Creative 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64, 3D Blaster GeForce 256 Annihilator Product Manual

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3D Blaster Riva TNT2 M64
Product Guide
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Product Guide
3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
This produ ct incorpo rates c opyright protec tion tec hnology that is pr otected by method cl aims of cert ain U.S. patents an d 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 limi ted viewi ng uses only unless otherwis e authorized by Macrovisi on Corporation. Rever s e engineering or disass e m bly is prohibited.
August 1999 3D Blaster is a trademark of Creat ive Technology Ltd.
NVIDIA, RIVA, RIVA TNT, and RIVA TNT2 are trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation. All other pro ducts are trademarks or reg istered trademar ks of their respectiv e owners.
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Creative End -User Soft ware Licens e Agreement
PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SOFTW ARE. BY USING THE SOFTW ARE, Y OU A GREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT . IF Y OU DO NOT A GREE TO THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, DO NO T OPEN THE SEALED DISK PACKAGE, INSTALL OR USE THE SOFTWARE. PROMPTLY RETURN, WITHIN 15 DAYS, THE SOFTWARE, ALL RELATED DOCUMENTATION AND ACCOMPANYING ITEMS TO THE PLACE OF ACQ UISITION FOR A FULL REFUND.
This is a le gal ag reement bet ween yo u and
Technology Ltd.
This Agreement states the terms and conditions upon which Creative offers to license the software sealed in the disk package toge ther with all related documentati on and acco mpan yin g ite ms incl udin g, but not limited to, the executable programs, drivers, libraries and data files associated with such programs (col lectivel y, the “Software”).
LICENSE
1.
Grant of License
The Software is licen sed, not sold, to you f or use only under the ter ms of this Agreem ent. You own the disk or other media on which the Soft w are is originall y or subseq uen tly recorde d or f ix ed; but , as between you an d Creativ e (and, to the ex tent applicable, its licensors), Creative retains all title to and own er ship of t he Softwa re and r eserv es al l rights not expressly gr anted to you.
2.
For Use on a Single Computer
The Softwa re may be used only on a single computer by a single user at any time. You may transfer the machi ne-readable portion of the Software fro m one computer to another computer, provided that (a) the Software (including any portion or copy ther eof) is erased from the first computer and (b) there is no possibility that the Software will be used on more than one comput er at a t ime.
3.
Stand-Alone Bas is
You may use the Software only on a stand- alone basis, such that the Softwa re and the functio ns it
and its subsidiaries (“Creative”).
Creative
Version 2. 0, June 19 98
provides are accessible only to persons w ho ar e physically p res ent at t he l ocati on of t he comput er on which the Sof tware is loa ded. You may no t allow the S oft ware or i ts f unct ions t o be acces sed remotely, or transmit all or any portion of the Software throug h any net work or communicat ion line .
4.
Copyright
The Software is owned by Creative and/or its licensees and is protected b y United States copyright laws and international treaty provisi ons . You may no t r emove the copyright notice from any copy of the Software or any copy of the written ma terials, if any , ac companyi ng the Software.
5.
One Archiva l Cop y
You may make one (1) archival copy of the machine-readable portion of the Softwar e for backup purposes only in support of your us e of the Software on a single computer, provided that you reprod uce on the copy all cop yrigh t and ot her proprietary rights notices included on the originals of the Software.
6.
No Merger or Integration
You may not merge any porti on of the Software into, or integrate an y portion of the Software with, any other program, except to the extent expressly permitted by the laws of the jurisdiction where you are located. Any port ion of the Software merged int o or integra ted with anot her program, if an y, wi ll cont inue t o b e subjec t to t he terms and conditions of this Agreement, and you
must reproduce on the merged or integrated portio n all copyright and other proprietary rights notices included in the originals of the Software.
7.
Network Version
If you hav e purch ased a “net wo rk” v ersi on of the Software, this Agreement applies to the installa tion of the So ftware on a si ngle “file serve r” . I t may not be copied onto multiple systems. Each “node” connected to the “file serve r” must a lso have its own license of a “node copy” of the Software, which becomes a license only for that sp ecific “node”.
8.
Transfer of License
You may transfer your license of the Software, provided that (a) you transfer all portions of the Software or copies thereof, (b) you do not retain any port ion of th e Softwar e or an y copy the r e o f , and (c) the transferee reads and agrees to be bound b y the terms and con ditions of th is Agreement.
9.
Limitations on Using, Copying, and Modifying the Software
Except to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement or by the laws of the jurisdiction where you acquired the Software, you may not use, cop y or modify the So ftware. No r may you sub-license any of yo ur rights under this Agreement.
10.
Decompiling, Disassembling, or Reverse
Engineering
You acknowledge that the Softwa re contains trade secrets and other proprietary information of
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Creativ e and its licensors . Except to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement or by the laws of t he jur isdiction where you are located , you may not de c o m pile, di s a s semble or otherw is e rever s e engineer the Soft w are, or engage in any other activities to obtain underlying infor m ation that is not visi ble to the user in connection wi th nor m al use of t h e S o f tware .
