Datapath Image4 User manual

Image4
User Manual
V01.00.01 Feb 13

Contents
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 4
Safety Instructions 5
Introduction 6
Specications: 6
Image4 7
Hardware Installation 8
System Requirements 8
Unpacking 8
Installing an Image4 9
Installing the Display Drivers 10
Installing the Additional Image4 Cards 10
Power 10
Connecting up to 40 Screens 11
MultiScreenConguration 13

FCC Compliance Image4
Federal Communications Commission Statement
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
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a commercial, industrial or business environment. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the manufacturers instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or tele¬vision reception, which can be
determinedbyturningtheequipmentoandon,theuserisencouragedtotrytocorrectthe
interference by one or more of the following measures.
• Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver
• Connecttheequipmenttoanoutletonacircuitdierentfromthattowhichthe
receiver is connected
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
Warning! Any changes or modications to this product not expressly approved by the manufac-
turer could void any assurances of safety or performance and could result in violation of Part 15 of
the FCC Rules.
ReprintedfromtheCodeofFederalRegulations#47,part15.193.1993.WashingtonDC:OceoftheFederalRegister,NationalArchivesandRecords
Administration,USGovernmentPrintingOce.

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Per FCC Part 2 Section 2. 1077(a)
Responsible Party Name: Datapath Limited
Address: Alfreton Road, Derby
Phone: [phone]
Herebydeclarestheproduct:
Product Name: Four Head PCIe Graphics Card
Model Number: Image4 (DGC149)
Conformstothefollowingspecications:
FCC Part 15 Subpart b Class A Digital Device
Supplementary Information:
This device has been shown to be in compliance with and was tested in accordance with the meas-
urementproceduresspeciedintheStandards&Specicationslistedaboveandasindicatedinthe
measurementreportnumber:9G2498GUS2
RepresentativePersonsName:TonyJones,OperationsDirector

Safety Instructions
To prevent damage to your Datapath product or injury to personnel operating the equipment, please
read the following safety precautions prior to operation. These instructions should be made available to
all those who will use and operate Datapath products.
Power Supply
All Datapath products require a mains power supply. This power supply must be disconnected when
equipment is being upgraded or relocated.
Cables
Do not expose cables to any liquids; doing so may cause a short circuit which could damage the
equipment. Do not place heavy objects on top of any cables as this can cause damage and possibly lead
to exposed live wires.
Ventilation
All computer equipment should be located in a well ventilated area. All ventilation holes on the comput-
er casing must be kept clear of any obstruction at all times. Failure to do so will result in the system over
heating and damaging your equipment.
Working Environment
The equipment should be located in an environment free from dust, moisture and extreme changes
in temperature and should be placed on a stable and solid work surface. Liquids (hot/cold drinks etc)
should not be placed near the equipment as spillage could cause serious damage.
Gas/Flammable Liquids
Electronicequipmentshouldneverbeusedinthepresenceofgasoranyammableliquid,doingso
couldresultinanexplosionorseriousre.
Smoke/Unusual Smells
Shouldyounoticesmokeorunusualsmellsbeingemittedfromyourcomputer,turnoandunplugthe
systemfromthemainssupply.Thesystemshouldthenbepassedtoaqualiedtechnicianfor
inspection. Continued operation could result in personal injury and damage to property.
Maintenance
Maintenance should only be carried out by competent technicians, any Datapath plug-in cards that are
physically damaged should be returned to Datapath for repair using Datapath RMA procedures.
Disposal
At the end of life all Datapath products should be disposed of as per local laws and regulations dictate.
In UK contact Datapath to arrange disposal. Our WEE registration number is WEEE/AA0005ZR.

