heavy-duty power of
hardware-based geometry acceleration below $1,000. Oxygen GVX1 integrates the GLINT
R3 rasterization and the GLINT Gamma G1 geometry processing hardware on a single card.

Both cards use innovative 3Dlabs’ technologies, like PowerThreads™ SSE software to
distribute OpenGL throughput across multiple processors, and Virtual Textures to shatter the
limitations of on-board graphics memory.

Oxygen VX1

R3 graphics processor to deliver

Oxygen GVX1

vi 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1/GVX1 User’s Guide

Overview

Your Oxygen card has the following features:

• The GLINT R3 rasterization engine

The GLINT R3 rasterization engine accelerates tasks like true-color shading, texture
mapping, anti-aliasing, and transparency operations.

• Virtual Textures
Virtual Textures is a hardware-based, full demand-paged virtual texture storage

sub-system. With it, your Oxygen card can cache up to 256MB of textures stored in
main system memory.

• PowerThreads SSE geometry processing
PowerThreads SSE software distributes OpenGL operations across multiple CPU’s

(where available) for faster rendering of your files, and leverages the Intel® Pentium®
III and Pentium III Xeon™ Streaming SIMD extensions for optimal geometry and
lighting performance.

• 32 MB memory
32 MB of SDRAM (Oxygen VX1) or SGRAM (Oxygen GVX1) memory supports

high-precision, high-performance acceleration.

Overview

• High-precision, high resolution display
Your Oxygen card has a 300 MHz RAMDAC enabling flicker-free resolutions up to

2048 x 1536.

• 16, 24, and 32-bit linear 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.

• SoftEngine AutoCAD support
SoftEngine enhances AutoCAD R12, R13, R14, and LT performance by up to four

times on Windows NT systems.

• Colorific screen-to-print color matching
Colorific simplifies color matching without sacrificing accuracy.

• Optimized Application Settings
Your card comes with preset driver configurations for mainstream Direct3D and

OpenGL applications. You can quickly switch between configurations at any time
with several mouse clicks on the Windows Taskbar and also create your own settings.

Introduction vii

System Requirements

The Oxygen GVX1 card adds:

• GLINT Gamma G1 geometry processing
The GLINT Gamma G1 chip accelerates the 3D geometry pipeline in hardware,

performing all vertex transformation and lighting calculations required by OpenGL
applications.

• Dynamic load balancing
When the GLINT Gamma processor is busy, geometry and transform calculations

are automatically shared between the CPU and the GLINT Gamma.

• Digital Flat Panel support
Oxygen GVX1 allows direct connection of a digital, flat-panel display for

dramatically improved on-screen image quality at resolutions up to 1280 x 1024.

• Quad-buffered stereo
Left and right buffers are flipped simultaneously to preserve synchronization in your

stereo 3D images at resolutions up to 1280 x 1024.

• Multiple Monitor Support
By installing additional Oxygen GVX1 cards, you can support up to four monitors

with full windows management capabilities.

System Requirements

Your system needs the following features in order to support Oxygen VX1:

• 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 Oxygen VX1 cards

• VGA multisync monitor

Oxygen GVX1 requires these features:

• 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 Oxygen GVX1 cards

• PCI expansion slot for PCI-based Oxygen GVX1 cards

• VGA multisync monitor

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

®

NT 4.0 (or later) operating system, SP4 (or later)

viii 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1/GVX1 User’s Guide

Software Partners

Software Partners

Your Oxygen VX1/Oxygen GVX1 card has been tested with a variety of graphics software
packages, several of which are listed below. As testing continues and performance
optimizations are made, the results and techniques are posted on the 3Dlabs, as well as the
appropriate software partner’s, website.

Software Application Web Site Address

AutoCAD http://www.autodesk.com

Colorific http://www.colorific.com

3D Studio MAX http://www.ktx.com

Lightscape http://www.lightscape.com

LightWave 3D http://www.newtek.com

Maya http://www.aw.sgi.com

MicroStation http://www.bentley.com

Pro/ENGINEER http://www.ptc.com

SDRC I-DEAS http://www.sdrc.com

Softimage | 3D http://www.softimage.com

SolidWorks http://www.solidworks.com

Unigraphics http://www.ug.eds.com/ug/

Introduction ix

C

HAPTER

1 - I

NSTALLATION

Getting Ready

Getting Ready

To successfully use your new Oxygen VX1 or Oxygen GVX1 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: Uninstall the drivers for the existing card, then install
the Oxygen driver. Once the new driver is loaded, remove the old card and install your
Oxygen VX1 or Oxygen GVX1 card. The instructions for uninstalling an old driver and
installing the new driver 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.