In particular, you agr ee not for any purpose to transmit the Software or display the Software's object code on any computer scr een or to make any hardcopy memory dumps of the Software's object code. If you belie ve you requir e information related to the interoperability of the Softwar e w it h other progr ams , you shall not decompile or disassemble the Software to obtain such information, and you agree to request such information from Cr eative at the address listed below. Upon re ceiving such a request, Creative shall determine whether you require such information for a legitimate purpose and, if so, Creative will provide such information to you within a reasonable time and on reasonable conditions. In any event, you will notify Creat ive of any info rmatio n de r i ve d f rom revers e engine e r ing or such other acti vities, and t he r es ults thereof will constitute the confidential information of Creative that may be used onl y in connection with the Software.
TERMINATION
The license granted to you is effective until terminated. You may terminate it at any time by returning the Software (including any portions or copies thereof ) to Creative. The license will also terminate automatically without any noti ce f rom Creative if you fail to comply with any term or condition of this Agree ment. You agree upon such
termination to return the Software (including any portions or copies thereof) to Creati ve. Upon termination, Creative may also enforc e any rights provided by law. The provisions of this Agreement that protect the proprietar y r ights of Creative wi ll continue in force after termination.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Creativ e w arrants, as the s ole warranty, that the disks on whic h the So ftware is furni shed wil l be free of defects, as set forth in the Warranty Card or printed manual included with the Software. No dist r ibutor, deal e r or a ny other en t ity or pers on is authorized to expand or alter this warranty or any other provisions of this Agreement . Any representation, other than the warranties set forth in this Agreemen t, w ill not bi nd Creative.
Creative does not warrant that the functions contained in th e Sof tware will meet your requirements or that the operation of the Sof tware will be uninterrupted, error-free or free from malicious code. For pur pos es of this paragraph, “malicious code” mea ns any program c ode desi gned to contam inate ot he r co m p uter pr ogram s or computer data, consume computer resources, modify , de stro y, reco rd, or tran smit da ta , or in som e other fashion usurp the normal operation of the computer , computer sys tem, or computer network, including viruses, Trojan horses, droppers, worms, logic bombs, an d the like. EXCEPT AS STATED
ABOVE IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE SOFTW ARE IS PROVIDED AS-IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CREATIVE IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE ANY UPDATES, UPGRADES
OR TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE SOFTWARE.
Further, Creative shall not be liable for the accuracy of any inf or m a t i o n pr ov ided by Cr e a tiv e or th i r d party technical support personnel, or any damages caused, either directly or indirectly, by acts taken or omissions made b y you as a result of such techni cal suppor t.
You assume full responsibi lity for the sel ect ion of the Softw are to achieve your in tended results, and for the ins tallation , use an d results o btained from the Software. You also assume the entire risk as it applies to the qualit y and perf orma n ce of the Software. Should the Software prove defective, you (and not Creative, or its distributors or dealers) assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction.
This warr anty giv es you specific legal rights, and you may also hav e ot her rig ht s w hi ch vary fro m country /state to country/sta te. Some countries/stat es do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not a pply to you. C r eative disclaims all warrant ies of any ki nd if the Softwa r e was customi zed, repacka ged or altered in any way by any thir d party ot he r th an Crea ti ve .
LIMITATION OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES THE ONLY REMEDY FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY WILL BE THAT SET FORTH IN THE WARRANTY CARD OR PRINTED MANUAL INCLUDED WITH THE SOFTWARE. IN NO EVENT WILL CREATIVE OR ITS LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, LOST REVENUES OR LOST DATA ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE
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SOFTWARE OR THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF CREATIVE OR ITS LICENSORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT WILL CREATIVE’S LIABILITY OR DAMAGES TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON EVER EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE CLAIM.
Some countries/states do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
PRODUCT RETURNS
If you must ship the softw are to Creative or an authorized Creative distributor or dealer, you must prepay shipping and either ins ure the software or assume all risk of loss or damage in transit.
U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS
All Softw are and related documentat ion are provided with restricted rights. Use, duplication or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software Clause at 252.227-7013. If you are sub­licensing or us ing the Softwa r e outside of the United States, you will comply with the applicable local laws of your cou ntry, U.S. export con trol l aw , and the English version of this Agreement.
CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER
The Contractor/Manufacturer for the Software is:
Creative Technology Ltd
31, International Business Park Creative Resource Singapore 609921
GENERAL
This Agreement is binding on you as well as your employees, employers , contractors and agents, and on any successors and assignees. Neither the Software nor any information derived therefrom may be expo rted excep t in acco rdance with the laws of the U.S. or other applicable provis ions. This Agreeme nt is governed by the laws of the State of California (except to the extent federal law governs copyrights and federall y registered trademarks ). This Agreemen t is the ent ire agree ment be twee n us and supersed es any other understandings or agreements, including, but not limited to, advertising, with respect to the Software. If any provision of this Agree me nt is deem ed invalid or unenforceable by any country or government agency having jurisdiction, that particular provision will be deemed modified t o t he extent necessary to make the prov ision valid and enforceable, and the remaining provisio ns will re mai n in full force and effect.
