ATI Technologies RadeonX800 User Manual

RADEON™ X800 Series

User’s Guide

P/N 137-40621-10

ATI

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Disclaimer

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, ATI Technologies Inc. assumes no liability with respect to the opera tion or use of ATI hardware, software or other 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 interruption 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.

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Product Notices

Dolby* Laboratories, Inc.

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 that is protected by met hod claims of certain 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 ot herwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohib ited.

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.

iii

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.

• 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 CA TV systems inst aller’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

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

System Requirements 1 External Connectors 1

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

Connecting Your Monitors 3

Display Configurations 5

ATI’s CATALYST™ Software Suite . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Introduction 7 Features 7

Multiple Displays and 3D Gaming 7 HYDRAVISION™ 7 Accessing the CATALYST™ Software Suite 7

ATI Displays Tab 8

Dynamic Display Reassignment 10

ATI Color Tab 11

Hotkeys 15 Color Hotkeys Settings 16

ATI Options Tab 18 ATI Rotation Tab 19

Rotation HotKeys 21

ATI Overlay Tab 22

Video Overlay 22 Clone Mode Settings 23 ATI SMARTGART™ Tab 25

ATI 3D Tab 27

Custom Properties Dialog 30 Direct 3D® Compatibility Settings 33 OpenGL® Compatibility Settings 34

ATI VPU Recover Tab 35

Using TV Display and Capture Features . . . . . . . 37

Using TV Out 37

Viewing Your PC’s Display on a TV 37 Connecting to a TV or VCR 37 Starting Windows® with TV Display Enabled 39 Using and Adjusting TV Display Features 39 TV Display Hardware Restrictions 39 Using a Monitor vs. Using TV Display 39 Adjusting Monitor Display 40 Viewing Text on a TV 40 Reducing Edge Distortion 40

Using TV Display Alone 41 Using Games and Applications 41 NTSC/PAL Support for RADEON™ X800 41

Introduction 42

Using Your ATI HDTV Video Cable 43

Capturing Video 44

Connecting your media device for video capture 45 Setting the Windows® Volume Control 46

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Uninstalling Old Graphics Card Software 47 Windows® New Hardware Found 47 Installing the CATALYST™ Software Suite 48 Solution Selector 49

Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

FCC Compliance Information 53 Industry Canada Compliance Statement 53 CE Compliance Information 54 L’Information de conformité de la CE 54 CE-befolgungInformationen 54

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

CHAPTER 1:

Introduction

System Requirements

Hardware • Intel® Pentium® 4; AMD Athlon® or compatible.

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

• Motherboard with free PCI Express slot and correct PCIe chipset-driver.

• CD-ROM drive (for installation software).

• 300 watt or greater power supply recommended.

Operating System

Monitor • High-resolution MultiSync or multi-frequency monitors

• Windows® XP (Home or Pro).

• Windows® Media Center Edition.

• Linux®.

or any other type of VGA monitor.

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

External Connectors

• 15-pin D-shell (female) VGA output.

• DVI-I output.

• S-Video output.

• Video In, Video Out (VIVO) connector.

CHAPTER 2:

Using Multiple Displays

Connecting Your Monitors

Your RADEON™ X800 provides hardware support for one DVI-I monitor or two VGA monitors using the supplied DVI-I-to-VGA adapter. A TV can also be used to expand your desktop by using the S-Video out.

Connections and Adapters for the RADEON™ X800 Card

Standard 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.

DVI-I-to-VGA Adapter.

Connections and Adapters for the RADEON™ X800 Card

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™ X800 card must be the primary graphics card. Normally, the system BIOS determines which graphics card will be the primary.

To connect your monitors

1 Power off your computer and monitors. 2 Plug the monitor cables into their appropriate connectors. 3 Power on 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™ X800 card.

To set up a multi-monitor display

1 From the Start menu click Control Panel, then Display. Click the

Settings tab to access the basic multi-monitor configuration settings.

Note: ATI software provides many additional configuration features that can be accessed by clicking the

Display Properties > Settings tab.

Advanced button from the

2 Select the Monitor icon identified by the number 2. 3 Click Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor. Set

Screen resolution and Color quality for the second monitor.

4 Set the Screen Resolution and Color Quality as appropriate for the

second monitor. Click

• Refer to your Windows online help and documentation for further information on using the

Note: When you use multiple monitors with your card, one monitor will always be Primary. Any additional monitor will be designated as Secondary.

Apply or OK to apply these new values.

Settings tab.

Display Configurations 5

Display Configurations

Your RADEON™ X800 graphics accelerator 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 CRT display

Single DFP display

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

CRT display + TV

DFP display + TV

CRT display + DFP display

Connector(s)

Comments

Used

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

DVI-I connector DFP - digital flat panel display.

VGA connector + S-Video out

DVI-I connector + S-Video out

VGA connector + DVI-I connector

CRT - cathode ray tube analog display.

composite connection via the SVideo-to-Composite adapter.

