Gigabyte GV-N26UD-896M User manual

GV-N26UD-896M Rev1.0
GV-N26UD-896M Rev2.0
NVIDIA®GeForceTM GTX 260 GraphicsAccelerator
User's Manual
Rev. 102
12MM-N26U8M-102R
Copyright
©2011GIGABYTETECHNOLOGYCO.,LTD
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Notice
Pleasedo notremove anylabels onthis graphicscard. Doingso mayvoid thewarranty ofthis card.
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VGA Card
GV-N26UD-896M Rev1.0
Mar.02, 2011
VGA Card
GV-N26UD-896M Rev1.0
Mar. 02, 2011

VGA Card
GV-N26UD-896M Rev2.0
Mar.02, 2011
VGA Card
GV-N26UD-896M Rev2.0
Mar. 02, 2011

- 4 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
Table of Contents
1.Introduction ................................................................................................................ 5
1.1.Features ......................................................................................................................... 5
1.2.Minimum SystemRequirements .................................................................................... 5
2.HardwareInstallation.................................................................................................. 6
2.1.BoardLayout ................................................................................................................. 6
2.2.HardwareInstallation.................................................................................................... 10
3.SoftwareInstallation.................................................................................................. 13
3.1.DriverandUtilityInstallation......................................................................................... 13
3.1.1. Driver Installation ......................................................................................................... 13
3.2.DisplayPropertiesPages ............................................................................................ 15
3.3. Accessing NVIDIAControl Panel ............................................................................... 16
4.TroubleshootingTips................................................................................................ 24
5.Appendix ................................................................................................................. 25
5.1. How to Reflash the BIOS in MS-DOS Mode.............................................................. 25
5.2.ResolutionsandColorDepthTable(InWindowsXP)................................................... 26
5.3.RegulatoryStatements ................................................................................................. 28
(Note) This item will show up when you connect two monitors.

- 5 - Introduction
1. Introduction
1.1. Features
• Powered by NVIDIA®GeForceTM GTX 260 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
• Supports PCI Express 2.0
• Integratedwith896MBGDDR3memory
• SupportsDirectX10
• SupportsNVIDIA®SLITM (ScalableLinkInterface) technology(Note1)
• Supports2Dual-LinkDVI-Iconnectors(OnlyforGV-N26UD-896MRev1.0)
• Supports Dual-Link DVI-I / D-Sub / HDMI connectors(Only for GV-N26UD-896M Rev2.0)
• SupportsHDCP(High-BandwidthDigitalContentProtection)technology
1.2. Minimum System Requirements
•Hardware
- 550-wattsystempowersupplyspecificationoraboveisrecommended.
- Intel®Pentium®4 orAMDAthlonTM XP class
- 1GB of systemmemory;2GB or moreforbestperformance
- Opticaldrivefor software installation(CD-ROMorDVD-ROM drive)
•OperatingSystem
- Windows®Vista
- Windows®XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
- Windows®XPProfessionalx64Edition
•SLITM Configuration
If you are planning on using this graphics card as part of an SLI system, the following
arerequired:
- AnSLIcertified motherboardwithtwo/threePCIex16slots andcorrectchipsetdriver
- TwoGV-N26UD-896M forSLIconfiguration;
ThreeGV-N26UD-896M for3-waySLIconfiguration
- Apowersupplywith900-watt or above isrecommended
- AnSLIbridgeconnectoror 3-way SLI bridgeconnector
(Note 1) SLI technology requires a PCI Express motherboard with two/three x16 physical connectors.
Graphics cards working in an SLI configuration must be with the same model name
(e.g. GV-N26UD-896M) and from the same vendor (e.g. GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY).

- 6 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
SLI Connector
2. Hardware Installation
2.1. Board Layout
DVI-I
Connector 1
DVI-I
Connector 2
AnalogLCDMonitor AnalogMonitor
or DVI-I to D-Sub
Adapter
(optional)
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
D-Sub
Output
DVI-I Connector 1
DVI-I Connector 2
GV-N26UD-896M Rev1.0 Power Connectors

- 7 - Hardware Installation
SLI Connector
GV-N26UD-896M Rev2.0
DVI-I Connector
D-Sub monitor Connector
(15-pin)
HDMI Connector
DVI-I
Connector
AnalogLCDMonitor AnalogMonitor
or
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
D-Sub
Output DVI-I to D-Sub
Adapter(optional)
HDMI TV
AnalogLCDMonitor AnalogMonitor
or
HDMI Connector
D-Submonitor
Connector
(15-pin)
Power Connectors