For questions concerning this Agreement, please contact Creative at the add ress stated abo ve. For questions on pr oduct or techni cal matters, contact the Creative technical support center nearest you.
ADDENDUM TO THE MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT (WINDOWS 95)
IMPORTANT: By us ing the Microsoft software
files (the “Microsoft Software”) provided with this Addendum, yo u ar e agreeing to be bound by the following t erms. If y ou do n ot agree to be b oun d b y these terms, yo u may not use the Micros oft Software.
The Microsoft Software is provided for the sole purpose of replacing the corresponding files provided with a previously licensed copy of the Microsoft software product iden ti fied abo ve
(“ORIGINAL PRODUCT”). Upon installation, the Microsoft Software files become part of the ORIGINAL PRODUCT and are subject to the same warrant y and license te r m s and conditions as the ORIGINAL PRODUCT. If you do not have a valid license to use the ORIGINAL PRODUCT , you may not use the Microsoft Software. Any other use of the Microsoft Software is prohibited.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
IF YOU ACQUIRED THE SOFTWARE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU), THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS ALSO APPLY TO YOU. IF THERE IS ANY INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TERMS OF THE SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT SET OUT EARLIER AND IN THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS, THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE.
DECOMPILATION
You agree not for any purpose to transmit the Software or display the Sof tware’s object code on any computer screen or to make any hard copy memory dumps of the Softwa re’ s object code. If you believe you require information related to the interoperability of the Software with other progr a ms , yo u sh a ll no t de c om pile or disass e m b l e the Software to obtain such information, and you agree to request such information from Creative at the address listed earl ier. U pon receiv ing such a request, Creative shall determine whether you require such information for a legitimate purpose and, if so , Cre ati v e wil l p rov ide such info rm atio n to you withi n a reasonable time and on reasonab le conditions.
LIMITED WARRANTY EXCEPT AS STATED EARLIER IN THIS AGREEMENT, AND AS PROVIDED UNDER
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THE HEADING “STATUTORY RIGHTS”, THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS-IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, QUALITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
LIMITATION OF REMEDY AND DAMAGES THE LIMITATIONS OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES IN THE SOFTWARE LICENS E AGREEMENT SHALL NOT APPLY TO PERSONAL INJURY (INCLUDING DEA TH) TO ANY PERSON CAUSED BY CREATIVE’S NEGLIGENCE AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION SET OUT UNDER THE HEADING “STATUTORY RIGHTS”.
STATUTORY RIGHTS
Irish law provides that certain conditions and warra nties ma y be im plied in c ontrac t s for the s ale of goods and in contracts for the supply of services. Such condi tions a nd war ranties are hereby exc luded, to the extent such exclusion, in the context of this transaction, is lawful under Irish law. Conversely, such conditions and warranties, insofar as they may not be lawfu lly exclu ded, shall apply.
Accordingl y nothing in this Agreement s hall prejudice an y rig hts that you may enj oy b y vir tue of Sections 12, 13, 14 or 15 of the Ir ish Sale of Goods Act 1893 (as amended).
GENERAL
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of Ireland. The local language version of this agreement shall apply to Software acquired in the EU. This Agreement is the entire agreement between us, and you agree that Creative will not have an y liability f or any untrue stat ement or represent ation made by it , i ts agents or an yone else
(whether inno cently or negli gently ) upon whic h you relied upon entering this Agreement, unless such untrue statement or repres entation was made fraudule ntly.
Safe ty In fo rma t i on
The following sections contain notices for
various countries:
CAUTION: This device is intended to be installed by the user in a CSA/TUV/UL cert ified/li s ted IBM AT or compatible personal computers in the manufacturer’s defi ned operator acces s area. Check the equipment operating/installation manual and/or with the equipment manufacturer to verify/confirm if your equi pment is suitable for user -installed applicat ion cards.
Modifications
Any chang e s or modifications not expr es s ly approv ed by the gra ntee of th is de vice c ould vo id the user’s authority to operate the device.
