ATI RADEON X850 User Manual

RADEON® X850 Series

User’s Guide

P/N 137-40814-10

ATI

ii

Copyright © 2004, ATI Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.

ATI and ATI product and product feature names are t rademarks 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 specificatio ns are subject to change
without notice. Product may not be exactly as shown in diagrams.

Reproduction of this manual, or parts thereof , in any form, withou t the express writt en permission of ATI
Technologies Inc. is strictly prohibited.

Disclaimer

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, ATI Technologies Inc.
assumes no liability with respect to the operation or use of ATI hardware, software or ot her products
and documentation described herein, for any act or omission of ATI concerning such products or this
documentation, for any interruption of service, loss or interr uption of business, loss of anticipatory
profits, or for punitive, incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing,
performance, or use of the ATI hardware, software, or other products and documentation provided
herein.

ATI Technologies In c. reserves the right to make changes without further notice to a product or system
described herein to improve reliability, function or design. With respect to A TI products which this
document relates, ATI disclaims all express or implied warranties regarding such products, including
but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non­infringement.

Product Notices

Dolby* Laboratories, Inc.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Confidential Unpublished Works.
© 1992-1997 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.

Macrovision

Apparatus Claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 4,631,603, 4,577,216, 4, 819,098, and 4,907,093 licensed for
limited viewing uses only.

This product incorporates copyright prot ecti on techno log y t hat is prot ected by met hod claims o f certa in
U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights
owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation,
and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise aut horized by
Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

Documentation Updates

ATI is constantly improving its product and associated documentation. To maximize the value of your
ATI product, you should ensure that you have the latest documentation. ATI’s documentation contains
helpful installation/configuration tips and other valuable feature information.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

L

• 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.

• Compatibility - This option card is for use only with IBM AT or
compatible UL Listed personal computers that have Installation
Instructions detailing user installation of card cage accessories.

• Grounding - For continued protection against risk of electric shock
and fire, this accessory should be installed only in products equipped
with a three-wire grounding plug, a plug having a third (grounding)
pin. This plug will only fit into a grounding-type power outlet. This is a
safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet,
contact your electrician to replace the obsolete outlet. Do not defeat
the safety purpose of the grounding-type plug.

• Secure Attachment
tightened as to provide continuous bonding between the option card
and the PC chassis.

• Outdoor Antenna Grounding - Since an outdoor antenna or cable
system is connected to the product, be sure that the antenna or cable
system is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage
surges and built-up static charges. Article 810 of the National
Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, provides information with regard to
proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of
the lead-in wire to the antenna discharge unit, size of grounding
conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, connection of
grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.

• Lightning - For added protection for this product during a lightning
storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of
time, unplug it from the wall outlet, and disconnect the antenna or
cable system. This will prevent damage to the product due to
lightning and power-line surges.

• Power Lines - An outside antenna system should not be located in
the vicinity of overhead power lines or other light or power circuits, or
where it can fall into such power lines or circuits.

• Antenna Installation - When installing an outside antenna system,
extreme care should be taken to keep from touching such power lines
or circuits, as contact with them may be fatal.

• Note to CATV System Installer - This reminder is provided to call
the CATV systems installer’s attention to Section 820-40 of the NEC,
which provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular,
specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding
system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry as
practical.

- All card securement pins shall be completely

iii

iv

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

System Requirements 1
External Connectors. 1

Using Multiple Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Connecting Your Monitors 3

Display Configurations 4

CATALYST™ Control Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Launching CATALYST™Control Center 7

Launching CATALYST™ Control Center Using the Start Menu 7
Other Quick Launch Access Points 8

Displays Manager 9
3D Settings 10
Video 10
Display Options 10
Color 11
VPU Recover 11
Monitor Properties 12
Component Video Properties 12
TV Properties 12
Digital Panel 13
Hotkeys Manager 13
OVERDRIVE™ 3 13
Profiles Manager 14
Preferences 14
Help 15

