GV-N26-896H-B/ GV-N26OC-896H-B
NVIDIA® GeForceTM GTX 260 Graphics Accelerator
User's Manual
Rev. 102
12MM-NX268B-102R
Copyright
© 2008 GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
Copyright by GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. ("GBT"). No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed, written permission of GBT.
Trademarks
Third-party brands and names are the properties of their respective owners.
Notice
Please do not remove any labels on this graphics card. Doing so may void the warranty of this card.
Due to rapid change in technology, some of the specifications might be out of date before publication of this this manual. The author assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions that may appear in this document nor does the author make a commitment to update the information contained herein.
Macrovision corporation product notice:
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.
VGA Card
GV-N26-896H-B
VGA Card
GV-N26-896H-B
Jun. 5, 2008
Jun. 5, 2008
VGA Card
GV-N26OC-896H-B
VGA Card
GV-N26OC-896H-B
Sept. 1, 2008
Sept. 1, 2008
Table of Contents |
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1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ |
5 |
1.1. Features ......................................................................................................................... |
5 |
1.2. Minimum System Requirements .................................................................................... |
5 |
2. Hardware Installation .................................................................................................. |
6 |
2.1. Board Layout ................................................................................................................. |
6 |
2.2. Hardware Installation .................................................................................................... |
10 |
3. Software Installation .................................................................................................. |
14 |
3.1. Windows® XP Driver and Utilities Installation ............................................................... |
14 |
3.1.1. Operating System Requirements .............................................................................. |
14 |
3.1.2. DirectX Installation ........................................................................................................ |
15 |
3.1.3. Driver Installation ......................................................................................................... |
16 |
3.1.4. Taskbar Icon ................................................................................................................. |
18 |
3.1.5. Display Properties Pages ........................................................................................... |
19 |
3.1.6. nView Properties Pages (Note) ....................................................................................... |
30 |
4. Troubleshooting Tips ................................................................................................ |
35 |
5. Appendix ................................................................................................................. |
36 |
5.1. How to Reflash the BIOS in MS-DOS Mode .............................................................. |
36 |
5.2. Resolutions and Color Depth Table (In Windows XP) ................................................... |
37 |
5.3. Regulatory Statements ................................................................................................. |
39 |
(Note) This item will show up when you connect two monitors.
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1. Introduction
1.1.Features
•Powered by NVIDIA® GeForceTM GTX 260 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
•Supports PCI Express 2.0
•Integrated with 896 MB GDDR3 memory
•Supports DirectX 10
•Supports NVIDIA® SLI TM (Scalable Link Interface) technology (Note 1)
•Supports 2 DVI-I connectors
•Supports HDTV output (by adapter, for GV-N26-896H-B only)
•Supports HDMI connector (by adapter, only GV-N26OC-896H-B includes the adapter)
•Supports 2 D-Sub connectors (by adapter)
•Supports HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) technology
1.2.Minimum System Requirements
•Hardware
-500-watt power supply or greater with minimum 12V current rating of 36A. (Note 2)
-Intel® Pentium®/CoreTM 2 or AMD AthlonTM/PhenomTM
-512 MB of system memory; 2 GB or more for best performance
-Optical drive for software installation (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive)
•Operating System
-Windows® Vista
-Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
-Windows® XP Professional x64 Edition
•SLI TM Configuration
If you are planning on using this graphics card as part of an SLI system, the following are required:
-An SLI certified motherboard with two/three PCIe x16 slots and correct chipset driver
-Two GV-N26-896H-B/GV-N26OC-896H-B for SLI configuration;
Three GV-N26-896H-B/GV-N26OC-896H-B for 3-way SLI configuration
-A power supply with 900-watt or above is recommended
-An SLI bridge connector or 3-way SLI bridge connector
(Note 1) SLI technology requires a PCI Express motherboard with two/three x16 physical connectors. Graphics cards working in an SLI configuration must be with the same model name (e.g. GV-N26-896H-B/GV-N26OC-896H-B) and from the same vendor (e.g. GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY).
(Note 2) The minimum system power requirement recommended here is based on a PC configured with an Intel Core 2 Extreme processor (QX6700).
- 5 - |
Introduction |
2. Hardware Installation
2.1. Board Layout
1. GV-N26-896H-B
SLI Connector
TV-Out
DVI-I Connector 1
DVI-I Connector 2 |
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HDTV |
Y |
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Pr |
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or |
Pb/AV Output |
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NTSC / PAL TV |
Projector |
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S-Video Output |
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or |
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NTSC / PAL TV |
Projector |
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DVI Output |
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Digital LCD Monitor |
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or |
D-Sub |
DVI-I to D-Sub |
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Output |
Adapter |
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Analog LCD Monitor |
Analog Monitor |
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HDMI TV
DVI-I to HDMI Adapter (optional)
TV-Out
DVI-I
Connector 1
DVI-I
Connector 2
GV-N26 Series Graphics Accelerator |
- 6 - |
2. GV-N26OC-896H-B
SLI Connector
TV-Out
DVI-I Connector 1
DVI-I Connector 2
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S-Video Output |
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or |
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TV-Out |
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NTSC / PAL TV |
Projector |
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DVI-I |
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Connector 1 |
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DVI Output |
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Digital LCD Monitor |
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DVI-I |
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Connector 2 |
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or |
D-Sub |
DVI-I to D-Sub |
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Output |
Adapter |
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Analog LCD Monitor |
Analog Monitor |
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HDMI TV
DVI-I to HDMI Adapter
- 7 - |
Hardware Installation |
The GV-N26-896H-B/GV-N26OC-896H-B graphics card is a performance optimized high-end card. Power is taken from the PCI Express host bus as well as the two 6-pin PCI Express power connectors. Without auxiliary power provided to the GV-N26-896H-B/GV-N26OC-896H-B graphics card, an LED on the bracket goes red and the graphics card will not boot. In addition, the connector that is not adequately powered will turn red.