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

CRT display + CRT display

CRT display + DFP display + TV

CRT display + CRT display + TV

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

VGA connector + DVI-I connector + S-Video out

VGA connector + DVI-I connector with DVI-I-to-VGA adapter + S-Video out

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

UNSUPPORTED CONFIGURATION

6 Display Configurations

Introduction 7

CHAPTER 3:

ATI’ s CATALYST ™ Sof tware Suite

Introduction

This chapter describes using the advanced multiple-monitor and 3D graphics features in ATI’s CATALYST™ Software Suite.

Features

Multiple Displays and 3D Gaming

ATI’s CATALYST™ Software Suite provides multiple-display functionality, and its advanced graphic features, such as SMARTSHADER™ 2.1, provide the ultimate 3D gaming experience.

The CATALYST™ Software Suite also supports the latest versions of Direct 3D® and OpenGL®. Many 3D game titles will virtually come to life

through the advanced Direct 3D® 3D or OpenGL® fine-tune these settings for the ultimate experience in 3D image quality or 3D gaming performance.

features. Gamers can

HYDRAVISION™

In addition to the multiple display functionality available with ATI’s CATALYST™ Software Suite, you can also use HYDRAVISION™ for advanced multi-monitor management. For more information on HYDRAVISION™ , please refer to the PDF located on your ATI Installation CD.

HYDRA VISION™ User’s Guide

Accessing the CATALYST™ Software Suite

For help installing the CATALYST™ Software Suite, refer to the Getting

Started Guide

The CATALYST™ Software Suite installs the ATI disp lay tabs into the Windows®

Advanced button located on the Settings tab.

Display Properties dialog. They are accessed through the

8 ATI Displays Tab

To access the Display Properties dialog, right-click on the desktop or navigate through Windows®

Control Panel, which is located in the Start

menu.

Windows® Display Properties Settings Tab

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.

ATI Displays Tab 9

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.

Save button Saves display-device configuration schemes. Delete button Deletes display-device configuration schemes. Display buttons Enables or disables a display device; they also indicate

whether a device is enabled or disabled.

10 ATI Displays Tab

ATI Displays Tab

Troubleshoot button

Opens a Troubleshoot dialog to assist with possible display problems.

To enable or disable a display

If the enable/disable button is green, it indicates the device is enabled. If it is red, it indicates the device is disabled. If the button is greyed out, the device is not an option. For example, if there is only one monitor connected, all buttons will be grey.

1 Click the enable/disable button for the display device you

want to enable/disable.

2 Click OK or Apply to save the changes.

Note: Due to power restrictions, you can normally only have two devices active at the same time; for example, two monitors or a monitor and a TV.

To save a display-device scheme

Display-device selections can be saved as a scheme for quick recall.

1 Click the enable/disable button for the display devices you

want to have active.

2 Type a name into the Scheme drop-down list field. 3 Click Save to save the scheme.

Dynamic Display Reassignment

You can change the assignment of your Primary and Secondary display on the fly, without rebooting.

Note: Before you can change the assignment of the Primary display, at least one Secondary display and the Extended Desktop mode must be enabled. Extended Desktop mode is enabled through the Windows® information, consult your Windows®

To assig n your Primary monitor

1 Click the buttons to assign the Primary monitor:

Display Property dialog, under Settings. For more

documentation.

For Windows® XP

ATI Displays Tab 11

• The ATI Displays tab shows you the display(s) that are active. The Primary display has the button depressed. To change the

display assignment, click the Primary display’s button or click the button of the other display device.

For Windows® 2000

• Clicking the button will reassign the Primary and Secondary monitors. Clicking the button creates a clone or mirror

image of the Primary display onto the Secondary displa y. Clicking the button extends your desktop to a Secondary

display located to the right of the Primary display. Clicking the

button extends your desktop to a Secondary display located

below the Primary display.

2 Click OK or Apply to save the changes.

ATI Color Tab

The ATI Color tab allows you to configure Gamma, Brightness, and Contrast color settings for both your desktop and full screen 3D environments. You can also save settings to a color profile for easy recall. In addition, you can assign unique hotkey combinations that allow you to adjust Gamma, Brightness, and Contrast color settings within your full screen 3D applications.

12 ATI Displays Tab

ATI Color Tab: Desktop Settings

ATI Displays Tab 13

ATI Color Tab: Full Screen 3D Settings

ATI Color T ab

Desktop radio button

Full Screen 3D radio button

Profiles for Indicates whether the profiles in the drop-down list are for

Profiles dropdown list

Select Desktop to configure your desktop color settings.

Select Full Screen 3D to configure the color settings for your 3D application. Note that the configured settings will only be apparent within a full screen 3D application environment.

your Desktop or a Full Screen 3D environment. Lists all of the Desktop or Full Screen 3D profiles that you

have saved. Selecting a profile from the list loads those custom color settings for the relevant environment. To create a new profile, simply type in a name and click Save.

14 ATI Displays Tab

ATI Color T ab

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

Red, Green, and Blue radio buttons

Gamma slider Increases or decreases the gamma correction of your

Brightness slider Increases or decreases the color brightness of your

Contrast slide Increases or decreases the color contrast of your Desktop

Reset buttons Restores an individual slider setting to its default value.

