Gigabyte GV-NX79X512DB-ED-RH User manual

Mar. 8, 2006
VGA Card
GV-NX79X512VB-RH / GV-NX79X512DB-RH / GV-NX79T256DB-RH

VGA Card
Mar. 8, 2006
GV-NX79X512VB-RH/GV-NX79X512DB-RH/
GV-NX79T256DB-RH

Copyright
© 2006 GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
Copyright by GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.("GBT"). No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
without the expressed, written permission of GBT.
Trademarks
Third-party brands and names are the property of their respective owners.
Notice
Please do not remove any labels on VGA card, this may void the warranty of this VGA card.
Due to rapid change in technology, some of the specifications might be out of date before publication of this booklet.
The author assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions that may appear in this document nor does the author make a
commitment to update the information contained herein.
* The WEEE marking on the product indicates this product must not be disposed of with user's other household waste
and must be handed over to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment!!
* The WEEE marking applies only in European Union's member states.
GV-NX79X512VB-RH /
GV-NX79X512DB-RH /
GV-NX79T256DB-RH
GeForce™7900 GTX / 7900 GT Graphics Accelerator
User's Manual
Rev. 102
12MD-NX79T2BR-102R

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 2 -
English
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 3
1.1. Features ..................................................................................................... 3
1.2. Minimum system requirements ..................................................................... 3
2. Hardware Installation ........................................................................... 4
2.1. Board layout ............................................................................................... 4
2.2. Hardware installation ................................................................................... 7
3. Software Installation .......................................................................... 11
3.1. Win®XP driver and utilities installation ......................................................... 11
3.1.1. Operating system requirement .................................................................................... 11
3.1.2. DirectX installation ......................................................................................................... 11
3.1.3. Driver installation .......................................................................................................... 13
3.1.4. Display properties pages ............................................................................................. 16
3.1.5. nView properties pages ............................................................................................... 21
3.2. Win®2000 driver installation ...................................................................... 26
4. Troubleshooting Tips ........................................................................ 27
5. Appendix .......................................................................................... 28
5.1. How to Reflash the BIOS ........................................................................... 28
5.2. Connecting to a HDTV .............................................................................. 29
5.3. Resolutions and color depth table (In Windows®XP) .................................. 30

Introduction- 3 -
English
1. Introduction
1.1. Features
•Powered by NVIDIA®GeForce™7900 GTX / 7900 GT Graphics Processing Unit
(GPU)
•Supports the newest PCI Express x 16
•Integrated with 256MB DDRIII memory (For GV-NX79T256DB-RH only)
•Integrated with 512MB DDRIII memory
(For GV-NX79X512VB-RH/GV-NX79X512DB-RH only)
•Supports DirectX 9.0c
•Supports NVIDIA® SLITM (Scalable Link Interface) technology (Note)
•Supports AV / S-Video and HDTV output
•Supports D-sub connector (by adapter)
•Supports 2 DVI-I connectors
1.2. Minimum system requirements
•IBM®or 100% PC compatible with Pentium®III 650MHz or AMD Athlon 650MHz
class processor or higher
•One PCI Express x 16 slot
•Operating Systems Win®2000 / Win®XP
•64MB system memory
•50MB of available disk space for full installation
•CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
•Minimum power supply 350W
(To set up an SLI system with the GV-NX79T256DB-RH graphics cards, please
use a power supply of 450 watt or above ; A power supply of 500 watt or above
is recommended for an SLI system with the
GV-NX79X512VB-RH/GV-NX79X512DB-RH graphics cards.)
(Note): 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 (i.e. GV-NX79X512VB-RH) and from the same vendor (i.e. GIGABYTE
TECHNOLOGY).

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 4 -
English
2. Hardware Installation
2.1. Board Layout
1. GV-NX79T256DB-RH
TV-out
DVI-I Connector
DVI-I Connector
SLI connector
DVI-I
Connector
DVI-I
Connector
Analog LCD Monitor
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
DVI-I to D-Sub
Adapter
DVI-I to D-Sub
Adapter
VGA Output
TV-Out
NTSC / PAL TV
HDTV
S-Video Output
Pb Output
Pr
Y
AV Output

Hardware Installation- 5 -
English
TV-out
DVI-I Connector
DVI-I Connector
SLI connector
DVI-I
Connector
DVI-I
Connector
Analog LCD Monitor
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
DVI-I to D-Sub
Adapter
DVI-I to D-Sub
Adapter
VGA Output
TV-Out
NTSC / PAL TV
HDTV
S-Video Output
Pb Output
Pr
Y
AV Output
2. GV-NX79X512VB-RH/GV-NX79X512DB-RH

