ATI Technologies 100-436012 - Radeon 9250 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Video... User manual

RADEON
™
9200 SERIES
User’s Guide
P/N 137-40474-10
Copyright © 2003, ATI Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.
ATI and all ATI product and product feature names are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of ATI Technologies Inc. All other company and/or product names are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Features,
performance and specifications are subject to change without notice. Product may not
be exactly as shown in the diagrams.
Reproduction of this manual, or parts thereof, in any form, without the express written
permission of ATI Technologies Inc. is strictly prohibited.

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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 operation 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.
ATI Technologies Inc. reserves the right to make changes without further notice to a
product or system described herein to improve reliability, function or design. With
respect to ATI products which this document relates, ATI disclaims all express or
implied warranties regarding such products, including but not limited to, the implied
warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
Product Notice
MACROVISION
A.Apparatus Claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 4,631,603, 4,577,216, 4,819,098, and
4,907,093 licensed for limited viewing users only.
B.In the printed collateral material that accompanies the Product, the following notice
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and other limited viewing uses unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision
Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

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Table of Contents
Disclaimer ............................................................................................... i
Product Notice......................................................................................... i
MACROVISION..................................................................................... i
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Features At A Glance .................................................................................. 2
RADEON 9200 Series............................................................................ 2
ATI’s Catalyst™ Software Suite ................................................................ 3
Multiple Displays and 3D Gaming Experience...................................... 3
Direct 3D® and OpenGL® .................................................................... 3
HydraVision™ ....................................................................................... 4
Connecting your
monitor(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Display Configurations................................................................................ 6
Catalyst™ Software Suite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ATI Displays Tab......................................................................................... 8
Enabling/Disabling Secondary Displays ................................................ 9
Enabling Extended Desktop Mode......................................................... 9
Dynamic Display Reassignment ............................................................ 9
Virtually Repositioning Your Displays ................................................ 10
Ratiometric Expansion ......................................................................... 11
ATI Color Tab ........................................................................................... 12
ATI Options Tab........................................................................................ 14
ATI Overlay Tab ....................................................................................... 15
Video Overlay ...................................................................................... 15
Clone Mode Settings ............................................................................ 17
Direct 3D® Control Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Main and Custom Settings........................................................................ 18
Direct 3D® Compatibility Settings .......................................................... 21
OpenGL® Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Main and Custom Settings........................................................................ 23
OpenGL® Compatibility Settings............................................................ 26
SMARTGART™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Set AGP Settings .................................................................................. 27
Fast Write ............................................................................................. 27
Retest All.............................................................................................. 28

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Using TV Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
View your PC’s display on a TV.......................................................... 29
Connecting to a TV or a VCR .................................................................. 30
Starting Windows® with TV Display Enabled .................................... 31
Using SCART Connectors for European TVs ..................................... 32
How To Enable/Disable The TV Display ............................................ 32
Using and Adjusting TV Out................................................................ 33
How TV Display Cannot Be Used ....................................................... 33
Using a Monitor vs. Using the TV Display.......................................... 33
Adjusting Monitor Display................................................................... 33
Viewing Text on a TV.......................................................................... 34
Reducing Edge Distortion .................................................................... 34
Changing Display Configurations ........................................................ 36
Using Older Games and Applications .................................................. 36

1
Introduction
The RADEON 9200 Series graphic accelerators
delivers ground breaking 3D graphics performance.
• Designed and built by ATI Technologies Inc.
• Powered by the RADEON 9200 Series Visual
Processing Unit (GPU).
• Awesome 3D gaming performance.
• Support for OpenGL®applications.
• Support for Direct 3D®applications.
• High resolution in 3D up to 2048x1536.
• Best performance for today’s and tomorrow’s
applications.
• Supports TV-out to connect your PC to your TV or
VCR.

2
Features At A Glance
RADEON 9200 Series
The RADEON 9200 Series provides high
performance acceleration for today's demanding 3D
graphic applications. Its main features are:
• VIDEO IMMERSION™ II which provides
industry-leading DVD playback and digital TV
decode capability
• CHARISMA ENGINE™ II which is the main
GPU, providing the necessary power to accelerate
today’s 3D games and applications
• SMARTSHADER™ technology which can
realistically create the visual properties of any
material, like glass, metal, wood, and produce 3D
depth by rendering the object’s shadows
• SMOOTHVISION™ which provides users with
various degrees of jagged edge removal from 3D
images, allowing users to configure their own high
quality or high performance gaming experience
• PIXEL TAPESTRY™ II which provides even
greater 3D rendering power
• TV output support

3
ATI’s Catalyst
™
Software Suite
Multiple Displays and 3D Gaming Experience
ATI’s Catalyst Software Suite provides multiple
display functionality, and the advanced graphic
features, such as SMARTSHADER, for the ultimate
3D gaming experience. For help on installing the
Catalyst Software Suite, refer to the Getting Started
Guide.
The Catalyst Software Suite installs the ATI display
tabs. These tabs are accessed through the Windows®
Display Control Panel, through the Advanced...
button located on the Settings tab. For a detailed
explanation of each ATI tab, refer to Catalyst™
Software Suite.
Direct 3D®and OpenGL®
The Catalyst Software Suite also supports the latest
versions of Direct 3D®and OpenGL®. Many new 3D
game titles, and the latest versions of older titles, will
virtually come to life as they utilize their advanced
Direct 3D®or OpenGL® features. Gamers can fine-
tune these settings for the ultimate experience in 3D
image quality or 3D gaming performance.
ATI’s Direct 3D®and OpenGL® tabs are available
through the Windows®Display Control Panel,
through the Advanced... button located on the
Settings tab.
For a detailed explanation of the Direct 3D®and
OpenGL®tabs, refer to Direct 3D® Control Panel
on page 18, and OpenGL® Control Panel on
page 23.

4
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 HydraVision User’s Guide PDF
located on your ATI Installation CD.

5
Connecting your
monitor(s)
The RADEON 9200 Series, depending on the
graphic card configuration, provides hardware
support for one VGA monitor and one flat panel
monitor, or two VGA monitors using a DVI-I-to-
VGA adapter*, or only one VGA monitor. It also
provides TV Output via a S-Video out connector.
Plug the monitor cable into your card (if you are
running multiple monitors, connect their cables to the
appropriate connectors), then turn on the PC and
monitor(s).
To connect a flat panel directly to your card, use the
DVI-I connector. To connect a VGA monitor to the
DVI-I connector, plug a DVI-I-to-VGA adapter* into
the DVI-I connector, then plug your monitor cable
into the adapter*, as shown below.
When you use multiple monitors with your card, one
monitor will always be Primary. Any additional
monitor(s) will be designated as Secondary.
DVI-I-TO-VGA
ADAPTER
DVI-I
CONNECTOR
VGA
CONNECTOR
FROM
MONITOR
STANDARD VGA
MONITOR CONNECTOR
S-VIDEO OUT
*avialable from www.ati.com

6
Display Configurations
The following table lists the different ways you can
connect displays to your RADEON 9200 Series with
multimonitor configuration
Display
Configuration Connector(s) Used Comments
One CRT display
VGA connector OR DVI-I
connector with DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter*
CRT- cathode ray tube analog
display
One DFP display DVI-I connector DFP - digital flat panel display
One TV TV Output
Cards with S-Video out also
support Composite out via a
S-Video-to-Composite
adapter*. Cards with
Composite out DO NOT
support connection to TVs with
S-Video Input.
VGA
CONNECTOR
FROM
MONITOR
S-VIDEO OUT
*available from www.ati.com

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The following table lists the different ways you can
connect displays to your RADEON 9200 Series with
a single monitor (VGA) configuration.
CRT display +
TV
VGA connector +
TV Output
Unsupported configuration if
the CRT display is attached to
the DVI-I connector via a DVI-I-
to-VGA adapter*
DFP display +
TV
DVI-I connector +
TV Output
CRT display +
DFP display
VGA connector + DVI-I
connector
CRT display +
CRT display
VGA connector + DVI-I
connector with DVI-I-to-VGA
adapter*
The DVI-I connector can
support a CRT display using a
DVI-I-to-VGA adapter*
CRT display +
DFP display +
TV
VGA connector + DVI-I
connector + TV Output
The TV display will “clone” the
image of one of the other two
displays.
CRT display +
CRT display +
TV
UNSUPPORTED
CONFIGURATION
Display
Configuration Connector(s) Used Comments
One CRT display VGA connector CRT- cathode ray tube analog
display
One TV TV Output
Cards with S-Video out also
support Composite out via a
S-Video-to-Composite
adapter*. Cards with
Composite out DO NOT
support connection to TVs with
S-Video Input.
CRT display +
TV
VGA connector +
TV Output
*available from www.ati.com

8
Catalyst™ Software Suite
The following section provides an explanation of
each ATI tab available after installing the Catalyst™
Software Suite.
ATI Displays Tab
The ATI Displays tab provides the multi monitor
features. Here you can enable/disable display devices
and swap the assignment of Primary and Secondary
displays.
Features presented in the following pages may not
be supported in all operating systems and/or may
appear differently.
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Enabling/Disabling Secondary Displays
1Access the Windows®Control Panel. Double-
click Display.
2Click on the Settings tab and then the
Advanced... button.
3Click on the ATI Displays tab.
4Click the enable/disable button for the
display device you want to enable/disable.
5Click OK or Apply to save the changes.
Enabling Extended Desktop Mode
1Access the Windows®Control Panel. Double-
click Display.
2Click on the Settings tab.
3Click the monitor icon for the display onto which
you want to extend your desktop.
4Click Ye s to enable the selected display.
5Checkmark the Extend my Windows desktop
onto this monitor check box (Windows®may
automatically place it there).
6Click OK or Apply to save the changes.
Dynamic Display Reassignment
You can change the assignment of your Primary and
Secondary display on the fly, without rebooting.
However, before you can change the assignment of
the Primary display, at least one Secondary display
must be enabled, and Extended Desktop mode must
be enabled.
To enable a Secondary display, refer to the section
Enabling/Disabling Secondary Displays.

10
To enable Extended Desktop Mode, refer to the
section Enabling Extended Desktop Mode.
1Access the Windows®Control Panel. Double-
click Display.
2Click on the Settings tab and then the
Advanced... button.
3Click on the ATI Displays tab.
Windows®XP, Windows®Me
The ATI Displays tab shows you the display(s) that
are active. The Primary display has the button
depressed. To change the display assignment, you
can click the Primary display’s button or you can
click the button of the other display device.
Windows®2000
Clicking on the button will reassign the Primary
and Secondary monitors.
Clicking on the button creates a clone or mirror
image of the Primary display onto the Secondary
display.
Clicking on the button extends your desktop to a
Secondary display located to the right of the Primary
display. Clicking on the button extends your
desktop to a Secondary display located below the
Primary display.
4Click OK or Apply to save the changes.
Virtually Repositioning Your Displays
1On the Settings tab, click and drag the
appropriate monitor icon to the desired position.
For example, the secondary display can be
dragged to the left of the primary display,
allowing it to be virtually on the left, as shown
below.

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2Click OK or Apply to save the changes.
Ratiometric Expansion
Your RADEON 9200 Series offers ratiometric
expansion (or digital panel scaling as it is commonly
known). This expands a low resolution image to fill a
higher resolution panel. However, ratiometric
expansion is only available on the Primary display.
Therefore, if a flat panel display (FPD) is set as
Secondary, the Extended Desktop mode is disabled
and the resolution is less than the FPD’s native
resolution. This causes the FPD to default to center
mode.

12
ATI Color Tab
The ATI Color tab is used to adjust the color settings.
You can change the red, green and blue display
colors. Desktop brightness and Game Gamma
(brightness) can also be changed.
ATI Color Tab
Desktop
Brightness
This increases or decreases the brightness of your
desktop. The higher the gamma value, the higher the
brightness of your display.
Color Curve This adjusts the selected color (red, green or blue check
button) by moving the color curve with your mouse.
Game Gamma
button This accesses Game Gamma Properties.
Defaults
button
This allows you to reset the desktop brightness and
color settings to default values.

13
Clicking the Game Gamma button accesses the
Game Gamma Properties.
Game Gamma Properties
Red Green
Blue sliders
These controls allow you to increase or decrease the
color brightness of Direct 3D®and OpenGL®games
played in fullscreen mode.
RGB Lock Uncheck this to adjust the RGB sliders individually.
Check this to adjust all three sliders at the same time.
Defaults
button
This allows you to reset the Game Gamma settings to
default values.

14
ATI Options Tab
The ATI Options tab provides detailed driver
information and access to the card’s specifications.
You can also enable or disable the ATI taskbar icon.
ATI Options Tab
Version Information Provides the Catalyst version number, 2D version
number and the driver build information.
Details button Provides access to the Details tab which lists the
card’s hardware details and driver information.
Reactivate all
warning messages
This allows you to reactivate any disabled
graphics warning messages.
Enable ATI taskbar
icon application
Unchecking this allows you to disable the ATI
taskbar applications and removes the ATI icon
from your system tray.

15
Clicking the Details button provides access to the
Details tab.
ATI Overlay Tab
The ATI Overlay tab allows you to configure the
brightness, contrast, saturation, hue and gamma
properties of your video overlay.
Video Overlay
Video overlay allows for the viewing of full-motion
video on your PC. However, there is only one video
overlay, which is only available on the Primary
display. The video overlay controls are automatically
activated during playback of any video file type that
supports overlay adjustments.
Show ATI icon on
taskbar
Unchecking this allows you to remove the ATI icon
from your system tray without disabling the ATI
icon applications.
Disable quick
resolution feature
Quick resolution feature is accessible by left-
clicking the ATI icon in the system tray. Checking
this option disables the feature.
Reduce DVI
frequency on high-
resolution
Resolves display corruption or no image at
high resolutions (for example 1280x1024
@75Hz) using a digital DVI display. (This
setting has no effect when using a DVI-to-
VGA adapter)
Alternate DVI
operational mode
Use this option if you are experiencing
display corruption on your DVI flat panel.

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ATI Overlay Tab
Brightness Use this slider to adjust the brightness of the video
image.
Contrast Use this slider to adjust the contrast in the video
image.
Saturation
Use this slider to adjust the vividness of the color.
Sliding it all the way to the left removes all color
and produces a black and white picture.
Hue Use this slider to adjust the pureness or tint of the
red, green and blue components of the color.
Gamma Use this slider to adjust the overall intensity of the
video image.
Clone mode
options
Click this button to access Clone Mode overlay
settings.These settings only apply to video content
when viewed in dual-controller Clone mode.
Defaults
button
This allows you to reset the Overlay settings to
default values.