Gigabyte GV-N84STC-1GI User manual

GV-N84STC-1GI/
GV-N84S-512I Rev3.0/
GV-N84STC-512I Rev2.0
NVIDIA®GeForceTM 8400 GS GraphicsAccelerator
User's Manual
Rev. 205
12MM-N84S5I-205R
Copyright
©2010GIGABYTETECHNOLOGYCO.,LTD
CopyrightbyGIGA-BYTETECHNOLOGYCO.,LTD.("GBT").Nopartofthismanualmaybereproducedortransmitted
in anyform withoutthe expressed,written permissionof GBT.
Trademarks
Third-partybrandsandnamesarethepropertiesoftheirrespectiveowners.
Notice
Pleasedo notremove any labels on thisgraphics card.Doing somay voidthe warrantyof thiscard.
Duetorapidchangeintechnology,someofthespecificationsmightbeoutofdatebeforepublicationofthisthismanual.
Theauthorassumesnoresponsibilityforanyerrorsoromissionsthatmayappearinthisdocumentnordoestheauthor
makeacommitmenttoupdatetheinformationcontainedherein.
Rovi Product Notice:
ThisproductincorporatescopyrightprotectiontechnologythatisprotectedbyU.S.patentsandotherintellectualpropertyrights.
UseofthiscopyrightprotectiontechnologymustbeauthorizedbyRoviCorporation,andisintendedforhomeandotherlimited
viewingusesonlyunlessotherwiseauthorizedbyRoviCorporation.Reverseengineeringordisassemblyisprohibited.

VGA Card
GV-N84S-512I Rev3.0
Oct.29,2010
Oct.29,2010
VGA Card
GV-N84S-512I Rev3.0

VGA Card
GV-N84S-512I Rev2.0
Oct.29,2010
Oct.29,2010
VGA Card
GV-N84S-512I Rev2.0

VGA Card
GV-N84STC-1GI
Nov.29,2010
Nov.29,2010
VGA Card
GV-N84STC-1GI

- 5 -
Table of Contents
1.Introduction ................................................................................................................ 6
1.1.Features ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.2.MinimumSystemRequirements .................................................................................... 6
2.HardwareInstallation.................................................................................................. 8
2.1.BoardLayout ................................................................................................................. 8
2.2.HardwareInstallation.................................................................................................... 12
3.SoftwareInstallation.................................................................................................. 13
3.1.DriverandUtilityInstallation......................................................................................... 13
3.1.1. Driver Installation ......................................................................................................... 13
3.2. DisplayPropertiesPages ........................................................................................ 15
3.3. Accessing NVIDIA Control Panel............................................................................ 16
4.TroubleshootingTips................................................................................................ 24
5.Appendix ................................................................................................................. 25
5.1. How to Reflash the BIOS in MS-DOS Mode.............................................................. 25
5.2.ResolutionsandColorDepthTables ............................................................................. 26
5.3.RegulatoryStatements ................................................................................................. 28

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
1. Introduction
1.1. Features
• ThegraphicscardsupportsNVIDIATurboCachetechnology,whichenhancesgraphicscard
performancebyallowingthegraphicsprocessingunit(GPU)todynamicallysharethe
availablesystemmemory.ThetotaleffectiveVGAmemorydiffersdependingonsystem
memory.Seethefollowingtablefordetails:
(For GV-N84STC-512I Rev2.0 only)
(For GV-N84STC-1GI only)
•Powered by NVIDIA®GeForceTM 8400 GS Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
•Supports PCI Express 2.0
•Integratedwith512MBGDDR2memory
(For GV-N84S-512I Rev3.0/GV-N84STC-1GI only)
•Integratedwith 128MBGDDR3 memory(For GV-N84STC-512IRev2.0 only)
•SupportsDirectX10.1
•Supports1HDMIconnector
•Supports1Dual-LinkDVI-Iconnector
•Supports1D-subconnector
•SupportsHDCP(High-BandwidthDigitalContentProtection)technology
System Memory 256 MB 512 MB 1 GB
Onboard GraphicsMemory (a) 256 MB 256 MB 512 MB
AllocatedSystem Memory(b) 0 MB 0 MB 256 MB
Total Effective GraphicsMemory (a)+(b) 256 MB 256 MB 768 MB
Windows Vista &Windows7
System Memory 1GB 2GB 4GB
Onboard graphics memory(MB) 512 512 512
Shared system memory (MB) 253 765 1150
Totalgraphicsmemory(MB) 765 1277 1662
Windows XP
System Memory 1GB 2GB 4GB
Onboard graphics memory(MB) 512 512 512
Shared system memory (MB) 512 512 512
Totalgraphicsmemory(MB) 1024 1024 1024