15

1

Using TV Display and Capture Features. . . . . . . 17

Using TV Out 17

Viewing Your PC’s Display on a TV 17
Connecting to a TV or VCR 17
Using a Monitor vs. Using TV Display 19
Viewing Text on a TV 19
Using TV Display Alone 19
Using Games and Applications 19

Connecting to HDTV 20

2

Using Your ATI HDTV Video Cable 21

Capturing Video 21

Connecting your media device for video capture 22
Setting the Windows® Volume Control 23

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

Uninstalling Old Graphics Card Software 25
Windows® New Hardware Found 25
Installing the CATALYST™ Software Suite 26
Solution Selector 27

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

CHAPTER 1:

Introduction

System Requirements

Hardware • Intel® Pentium® 4/III; Celeron II™.

• 128 MB of system memory; 256 MB or more for best
performance.

• Motherboard with free PCI Express™ slot and correct
PCIe chipset driver. Note: The RADEON® X850
Series requires a free expansion slot next to the PCI
Express™ slot.

• CD-ROM drive (for installation software).

• PCI Express™ compatible system with a specialized
12v graphics card power connector. 350 watt or
greater power supply recommended. Consult your
computer system manual to ensure the power supply
is designed to accommodate a high-end graphics card
with a peak dissipation above 75 watts.

1

Operating
System

Monitor • High-resolution MultiSync or multi-frequency monitors

• Windows® XP (Home or Pro)

• Windows® 2000

or any other type of VGA monitor.

• Digital flat-panel (DFP) displays or digital CRT display.

External Connectors.

• 2 DVI-I outputs.

• S-Video output.

2

CHAPTER 2:

Using Multiple Displays

Connecting Your Monitors

Your RADEON® X850 Series provides hardware support for two DVI-I
monitor or two VGA monitors using the supplied DVI-I-to-VGA adapter.
It also provides TV output via a S-Video Out or Composite Out connector.

3

Connections and Adapters for the RADEON® X850 Series Card

X

Y

DVI Monitor Connector.

VGA Monitor Connector. To connect a VGA monitor to the DVI-I
connector, plug the supplied DVI-I-to-VGA adapter into the DVI-I
connector, then plug your monitor cable into the adapter

4 Display Configurations

Connections and Adapters for the RADEON® X850 Series Card

Z

[

DVI-I-to-VGA Adapter.

DVI-I Backplate Connection. To connect a flat panel, plug the
monitors DVI-I connector into the DVI-I connection.

Note: If you use multiple monitors, the RADEON® X850 Series
card must be the primary graphics card. Normally, the system BIOS
determines which graphics card will be the primary.

To connect your monitors

1
2
3

Power off
Plug
Power on

your computer and monitors.

the monitor cables into their appropriate connectors.

your monitors first, and then restart your computer so that

Windows® can detect the new hardware settings.

4

When the

New Hardware Found

Wizard appears, at the appropriate
prompt insert the ATI Installation CD to load the drivers for your
RADEON® X850 Series card.

Display Configurations

Your RADEON® X850 Series graphics card provides dual display
functionality and TV Out. The following table lists the different ways you
can connect displays to your card.

Display
Configuration

Single DFP
display

Single CRT
display

Single TV S-Video Out The S-Video out can also support a

Single HDTV
display

Connector(s)
Used

DVI-I connector DFP - digital flat panel display.

DVI-I connector
with DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter

S-Video Out to
HDTV (YPrPb)
cable

Comments

CRT- cathode ray tube analog
display.

composite connection via the S­Video-to-Composite adapter.

HDTV - High Definition Television

Display Configurations 5

Display
Configuration

DFP display + TVDVI-I connector +

CRT display + TVDVI-I-to-VGA

CRT display +
HDTV

DFP display +
HDTV

CRT display +
DFP display

CRT display +
CRT display

DFP display +
DFP display +
TV

Connector(s)
Used

S-Video out

adapter + S-Video
Out

DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter + S-Video
Out to HDTV
(YPrPb) cable

DVI-I connector +
S-Video Out to
HDTV (YPrPb)
cable

DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter + DVI-I
connector

DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter + DVI-I-to­VGA adapter

DVI-I connector +
DVI-I connector +
S-Video Out

Comments

UNSUPPORTED CONFIGURATION
if the CRT display is attached to the
DVI-I connector via the DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter.

