ATI Technologies 3D XPRESSION User Manual
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ATI Technologies 3D XPRESSION User Manual

3d games and multimedia accelerator
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3D XPRESSION
User's Guide
Version 1.0 CD
© Copyright 1996, by ATI Technologies Inc.
All rights reserved, including those to reproduce this guide or parts thereof, in any form without
the express written permission of ATI Technologies Inc.
Features and specifications are subject to change without notice. Trademarks and/or registered
trademarks are the properties of their respective owners:
ATI, mach64, 3D XPRESSION, 3D RAGE, ATI DeskTop, FlexDesk+, DeskScape, WinSwitch
— ATI Technologies Inc.; AutoCAD, AutoShade, 3D Studio — Autodesk Inc.; MicroStation —
Bentley Systems Inc.; Pentium, Pentium Pro — Intel Corporation;
IBM, PC, VGA, OS/2 — International Business Machines Corp.; Windows 3.1x, Windows 95,
Windows NT, Video for Windows — Microsoft Corp.; MultiSync — NEC Technologies Inc.;
VL-Bus, VESA — Video Electronics Standards Association.
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Summary of Contents for ATI Technologies 3D XPRESSION

  • Page 1 ATI, mach64, 3D XPRESSION, 3D RAGE, ATI DeskTop, FlexDesk+, DeskScape, WinSwitch — ATI Technologies Inc.; AutoCAD, AutoShade, 3D Studio — Autodesk Inc.; MicroStation — Bentley Systems Inc.; Pentium, Pentium Pro — Intel Corporation;...
  • Page 2 Disclaimer The manufacturer (MFR) reserves the right to make changes to this document and the products which it describes without notice. The MFR shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions made herein; nor for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Getting Started ...............1 What is 3D XPRESSION? ..........2 What’s in the Package? ............3 System Requirements ............3 Using this Guide ..............4 Other Sources of Information ..........4 Hardware Installation ............5 Preparing Your Computer ...........6 Installing the Hardware ............7 Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers ......11 Installing Enhanced Drivers for Windows 95 ....12...

  • Page 5: Getting Started

    Welcome to the exciting world of 3D! This new technology adds a new dimension to your computer experience. ATI’s 3D XPRESSION brings games to life with stunning graphics and screaming fast action previously available only on gaming consoles. Its features will transform your computer into a high performance multimedia workstation.

  • Page 6: What Is 3D Xpression

    Getting Started What is 3D XPRESSION? The 3D XPRESSION is a 3D games and multimedia accelerator card. It uses ATI’s 3D RAGE accelerator chip to provide advanced 3D support, accelerated 2D graphics, and TV quality video. Games and software applications that support the 3D RAGE run with fluid motion and in brilliant color.

  • Page 7: What's In The Package

    Getting Started What’s in the Package? Your package includes the following hardware, software, and documentation: • 3D XPRESSION accelerator card • ATI’s Installation CD-ROM • User’s Guide If any components are missing or damaged, please contact your dealer. System Requirements ®...

  • Page 8: Using This Guide

    Readme File This file contains the latest information about your 3D XPRESSION. To view the Readme file in DOS Insert ATI’s Installation CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. Type D: (If D is not your CD-ROM drive, substitute D with the correct drive letter).

  • Page 9: Hardware Installation

    C H A P T E R 2 Hardware Installation Installing your 3D XPRESSION consists of two easy steps. • Placing the card in your computer • Installing ATI’s mach64 enhanced display drivers This chapter explains how to place your card in your computer.

  • Page 10: Preparing Your Computer

    Hardware Installation Discharge your body’s static electric charge by touching a grounded surface — e.g., the metal surface of the power supply — before performing any hardware procedure. The manufacturer assumes no liability for any damage, caused directly or indirectly, by improper installation of any components by unauthorized service personnel.

  • Page 11: Installing The Hardware

    Installing the Hardware Now that you have prepared your computer, you are ready to install your 3D XPRESSION. To install your 3D XPRESSION Power off the computer and monitor, then disconnect the monitor cable from the back of your computer.
  • Page 12 You may need to remove the cover from the rear of the PCI expansion slot that you selected. Grasp the card by the top edge and carefully seat it firmly into the PCI slot. 3D XPRESSION PCI EXPANSION SLOT...
  • Page 13 Hardware Installation Replace the screw to fasten the card in place, and replace the computer cover. SCREW 3D XPRESSION Plug the monitor into your card, then turn on the computer and monitor. Make sure your monitor cable is securely fastened.
  • Page 14 Hardware Installation...