Introduction
The Datapath Image4 multi screen graphics accelerator is single slot PCIe card for displaying Windows
across multiple screens as one extended desktop.
The Image4 has two graphics processor units (GPU) each with 256Mbytes of DDR2 RAM. Half of this
RAM is accessible from the PCIe bus, the rest is accessible only by the GPU.
AllcardsintheImage4rangefeature:
• Analog or DVI-D outputs.
• Supports VESA modes up to 1600 x 1200 and non-VESA modes up to 2048 x 1536.
• FullhardwarecursorsupportforickerfreeWindowscursorsinallmodes.
• Multiple card hardware support for multiple screen systems.
Specications:
Card format 4 lane PCI express
Card size 110mm x 197mm
Max output resolution 4x1920x1200 DVI/RGB
Max number of cards per system 10 (40 display channels)
Framebuermemory 2x 256MB (512MB total)
Max current at +3.3V 0.25A
Max current at +12V 1.7A
Max Power 22 watts
Operating temperature 0 to 35 deg C
Storage temperature -20 to +70 deg C
Relative humidity 5% to 90% non-condensing
MTBF 88,293hrs
Warranty 3 years

Image4
The Image4 PCIe graphics card supports the display of RGB, SD and HD video capture windows. It is ideal
for high end video/data walls, signage or display wall applications.
• 4 Port PCI express graphics card (x4 lanes)
• Analog RGB or DVI outputs up to 4 1920x1080x24bits/pixel
• Low power
• High Performance 2D and 3D graphics
• High performance DMA image load (720MB/s)
• Support for Windows® Vista, XP, Server 2008, and Windows® 7 (Server 2008 or
Windows® 7 64-bit required for greater than 8 screen support).
• RGB, SD and HD video window support by adding the VisionRGB-E1, VisionRGB-E2,
VisionSD8 or VisionSD4+1 capture cards
• Up to 10 cards per system for a maximum of 40 displays. In order to use 3 or more Image4 cards you
must use a Vision800 system or a system based on the Express9 backplane.

Hardware Installation
This section deals with installing Image4 cards and spreading the Windows desktop across all the screens. If
you are intending to use the Image4 cards with other Datapath products, you should follow this section to
gettheWindowsdesktopworkingcorrectlyrst.
System Requirements
• APentiumPCIebuscomputerwithsucientfreePCIeslots.
• A least 1GByte of RAM.
• Windows® Vista, XP, Server 2008, Windows® 7 (Server 2008 or Windows® 7 64-bit required for greater
than 8 screen support).
Unpacking
Yourpackingboxshouldcontainthefollowingitems:
• The Image4 PCIe plug-in card.
• Two VGA-Y-cables or two DVI-Y-cables depending on model purchased
• A Genlock cable.
• Installation CD-ROM
VGA-Y-Cable
DVI-Y-Cable
Cables are provided depending on which card you have purchased for
example:
• Image4 Image4 supplied with two VGA-Y splitter cables.
• Image4-DVI Image4 supplied with two DVI-Y splitter cables.

Installing an Image4
It is recommended that all Image4 cards and any Vision cards are installed in the system prior to
installing the drivers. Otherwise as cards are installed the drivers may need to be reinstalled as the card’s
PCI bus numbers change
Note:
All plug-in cards are static sensitive and packed in antistatic materials. Please keep the card in its
packaging until you are ready to install.
It is recommended that you do not discard the packing box until you are completely satised with
the Image4 card, and it is fully installed and working correctly. We also recommend that you make
note of the serial number of the card in a prominent place before you plug the card into the comput-
er. This should hasten any query should you need to contact our Technical Support Department. The
serial number is displayed on the card and the box label.
• PowerdownthePC(includingperipherals),switchoatthemainsanddisconnectallthe
cables connected to the computer, noting the positions for accurate reconnection. Remove the PC
cover
• Locate a vacant PCIe (x4 or above) slot for the Image4 on the motherboard and remove the backing
plate (retain all screws). If in doubt consult your motherboard documentation to
correctly identify a PCIe (PCI-express) slot. If the card is forced into a 32 or 64 bit PCI or PCI-X slot it
will be irreparably damaged when the system is powered up and the warranty will be void.
• RemovethecardfromitspackagingandsecureitrmlyintotheemptyPCIeslot.Extremecare
should be taken when securing the card into the slot as some motherboards may have
components that impede the siting of the card
Screw the card bracket to the back panel of the PC and replace the cover
Using the splitter cables provided, connect screens to all the outputs from the card. If there are other
graphics devices in the system, connect screens to them (even if you don’t intend to use all the outputs in
yournalconguration)
Switch all the screens on then switch the machine on
You should see the boot messages on one of the screens. The screen on which the system will boot is de-
pendentonhowthesystemisconguredandthemotherboardBIOS.Itisnotpossibletocontrolwhich
of the Image4 heads the system will boot on.