The DVI-I connector can support a
CRT display using the DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter

The TV display will “clone” the image
of one of the other two displays

DFP display +
DFP display +
HDTV

CRT display +
DFP display +
HDTV

CRT display +
CRT display +
TV

DVI-I connector +
DVI-I connector +
S-Video Out to
HDTV (YPrPb)
cable

DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter + DVI-I
connector + S­Video Out to HDTV
(YPrPb) cable

DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter + DVI-I-to­VGA adapter + S­Video Out

UNSUPPORTED CONFIGURATION

6 Display Configurations

Display
Configuration

CRT display +
CRT display +
HDTV

Connector(s)
Used

DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter + DVI-I-to­VGA adapter + S­Video Out to HDTV
(YPrPb) cable

Comments

UNSUPPORTED CONFIGURATION

Launching CATALYST™Control Center 7

CHAPTER 3:

CA TALYST™ Control Center

The CATALYST™ Control Center is a graphical representation of the
display features of the installed ATI hardware and software. Use the
CATALYST™ Control Center to fine-tune your graphic settings, enable or
disable connected display devices, and change the orientation of your
desktop. Many of the features show you a preview of the changes before
they are applied.

The CATALYST™ Control Center offers you two views of the software:
Standard view is a simplified view that includes wizards to get the
inexperience user up and running. The Advance view allows the advanced
user to access and configure the complete feature set of the software.

The CATALYST™ Control Center can be customized for easy access to
the features you use most.

Use the CATALYST™ Control Center to access a comprehensive online
help system, or connect to the ATI Web site.

Launching CATALYST™Control Center

CATALYST™ Control Center can be launched from one of the following
access points:

• Windows Start Menu

• Windows System Tray

• Predefined Hotkeys

• Desktop Shortcuts

• Via an ATI MMC Application

Launching CATALYST™ Control Center Using the
Start Menu

From the windows task bar, click the Start button:

• For Windows XP, point to All Programs>ATI Control
Environment>CATALYST™ Control Center.

• For Windows 2000, point to Programs>ATI Control
Environment>CATALYST™ Control Center.

8 Launching CATALYST™Control Center

Other Quick Launch Access Points

To launch CATALYST™ Control Center from MMC

You can also access the CA TALYST™ Control Center while an ATI multi-
media application, like TV Player, is running. Simply click the
CATALYST™ Control Center icon in the multi-media application’s
control panel, if available.

Launching CATALYST™ Control Center Using Hot Keys

You can press a predefined key (like F7) or combination of keys (like
Ctrl+A). You can define your hot key by using the Hot Key Manager

Launching CATALYST™ Control Center Using the Desktop
Shortcut

When you first installed CATALYST™ Control Center the setup wizard
provided you with the option of placing a shortcut on the desktop. If you
selected this option, simply double-click the CA T AL YST™ Control Center
desktop shortcut.

Launching CATAL YST™ Co ntr ol Cen te r Us in g the Sy st em Tray

.

Right-click the ATI icon in the Windows® System Tray and select
CATALYST™ Control Center from the popup menu.

Displays Manager 9

Displays Manager

The Displays Manager is the central location for configuring your display
devices and arranging your desktop. Use the Displays Manager to quickly
change your display setup, arrange your desktop in a multi-monitor
environment, and enable TV Out.

Displays Manager appears in both Standard and Advanced views. Use the
Standard View wizard to help you configure your display preferences.
Advanced View is for more experienced users who prefer to manually
configure their desktop settings.

Standard View

10 3D Settings

Advanced View

3D Settings

Use 3D settings to adjust features found in 3D applications, such as
graphic-design, CAD programs and games.

3D Settings is available in the simplified standard view and advanced view.
Use standard view to adjust the overall performance and quality of your

graphic application. Use the advanced view to individually configure the
following settings:

• Standard Settings

• Anti-aliasing

• Anisotropic Filtering

• Texture Preference

• CATALYST™ A.I.