  • Page 15: Installing Ati's Enhanced Drivers

    C H A P T E R 3 Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Your computer uses programs called graphics drivers to display information on the screen. ATI’s mach64 enhanced drivers give you more features than standard VGA drivers, such as enhanced speed, resolution, color depth, and graphic utilities.

  • Page 16: Installing Enhanced Drivers For Windows 95

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Select an enhanced driver from the following list: • Windows 95, see below • Windows NT, see page 14 • Windows 3.1x, see page 15 • OS/2, see page 18 • AutoCAD, see page 20 • MicroStation, see page 22 Installing Enhanced Drivers for Windows 95...

  • Page 17: Installing Software Mpeg For Windows 95

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Installing Software MPEG for Windows 95 Now that you have installed ATI’s mach64 enhanced driver for Windows 95, you can install the ATI VIDEO PLAYER—a software MPEG player. The ATI VIDEO PLAYER provides full-motion, full-screen MPEG video playback with excellent color quality. You must install ATI’s mach64 enhanced driver before installing the ATI VIDEO PLAYER.

  • Page 18: Installing Enhanced Drivers For Windows Nt

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Installing Enhanced Drivers for Windows NT After installing your graphics card, Windows NT will default to standard VGA mode (640 x 480, 16 colors). The procedure below describes how you install ATI’s mach64 enhanced driver for Windows NT 3.5, and 3.51. To install the mach64 enhanced driver for Windows NT Boot Windows NT.

  • Page 19: Installing Enhanced Drivers For Windows 3.1X

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Installing Enhanced Drivers for Windows 3.1x To install ATI’s mach64 enhanced drivers for Window 3.1x, you use the INSTALL program. This program checks the system for possible conflicts and installs the mach64 enhanced display driver. The INSTALL program is a DOS application and cannot be run inside a Windows DOS box.
  • Page 20 Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers The ATI DeskTop The INSTALL Program automatically creates the ATI Desktop Program Group when you install the mach64 enhanced driver for Windows. For correct resolution and refresh rate operation, you need to select a monitor using Screen Adjustment. Please refer to the online help for more information about how to use the ATI DeskTop.

  • Page 21: Using Software Mpeg With Windows 3.1X

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Using Software MPEG with Windows 3.1x Now that you have installed ATI’s mach64 enhanced driver for Windows 3.1x, you can install the ATI VIDEO PLAYER—a software MPEG player. The ATI VIDEO PLAYER provides full-motion, full-screen MPEG video playback with excellent color quality. You must install ATI’s mach64 enhanced driver before installing the ATI VIDEO PLAYER.

  • Page 22: Installing Enhanced Drivers For Os/2

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Installing Enhanced Drivers for OS/2 To install ATI’s mach64 enhanced drivers for OS/2 2.1 or OS/2 Warp, you use the INSTALL program. This program checks the system for possible conflicts, sets the monitor type, and installs the mach64 enhanced display driver. To run the INSTALL Program Start OS/2.
  • Page 23 Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers To copy the mach64 enhanced driver files Select Drivers Installation from the Main Menu. Select from the list of applications. IBM OS/2 Select Read Installation Notes for help and tips. Select Install for the correct version of OS/2. Press ENTER to select the default destination directory.

  • Page 24: Installing Enhanced Drivers For Autocad

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Installing Enhanced Drivers for AutoCAD To install the mach64 enhanced driver for AutoCAD R10 386, R11, R12, or R13, you use the INSTALL program. Before installing the driver, run AutoCAD to ensure that it is properly installed on your system.
  • Page 25 Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers To install the mach64 enhanced driver for AutoCAD Select Drivers Installation from the Main Menu. From the list of applications, select AutoCAD. Type in the source drive and directory. When the menu appears, select Read Installation Notes for help and tips on the installation.

  • Page 26: Installing Enhanced Drivers For Microstation

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Installing Enhanced Drivers for MicroStation To install the mach64 enhanced drivers for MicroStation 4.0 or 5.0, you use the INSTALL program. Before installing the driver, run MicroStation to ensure that it is properly installed on your system. The INSTALL program is a DOS application and cannot be run inside a Windows DOS box.
  • Page 27 Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers To install the mach64 enhanced driver for MicroStation Select Drivers Installation from the Main Menu. From the list of applications, select MicroStation. Type the source drive and directory information. When the menu appears, select Read Installation Notes for help and tips.

