ATI Technologies XCLAIM GA User manual

XCLAIM
TM
GA
User’s Guide
Version 2.0 - October 1995
P/N: 10701M0120
Copyright © 1995, by ATI Technologies Inc.
ATI, mach64 and XCLAIM 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 manufacturers. Pricing, availability, features,
performance and speciÞcations are subject to change without
notice. Product may not be exactly as shown in the diagrams.
All rights reserved, including those to reproduce this manual or
parts thereof, in any form without the express written permission
of ATI Technologies Inc.
Printed in Canada 95 10 P/N: 10701M0120
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ii
Disclaimer
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this
document, ATI Technologies Inc. assumes no liability to any party
for errors or omissions contained in the Software or related
documentation, any interruption of service, loss or interruption of
business or anticipatory proÞts or for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use
of the Software and related documentation.
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.
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Page 1 Getting Started
Getting Started
Introduction
CONGRATULATIONS! You have just purchased
one of the most advanced 64-bit graphics acceleration
technologies available on the market today, from the
award winning graphics leader ATI Technologies Inc.
The XCLAIM GA is the ultimate solution for the
graphics professional. By combining ATIÕs advanced
mach64 graphics chip with a PCI local bus, your Power
Macintosh virtually eliminates the time delay of
processing intense computer graphics.
The 4MB VRAM conÞguration supports resolutions
up to 1600x1200, or 16.7 million colors at 1152x870
resolution. The 2MB VRAM conÞguration supports
resolutions up to 1600x1200, or 16.7 million colors
at 832x624 resolution. Refresh rates up to 75Hz are
supported for all resolutions and color depths.
Other key features include both Apple and VGA
monitor connectors, as well as extensive software
1
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Page 2 Getting Started
utilities allowing you to directly control and modify
your desktop environment dynamically.
What does all this technology mean to you? Superior
application performance  by reducing the main
processor work load in the graphics equation, and
taking advantage of the Òwicked fastÓ PCI local bus.
Before you install your new card, please read this
manual thoroughly. It contains important information
on installing and operating your XCLAIM GA.
What's in the Package
The XCLAIM GA package contains the following
hardware, software, and documentation:
¥ XCLAIM GA card
¥ 3.5Ó installation disk
¥ This UserÕs Guide
If any item is missing or damaged, immediately
contact the dealer from whom the unit was purchased.
What You'll Need
The XCLAIM GA card runs with the following minimum
system requirements:
¥ Power Macintosh with a PCI expansion slot
¥ Macintosh System software 7.5.2 or higher
¥ Any Apple monitor or VGA monitor supporting
a minimum resolution of 640x480
Related Documentation
The README Þle summarizes the latest product
revisions. Click the ReadMe icon on the installation
disk to open this Þle.
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Page 3 Getting Started
The XCLAIM GA card comes with ATI Guide which
provides online help for conÞguring your card. Please refer
to the ATI Guide to get information on the following topics:
¥ ConÞguring your card for your display type
¥ Setting up an extended desktop
¥ Turning on zoom features
¥ Activating the ATI Popup Menu
When the ATI Displays control panel is active, access
the ATI Guide by clicking the icon in the ATI Displays
control panel.
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Page 4 Getting Started
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Page 3 Installing Your Card
Installing Your Card
The XCLAIM GA Þts into connectors called expansion
slots, inside your computer.
Your Macintosh comes with several slots, each designed
to accept Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) cards.
2
!
WARNING
¥ The manufacturer assumes no liability for any
damage, caused directly or indirectly, by improper
installation of components by unauthorized service
personnel.
If you do not feel comfortable performing
the installation, consult a qualiÞed technician.
¥ Make sure power is off during installation; otherwise,
damage to system components, the graphics
accelerator card, and injury to yourself may result.
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Page 4 Installing Your Card
The following procedure details the installation of a card
in a typical Macintosh PCI tower. If your system does not
match this conÞguration, please refer to your system
userÕs guide for expansion card installation instructions.