Compliance
This product conf orms to th e followin g Counc il Directive:
Directive 89/336/EEC, 92/31/EEC (EMC)
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Contents
Introduction
Serial and Model Number s... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ...2
Before You Begin............. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ..........2
Minimum Sys tem Requirements................................................ .............. .............. .....2
Updating Dri ve rs..... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ...2
Preliminary st ep for W i ndo ws95 users.............. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. .....3
Knowing and Installing Your Graphics Card
T o instal l the gra p h ics card.......... ....... ............... .............. .............. ..................... ............... .......5
Installin g Softwar e..................................... ............... .............. .............. ...................... ..............6
T o inst al l in Wind o ws95 (Retailversion).......... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ...7
To instal l in W indo ws95 (OSR version 2.0 and later) ........... ..... .. ... .... ... .. ..... .. ... .... ...7
T o inst al l in Wind o ws98........ ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ...8
T o instal l in Wind ows NT 4.0 (Ser v ice Pack 3 ).......... ............... .............. .............. ...10
Changing Setti ngs............ ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ........11
To change the display settings in Windows NT 4.0..................................................11
To change the performance settings in Windows95/98 and Windows NT 4.0.......12
Getting More Information... .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. .............. .............. .12
For 3D B l aster RIVATNT2 M64 .............................. .............. .............. ............... .....12
For Creative BlasterControl.......................... .............. .............. .............. ............... .....13
For Creative SoftMPEG............ .............. .............. .............. ............... ..................... ...13
Prod uct Guide vi
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Technical Specifications
Architec ture Hi ghligh t s..... ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. .14
3D Features..... ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. .14
2D Features. .. .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. .16
V ideo Support........ ....... .......... ....... ....... ....... ....... ........ ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... .16
Specif ica tions........... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .16
Driv ers............ ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .17
Utilities.... ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .17
Applications Supported.............. ................ ... ................... ................ ... ..........17
Troubleshooting
System Han g s, BlankScreen or Co r rupted Display....................................19
Wind ows 98 Multi-Monitor Display Problems............................................19
Other Display Pr o b l ems............................................... .............. .............. ......20
Beeping Sounds During
System Startup......... ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .. ... ..... .. .. ... .... ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. ..... .. ... .. .21
Problems Installing Softwar e........................................ ............... .............. ...22
Problems Using Software.................................. ............... .............. ...............22
Problem with OpenGL Applications.................................................. ..........23
Problem with PCI Bridge (inWindows 95)...... ............... .............. .............. .24
Problem with AGP Aperture Size................... .............. ............... .............. ...25
vii 3D Blaste r™ Riva TNT 2 ™ M64
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Introduction
The 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64 is a high quality 2D/3D/video graphics ac ce lerator card that is well suited for a wide variety of applications ranging from ever yday desktop use to gaming and entertainment.
Leveraging NVIDIA delivers high quality and performance. Its dual texture architecture can process 2 pixels or textures per cl ock c ycle. This e nables de v elope rs to c reate specia l e f fect s such a s multi -la yered textures, bump mapping to simulate rough surfaces, and environmental mapping that gives objects reflec tive properties. Develope rs can take adv antage of advance d filtering m odes (including trilin ea r mipmappi ng and an isotr opic f il tering) with full scen e anti -alia sing t o cre ate realistic images that rival more expensive graphics workstati ons .
The 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 provides outstanding 2D and video acceleration as well and also supports software DVD decoders through hardware color and pixel format conversion.
’s RIVA TNT2 graphics controller, the 3D Blas ter RIVA TNT2 M64
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Serial and Model Numbers
Your card ’s serial and model num bers can be found at the back of the card. We r ec ommend that you record the serial and model number below.
Table 1: Serial numbers and model numbers.
Hardware Product Codes Numbers
3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64
Serial Number
Model Number
Before You Begin
Minimum System Requirements
Updating Drivers
2 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
The README file on the CD-ROM contains information not av ailable at the time of printing. Read the file before you continue. In addit ion, read the following:
Minimum System RequirementsUpdating Drivers
®
IBMGenuine Intel Pentium II, Pentium III, AMD-K6, AMD-K6-2 or AMD-K6-3 processor
32 MB RAM15 MB free hard disk spaceVacant 32-bit AGP 1.0 expans ion slot for 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64VGA monitorCD-ROM drive installedWindows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 (with Service Pack 3).
To download the latest dri vers for 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64, visit Creative’s Web site (http://www.cle.cre af. co m).
PC 100% compatible
at 233MHz or higher for best performance , 350MHz or above is recommende d.
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Preliminary step for Windows 95
Since Windows automatically detects new hardwar e and starts the software installati on procedure upon startu p, you should verify your Windows version number before installing the graphics card.
users
Check the ap propr iate box so th at you can refer to the Windows’ version number quickly during the softw ar e in stallation pro ce ss.
To verify your Windows 95 version number
1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the System icon. Your Windows 95 version number is displ ayed in the General tabbed page of the Systems Properties dialog box.
3. Note the version number. The following are the possible Windows 95 version numbers:
4.00.950 (Retail version)4.00.950A (Retail version)4.00.950B (OSR version 2 and 2.1)4.00.950C (OSR version 2.5)
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Knowing and Installing Your Graphics Card
This section shows you the connectors on the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 card.
Video Expansion connector
Connect to a video expansion board.
VGA Out connector
Connects to your monitor via a monitor cable.
AGP bus connector
Figure 1: The 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 card.
4 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
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To install the
Figure 2: Types of expansion slots.
An AGP slot
A PCI slot
An ISA slot
graphics card
If you are replacing an existing VGA card with 3DBlaster RIVA TNT2 M64, please remember to remove the existing VGA card .