Installing the Display Drivers
Once the Image4 card has been installed and the boot messages are appearing on the correct monitor,
you can start Windows.
Log on as a user with administrative access rights.
The Found New Hardware Wizard will announce that new hardware has been found.
Do not use the Found New Hardware Wizard to install the Image4 drivers.
Install the display drivers from the Software Installation Suite CD supplied with the Image4 card. The dis-
play drivers are required to be installed in Safe Mode.
Ifyournalcongurationhaslessthanfourscreensselectthenumberofscreensrequired,otherwise
select four screens.
Restart the machine.
When Windows starts up, the desktop should be spread over all the screens connected to the Image4.
Installing the Additional Image4 Cards
As the number of required screens increase, the likelihood of reaching a system limitation or encountering
a problem increases. The system limitations are the amount of address space available and the capacity of
the power supply.
Please consult Datapath support if you have any problems installing multiple cards.
Power
The amount of current a power supply can deliver on each voltage rail is limited. Often there is also a limit
on the total power.
Each Image4 card requires 0.25A at +3.3V and 1.7A at +12V.
You can calculate the amount of current and the amount of power required for the Image4 cards. For ex-
ample,therequirementsfora24-screensystemofImage4cardsiscalculatedasfollows:
Current
+3.3V 6 x 0.25A = 1.5A
+12V 6 x 1.7A = 10.2A
Power
( 3.3V x 1.5A ) + ( 12V x 10.2A ) = 127.35W
These are the requirements for the Image4 cards; you must take into account the requirements of all the
other devices in the system.

Connecting up to 40 Screens
Toconnectupto40screenstoImage4cards,congurethelinksasshowninthediagrambelow:
The links control the order in which the display driver uses the Image4 cards. Knowing the order in which
the Image4 cards are used is useful when connecting the screens and the outputs from video switches.
Notethatifyouhavenotconguredyoursystemtoboot-uponon-boardVGAgraphicsdeviceor
another plug-in VGA card the system will boot-up on the master head of one of the Image4 cards but it is
not possible to control which output will be used, this is motherboard BIOS dependent.
Insert the Image4 cards into the PCIe slots.
Connect Genlockcablesasfollows:

ContinuetoconnectthegenlockcablesJ3(Out)toJ2(In)untilallcardsareconnected.
Connectthescreenstothecards.Therstcardshouldbeconnectedtotherstgroupoffourscreens;the
second should be connected to the second group of four screens and so on.
Switch the screens on then switch the machine on.
Log on as a user with administrative access rights.
The Found New Hardware Wizard will announce that new hardware has been found. This will happen
once for each slave Image4 card you have added to the system. Do not use the Found New Hardware
Wizard to install the Image4 drivers.
TheWindowsdesktopshouldappearonthefourscreensattachedtotherstcardasitdidafterthe
displaydriverhadbeeninstalledfortherstImage4card.
You need to install the display driver again. This time you should specify the number of screens you wish
to use.
Restart the machine.
TheWindowsdesktopshouldnowbespreadacrossthenumberofscreensyouspecied.