To install your XCLAIM GA:
1. Turn off your computer, and disconnect the monitor
cable.
NOTE
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Page 5 Installing Your Card
2. Remove the computer cover. If necessary, consult your
computer system manual for removal instructions.
3. Choose the PCI expansion slot you wish to use.
4. Touch the metal part of the power supply case.
Touching the grounded portion of the power supply
case will discharge your bodyÕs static electricity.
Power Supply
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Page 6 Installing Your Card
5. Lower the auxiliary fan.
6. Remove the metal access cover from the expansion slot
you want to use.
To lower the fan, squeeze the sides to unlatch it.
1. To release the
access port cover,
pull the two levers
next to the access
port apart
2. Slide the access port cover out and away from the access port.
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Page 7 Installing Your Card
7. Align the connector on the card with the PCI
expansion slot and press firmly until fully seated.
Do not force the card; if you encounter excessive
resistance, remove the card and try again.
If you plan to use multiple displays, you must install
a card for each monitor. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for each
display.
8. Replace the auxiliary fan.
Connector
Connector PCI Expansion Slot
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Page 8 Installing Your Card
9. Replace the computer cover.
10. Connect the monitor cable to the card.
If you have an Apple monitor, connect it to the Apple
monitor port. If you have a VGA monitor, connect it
to the VGA monitor port. Only connect one monitor
to the card.
If your monitor is connected to the Apple monitor port, it
must support AppleÕs Òmonitor senseÓ protocol, either
directly or through an appropriate adapter. Otherwise,
all of the resolutions supported by your monitor will not
Apple monitor port VGA monitor port
!
WARNING
¥ Serious damage to your system may occur if you
connect more than one monitor to the card. If you
have more than one monitor you must connect it
to another graphics card.
NOTE
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Page 9 Installing Your Card
be available for selection. For more information, refer to
About Monitor Sensing below.
Installation of your XCLAIM GA is now complete and
you are ready to install the software. Refer to Chapter 3,
Installing Your Software .
About Monitor Sensing
AppleÕs ÒMonitor SensingÓ speciÞcation allows graphics
cards to identify the attached monitor. During startup,
the XCLAIM GA checks the status of three of the Þfteen
pins on the Apple monitor port. It then auto-conÞgures
itself according to the monitor sense code detected and
enables all resolutions supported by the monitor. Since
the XCLAIM GA relies on this sense code to correctly
auto-conÞgure during startup, the monitor must supply
the appropriate sense code.
In a case where your monitor does not directly supply
the sense code information, an adapter can be used to set
the appropriate sense code for your monitor. Typically,
an adapter is used to connect a VGA monitor to the
Apple monitor port, or to simply supply the correct
monitor sense code information.
If the adapter supplies the sense code information for
only one resolution, then that resolution will be the only
one available, even if the monitor supports multiple
resolutions. Therefore, when using an adapter to supply
the sense code, it must be designed to supply the proper
code for the monitor you are using it with; otherwise, the
XCLAIM GA cannot correctly auto-conÞgure itself for
the attached monitor.
Although the XCLAIM GA card does not output Sync-
on-Green (SOG) signals directly, adapters are available
that can overlay the Composite Synchronization Signal
and send it through the Green video signal line so that
you can use an SOG monitor. Monitors requiring an SOG
signal usually have only three BNC connectors (RGB).
NOTE
NOTE
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Page 10 Installing Your Card
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Page 9 Installing Your Software
Installing Your Software
About ATI Software
The XCLAIM GA needs three components installed in
your System folder and an online help in the Preferences
folder to run. The ATI Installer will do this for you. The
following items are installed:
ATI Displays Control Panel
The ATI Displays control panel lets you conÞgure your
card and to access software features. These features
are described later in this chapter.
ATI Extension
The ATI extension will be placed in your system folder. It
provides extra functionality for the ATI Displays control
panel.
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Page 10 Installing Your Software
Graphics Accelerator Extension
The Graphics Accelerator extension is the driver that
interacts with your card to provide graphics acceleration.