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 6 -
English
Expansion cards contain very delicate Integrated Circuit (IC) chips. To
protect them against damage from static electricity, you should follow some
precautions whenever you work on your computer.
1. Turn off your computer and unplug power supply.
2. Use a grounded wrist strap before handling computer components. If you do not have
one, touch both of your hands to a safely grounded object or to a metal object, such as
the power supply case.
3. Place components on a grounded antistatic pad or on the bag that came with the
components whenever the components are separated from the system.
The card contains sensitive electric components, which can be easily damaged by static
electricity, so the card should be left in its original packing until it is installed.
Unpacking and installation should be done on a grounded anti-static mat. The operator
should be wearing an anti-static wristband, grounded at the same point as the anti-static
mat.
Inspect the card carton for obvious damage. Shipping and handling may cause damage
to your card. Be sure there are no shipping and handling damages on the card before
proceeding.
DO NOT APPLY POWER TO YOUR SYSTEM IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED ON
THE CARD.
In order to ensure your graphics card working correctly, please use official
Gigabyte BIOS only. Use none official Gigabyte BIOS might cause problem
on the graphics card.

Hardware Installation- 7 -
English
2.2. Hardware installation
Installing Your graphics card.
Now that you have prepared your computer, you are ready to install your graphics accelerator
card.
To remove the existing graphics card:
1. Power off the computer and monitor, then
disconnect the display cable from the back
of your computer.
2. Remove the computer cover. If necessary,
consult your computer's manual for help in
removing the cover.
3. Remove any existing graphics card from
your computer.
Or, if your computer has any on-board
graphics capability, you may need to disable
it on the motherboard. For more information,
please see your computer documentation.
To install your new graphics card:
1. Locate two PCI Express x 16 slots. If
necessary, remove the metal covers from
the slots; then align your graphics card with
the PCI Express x 16 slots, and press it in
firmly until the card is fully seated.
* Please make sure that the gold edge connectors of the graphics card is securely inserted.

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 8 -
English
2. Replace the screw to fasten the card in place,
and replace the computer cover.
You are now ready to proceed with the installation of the graphics card driver. Please refer
to next chapter for detailed instructions.
After installing the GV-NX79X512VB-RH to your computer, please
remember to connect at lease one power cable on the graphics card
to the power supply connector.
We suggest you to connect both of the two power cables on the
graphics card to the power supply to achieve optimal graphics
performance.
3. Plug the display cable into your graphics
card; then turn on the computer and monitor.
To connect a flat panel directly to your
graphics card, use the DVI-I connector. To
connect a VGA monitor to the DVI-I
connector, plug the DVI-I to D-sub adapter
intothe DVI-I connector,then plugthemonitor
cable into the adapter. Connect a flat panel
Connect a VGA monitor via DVI-I to D-sub adapter
To TV / VCR
To Flat Panel Display

Hardware Installation- 9 -
English
GIGABYTE Component Video Adapter for Nvidia Graphics Cards (HDTV Cable)
(1) Connecting HDTV
Connect your HDTV cables to the component video
adapter according to the corresponding color. (Y= Green,
Pr= Red, Pb= Blue)
(2) Connecting S-Video
If your TV has a S-Video connection, connect the S-
Video cable from your TV to the S-Video Out port on the
adapter.
(3) Connecting AV Output
If your TV has a Composite video connection, you can
connect the RCA cable from your TV to the AV Out port
on the adapter.
Connect to the TV-Out
port on the graphics card.
S-Video Out HDTV Component
(Y+Pr+Pb)
AV Out

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 10 -
English
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 x 16 PCI Express slots to scale graphics performance. The picture below shows that two
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-NX66T256DP-RH)

Software Installation- 11 -
English
3.1.2. DirectX installation
Install Microsoft DirectX to enable 3D hardware acceleration support for Windows®2000 or
Windows®XP to achieve better 3D performance.
0Note: For software MPEG support in Windows®2000 or 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. When autorun window show up, click
the Install DirectX 9 item.
3. Software Installation
In this manual, we assume that your CD-ROM Drive letter to be Drive D:
The installation of Windows®2000 / Windows®XP drivers is very simple. When you insert the
driver CD into your CD-ROM drive, you can see the AUTORUN window (if it does not show
up, run "D:\setup.exe"). Then you can follow the guides to setup your graphics card driver.
(Please follow the subsection 3.1.3 "Driver installation" to install the driver for your graphics
accelerator.)
3.1. Windows®XP driver and utilities installation
3.1.1. Operating system requirement
•When loading the graphics card drivers for the system, please make sure your system
has installed DirectX 9.0C or later version.
•If you install the graphics card drivers for the motherboard, which consist of SIS or VIA
chipsets, please install the appropriate driver program for that motherboard. Or please
contact your motherboard nearest dealer for motherboard driver.

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 12 -
English
Step 4. Click "Finish" to restart computer.
Then the DirectX 9 installation is completed.
Installing the components.
Step 2. Choose I accept the agreement and click
the "Next" button.
Step 3. Click the "Next" button.