- 8 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
If you want to use the included 6-pin power adapters, make sure the adapter fits 12V/15A
specification. Failure to do so may jeopardize the stability of the graphics card.
Incorrect Connection
(The two 4-pin power connectors on
theadapter areconnected tothesame
system power supply cable.)
Correct Connection
(The two 4-pin power connectors on the
adapter are connected to two independent
system power supply cables.)
6-pin Power
Adapter
The GV-N26UD-896M graphics card is a performance optimized high-end card. Power is taken from
the PCI Express host bus as well as the two 6-pin PCI Express power connectors.
Requires at least 12V
corrent rating of 15A

- 9 - Hardware Installation
Expansion cards contain very delicate Integrated Circuit (IC) chips. To
protectthemagainstdamagefromstaticelectricity,youshouldfollowsome
precautions whenever you work on your computer.
1. Turnoffyourcomputerandunplug power supply.
2. Useagroundedwriststrapbeforehandlingcomputercomponents.Ifyoudonot
haveone,touchbothofyourhandstoasafelygroundedobjectortoametalobject,
suchasthe powersupplycase.
3. Placecomponentsonagroundedantistaticpadoronthebagthatcamewiththe
componentswheneverthecomponentsareseparatedfromthesystem.
Thecardcontainssensitiveelectriccomponents,whichcanbeeasilydamagedbystatic
electricity,sothecardshouldbeleftinitsoriginalpackinguntilitisinstalled.
Unpackingandinstallationshouldbedoneonagroundedanti-staticmat.Theoperator
shouldbewearingananti-staticwristband,groundedatthesamepointastheanti-static
mat.
Inspectthecardcartonforobviousdamage.Shippingandhandlingmaycausedamage
toyourcard.Besuretherearenoshippingandhandling damages on the card before
proceeding.
DO NOTAPPLY POWER TO YOUR SYSTEM IF THE GRAPHICS CARD IS
DAMAGED.
In order to ensure that your graphics card can work correctly, please use
official GIGABYTE BIOS only. Using non-official GIGABYTE BIOS might
cause problem(s) on the graphics card.

- 10 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
2.2. Hardware Installation
Now that you have prepared your computer, you are ready to install your graphics card.
Step 1.
Locate the PCI Express x16 slot. If necessary, remove the
metal cover from this slot; then align your graphics card with
the PCI Express x16 slot, and press it in firmly until the card is
fully seated.
Makesurethatthegoldedgeconnectorofthegraphicscardissecurely
inserted.
Step 2.
Replace the screw to fasten the card in place, and replace the
computer cover.
Afterinstallation,remembertoconnectthepowercabletoyourgraphicscard,orthesystem
willnotboot(refertopage6tosee thedetails).Donottouchthecardwhenit'soperatingto
prevent system instability.
Step 3.
Plug the display cable into your card; then turn on the computer
and monitor. To connect a D-Sub monitor to your graphics card,
use the D-Sub connector. To connect a flat panel display to your
graphics card, use the DVI-I connector. To connect an HDMI
monitor to your graphics card, use the HDMI connector. Connectaflatpanel
ConnectaD-SubmonitorviaDVI-ItoD-Subadapter
To Flat Panel DisplayToD-SubMonitorToHDMIMonitor

- 11 - Hardware Installation
You are now ready to proceed with the installation of the graphics card driver. Please refer to next
chapter for detailed instructions.
Step 4. (with optional adapter)
To connect an HDMI TV, follow the steps below to enable the S/PDIF in function for the graphics card.
1.
Connect the provided S/PDIF cable to the graphics
card.
2.
Connect the S/PDIF cable to the motherboard.
(the red wire connects to the S/PDIF out pin and
the black to the Ground pin)

- 12 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
How NVIDIA®SLITM (Scalable Link Interface) technology works:
In an SLI configuration, two/three SLI-ready graphics cards of the same model and the same manufac-
turers are connected together via SLI bridge connector in a system that provides two/three x16 PCI
Express slots to scale graphics performance. The picture below shows that two and three graphics
cards are linked in parallel in an SLI configuration.
SLI bridge connector
(provided by motherboard manufacturer)
Two SLI-ready graphics
cards of the same type.
(Example:
GV-N28-1GH-B)
3-Way SLI bridge connector
(provided by motherboard manufacturer)
Three SLI-ready graphics
cards of the same type.
(Example:
GV-N28-1GH-B)
SLI Configuration:
3-Way SLI Configuration:

- 13 - Software Installation
3. Software Installation
Notice the following guidelines before installing the drivers:
1. First make sure your system has installed DirectX 9 or later version.
2. Make sure your system has installed the appropriate motherboard drivers (for the motherboard
drivers, please contact the motherboard manufacturer.)
3.1. Driver and Utility Installation
3.1.1. Driver Installation
After installing the operating system, insert the driver disk into your optical drive. The driver Autorun
screen is automatically displayed which looks like that shown in the screen shot below. (If the driver
Autorun screen does not appear automatically, go to My Computer, double-click the optical drive and
execute the setup.exe program.)
For software MPEG support in Windows XP, you must install DirectX first. Users who run
Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or above do not need to install DirectX separately.
Step 1:
Click the Install Display Driver item.
Step 2:
Click the Next button.

- 14 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
The system is installing the components.
Step 4:
Click the Finish button to restart the computer.
Then the driver installation is completed.
Step 3:
Click the Yes button.

- 15 - Software Installation
You can move the slider to change the resolution.
You can click the item to change the color quality.
Click the Advanced button for advanced settings.
3.2. Display Properties Pages
Display Settings (Resolutions and Color Quality for Windows)
To access Display Settings page, right-click on desktop and select Personalize, then the Personalization
windows will show up. Select Display Settings to adjust the screen resolution and color quality settings.

- 16 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
Or you can right-click on the desktop and select Personalize, and then the Control Panel\Appearance
Personalization\Personalization window will show up. Select Display Settings. When the Display
Settings dialog box appears, click Advanced Settings.
After clicking the Advanced Settings button in Display Settings, you'll see the Generic PnP
Monitor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 Properties dialog box. Click the GeForce GTX 260 tab to
access the NVIDIA Control Panel.
3.3. Accessing NVIDIA Control Panel
After installation of the display driver, right-click on the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel. The
NVIDIA Control Panel is used to configure all your graphics card settings.
Right-click on the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
On the GeForce GTX 260 tab page, click Start the NVIDIA
Control Panel to launch the NVIDIA Control Panel.

- 17 - Software Installation
Select the view of the NVIDIA Control Panel that is
most appropriate for you.
Standard Settings
Advanced Settings
The following pages provide details on configuring
advanced settings.
In the NVIDIA Control Panel, select a category to
alter specific NVIDIA display settings.
The categories are:
3D Settings
Display
Video
In the NVIDIA Control Panel, change a view if you
want.
The supported modes are:
Standard
Advanced
Custom

- 18 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
AdjustImageSettings with Preview
If you are unfamiliar with 3D technology or not
an advanced graphics user, use the Adjust
Image Settings with Preview page to preview
any changes you make for improved image
quality and rendering.
Manage3DSettings(Note 1)
The Manage 3D Settings page enables you to
establish default 3D settings to use for all your
Direct3D or OpenGL applications and to estab-
lish a unique set of 3D settings for a particular
game or application.
(Note 1) This item is present only in Advanced view mode.
3D Settings
Tasks in the 3D Settings pages allow you to do the following:
• Change the image and rendering settings of your 3D applications and games that utilize Direct3D and
OpenGL technology.
• Override the shipped clocked frequencies of your GPU and GPU memory to increase your GPU
performance.
• Assign specific 3D settings to a game so that these settings automatically load when a game is
launched.
Set PhysX confiquration
NVIDIA®PhysX®is a powerful physics engine
that can utilize GPU acceleration to provide
amazing real-time physics effects.

- 19 - Software Installation
Display
A variety of display features enable you to further manipulate and configure your display settings to
optimize the use of your displays. Tasks in the Display pages allow you to do the following:
• Move CRT screen position
• Change resolution
• Adjust desktop color settings
• Rotate display
• Manage custom resolutions(Note)
• Set up multiple displays
ChangeResolution
Using the Change Resolution controls, you
can change the color setting, reduce screen
flickering, or adjust the amount of information
appearing on your display.

- 20 -GV-N260 Series Graphics Accelerator
AdjustDesktopColorSettings
Use this page to set the contrast, sharpness,
and color depth (Digital Vibrance) of the im-
ages on your desktop. These changes will
not affect any video playback. To change video
color settings, go to Adjust Video Color Set-
tings under the Video and TV section from the
Start page.
RotateDisplay
The NVIDIA Rotate features enable you to
changetheorientation of yourdesktopto portrait,
landscape, and inverted modes. This is use-
ful if you have rotated your physical display
and need to rotate the desktop to match the
orientation of your display.
(Note) This item is present only in Advanced view mode.
AdjustDesktopColorSettings
You can adjust desktop color settings for your
displays or enhance picture quality if you are
using televisions.