• Mipmap Detail Level

• TRUFORM™

• SMARTSHADER™

• API-specific

Video

Use the Video aspect to use preconfigured profiles that best match your
viewing environment. Switch to the Advanced view to manually adjust
video overlay and choose a preferred viewing mode, such as Widescreen or
Fullscreen modes.

To access the Video aspect:

• Select Video in the CATALYST™ Control Center Standard or
Advanced view.

Display Options

Display Options gives you additional control to optimize performance of
OpenGL® and Direct 3D® applications.

Color 11

Use 3D Refresh Rate Override to set a refresh rate of your choice when a
full-screen application or game has a default refresh rate that is lower than
optimal.

Choose one of the Display Detection Options to prevent screen flicker
when detecting a display.

If you are using an older TV or one that has non-standard inputs that may
not be automatically detected, use Force TV Detection. Such a TV, once
detected, will appear in the Display Manager aspect and can be configured
as required. However, some features that rely on automatic detection, such
as extended desktop, will not be supported.

To access Display Options:

• Select Display Options in the CATALYST™ Control Center
Advanced view.

Color

Use the Color aspect to adjust the color settings for your desktop and full­screen games. The Preview effects area shows your changes to gamma,
brightness, and contrast in real time.

To access the Color aspect:

• Select Color in the CATALYST™ Control Center advanced view.

VPU Recover

VPU Recover is a tool capable of detecting the rare situation when the
graphics processor is no longer able to respond to display driver
commands. When this occurs, VPU Recover attempts to reset the graphics
processor so that you are able to continue using your computer without
interruption or loss of data.

To access VPU Recover

• Select VPU Recover in the CATALYST™ Control Center
Advanced view.

12 Monitor Properties

Monitor Properties

Use the Monitor Properties page to configure your Display Data Channel
(DDC) monitor’s attributes, to information about th e co nnected monitor,
and adjust the output display’s position and size.

To access Monitor Properties

• Select Monitor Properties in the CATALYST™ Control Center
advanced view .

Component Video Properties

The component video aspect of the CATALYST™ Control Center adds
further support for your ATI HDTV Component Video Adapter.

Component Video Properties is made up of:

•Formats

• Adjustments

• Advanced

To access Component Video Properties

• Select Component Video Properties in the CATALYST™ Control
Center advanced view.

TV Properties

If your graphics card has support for TV Out use the TV Properties to
configure your TV settings.

The TV Properties is comprised of three features:

• Image Quality

• Screen Adjustment

•Format

Use Image Quality to adjust the contrast, saturation, and flicker of your
screen.

Use Screen Adjustment to set the video mode, enable overscan, and change
the position and size of the screen.

Use the Format feature to determine how your graphics card establishes the
TV signal format.

Digital Panel 13

To access TV Properties

• Select TV Properties in the CATALYST™ Control Center advanced
view.

Digital Panel

Use the Digital Panel properties to configure the DVI settings and Image
Scaling to improve image quality without impacting performance.

To access Digital Panel

• Select Digital Panel in the CATALYST™ Control Center advanced
view.

Hotkeys Manager

The Hotkeys Manager allows you to create shortcut key combinations to
quickly perform tasks such as changing a graphics setting or opening an
application. A hot key is a combination of one or more modifier keys, such
as Ctrl, Alt, or Shift, and any letter from the alphabet.

To access Hotkeys Ma nager

• Click the Hotkeys button in the CATALYST™ Control Center.

OVERDRIVE™ 3

Use OVERDRIVE™ 3 to maximize the performance of the visual
processing unit (VPU) on your graphics card. An on-chip thermal sensor
constantly monitors the temperature of the VPU allowing the maximum
clock speed to be maintained while avoiding overheating. If the VPU gets
too hot, OVERDRIVE™ 3 will automatically decrease the clock speed
until a safe temperature is reached. OVERDRIVE™ 3 will never reduce the
graphics processor speed below the default clock speed.