ATI Guide File
The ATI Guide Þle is the online help for the ATI Displays
control panel. It is placed in the Preferences folder within
the System folder.
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Page 11 Installing Your Software
Installing Software
1. Insert the ATI Graphics Accelerator Installation disk
into your disk drive.
2. Double-click on the ATI Installer icon.
The ATI splash screen appears.
3. Click the Continue button.
An ATI information and disclaimer screen appears.
4. Click the Continue button.
A message appears: ÒThe XCLAIM GA software will
now be installed into your system. Please restart
your system once the process is complete.Ó
5. Click the Install button.
A status bar is displayed, followed by the message
ÒInstallation was successfulÓ.
6. Click OK.
The Installer automatically quits. To complete the
installation, you must now restart your computer.
ATI Displays Control Panel
The ATI Displays control panel provides access
to the various features you need to conÞgure your
XCLAIM GA card and to enhance your working
environment.
A general description of the features is explained below.
For detailed instructions on how to set up and use these
features, please refer to the ATI Guide, which can be
accessed through the ATI Displays control panel.
NOTE
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Page 12 Installing Your Software
Displays
The Displays feature allows you to identify the type
of display that is connected to the XCLAIM GA card.
If you have more than one XCLAIM GA card in your
system, the Displays feature lets you select a monitor
type for each.
Monitors
The Monitors feature provides access to the standard
Apple Monitors control panel. You can use this panel to
select color depths and resolutions, and set up multiple
monitors. For more information on this panel refer to the
Macintosh Guide that comes with your system.
DeskScape
The DeskScape feature lets you select a desktop size that
is larger than your display size, providing you with an
extended working area. You can then pan and zoom to
view different parts of the desktop.
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Page 13 Installing Your Software
Hot Keys
The Hot Keys feature lets you deÞne four short-cut keys
that will quickly change your working environment.
¥ The DeskScape On/Off key activates and deactivates
the DeskScape mode.
¥ The Zoom In key magniÞes a portion of the desktop.
¥ The Zoom Out key allows you to see a larger view
of the desktop. Objects will appear smaller.
¥ The Popup Menu key activates a popup menu that
lets you instantly change color depths and resolutions
while working in other applications.
Multiple Displays
If you have more than one display connected to your
system, you can use the ATI Displays control panel to
identify and conÞgure each display independently. The
ATI Displays control panel will identify all the displays
connected to your system but will only conÞgure
displays that are connected to XCLAIM GA cards.
Popup Menu
ATI also provides a pop-up menu that allows you to
change the color depth and resolution of your desktop
without exiting your current application. You activate this
menu by holding down a hot key combination while
clicking the mouse. The ATI Popup Menu appears where
the mouse pointer is currently sitting on the screen;
therefore, it will affect the display that you are working on.
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The Popup Menu selections are dependent on your
conÞguration and monitor capabilities; therefore the
appearance of the Popup Menu may differ.
ATI Guide
The ATI Guide is the main source of information when
you are working with the ATI Displays control panel.
It behaves similarly to the Macintosh Guide that comes
with your system, providing full coach marked and task
assisted instructions.
Access the ATI Guide by clicking on the Apple Guide
icon on the ATI Displays control panel. The ATI Guide
stays in front of other windows on the screen so the
instructions are always visible. To move the ATI Guide
window to another location, drag it by the title bar.
Select a topic from the main ATI Guide window to get
detailed instructions for a speciÞc task. To return to the
main ATI Guide window, click the icon in the lower-
left corner of the Guide window. When youÕre Þnished
using ATI Guide, click the close box.
Balloon Help
Balloon Help is also available for the ATI Displays control
panel. Turn balloon help on in the usual way. Select Show
Balloons from the Guide menu in the menubar.
256 Grays
256 Colors
Thousands
Millions
640 x 480, 67Hz
832 x 624, 75Hz
1024 x 768, 75Hz
ATI Popup Menu
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