Multi Screen Conguration
To change the display settings for the Image4 cards, use the Display Properties dialog in the Control Panel.
If you have more than one graphics device in your machine, the Display Settings allow you to control
which graphics devices are used and what their position on the desktop is. There should be a monitor icon
for each Image4 card and at least one monitor icon for each of the other graphics devices in the system
(there is a limit to the number of monitor icons that are displayed).
If you are using a non-Image4 device as a control screen, make that device the primary monitor.
TherstImage4deviceshouldhavetheExtendmyWindowsdesktopontothismonitorcontrolselected.
Do not select Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor for any of the other Image4 devices.
TochangeotherpropertiesoftheImage4display,selecttherstImage4device,clickontheAdvanced
settings and go to the TWIN tab.

Resolution per Screen:
Note:
Changing the resolution may alter the colour palette settings, so check that it is correct before
clicking OK or Apply.
Colour Palette:
Select the number of colours you want to use.
Refresh Rate:
Use the drop down arrow to select a refresh rate for the desktop. Only the refresh rates available
at the selected resolution and colour depth are displayed. The maximum settings are restricted to
the capabilities of the screens connected to the system.
Source of Mode:

When the TWIN tab is selected, the display driver reads the EDID information from each monitor and
readstheRegistrytonddetaileddisplaytiminginformation.
The Source of Mode group box shows which mode sources are available for the selected resolution and
colour depth.
The Source of Mode has 4 options.
Default
Monitor timing information from the display driver’s internal tables.
Custom
MonitortiminginformationfromtheRegistry.(SeeAppendix1:DeningCustomModesfordetails)
Monitor (Master)
Monitor timing information from the monitor attached to output 1 of the Master Image4 is used for all
outputs.
Monitor (Each)
The monitor timing information from each monitor is used for the output connected to that monitor.
No. Screens
Change the number of screens the display driver uses. You should always install the driver (using install.
exe) for the maximum number of screens you want to use.
Screen Arrangement
Use the drop down menu to select the type of screen arrangement you require. The illustration in the
MonitorCongurationboxwillreectyourchoice.
Force DVI Output
When the Datapath display driver initializes it reads the EDIDs of the attached screens to determine if
the DVI (digital) or analog outputs should be used. If no monitor EDID is read then this control is used to
decide which output to enable.
Ifthecheckboxisinanindeterminatestateitsigniesthattheenabledoutputsarenotasrequestedby
the user. This will occur if a mixture of analog and digital screens are used or if the type of monitor used
isdierenttotheForceDVIstate.
If the check box state is changed the Apply button will become active, click on Apply to force the re-
quired output.
Since the DVI (digital) output supports a lower pixel dot-clock frequency than the analog output, the
resolutiondialogisupdatedwhenthecheckboxischangedtoreecttheresolutionssupportedbythe
active output.

Prune Modes
Enabling this check box limits the resolutions displayed in the resolution box to those that are
supported by all of the screens attached to the Image4 card’s active outputs. This information is read
from the monitor EDIDs when the TWIN tab is opened. If the state of this check box is changed then
the resolution control is updated.
WhenyouclickonOKorApplythefollowingdialogisdisplayed:
This dialog gives you the option to accept the changes or restore the previous display settings. The
display will return to the previous settings after 15 seconds shouldYes or No not be selected.
Warning!
Always close all video window applications before performing any operation that modies the
settings of any attached display. Failure to do so could result in the machine locking up and re-
quiring a reboot.