14 Profiles Manager

Use the Automated clock configuration utility to obtain the ATI
recommended OVERDRIVE™ 3 speeds for the graphics processor clock
and video memory clock. Alternatively, manually set these speeds to meet
your specific requirements. Finally, OVERDRIVE™ 3 can be configured
to run when the computer is booted or only when running 3D applications.

If your computer cannot restart after setting a higher clock speed,
press and hold the SHIFT key during system start-up until you hear

L

three beeps. Once your computer has full booted, disable Enable
new clock settings at logon.

To access OVERDRIVE™ 3

• Select OVERDRIVE™ 3 in the CATALYST™ Control Center

advanced view .

Profiles Manager

Use profiles to create customized environments for your desktop, vi deo ,
and 3D applications. Define and save your own personal video settings that
can be quickly activated manually, through a hot key, or by file association.

Note: A profile applies to a specific graphics card. If there is more
than one graphics card installed in your computer, you need to select
the appropriate card before creating, loading, or activating a profile.

To access the Profiles Manager

• Click the Profiles button in the CATALYST™ Control C enter.

Preferences

Use the Preferences page to restore factory defaults, change skins, or
enable\disable the System Tray icon.

The CATALYST™ Control Center Preferences page contains the
following options:

• Hide Tooltips

•Always on Top

• Enable System Tray menu

• Restore factory defaults

• Show Toolbar Text

Help 15

• Select Language

• Select a Skin

To access Preferences

• Click the Preferences button in the CATALYST™ Control Center.

Help

The CATALYST™ Control Center Help feature allows you to access the
comprehensive online help system and technical information about your
computer and graphics card, and provides an Internet link to ATI
Technologies.

The CATALYST™ Control Center Help feature offers the following
options:

• Search Help topics

•Go to ATI.com

• Information Center

• About CATALYST™ Control Center

To access Help

• Click the Help button in the CATALYST™ Control Center.

or

• Press the F1 key at any time to get specific help on the feature or
aspect you are using.

16

Using TV Out 17

CHAPTER 4:

Using TV Display and Capture Features

This chapter describes how to use the TV display and video capture
features of your RADEON® X850 Series card.

Using TV Out

Your RADEON® X850 Series has TV Out capability.

Viewing Your PC’s Display on a TV

You can attach your RADEON® X850 Series to a TV and a monitor at the
same time. You can also connect it to your VCR and record your monitor’s
display.

L

TV display is ideal for giving presentations and watching movies, or
playing games on a screen larger than a typical monitor. The following tips
will help you get the most out of your TV Out feature.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for European Customers
Some PC monitors in Europe cannot be used simultaneously with TV
display. When you enable TV display in Europe, the refresh rate for the
monitor and TV is set to 50 Hz. Some monitors may not support this

refresh rate and could be damaged.

• Please check the documentation supplied with your monitor to see if
your monitor supports a refresh rate of 50 Hz.

• If your monitor does not support 50 Hz (or if you are not sure), turn
off your monitor before turning on your PC when using your TV as a
display.

Connecting to a TV or VCR

To connect your RADEON® X850 Series card to a TV or VCR, use an S­Video cable. Many TVs (and VCRs) have a Composite video input, in
which case you can use the supplied S-Video-to-Composite video adapter.
If your TV has cable input only, you can connect your graphics card to your
TV through your VCR or an RF modulator that is available from most
electronics stores.

18 Using TV Out

To connect S-Video Out

1

Power off your computer and your TV (or VCR).

2

Determine if your TV (or VCR) supports either a S-Video or
Composite video connection.

3

Looking at the back of your PC, locate your S-V ideo Out. Using an S­Video cable or the supplied adapter cable, attach one end of the cable
to your graphics card and the other to your TV (or VCR). Refer to the
illustration.

4

Power on your TV (or VCR) first, then your computer.

Connecting Your S-Video Out to a TV or VCR

X

Y

Z

[

S-Video Connection on graphics card

TV or VCR

S-Video Cable (with or without S-Video-to-Composite Adapter)

Computer

Using TV Out 19

Using a Monitor vs. Using TV Display

Using your TV for your computer’s display can be useful, however, the
display on your monitor may change or looked squashed. This distortion
occurs because the display adjusts to fit the dimensions of your TV. To
correct the monitor’s display, use the monitor’s control buttons to adjust its
display size and position.