1. Switch off your computer and al l peripheral devices.
2. Touch any metallic surfa ce on your com puter to discharge any stati c el ectricity
3. Disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet.
4. Remove the computer cover.
5. Locate a free AGP expansion slot. Figure 2 shows the va ri ous t ypes of e xpan sion slot s.
6. Remove the meta l plate from the AGP slot. Keep the screw and metal plat e for future use.
7. Align the bus conn ector of th e gr aphics c ard wit h th e expansion slot.
8. Press the card’s bus connector gent ly a nd e v enl y in to the slot, making sure tha t the bus connecto r com es into full contact with the slot. Then, secure the card to the compu ter cas i n g with a scr ew. See Figure 3 belo w.
ii. Secure the card to the
slot with a screw.
Warning: Do not force the graphics card into place. If it does not fit properly, gently remove it and try again.
i. Gently and evenly press the card’s bus connector into the slot.
Figure 3: Securing the graphi cs card to the slot.
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9. Connect the monitor cable to the VGA Out connector of 3D Blaster Riva TNT2 M64, as shown in Figur e 4.
• If you are using a multi­frequen cy monitor, you may need a speci al 15-pin PS/2-comp atible adapter cable. I f y our m ulti -fre que ncy monitor allows you to switch between ‘TTL’ and ‘analog’ operat ion modes, set the switch to ‘analog’. For details, refer to your monitor ’s manual.
Installing Software
VGA Monitor cable
VGA Monitor
Figure 4: Connecting your VGA monitor to the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64.
VGA out connector
3D Blaster Riva TNT2 M64
10.Replace the computer cover and plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
After installing th e gra phics card, you can install the software. The 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 CD contains the following:
Drivers for Windows 95/98 (common to both)Drivers for Windo wsNT 4.0
Creative Enhanced BlasterControl
for Windo ws95/98 and Windows NT 4.0
Creative SoftMPEG for Windows 95/9 This section is organized a s fol lows:
To install in Windows 95 (Retail version)To instal l in Win d ows 95 (OS R version 2.0 and later)To inst al l in Win d ows 98To install in Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 3)
6 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
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To install in
Figure 5: Selec ting the
Driver from disk provided
by hardwa r e ma nufact ure r
option.
Windows 95 (Retail version)
1. Switch on your system. Windows 95 automatically detects the graphics card. A New Hardware Found message box appears, informing you that a display adapter has been detected.
2. When a dialog box similar to Figure 5 appears, ensure that the Driver from disk provided by hardware manufacturer option is selected.
3. Clic k the OK button.
4. Insert the 3D Blaster RI VA TNT2 M64 CD into your CD-ROM drive.
5. In the Install From Disk dialog box, type D:\WINDOWS (where D: re presents your CD-ROM drive) and click the OK button.
6. If prompted to select driv ers, click the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 drivers. The drivers are copied to your system.
7. When prompted to restart your system, click the Yes button.
8. After the system has restarted, proceed to inst all the applications. Click Start -> Run.
9. In the Run dialog box, type D:\WINDO WS\SET UP and click the OK button.
10.Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the se tup. If you do not install al l the applications now, you can install them later.
To install in Windows 95 (OSR version 2.0 and later)
1. Switch on your system. Windows 95 automatically detects the graphics card. A New Hardware Found message box appear s, informing you that a display adapter has been detected.
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2. When a dialog box similar to Figure 6
appear s, click t h e Nex t button.
3. Click the Other Loca t ions button when i t appe ar s in the Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box.
4. Insert the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 CD into yo u r C D - ROM dr ive.
5. In the Select Other Location dialog box, type D:\WINDOWS (where D: represents your CD-ROM drive) and clic k the OK button.
6. In the Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box, click the Finish button.
7. In the Insert D isk message box, click the OK button.
8. In the Copyin g Files dialog box, type D:\WINDOWS and click the OK button. The drivers are copied to your system.
9. In the Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box, click the OK button.
10.When prompted to restart your system, click the Yes button.
11.After the system has res tarted, proceed to install the applications. Click Start -> Run.
12.In the Run dialog box, type D:\WINDOWS\SETUP and click the OK button.
13.Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup. If you do not install al l the applications now, you can install them later.
Figure 6: The Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box.
To install in Windows 98
8 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
1. Switch on your system. Windows 98 automatically detects the graphics card. An Add New Hardware Wizard message box appear s, informing you tha t a display adapter has been detected.
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2. When a dialog box similar to Figure 7
Figure 7: Selecting the option
Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want
.
appears, select the op tion Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want.
3. Clic k the Next butto n.
4. Insert the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 CD into your CD-ROM drive.
5. In the Models list box, click the Have Disk button.
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6. In the Instal l From Disk dialog box, type D:\WINDOWS (where D: represents your CD-ROM drive) and click the OK button. If you are installing 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 as a second or subsequent card to make use of Wind ow s 98’s mu lti-m o nitor capab ility, you w i ll see an Update Driver Warning message telling you t hat the dri ve r you hav e selecte d may not work corre ctly . You the Yes button to confi rm that you w ant to use the s elected dri ve r. Other wise, the s ystem wil l install the wrong driver and will not recognize the card as a 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 card (for details, se e “Windows98 Multi-Monitor Dis play Problems” on page 19).