  • Page 28: Using Vesa Bios Extensions

    Installing ATI’s Enhanced Drivers Using VESA BIOS Extensions The VESA BIOS Extensions (VBE) feature supports software using modes compatible with VESA standards. To ensure that VBE works correctly, you can load a DOS TSR (terminate-and-stay-resident) program called M64VBE. If your software and/or games conform to the VBE standard, you should load M64VBE first.

  • Page 29: Special Features

    C H A P T E R 4 Special Features You can take advantage of the special add-in features that your 3D XPRESSION has to offer. IN THIS CHAPTER... • Adding ATI’s TV Tuner • Adding ATI’s Hardware MPEG...

  • Page 30: Adding Ati's Tv Tuner

    Special Features Adding ATI’s TV Tuner ATI’s TV tuner (sold separately) is an intelligent TV tuner add-in board that you connect to your card. ATI’s TV tuner accepts a full range of video/audio input from just about any video source: TV, antenna/cable, VCR, video camera, laser-disc, and video games.

  • Page 31: Reference

    C H A P T E R 5 Reference This chapter contains troubleshooting tips and specifications about your 3D XPRESSION. IN THIS CHAPTER... • Running Diagnostics • Troubleshooting Tips • ATI Multimedia Channel • Specifications • Video Mode Table •...

  • Page 32: Running Diagnostics

    Reference Running Diagnostics You can run diagnostics to test the hardware on your card. All installed graphics modes can be viewed and tested. You cannot run the diagnostics program inside a Windows DOS Box. To run the diagnostics program in DOS Insert ATI’s Installation CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.

  • Page 33: Troubleshooting Tips

    Reference Troubleshooting Tips The following troubleshooting tips may help you if you experience problems. Contact your dealer for more advanced troubleshooting information. Basic Troubleshooting Tips • Check that the card is seated properly in its expansion slot. If the problem still exists, try a different PCI expansion slot. •...
  • Page 34 Reference Windows 95 Troubleshooting Tips For Windows 95 troubleshooting tips, right-click the ATI icon in the taskbar and select Troubleshooting. If you have problems during start-up, load Windows 95 in Safe Mode. To load Windows 95 in Safe Mode Turn on your computer. Press the F8 key when Starting Windows 95 appears on the screen.
  • Page 35 Reference Windows NT Troubleshooting Tips • If you are having trouble during start-up, select VGA mode in the Boot Menu. • Disable any programs that launch automatically when you start Windows NT. • Check that you have the correct monitor and display driver selected.

  • Page 36: Ati Multimedia Channel

    ATI Multimedia Channel The ATI Multimedia Channel (AMC) connects ATI’s MPEG decoder, TV tuner, or video capture modules to the 3D XPRESSION card. While the AMC provides VGA Feature Connector (VFC) compatibility, it also provides enhanced features for new multimedia devices including serial control and provision for audio.

  • Page 37: Specifications

    • DOS 5.0 or higher, Windows 3.1x, Windows 95, or Windows NT • OS/2 2.1 or OS/2 Warp Video Display Buffer • 3D XPRESSION — 2MB DRAM Sync Signals • Separate horizontal and vertical sync at TTL levels Video BIOS •...

  • Page 38: Video Mode Table

    Reference Video Mode Table Accelerator Mode Table ‡ 3D XPRESSION Colors (Bits Per Pixel) Display Refresh Hor. Pixel Screen Rate Scan Clock 2MB Display Memory Resolution (Hz) (kHz) (MHz) √ √ √ √ √ 640x480 31.4 25.2 √ √ √...

  • Page 39: Compliance Information

    Reference Compliance Information FCC Compliance Information This device complies with FCC Rules Part 15. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference, and • This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

  • Page 40: Ce Compliance Information

    Reference CE Compliance Information EMC Directive 89/336/EEC and Amendment 92/31/EEC, Class B Digital Device EN 50081-1, Generic Emissions Standard for Residential, Commercial and Light Industrial Products (EN 55022/CISPR 22, Limits and Methods of Measurement of Radio Interference Characteristics Information Technology Equipment) Warning: This is a Class B product.

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