Datapath Limited
Datapath has a long and very successful history in the computer graphics industry. Datapath has been
designing and supplying high performance, high quality graphics display systems to the world’s larg-
est and most demanding companies and institutions since 1982. Datapath was one of the founding
companies of multi-screen Windows acceleration using single and multi board solutions. Now using
theverylatestdisplaytechnologyDatapathoerssomeoftheworld’sleadingmultiscreengraphics
accelerators for the most demanding applications.
As new technology advances, so we at Datapath improve the performance and functionality of both
our hardware and software to give our customers more. Following a continuous development pro-
gram, we pride ourselves on our support and responsive nature towards all our customers and their
changing needs. As more sophisticated equipment and techniques become readily available, so we
are there to exploit the power and potential that this technology presents.
Technical Support
Registered Users can access our technical support line using, email, and the Support page on the Data-
path Web Site, usually with a response within 24 hours (excluding weekends).
Via Email
Send an email to [email protected] with as much information about your system as possible.
Toenableaswiftresponseweneedtoknowthefollowingdetails:
• SpecicationofthePC-includingprocessorspeed
• Operating System
• Application Software
• Datapath Hardware / Software
• Theexactnatureoftheproblem-andpleasebeasspecicaspossible.
Please quote version and revision numbers of hardware and software in use wherever possible.
Copyright Statement
© Datapath Ltd., England, 2011
Datapath Limited claims copyright on this documentation. No part of this documentation may be
reproduced, released, disclosed, stored in any electronic format, or used in whole or in part for any
purpose other than stated herein without the express permission of Datapath Limited.
WhilsteveryeortismadetoensurethattheinformationcontainedinthisUserManualiscorrect,
Datapath Limited make no representations or warranties with respect to the contents thereof, and
donotacceptliabilityforanyerrorsoromissions.Datapathreservestherighttochangespecication
without prior notice and cannot assume responsibility for the use made of the information supplied.
All registered trademarks used within this documentation are acknowledged by Datapath Limited

UK Headquarters and Main Sales Ofce
Datapath Ltd.,
Alfreton Road,
Derby, DE21 4AD, UK
Tel:+44(0)1332294441
Fax:+44(0)1332290667
Email:[email protected]
www.datapath.co.uk

Appendix 1 - Dening Custom Modes
DeningcustommodesiscarriedoutusingtheCustomModeUtilitiestoolthatcanbefoundonthe
DatapathCD.ThelatestversionmayalsobedownloadedfromtheDatapathwebsite:
www.datapath.co.uk
TheCustomModestoolisautilityfordeningcustommodesthatcanbegeneratedbytheImage4
graphics card. The custom modes tool must be used on a system where the active display driver supports
custom modes. To generate a custom mode the following values must be entered into the utility
applicationdialogbox:
• X Resolution -The active display width in pixels.
• Y Resolution -The active display height in lines.
• Refresh -The refresh rate displayed in the Display Properties dialog. Also used for calculating the
dot-clock if no value is provided.
• Horizontal Front Porch - The horizontal front porch in pixels.
• Horizontal Sync Width - The H-Sync width in pixels.
• Horizontal Back Porch - The horizontal back porch in pixels.
• Vertical Front Porch - The vertical front porch in lines.
• Vertical Sync Width - The v-sync width in lines.
• Vertical Back Porch - The vertical back porch in lines.
• Horizontal Sync Polarity - 0 = negative, 1 = positive
• vertical Sync Polarity - 0 = negative, 1 = positive.
• Dot Clock (optional) -The pixel dot-clock in KHz. This is calculated from the Refresh rate if not
provided.
Note:
If a new mode is created or an existing one amended, then the Display Properties dialog must be closed
and re-opened to ensure the new values are refreshed in the display driver.

Appendix 2 - Screen Order
Connection of Screens
Therstcardtobeinitializedgeneratesthepictureforthetopleftmonitorinthewallofscreens,plusthe
three adjacent screens. The second card drives the next four screens and so on. This sounds simple, but
nevertheless, can be confusing when trying to determine how to assign monitor video cables to the
Image4 out¬puts.
Changing the Order of the Screens
Changing the order in which the screens appear is done using the Wall Control application.
SelectScreenOrderfromtheWallControlConguremenuandinthedisplayeddialog,clickonthescreens
sequentially to establish the order you want.
Note:
The new screen order will not be applied until the Wall Control server is re-booted.