7. In the Models list box of the Select Device dialog box, make sure the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 ent r y is select ed an d cli ck the OK button.
8. Click the Next button.
9. Click the Finish button. The drivers are copied to your system.
10.When prompted to restart your system, click the Yes button.
11.After the system has res tarted, proceed to install the applications. Click Start -> Run.
12.In the Run dialog box, type D:\WINDOWS\SETUP and click the OK button.
13.Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup. If you do not install al l the applications now, you can install them later.
must
click
To install in Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 3)
10 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
1. Switch on your system.
2. Click Start -> Run.
3. In the Run dialog box, type D:\WINNT40\SETUP and click the OK but ton.
4. Follow the ins tructions on the screen to complete the setup. If you do not install al l the applications now, you can install them later.
5. If the Invalid Display Settings message box appear s after your system has rest arted, click the OK button and change the display settings. For detail s, se e “To change the display settings in Windows NT 4.0” on page 11.
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Changing Settings
To change the display settings in Windows NT 4.0
1. Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings ta b.
3. In the Desktop Area group box, move the slider to set the desired resolution.
4. In the Color Palette gro up box, select the desired col or . Certain colo rs may not be av aila ble
for some display resolutions.
5. In the Refresh Frequency group box, select the desired refresh rate.
6. To test th e sett i ng s , click th e Test button, and then click the OK butto n. When the Testing Mo de dialog box re-appears:
If the test bi tmap is properly displayed, click the Yes button.
If not, click the No button. A warning message will be displayed. Click the OK button
and repeat steps 3 through 6, changing one or more of the setti ngs.
7. Clic k the OK button to close the Display Properties dialog box.
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To change the performance settings in Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0
You can customize th e s etti ngs of your graphics card for optimal perfor m ance with app lications. However, if your m onitor display exhibits pixel drop (that is, pixels, usually white in color, appear on the screen) or any other abnormal behavior, revert to the factory default settings (see “Troubleshooting” on page 19).
Getting More Information
To do so in Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0
1. Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the BlasterControl tab.
3. On the BlasterControl tabbed page, click the Tweak icon.
4. In the Tweak module, select the desired sett ings.
5. To speci fy additional set tings for 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64, click the Advanced Settings
button.
6. Select the desired settings and click the OK button. To see a brief description of an option or check box in the BlasterControl Tweak module, right-click the item, and then click What’s This.
To do so in Windows 98
1. Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties on the menu tha t appears.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
3. On the Settings tabbed page, click the Advanced button.
4. In the Advanced Properties dialog box, click the BlasterControl tab.
5. Select the desired settings and click the OK button. To see a brief description of an option or check box in the BlasterControl Advanced module, right-click the item, and then click What’s This.
For 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64
12 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
The Help file for 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 gives a brief introduction to the featur es supported by this graphics card.
To open the Help file for 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64
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Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 -> 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 Help.
For Creative BlasterControl
For Creative SoftMPEG
The Help file for Creative BlasterControl shows you how to use the BlasterControl utility to customize your screen reso lution, color depth, and refr es h rate in Windo ws.
To open the Help file for BlasterControl
Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> BlasterControl Help.
For Help topics specific to a BlasterControl module
In the BlasterControl module you want, click the Help button.
The Help file for Cr eative SoftMPEG teaches you how to use SoftMPEG to play Video CDs and MPEG files.
To open the Help file for SoftMPEG
In Creative SoftMPEG, right-click the Video window, and then click Help on the menu that appears.
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Technical Specifications
Architecture Highlights
3D Features
14 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
64-bit wide graphics engine and frame buffer32 MB SDRAM250 million pixels/ se c, bilinear f iltered
Optimized for Microsoft’s Direct3D APIComplete DirectX 6.x support100% hardware triangle setupTwin texel (TNT) 32-bit graphics pipeline
2 texture-mapped, lit pixels per clock
Single pass mul ti-texturing support (DirectX 6. x and OpenGL ICD)
Square and non-sq uare texture suppo rt
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TextureBlend support e xam ples:
Multi-texture
Bump map
Texture modulation
Light maps
Reflection maps
Detail textures
Environ m e ntal maps
Procedural textures
Sub-pixel accurate
Backend blend
32-bit ARGB ren dering with destination alpha
Point sampled, bilinear, tril inear and 8-tap
Anisotropic filtering
Per pixel perspective correct texture mapping
•Fog
Light
Mipmapping
24-bit or 16-bit hardware Z-buffer (fi xed or floating)8-bit stencil bufferFu l l sce n e an t i- a liasing
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2D Features
High performance 128-bit 2D/GUI/DirectDraw acceleration
Acc elerated primitives in clude BLT, indexed DIB color translation, transparent BLT,
stretch BLT, points , lines, polyline s , polygons, fi lls, patterns, arbitrary rectangular clipping and fast text rendering hardware font cache
Pipeline optimized for multiple color depths including 32, 24, 16, 15, and 8 bits
per pixel
Fast 32-bit VGA/SVGA supportMulti-buffering (Double, Triple, Quad buffering) for smooth animation and video playba ck
Video Support
Specifications
16 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
Video acceleration for DirectShow, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and IndeoX and Y smooth up and down scaling with filteringPer-pixel color keyingMultiple video windows with hardware color space conversion and filtering (YUV 4:2:2
and 4:2:0)
Video port supports ITU-CCIR 565AGP version 1.0 with 2X data transfer
VESA DDC 2B + DPMSSingle slot 2D, 3D graphics, and video acce leratorNVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64 graphics engineIntegrated 300 MHz RAMDAC supporting up to 1920x1200 in true colorMPEG-1, MPEG-2, and full-motion video acceleration/ass istanceFull Plug and Play complian t
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Drivers
Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 (when available) display driversWindows 95 and Windows 98 display driver, DirectDraw, Direct3D, DirectVideo, ActiveXOpenGL IC D for Win dow s 95 and Wind ows NT 4.0VBE 3.0 compliant
Utilities
Applications Supported
Cr ea tive Enha nced Blaster Contr ol ™C r eative Enhanced S o f tM PEG
All Windows 95 applications, including DirectDraw and Direct 3Dgames and applicationsOpenGL applications under W indows 95 and Windows 98.
