Gigabyte GV-N550UD-1GI User manual

GV-N550OC-1GI/
GV-N550UD-1GI
NVIDIA®GeForceTM GTX 550 Ti GraphicsAccelerator
User's Manual
Rev. 102
12MM-N550-102ER
Copyright
©2011GIGABYTETECHNOLOGYCO.,LTD
CopyrightbyGIGA-BYTETECHNOLOGYCO.,LTD.("GBT").Nopartofthismanualmaybereproducedortransmitted
in anyform withoutthe expressed,written permissionof GBT.
Trademarks
Third-partybrandsandnamesarethepropertiesoftheirrespectiveowners.
Notice
Pleasedo notremove anylabels onthis graphicscard. Doingsomay voidthe warrantyof thiscard.
Duetorapidchangeintechnology,someofthespecificationsmightbeoutofdatebeforepublicationofthisthismanual.
Theauthorassumesnoresponsibilityforanyerrorsoromissionsthatmayappearinthisdocumentnordoestheauthor
makeacommitmenttoupdatetheinformationcontainedherein.
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ThisproductincorporatescopyrightprotectiontechnologythatisprotectedbyU.S.patentsandotherintellectualpropertyrights.
UseofthiscopyrightprotectiontechnologymustbeauthorizedbyRoviCorporation,andisintendedforhomeandotherlimited
viewingusesonlyunlessotherwiseauthorizedbyRoviCorporation.Reverseengineeringordisassemblyisprohibited.

VGA Card
GV-N550OC-1GI
Feb. 21, 2011
VGA Card
GV-N550OC-1GI
Feb. 21, 2011

VGA Card
GV-N550UD-1GI
May. 27, 2011
VGA Card
GV-N550UD-1GI
May. 27, 2011

- 4 -
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......................................................................................................8
3.SoftwareInstallation.................................................................................................. 10
3.1.DriverandUtilityInstallation......................................................................................... 10
3.1.1. DriverInstallation............................................................................................ 10
3.2. DisplayPropertiesPages ........................................................................................ 12
3.3. Accessing NVIDIA Control Panel............................................................................ 13
4.TroubleshootingTips................................................................................................ 21
5.Appendix ................................................................................................................. 22
5.1. How to Reflash the BIOS in MS-DOS Mode.............................................................. 22
5.2.ResolutionsandColorDepthTable(InWindowsXP)................................................... 23
5.3.RegulatoryStatements ................................................................................................. 25

- 5 - Introduction
1. Introduction
1.1. Features
• Powered by NVIDIA®GeForceTM GTX 550 Ti Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
• Supports PCI Express 2.0
• Integratedwith1GBGDDR5memory
• SupportsDirectX®11
• SupportsNVIDIA®SLITM (ScalableLinkInterface) technology(Note1)
• Supports2Dual-LinkDVI-Iconnectors
• Supports1miniHDMIconnector
• SupportsHDCP(High-BandwidthDigitalContentProtection)technology
1.2. Minimum System Requirements
•Hardware
- 400-wattsystempowersupplyspecificationoraboveisrecommended
- Intel®Pentium®4 orAMDAthlonTM XPclassprocessoror higher
- 1GBsystemmemory (2GB recommended)
- Opticaldrivefor software installation(CD-ROM orDVD-ROMdrive)
•OperatingSystem
- Windows®7
- Windows®Vista
- Windows®XP
•SLITM Configuration
If you are planning on using this graphics card as part of an SLI system, the following
arerequired:
- AnSLIcertifiedmotherboardwithtwoPCIe x16 slots and correct chipset driver
- TwoGV-N550OC-1GI/ GV-N550UD-1GI forSLI configuration;
- Apowersupplywith 600-watt or aboveisrecommended
- AnSLIbridgeconnector
(Note 1) SLI technology requires a PCI Express motherboard with two x16 physical connectors.
Graphics cards working in an SLI configuration must be with the same model name
(e.g. GV-N550OC-1GI / GV-N550UD-1GI)and from the same vendor (e.g. GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY).

- 6 -GV-N500 Series Graphics Accelerator
2. Hardware Installation
2.1. Board Layout
Mini HDMI
Connector
DVI-I
Connector 1
DVI-I
Connector 2
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
HDMI TV
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
mini HDMI to HDMI adapter(optional)
SLI Connector
Mini HDMI Connector
DVI-I Connector 1
DVI-I Connector 2
Power Connectors

- 7 - Hardware Installation
Expansion cards contain very delicate Integrated Circuit (IC) chips. To
protectthemagainstdamagefromstaticelectricity,youshouldfollowsome
precautions whenever you work on your computer.
1. Turnoffyourcomputer and unplug powersupply.
2. Useagroundedwriststrapbeforehandlingcomputercomponents.Ifyoudonot
haveone,touchbothofyourhandstoasafelygroundedobjectortoametalobject,
suchasthepowersupplycase.
3. Placecomponentsonagroundedantistaticpadoronthebagthatcamewiththe
componentswheneverthecomponentsareseparatedfromthesystem.
Thecardcontainssensitiveelectriccomponents,whichcanbeeasilydamagedbystatic
electricity,sothecardshouldbeleftinitsoriginalpackinguntilitisinstalled.
Unpackingandinstallationshouldbedoneonagroundedanti-staticmat.Theoperator
shouldbewearingananti-staticwristband,groundedatthesamepointastheanti-static
mat.
Inspectthecardcartonforobviousdamage.Shippingandhandlingmaycausedamage
toyourcard.Besure there are no shipping andhandlingdamagesonthe card before
proceeding.
DO NOTAPPLY POWER TOYOUR 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.

- 8 -GV-N500 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.
Step 3.
This graphics card provides two DVI-I digital connectors and
one mini HDMI connector. You can connect a monitor that sup-
ports DVI-I function. To connect a HDMI monitor,you need a
cable or adapter to connect from the mini-HDMI connector to a
HDMI monitor.
To Flat Panel Display
Connectaflatpanel
ConnectaHDMImonitor
ToHDMIMonitor

- 9 - Hardware Installation
How NVIDIA®SLITM (Scalable Link Interface) technology works:
In an SLI configuration, two SLI-ready graphics cards of the same model and the same manufacturers
are connected together via SLI bridge connector in a system that provides two x16 PCI Express slots
to scale graphics performance. The picture below shows that twographics 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)
SLI Configuration:

- 10 -GV-N500 Series Graphics Accelerator
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.