- 7 - Introduction
1.2. Minimum System Requirements
•Hardware
- Intel®Pentium®/CoreTM 2orAMDAthlonTM/PhenomTM
- 128MB ofsystemmemory; 2GB ormorefor bestperformance
- Opticaldrive forsoftware installation(CD-ROMor DVD-ROMdrive)
- A300Wattpowersupplyorabove isrecommended
•OperatingSystem
- Windows®7
- Windows®Vista
- Windows®XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
- Windows®XPProfessionalx64 Edition

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
2. Hardware Installation
2.1. Board Layout
DVI-I Connector
HDMI Connector
D-Sub monitor Connector
(15-pin)
DVI-I
Connector
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
HDMI Connector
D-Submonitor
Connector
(15-pin)
AnalogLCDMonitor AnalogMonitor
or
HDMI TV
1. GV-N84S-512I Rev3.0

- 9 - Hardware Installation
DVI-I Connector
HDMI Connector
D-Sub monitor Connector
(15-pin)
DVI-I
Connector
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
HDMI Connector
D-Submonitor
Connector
(15-pin)
AnalogLCDMonitor AnalogMonitor
or
HDMI TV
2.GV-N84STC-512I Rev2.0

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
DVI-I Connector
HDMI Connector
D-Sub monitor Connector
(15-pin)
DVI-I
Connector
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
HDMI Connector
D-Submonitor
Connector
(15-pin)
AnalogLCDMonitor AnalogMonitor
or
HDMI TV
3.GV-N84STC-1GI

- 11 - Hardware Installation
Expansion cards contain very delicate Integrated Circuit (IC) chips. To
protectthemagainstdamagefromstaticelectricity,youshouldfollowsome
precautions whenever you work on your computer.
1. Turnoffyour computer 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
toyour card. Be surethereare no shipping andhandlingdamages on the cardbefore
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.

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
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.
Step 2.
Replace the screw to fasten the card in place, and replace the
computer cover.
Makesurethatthegoldedgeconnectorofthegraphicscardissecurely
inserted.
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.
ConnectaD-Submonitor
ConnectanHDMImonitor
To Flat Panel DisplayToD-SubMonitor ToHDMIMonitor Connecta flat paneldisplay
You are now ready to proceed with the installation of the graphics card driver. Please refer to next
chapter for detailed instructions.

- 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.

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
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.

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
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 8400 GS Properties dialog box. Click the GeForce 8400 GS 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 8400 GS 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 & Television
In the NVIDIA Control Panel, change a view if you
want.
The supported modes are:
Standard
Advanced
Custom

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
AdjustImage SettingswithPreview
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(Note1)
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.

- 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:
• Change resolution
• Change Flat Panel Scaling
• Adjust desktop color settings
• Rotate display
• Manage custom resolutions(Note)
• Set up multiple displays
(Note) This item is present only in Advanced view mode.
ChangeFlatPanelScaling
Not using the display's native resolution may
result in a desktop that does not fill the display.
You can change how the desktop is scaled to
fit the viewable area.
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.

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GV-N84Series GraphicsAccelerator
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 ofyour desktoptoportrait,
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.
ManageCustomResolutions(Note)
If you are an advanced user, you can create
custom timing modes with the width, height,
bit-color depth, and the refresh rate etc. The
Advanced Timing page enables you to adjust
timings for your graphics card in order to sup-
port a variety of different display timings for
ultimate flexibility for analog CRT and DVI
connections. You can use the advanced
Change Resolution Attributes page to view
custom display modes you have saved in
the Create Custom Resolutions page.
(Note) This item is present only in Advanced view mode.