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Table 2 : Refresh rates s upporte d by different video modes
The refresh rates shown i n the table are the highe st obtain able and are monitor-dependent. Resolutions, pixel depths, and refre sh rates are also driver ­dependen t and may not be availabl e fo r so m e app l icatio ns or operating systems.
Refresh
Rates
Number of Colors
Resolution 256 (8-bit) 64k (16-bit) 16.7 million (32-bit)
640x480
800x600
1024x768
1152x864
1280x1024 1600x1200
1920x1080 1920x1200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150, 170,
200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 170, 200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150, 170,
200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100 60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100 60, 70, 72, 75
60, 70, 72, 75, 85 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 60, 70
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150, 170,
200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 170, 200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150, 170,
200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150, 170,
200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 170, 200
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140, 144, 150, 170
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120, 140
60, 70, 72, 75, 85, 100,
120
18 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
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Troubleshooting
System Hangs, Blank Screen or Corrupted Display
Windows 98 Multi-Monitor Display Problems
After installing 3D Blaster RIV A TNT2 M64 and starting your system, the monitor displays a blank screen.
Solutions Try the fo llowing :
Switch off your system and wait a while before switching it on ag ain.Verify that any bui lt-in VGA on your moth erboard is disabled and that you
have removed any other video display card from your system.
E nsure that your 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 card’s bus connector is fully
inserted into the expansion slot. Ensure this by pressing it gently and ev enly into th e sl o t.
Verify that the pins of your monitor’s VGA Input connector are not bent and
that the connector is properly connected to the VGA Out connector of 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64.
In a multi-monitor setting, the monitor connected to the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 card remains blank even though the card and its drivers have been installed.
Cause If 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64’s drivers are not s pecified duri ng the software
installation, the system insta lls it as a standard VGA card that does Window s 98’s mu lti-m onit or f e atur e.
support
not
Product Guide 19
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Solution Update the device drivers to 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 drivers :
1. Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
3. On the Settings tabbed page, click the Advanced Properties button.
4. In the Advanced Display Properties dialog box , click the Change button.
5. In the Select Device dialog box, clic k the Have Disk button.
6. Insert the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 CD into your CD-ROM drive.
7. Follow steps 6 through 13 of the procedure in “ To install in Windows 98” on page 8 to complete the update.
Other Display Problems
For the resolutions supported by your mo nitor, refer to its manu a l .
20 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
Monitor display flickers or the screen goes blank after Windows starts.
Cause Your monitor may not support the resolution or refresh rate that you have set. Solution Use display settings supporte d by the monitor.
To change the display settings :
1. Restart your system in Windows 98 Safe mode. To do so: i. Restart your system and when the message “Starting Windows 98...”
appears, press <F8> . A list of options su ch as Safe Mode and Command Prompt Only Mode appears.
ii. Select Safe Mode and press <Enter>.
2. After your system has restarted, right-click the desktop and click Properties.
3. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
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4. Try the following:
Make sure that the correc t monitor is selected.
To verify, click th e Change Display Type butt on or th e Advanced Propertie s button on the Settings tabbed page.
Use a lower refresh rate or the adapter’s default.
For details on this, refer to the topi c “Using BlasterControl Monitor Settings ” in the BlasterControl Help file.
Lower your monitor’s resolution.
To do so, adjust the color depth and desktop area on the Settings tabbed page.
Monitor display exhibits pixel drop (that is, pixels, usually white in color, appear on the screen) or other abnormal behavior.
Cause The settings that you have selected for your graphics card may be incompatible
with one or more games or applications that you are running.
Solution Use the factory default settings:
1. Right-click your desktop, and th en click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the BlasterContr ol tab.