Adjusts the Gamma, Brightness or Contrast for Red, Green, and Blue simultaneously. Note that any individual color settings in effect are lost if All Colors is selected; the color settings revert back to the last-known All Colors settings.

Selects the active color component (Red, Green, or Blue) whose values will be adjusted by the Gamma, Brightness, and Contrast sliders. Note that any individual color settings made are lost if you subsequently select All Colors.

Desktop or full screen 3D application. Changing the gamma alters the curvature of the color curve.

Desktop or full screen 3D application. Changing the brightness adjusts the vertical position of the color curve.

or full screen 3D application. Changing the contrast adjusts the slope of the color curve.

Click Apply or OK to save.

Color preview box

Hotkeys button Opens the Color Hotkeys Settings dialog. There you can

Defaults button Restores all of the color settings to the default values.

To create a Desktop or Full Screen 3D profile

1 Choose either the Desktop or Full Screen 3D radio button, as

desired.

The color image indicates visually how the Gamma, Brightness and Contrast sliders affect the final color settings of your display device. In Desktop mode, clicking on this with your mouse pointer will change the image.

assign hotkeys for adjusting your color settings within a full screen 3D application environment. T o activate this button, you must select the Full Screen 3D radio button.

Click Apply or OK to save.

ATI Displays Tab 15

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.

To apply the se ttings for a

Full Screen 3D profile

1 Choose the Full Screen 3D radio button. 2 Select the profile name from the drop-down list box. 3 Click Apply or OK. 4 Start your 3D application in full-screen mode.

Hotkeys

Some 3D applications automatically load their own color settings rather than those set through the ATI Color tab. To use custom settings, you can preconfigure hotkey combinations to either adjust the individual color properties or apply profiles you have created, once the 3D application is running.

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. Note: For the steps used to assign hot keys, refer to the Color

Hotkeys Settings section.

The easiest way to apply your own color settings from within a full screen 3D application is to create a Full Screen 3D profile and save it, assign hotkeys for the “Load Current Profile” action through the Hotkeys dialog, make sure that the profile you prefer is selected from the drop-down list box, and click trigger the profile.

OK. Once inside the 3D application, use the hotkeys to

16 ATI Displays Tab

Some 3D applications allow you to switch easily between full-screen mode and windowed mode, and do not load their own color settings. In windowed mode, you can make slider adjustments or select a different profile on the Color tab, then switch back to full-screen mode to see the effects immediately.

Color Hotkeys Settings

Some full screen 3D applications automatically load their own color settings rather than those set through the ATI Color tab. If you want to force the application to use your custom settings, you can preconfigure hotkey combinations to either adjust the individual color properties or apply profiles you have created from within the 3D application. This control is accomplished through the Color Hotkeys Settings dialog of the Color properties tab.

Color Hotkeys Settings Dialog

Color Hotkey Settings

Modifier key In combination with the Hotkey, specifies the hotkey

combination that triggers an action. The Modifier key can be any combination of Alt, Ctrl, or Shift. Note that the Shift key is never used alone.

ATI Displays Tab 17

Color Hotkey Settings

Hotkey In combination with the Modifier key, specifies the hotkey

combination that triggers an action. Hotkey can be any key listed. To avoid conflicts, be aware of any hotkeys or keyboard controls that may already be assigned to your applications and 3D games.

Hotkey action Specifies the action that the assigned hotkey

combinations will control within a full screen 3D application environment. You can only assign one hotkey combination to each action.

Assigned hotkeys

Add button Adds a hotkey combination to the assigned list. Remove button Removes a hotkey combination from the assigned list. Disable hotkeys

checkbox

Lists the assigned hotkey combinations and the actions that each one controls.

Disables all hotkeys. To disable a single hotkey combination, remove it from the assigned list.

To assig n color settings hotkeys for full screen 3D applications

1 Select a modifier key from the Modifier Key list. 2 Select a hotkey from the Hotkey list. 3 Select the action you want from the Hotkey Action list. 4 Click Add to create the hotkey combination. This combination will

appear in the Assigned Hotkeys text box. Only one hotkey combination can be assigned to each action; if you assign a new combination for an action, it will overwrite an existing one.

Note: When assigning hotkeys, be careful that the key combinations you choose do not conflict with those of other applications in which you might want to use them. The ATI Color properti es page only checks for duplications within the Color page itself, insofar as it allows a hotkey combination to be assigned only once.

To remove ass igned hotkeys

1 Select a hotkey combination from the Assigned Hotkey text box. 2 Click Remove.

Note: Assigning a new combination to an action with an existing combination will overwrite the existing one.

18 ATI Options Tab

To disable hotkeys (so that you do not accidentally activate them, for example), click the

Disable Hotkeys checkbox. If you plan to use

hotkeys, make sure this box is unchecked. The easiest way to apply your own color settings from within a full screen

3D application is to create a Full Screen 3D profile and save it, assign hotkeys for the “Load Current Profile” action through the Hotkeys dialog, make sure that the profile you prefer is selected from the drop-down list box, and click

OK. Once inside the 3D application, use the hotkeys to

trigger the profile.

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.

ATI Options Tab

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ATI Technologies RadeonX800 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual