ATI Technologies RADEON 8500 User manual

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RADEON
™
8500
RADEON
™
8500LE
RADEON
™
7500
User’s Guide
Version 5.0
P/N 137-40282-50 Rev. D
Copyright © 2002, 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.

ii
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,
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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
must be printed in an appropriate place in such materials:
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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
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Features At A Glance.................................................................................. 2
RADEON 7500 ...................................................................................... 2
RADEON 8500 and RADEON 8500LE................................................ 2
ATI’s CATALYST™ Software Suite ........................................................3
Multiple Displays and 3D Gaming Experience...................................... 3
Direct 3D® and OpenGL® ....................................................................3
HydraVision™ ....................................................................................... 3
Multiple Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Connecting Your Monitor(s) ......................................................................4
CATALYST Software Suite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ATI Displays Tab.........................................................................................5
Enabling/Disabling Secondary Displays................................................ 6
Enabling Extended Desktop Mode.........................................................6
Dynamic Display Reassignment ............................................................6
Virtually Repositioning Your Displays.................................................. 8
Ratiometric Expansion ........................................................................... 8
ATI Color Tab .............................................................................................9
ATI Options Tab........................................................................................ 11
ATI Overlay Tab ....................................................................................... 12
Direct 3D® Control Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Main and Custom Settings........................................................................14
Direct 3D® Compatibility Settings ..........................................................17
OpenGL® Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Main and Custom Settings........................................................................19
OpenGL® Compatibility Settings............................................................ 22
Using TV Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
View your PC’s display on a TV.......................................................... 23
Connecting to a TV or a VCR .................................................................. 23
Starting Windows® with TV Display Enabled.................................... 25
Using SCART Connectors for European TVs ..................................... 25
How To Enable/Disable The TV Display ............................................ 25
Using and Adjusting TV Out................................................................ 26
How TV Display Cannot Be Used....................................................... 26
Using a Monitor vs. Using the TV Display.......................................... 26
Adjusting Monitor Display................................................................... 27

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Viewing Text on a TV.......................................................................... 27
Reducing Edge Distortion ....................................................................28
Changing Display Configurations........................................................ 29
Using Games and Applications............................................................ 29

1
Introduction
The RADEON family of graphic accelerators
delivers ground breaking 3D graphics performance.
• Designed and built by ATI Technologies Inc.
• Powered by the RADEON Visual Processing Unit
(VPU).
• 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 7500
The RADEON 7500 provides high performance
acceleration for today's demanding 3D graphic
applications. Its main features are:
• VIDEO IMMERSION™ which provides industry-
leading DVD playback and digital TV decode
capability
• CHARISMA ENGINE™ which is the main VPU,
providing the necessary power to accelerate
today’s 3D games and applications
• PIXEL TAPESTRY™ which can apply 3 textures
at once to a complex 3D gaming scene
• TV output support
RADEON 8500 and RADEON 8500LE
In addition to the features of the RADEON 7500, the
RADEON 8500 series also provides:
• TRUFORM™ technology which makes the curved
surfaces of 3D objects look smoother and more
life-like
• 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
• Digital flat panel support (RADEON 8500 only)

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 TRUFORM, 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 on page 5.
Direct 3D®and OpenGL®
The CATALYST Software Suite supports the latest
versions of Direct 3D®and OpenGL®. Your 3D
game titles will come to life, as you can tweak the
game’s settings for maximum 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 14, and OpenGL® Control Panel on
page 19.
HydraVision™
You can also use HydraVision for advanced multi-
monitor management. For more information please
refer to the HydraVision User’s Guide PDF located
on your ATI Installation CD.

4
Multiple Displays
Connecting Your Monitor(s)
The RADEON 8500 provides hardware support for
one DVI-I monitor or two VGA monitors using the
DVI-I-to-VGA adapter. A TV can also be used to
expand your desktop by using the S-Video out. The
RADEON 7500 provides support for one VGA
monitor and Composite output to a TV.
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 RADEON
8500, use the DVI-I connector. To connect a VGA
monitor to the DVI-I connector, use the
DVI-I-to-VGA 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.
COMP OUT
CRT
S-VIDEO OUT
DVI-I-TO-VGA
ADAPTER
DVI-I
CONNECTOR
VGA
CONNECTOR
AVAILABLE ON
FROM
MONITOR
RADEON 8500
ONLY
S-VID OUT
DVI
CRT
RADEON 8500 RADEON 7500
STANDARD VGA
MONITOR
CONNECTOR
COMPOSITE OUT
STANDARD VGA
MONITOR
CONNECTOR

5
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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6
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 Yes 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.

7
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.
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.
In Windows®2000 and Windows® NT4.0, 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.

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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.
2Click OK or Apply to save the changes.
Ratiometric Expansion
Your RADEON card 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.

9
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.

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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. (NOTE: Game Gamma is
NOT supported in Windows NT4.0)
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.

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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.

12
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.

13
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.
Defaults
button This allows you to reset the Overlay settings to default values.

14
Direct 3D
®
Control Panel
Using this tab, gamers can tweak the settings of their
Direct 3D®games.
Main and Custom Settings
In the Main Settings you can maximize overall
performance by moving the slider to the left, or you
can enhance overall image quality by moving the
slider to the right.

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Main Settings
slider
This allows you to emphasize what kind of application
experience you’d like to have. Moving the slider to the
left will maximize application performance, while moving
the slider to the right will provide excellent 3D image
quality. Moving this slider from one position to the next
changes the individual Custom Settings sliders found
below.
Custom
Settings
checkbox
When Custom Settings is checked, the Main Settings
slider is disabled, allowing you to move each individual
slider in the Custom Settings section below. Setting the
individual sliders gives you complete control over your
application experience. Using Custom Settings is
recommended for advanced users only.
Anisotropic
Filtering
checkbox
Anisotropic filtering uses a texture filtering technique
that blends multiple texture samples together. Selecting
Application Preference will result in high quality
textures, with a negligible reduction in the application’s
performance.
Anisotropic
Filtering slider
The number of samples taken when anisotropic filtering
is performed can vary. By moving this slider to the right,
as the number of samples taken increases, the quality
of the final image increases significantly. 16X provides
extremely detailed, crisp-looking images as a result of
the largest number of texture samples possible.
SMOOTH
VISION
checkbox
SmoothVision (Anti-Aliasing) improves image quality by
removing jagged edges from 3D images, resulting in
smoother, more natural-looking objects. Selecting
Application Preference will result in high quality
images, with a negligible reduction in the application’s
performance.
SMOOTH
VISION
Performance
button
Select Performance for the best possible 3D gaming
performance at a slight reduction in 3D image quality.
The maximum screen resolution possible will
automatically be indicated.
SMOOTH
VISION
Quality button
Select Quality for the best possible 3D image quality at
a slight reduction in 3D gaming performance. The
maximum screen resolution possible will automatically
be indicated.
SMOOTH
VISION slider
SmoothVision (Anti-Aliasing) can be applied using
different sample patterns and sample points such as 2X
or 4X. Moving this slider to the right increases sampling
to provide the most realistic 3D image.

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Texture
Preference
slider
Selecting this decides whether your application should
use high quality or high performance textures. Moving
the slider to the right delivers the highest quality
experience. Moving the slider to the left emphasizes a
high performance solution while still providing good
visuals.
Mipmap Detail
Level slider
This will allow you to choose the texture quality of the
mipmaps the application will use. Mipmaps are a
collection of different sized textures of the same image.
As the user moves closer to a 3D object the image
quality should increase, requiring a higher quality
texture of the same image. The base mipmap is the
highest quality texture, and all subsequent mipmaps are
smaller sized textures of the same image. Moving the
slider to the right selects a higher quality base mipmap,
delivering the highest quality application experience.
Moving the slider to the left selects a lower quality
mipmap, delivering the highest application performance.
Wait for
Vertical Sync
Wait for vertical sync will lower the frame rate of full
screen games but reduce the image tearing that can
occur with the higher frame rate. Selecting Application
Preference allows the application to decide whether or
not it should display its frames at the refresh rate of the
monitor. Selecting Always Off allows the application to
run at its highest possible frame rate, regardless of the
monitor’s refresh rate which is typically less than the
frame rate at which the application will run.
Compatibility
Settings
button
This button allows you to access advanced settings that
can solve compatibility issues for a few specific Direct
3D applications.
Defaults This button allows you to reset the Direct3D settings to
default values.