The table below outlines the different possible scenarios as well as the resulting behaviors. Configuration with External PCIe Connectors:
6-pin PCIe Power |
6-pin PCIe Power |
Result |
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Connector (upper) |
Connector (lower) |
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Connected |
Connected |
Full Power |
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Not Connected |
Connected |
LED light is redgraphics card will not boot |
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Connected |
Not Connected |
LED light is redgraphics card will not boot |
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Not Connected |
Not Connected |
LED light is redgraphics card will not boot |
If you want to use the included 6-pin power adapters, make sure at least 12V/15A current is supplied to each 4-pin power connector on the adapters. Failure to do so may jeopardize the stability of the graphics card.
6-pin Power
Adapter
Requires at least 12V current rating of 15A
Requires at least 12V current rating of 15A
Incorrect Connection
(The two 4-pin power connectors on the adapter are connected to the same system power supply cable.)
Correct Connection
(The two 4-pin power connectors on the adapter are connected to two independent system power supply cables.)
GV-N26 Series Graphics Accelerator |
- 8 - |
Expansion cards contain very delicate Integrated Circuit (IC) chips. To protect them against damage from static electricity, you should follow some precautions whenever you work on your computer.
1.Turn off your computer and unplug power supply.
2.Use a grounded wrist strap before handling computer components. If you do not have one, touch both of your hands to a safely grounded object or to a metal object, such as the power supply case.
3.Place components on a grounded antistatic pad or on the bag that came with the components whenever the components are separated from the system.
The card contains sensitive electric components, which can be easily damaged by static electricity, so the card should be left in its original packing until it is installed.
Unpacking and installation should be done on a grounded anti-static mat. The operator should be wearing an anti-static wristband, grounded at the same point as the anti-static mat.
Inspect the card carton for obvious damage. Shipping and handling may cause damage to your card. Be sure there are no shipping and handling damages on the card before proceeding.
DO NOT APPLY POWER TO YOUR SYSTEM IF THE GRAPHICS CARD IS DAMAGED.
In order to ensure that your graphics card can work correctly, please use official GIGABYTE BIOS only. Using non-official GIGABYTE BIOS might cause problem(s) on the graphics card.
- 9 - |
Hardware Installation |
2.2. Hardware Installation
Now that you have prepared your computer, you are ready to install your graphics card.
Step 1.
Locate the PCI Express x16 slot. If necessary, remove the metal cover from this slot; then align your graphics card with the PCI Express x16 slot, and press it in firmly until the card is fully seated.
Make sure that the gold edge connector of the graphics card is securely inserted.
Step 2.
Replace the screw to fasten the card in place, and replace the computer cover.
After installation, remember to connect the power cable to your graphics card, or the system will not boot (refer to page 8 to see the details). Do not touch the card when it's operating to prevent system instability.
Step 3.
This graphics card provides two DVI-I digital connectors. You can connect a monitor that supports DVI-I function or use the DVI-I to D-Sub adapter to connect a 15-pin D-Sub monitor. Or use the DVI-I to HDMI adapter to connect an HDMI monitor.
Connect a flat panel
To TV / VCR |
To Flat Panel Display |
ConnectaD-SubmonitorviaDVI-ItoD-Subadapter |
ConnectaHDMImonitorviaDVI-ItoHDMIadapter
GV-N26 Series Graphics Accelerator |
- 10 - |
Step 4.
To connect an HDMI TV, use either Method A or Method B below (depending on your motherboard design) to enable the S/PDIF in function for the graphics card. It is recommended Method A be used on motherboards that have a free S/PDIF header.
Method A (via the S/PDIF out header):
Connect the provided S/PDIF cable to the graphics card and the S/PDIF out header on your motherboard (the red wire connects to the S/PDIF out pin and the black to the Ground pin).
A-1. |
A-2. |
Connect the S/PDIF cable to the graphics card |
Connect the S/PDIF cable to the motherboard. |
Method B (via the coaxial S/PDIF out jack):
Connect the GIGABYTE video adapter to the TV-Out port on the graphics card. Insert one end of the SPDIF coaxial cable (optional) into the S/PDIF in jack on the adapter and the other end into the coaxial S/PDIF out jack on your motheboard.
B-2.
Connect the SPDIF coaxial cable (optional) to the video adapter and motherboard
B-1.
Connect the GIGABYTE video adapter to the TV-
Out port on the graphics card
You are now ready to proceed with the installation of the graphics card driver. Please refer to next chapter for detailed instructions.
- 11 - |
Hardware Installation |
GIGABYTE Video Adapter (For GV-N26-896H-B only)
S-Video Out
Connect to the TV-Out port on the graphics card.
AV Out
HDTV Component (Y+Pr+Pb)
(1) Connecting HDTV
Connect your HDTV cables to the video adapter according to the corresponding color.
(Y= Green, Pr= Red, Pb= Blue)
(2) Connecting S-Video
If your TV has a S-Video connection, connect the S-Video cable from your TV to the S-Video Out port on the adapter.
(3) Connecting AV Output
If your TV has a Composite video connection, you can connect the RCA cable from your TV to the AV Out port on the adapter.
GV-N26 Series Graphics Accelerator |
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