Once the basic installation is complete, you can choose to install the SoftEngine and Colorific
enhancements as described on page 7.

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

N

!

OTE

on page 8.

✏

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.

2

Installing Hardware

Installing Hardware

Oxygen GVX1 and Oxygen VX1 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

1.

Make sure you have uninstalled any old drivers and installed the Oxygen driver in
their place.

2.

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

3.

Unplug the monitor cable from the old card.

4.

Remove the cover from your system.

5.

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.

6.

Remove any screws securing the card to the chassis.

7.

Lift the card out of the slot.

✏

To install your Oxygen card

1.

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

2.

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 Oxygen VX1/GVX1 User’s Guide

Installing Hardware

3.

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

4.

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.

5.

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

6.

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

I

MPORTANT

See your system documentation for instructions on securing the

!

card to the chassis. Loose cards and connections can cause grounding
and operating problems.

4

Installing Hardware

7.

Oxygen GVX1 users can install additional Oxygen GVX1 PCI cards for multiple
monitor support. To install a second Oxygen GVX1 card, repeat steps 3 through 6.

8.

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

9.

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

Digital flat panel
display connector

Standard monitor
connector

Oxygen GVX1

Standard monitor
connector

Oxygen VX1

10 .

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

✏

To install additional Oxygen GVX1 cards for multiple monitor support

• Repeat the steps in "To install your Oxygen card" to install up to a total of four
Oxygen GVX1 cards in your system. Install an additional Oxygen GVX1 card in any
available AGP slot for an AGP card or PCI slot for a PCI card.

5 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1/GVX1 User’s Guide

Installing Software

Installing Software

The

Oxygen Product CD-ROM for the Oxygen VX1/Oxygen GVX1

includes Oxygen
PowerThreads video driver software, which lets you set image quality and performance
preferences for your card. It also includes the Soft Engine AutoCAD accelerator and
productivity tool package, and Colorific screen-to-print color matching software. Installing
Soft Engine on your AutoCAD equipped system will improve graphics performance by up to
four times, while Colorific painlessly ensures that what you see is what you print.

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

✏

To uninstall an old video driver

1.

If there is an icon for the video card on the taskbar, desktop, or on the Control Panel,
select the icon and then check for an uninstall option. If an uninstall option exists,
select the option and follow the instructions. (To display the Control Panel, click the
Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.)

2.

If an uninstall option does not exist, click the Start button, point to Settings, and
click Control Panel.

3.

Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

4.

Click the name of the video card driver you want to remove.

5.

Click Add/Remove and follow the instructions.

✏

To install the Oxygen Windows NT driver

1.

Start up Windows. If you are running Windows NT, log onto an account with
administrator privileges.

2.

Place the Oxygen Product CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. When the installation
window opens, choose the Oxygen driver installation.

3.

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

4.

Restart your system at the prompt.

✏

To install the Oxygen Windows 98 driver

1.

After installing your Oxygen graphics card, restart your system. Windows 98
automatically detects the new hardware and starts the New Hardware Wizard.

2.

In the Add New Hardware Wizard, click Next.

3.

Insert the Oxygen Product CD in the CD drive.

4.

Confirm that

Specify a Location

is selected, and then type xx:\Win98 (where "x" is the

letter of your CD drive).

6

Installing Software

5.

Click Next in the next two steps of the wizard. The wizard copies the files to the
correct location.

6.

Click Finish, and then restart your system.

✏

To install Soft Engine

Soft Engine works exclusively with AutoDesk’s AutoCAD R12, R13,

N

!

OTE

R14, and LT software. Install Soft Engine if you use one of these AutoCAD
programs. Do not install Soft Engine if you do not use one of these AutoCAD
programs; it will have no beneficial effect.

1.

Place the Oxygen Product CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. When the installation
window opens, choose Install Soft Engine. A menu appears.

2.

Select your AutoCAD product type to start the installation.

3.

Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

✏

To install Colorific

1.

Place the Oxygen Product CD-ROM in your CD-ROM drive. When the installation
window opens, choose the Colorific installation.

2.

Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

7 3Dlabs Oxygen VX1/GVX1 User’s Guide