3. O n the BlasterControl tabbed page, click the Tweak icon.
4. Click the Resto re D ef a ul ts button.
Beeping Sounds During System Startup
When the system is starting up, there is a series of prolonged beeps.
Cause Your 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 card may not be firmly inserted into the
expansion slot.
Solution Ensure that the bus connector of the graphics card is fully inserted into the
expansion slot. Ensure this by pressing the card gently and evenly into the slot. You can also tr y removing the card and re-inserting it.
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Problems Installing Software
In Window s 95 or Wi ndows 98, the inst al lat i on progra m for Blast er Control does not run automatically after you have inserted the installation CD into your drive.
Cause The AutoPlay feature in your Wi ndo ws 95 or Windows 98 system is not enabled. Solution To install the software from the CD:
1. Double-click the My Computer icon on your Windows desktop.
2. In the My Computer window, double-click the Creativ e 3D Blaster RIVATNT2 M64 icon. If the installation program does not run, double-click the Windows folder icon f ol lowed by the Setup icon.
3. Follow the in structions on the screen to complete the installation.
Problems Using Software
22 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
When you restart Windows, one of the following error messages appears:
“BlasterControl will only work on Creative graphics product drivers.
Do you want BlasterControl to be loaded the next time you start Windows?”
“BlasterControl will only work on Creative graphics product drivers.”
Cause 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 driv ers, re qui red by Bla ste rControl, may hav e been
replaced by other dri vers when you inst alled DirectX applications.
Solution Re-install or revert to the 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 drivers.
To revert to the drivers:
1. Right-click your desktop, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab, and then click the Change Display Type button or the Advanced Prop er t ie s button.
3. In the Adapter Type group box or on the Adapter tabbed page, click the Change button.
4. In the Select Device dialog box, click 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64, and then click the OK button.
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5. In the Insert Disk message box, click the OK button without inserting
any CD.
6. If 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 drivers and later versions of DirectX drivers
are alre ady in st al led , cl ic k t he Skip File butt on until the Adapter T ype gro up box or the Adapter tabbed page appears.
7. Click the two Close buttons to close the Display Properties dialog b ox.
8. When prompted to restart your system, click the Yes button.
After you have restarted your system, the newer DirectX drivers will work with the late st 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 M64 drivers .
Problem with OpenGL Applications
When starting OpenGL Screen Saver or applications in Windows 98, the message “No local buffer memory available” appears.
Solution Set a lower resolution and colo r depth:
1. Right-click your desktop, and th en click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
3. In the Desktop Area group box, move the slider to set a lower resolution.
4. In the Color Palette group box, set to 64 0x480 and 1 6- bit c olor (hig h c ol or)
for OpenGL applications to work properly.
OpenGL applications run uncharacteri stically slowly in Windows 98.
Cause OpenGL applications do not support Windows 98’s multi-mo nitor feature.
Consequently, Windows 98 disables all hardware acceleration when the multi-monitor option is enabled.
Solution Disable the multi-monitor option:
1. Right-click your desktop, and th en click Properties on the shortcut menu.
2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
3. Clear the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor check box.
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Problem with PCI Bridge (in Windows 95)
After installing RIVA TNT2 M64 onto a Pentium II LX system or any other AGP system, the Resources tabbed page of the RIVA TNT2 M64 Properties dialog box in Windows 95 shows resource conflicts similar to the following: Memory Range used FEDC00 00 - FEDDFFFF used by PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge. Memory Range used FD800000 - FDFFFFFF used by PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge. Memory Range used FE000000 - FE7FFFFF used by PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge.
Cause The “PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge” is the CPU chipset to AGP control ler,
which Windows 95 cannot identify properly.
Solution No action required.
A conflict between the AGP video controller and the “PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge” in the Windows 95 Device Manager does not affect the functionality of the AGP ca rd wit hin W in do ws 95. This prob lem is c ommon t o al l AGP graphic s cards and does not affect RIVA TNT2 M64’s functionalit y. It has been resolved in Windows 98.
24 3D Blaster™ RIVA TNT2™ M64
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Problem with AGP Aperture Size
Changing settings in CMOS incorr ectly can cause the sys tem to stop functioning.
Some of the steps from step 3 onwards may not apply to your system’s CMOS. Refer to your system’s CMOS documentat ion for more details.
DirectDraw/Direct3D fails to use hardware acceleration (HAL).
Cause The CMOS setting for the AGP Aperture size is less than 8 MB. Solution Set the AGP Apertu r e size to 8 MB or more.
Do the following in CMOS:
1. Restart your syste m.
2. During the memory check, press <Dele te> . The CMOS setup menu appears.
3. Select Chi pset Fe atures Setup and press <Ent er> .
4. Set your AGP Aperture Size (MB) to 8 MB or more .
5. Press <Esc> to return to the CMOS setup menu.
6. Select Save & Exit Setup, and then press <Enter>.
7. Press <Y> and then press <Enter>.
Product Guide 25
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