Some single-frequency monitors may not work with TV display enabled. If
you experience problems when TV display is enabled, disable TV display
to restore your monitor’s display.

Viewing Text on a TV

A TV is designed primarily to show moving images. The large dot pitch of
a TV will yield poor quality static images. The small text sizes commonly
used for PC desktops can appear blurred or unclear on a TV. You can
compensate for this degradation by using larger fonts.

Switching to a larger display font

1

Access the Display Properties dialog by right-clicking on the desktop
or navigating through Windows®

2

Click the
tab.

Settings

tab, the

Control Panel

Advanced

.

button, and then the

General

3

In the

Display

(or

DPI Setting

4

Click

Apply

section, select

) drop-down list.

. If prompted, click

Large (120 DPI)

from the

Yes

to restart your Computer.

Font Size

Using TV Display Alone

If you plan to move your computer to a place where you are using TV
display only, make sure that you have the TV display feature enabled prior
to removing the monitor.

The maximum display resolution for TV is 1024x768. Choosing a
resolution higher than this will cause the TV display to disappear if it is the
only display device.

Using Games and Applications

Some older games and applications may program your RADEON® X850
Series directly to run under a specific display mode. This may cause your
TV display to turn off automatically or become scrambled (your PC
monitor or portable LCD display will not be affected). Your TV display
will be restored once you exit the game or if you restart your computer.

20 Connecting to HDTV

Connecting to HDTV

View computer output directly on your High Definition Television
(HDTV) or other component input device. Provide a big-screen experience
for your computer that is ideal for playing games, giving presentations,
watching movies, and browsing the Internet.

HDTV uses YPbPr connectors to receive input. YPbPr stands for the
following:

• Y = Green

• Pb = Blue

•Pr = Red

The HDTV Component Video Adapter can be used in place of the standard
A/V Output cable to connect to an HDTV or other component input device,
using component video cables.

L

ATI HDTV Cable

X

You must have a monitor attached to your computer before installing
the ATI HDTV. For proper operation of your ATI Component Video
Adapter, ATI display drivers must be correctly installed.

ATI HDTV Video Output Cable

Capturing Video 21

ATI HDTV Cable

Backplate of the ATI Graphics Card

Y

Male RCA Patch Cables – available from consumer electronics dealer

Z

Typical HDTV Video Input Connections

[

Note: Input and output cables lengths should not exceed 50 feet
(15m).

Installing your ATI HDTV video cable

1

Turn on your component input device, and set it to YPbPr input.
Note: See your HDTV or component input device manual for

configuration information specific to your device.

2

Turn on your computer.
Note: Your TV will not display anything until Windows starts. This

can take several minutes.

Using Your ATI HDTV Video Cable

Use the HDTV Video Cable to watch DVD movies and play video games
on your High Definition Television.

Copy-protected DVDs restrict playback to 480i and 480p modes.

L

For maximum performance when you watch DVD movies or play
computer games on your HDTV, you should find the mode and screen
resolution that provide the best result on your TV, and use those settings
exclusively.

Capturing Video

The RADEON® X850 Series has the ability to capture video from your
camcorder, VCR, or TV. Use your favorite video editing application to add
effects, make changes, or stream your video on the Internet.

The audio and video output connectors on your TV, camcorder, or VCR
will be similar those depicted in the illustration. Use Composite Video Out
or S-Video Out. S-Video Out will provide better results.

22 Capturing Video

Connecting Your Video Device to Your RADEON® X850 Series Card

A

B

X

Y

Z

[

Composite In and Out Connectors. Recommended connector
for best picture quality.

S-Video In and Out Connectors.

ATI Graphics Card

Video In/Video Out Cable

Typical Video In of TV, VCR, or Camcorder connections

Typical Video Out of TV, VCR, or Camcorder connections

Connecting your media device for video capture

Use the Video In/Video Out Cable to connect to a TV, VCR, or Camcorder.
Use the S-Video connectors.

To capture video to your computer

1

Connect the ATI Video In/Video Out cable to the Video In/Video Out
connector on the ATI Graphics Adapter.

2

Connect the Video In of the ATI Video In\Video Out cable to the
Video Out of your media device.

Capturing Video 23

Note: S-Video and Composite extension cables are available from a
consumer electronics dealer

3

Start your video capture software in record mode. For more
information see the documentation that came with your video capture
software.

4

Power on your TV or hit Play on your TV or VCR.
Note: To capture sound, you must connect the Line Out of your

media device to the Line In of your sound card. Audio cables are
available from a consumer electronics dealer.

Setting the Windows® Volume Control

For correct audio performance, your sound card’s Line Input must be
active.

To display the Line Input settings

1

Right-click

lower-right corner of your screen.
If the volume icon is not in your Taskbar, do the following:

•Click

• Double-click

•In the

the

Speaker

Start

, then click

Volume

icon in the

Control Panel

Sounds and Audio Devices

tab, check

Taskbar

Place volume icon in the taskbar

, which usually in the

.

.

.

2

Click

Open Volume Controls

3

If the Line-In volume slider is not visible, click

Properties

4

Click the

Mute

.

Line-In

checkbox is checked, click it to cancel muting.

volume control checkbox, then click OK. If the

.

Options

, then click

24 Capturing Video

Uninstalling Old Graphics Card Software 25

CHAPTER 5:

T roubleshooting

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 Website at
ati.com/support/.

Uninstalling Old Graphics Card Software

To ensure successful installation of your RADEON® X850 Series card,
you must uninstall the graphic drivers for the existing graphics card before
removing it from your computer.

To uninstall old graphics drivers

1

With your current graphics card still in your computer, close all open
applications.

2

Click

Start > Settings > Control Panel

Programs

3

Select your current graphic drivers, then click

• The Wizard will help you remove your current display drivers.

• Restart your system after the drivers have been removed.

L

.

If the previously installed graphics card has any additional software
installed, they may also need to be removed at this point. For example,
DVD Player or Multimedia applications.

, then select

Add/Remove

Add/Remove

Windows® New Hardware Found

Windows may start the
Standard VGA Driver.

Add New Hardware Wizard

to install the

:

26 Installing the CATALYST™ Software Suite

To install and detect your new hardware

1

Click Next to allow Windows® to search for the Standard VGA or
Standard PCI Graphics Adapter.

If prompted for the Windows® CD-ROM, insert it into your CD­ROM drive.

2

Type the following:

D:\WinXP

If

D

is not your CD-ROM drive, substitute D with the correct drive

letter.

3

Click OK.

4

Click

Finish

.

D:\<Operating System name>

to close the Wizard and then restart your system.

for example

Installing the CATALYST™ Software Suite

ATI’s CATALYST™ software suite provides you with all you need to get
the most out of your ATI Graphics Accelerator card. The CATALYST™
software suite comprises four, distinct software elements:

•Driver.

• Multimedia Center.

• HydraVision (not included in the Express Install).

• Remote Wonder Software.

To ensure you install supported software, use the ATI Installation CD­ROM that shipped with your ATI Graphics Accelerator card.

To install the CATALYST™ Software Suite

1

Insert the ATI INSTALLATION CD-ROM into your CD-ROM
drive.
If Windows® runs the CD-ROM automatically, proceed to step 6.

2

Click

Start

.

3

Select

Run

.

4

Type the following:

If D is not your CD-ROM drive, substitute D with the correct drive
letter.

5

Click OK.

6

Click

Install

under Software Install.

D:\ATISETUP

Solution Selector 27

7

Click

Next

.

8

Click

Yes

to the license agreement.

9

Click

ATI Easy Install

10

Follow the Wizard’s on-screen instructions to complete the

to begin the Installation Wizard.

installation.
Note: The Express installation option is recommended. If your ATI

Graphics Accelerator card includes a multimedia component, the
software for that component will automatically be installed, along
with the ATI graphics driver. Not all software components are
installed using the Express installation. Custom installation allows
you to select individual software components for installation.

Solution Selector

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 started 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.

• Check the system configuration utility of your
operating system for the interrupt assignments.

• Contact ATI’s Customer Care or your local technical
support.

28 Solution Selector

General Problems

Problem Possible Solution

No Display • Check that the card is seated properly in its expansion

slot.

• Ensure that the monitor cable is securely fastened to
the card.

• Make sure that the monitor and computer are plugged
in and receiving power.

• If necessary, disable any built-in graphics capabilities
on your mother board. For more information, consult
your computer’s manual or manufacturer. (Note: some
manufacturers do not allow the built-in graphics to be
disabled or to become the secondary display.)

• Make sure that you selected the appropriate monitor
when you installed your enhanced driver.

Screen Defects
Appear

Off-Center
Screen Image,
Odd Colors or No
Picture

Operating
System Warns
that Video Card
Isn’t Properly
Configured

• Check if your monitor supports the resolution,
horizontal (kHz) and vertical (Hz) refresh rates as
required by the graphics card.

• Check your current resolution, refresh rate, and color
depth settings in the Settings and Monitor tabs in
your Display Properties dialog.

Warning! Ensure that both video card and monitor
support resolution and refresh rates you select.
Incompatible resolution/refresh rate selection may result in
monitor damage. Refer to your monitor's documentation
for recommended resolutions and refresh rates.

• 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.

• Set the monitor's RGB inputs (and sync switches, if
this option is available) to 75 Ohms, with the sync set
to external.

• Digital Flat Panel (DFP) monitor users: refer to your
monitor's documentation for the appropriate cable and
connector to plug into the DVI-I connector on the
graphics card.

• Check the driver installation and make sure that all
software is correctly loaded corresponding to your
operating system and applications.

• Re-install the ATI drivers for your RADEON® X850
Series card.

HDTV/HDTV Adapter Troubleshooting

Problem Possible Solution

Solution Selector 29

The colors on my
TV display are
incorrect

There is no
display on my TV

DVDs will not
play in 720p or
1080i modes

I can’t see the
entire display

The display
appears tilted

My CRT display is
green

• Ensure that the connections between the Component

Video Adapter and your HDTV are correct (Y=Green,
Pb=Blue, Pr=Red).

• Y our TV will not display anything until Windows start s;

this may take several minutes.

• Set your TV to YPbPr input.

• Ensure that the HDTV Component Video Adapter is

properly connected, then restart your computer.

• Copy-protected DVDs restrict playback to 480i and

480p modes.

• If your component input device supports it, try 720p

mode.

• Consult your HDTV user’s manual.

• Your system is in component output mode. Restart

your computer with the CRT monitor connected.

30 Solution Selector

Index

Numerics

3D Settings

A

Adjustments
Advanced

C

capture video
CATALYST Software

installing

Color
Component Video Properties
Copy-protection

DVDs, DVDs

D

Dashboard
Digital Panel properties
Display Options
Displaying PC output on TV
dot pitch

E

external connectors

F

Format
Formats

G

games

TV display

H

HDTV

troubleshooting

HDTV adapter

troubleshooting

HDTV Component Video Adapter
High Definition Television
Hotkeys Manager

I

Image Quality
Input and output adapters

displaying PC output on TV and recording on videotape

installing

10

12

12

21, 22

26

11

12

Copy-protection 29

7

13

10

21

19

1

12

12

19

20, 21

29
29

20

20

13

12

31

21

32

CATALYST Software

M

Monitor Properties

O

old graphics drivers

uninstall

OVERDRIVE™ 3

P

Preferences
Profiles
Profiles Manager

R

Recording PC output on videotape

S

safety instructions
Screen Adjustment
system requirements

T

troubleshooting

general problems
HDTV
HDTV adapter

TV

displaying PC output on

TV display

games

TV Out
TV Properties

U

uninstall

old graphics drivers

Uninstalling old graphics card software

V

Video
video capture
Volume control
VPU Recover

W

Windows volume control

Y

YPbPr
YPbPr connector

25

14

14

29

17, 19

19

17

12

10

21
11

29

26

12

13

14

21

iii

12

1

27

29

21

25

23

23

20

25