Software Installation- 13 -
English
3.1.3. Driver installation
A. New hardware found
After the graphics card is inserted into your computer at the first time, the windows will
automatically detect a new hardware in the system and pop out a "New Hardware Found"
message. The following is the step-by-step installation guide.
Step 1: Found new hardware wizard: Video controller (VGA Compatible)
Click the "Next" button to install the driver. (There
is a driver CD disk that came with your graphics
accelerator, please insert it now.)
Or click the "Cancel" button to install the driver
from AUTORUN window.
Step 2: Found new hardware wizard: Searching and installing
The wizard will search for the driver and install it automatically.
Step 3: Found new hardware wizard: Finish
Click the "Finish" button to finish the installation.

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 14 -
English
B. Driver installation (Autorun Window)
Insert the driver CD disk into your CD-ROM, and then you can see the AUTORUN window.
If it does not show up, please run "D:\setup.exe".
Step 1. When autorun window show up,
click Display Driver item.
Step 2. When autorun window show up,
click Install Display Driver item.
Step 3. Click "Next" button.
Step 4. Click "Finish" button to restart
computer. Then the driver installation is
completed.
Windows installings the components.

Software Installation- 15 -
English
After installation of the display drivers, you will find a NVIDIA icon on the taskbar's status
area. Click this icon to open the control panel.
You can adjust the properties of
the graphics accelerator from
here.
Right click the icon.

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 16 -
English
3.1.4. Display properties pages
To access Display Properties pages, right-click the GIGABYTE icon on the taskbar and
select Display Properties or right-click on Desktop and then select Properties. The Display
Properties dialog box shows the information of display adapter, color, the range of display
area, and the refresh rate.
Settings (Resolutions and Color depth for Windows)
You may adjust the screen resolution and color quality settings in this dialog box.
GeForce 7900 GT properties
You can click the item to change the
color depth.
You can move the slider to change
the resolution.
Click the "Advanced" button for adapter and setting.
To access more advanced options, click the "Advanced" button.
You can select other properties from the pop-out menu.
After pressing the "Advanced" button in Settings, you'll see the Plug and Play Monitor and
NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT Properties dialog box. Click the GeForce 7900 GT tab. (You can also
click the Nvidia icon on the taskbar and select Nvidia Display to access the GeForce 7900 GT
properties page.)
This page shows the Adapter, System and
Driver version information.

Software Installation- 17 -
English
nView Display Settings properties *
"*" This feature will not be available when SLI multi-GPU is enabled.
nView allows you to connect separate displays to single
graphics card.
• nView Display mode: select your preferred nView display
modes here. Options: Single display/ Clone/ Dualview
• Primary/Secondary display: select a single display or
display pair. The selected display combination will appear
in the graphical representation below.
• Make this the primary display: Specifies that the display
corresponding to the icon you selected above is the
primary display.
• Click Apply to apply settings or click OK to save settings.
If TV is chosen as the display, you will need to select the
proper TV format. To do this, click "Device Settings" followed
by "Select TV format". Select the format for your television
and then click "Apply" followed by "OK".
Dual-Monitor Setup:
You can set the display to output from two monitors on the nView Display Settings page.
The GV-NX79T256DB-RH/GV-NX79X512VB-RH/GV-NX79X512DB-RH supports Clone and Dual
View modes.
Clone Mode
Dual View Mode
(2) Dual View Mode:
Dualview mode indicates that both displays in the
display pair function as one virtual desktop. Unlike
Horizontal Span or Vertical Span mode, Dualview
treats each display as a separate device. This
means that the taskbar will not be stretched across
displays and 3D applications are not accelerated
asefficientlyas whentheapplicationspans displays.
Select Dual View from the nView list and click
Apply.
(1) Clone Mode:
Clone mode indicates that both displays in the
display pair show images of the same desktop.
Select Clone from the nView list and click Apply.
Display Model GV-NX79T256DB-RH GV-NX79X512VB-RH GV-NX79X512DB-RH
Matrix CRT+TV Yes Yes Yes
CRT+DVI Yes Yes Yes
DVI+TV Yes Yes Yes
DVI+DVI Yes Yes Yes

GV-NX79 Series Graphics Accelerator - 18 -
English
Performance and Quality Settings properties
The sliders lets to decide whether your application should use
quality or high performance texture.
• Application profiles: Select the application profile from the list
of profiles.
• Global driver settings: Select the Settings item and move
the slider below to set the degree of antialiasing to used in
Direct3D and OpenGL applications.
• Antialiasing settings value: allows to set the degree of the
Global Driver Settings.
SLI multi-GPU *
To enable SLI mode, select the Enable SLI multi-GPU
check box and click Apply after installation of two
GV-NX79T256DB-RH/GV-NX79X512VB-RH/
GV-NX79X512DB-RH graphics cards on an SLI-capable
motherboard. Then restart your system when prompted.
"*" Only Windows XP operating system supports the SLI mode.
Please do not enable SLI multi-GPU in Windows 2000.
Color Correction properties
The Color Correction Properties is used to compensate for
variations in luminance between a source image and its output
on a display device. Adjust the color correction settings to
provide more accurate color reproduction of images (such as
photographs) on your display device. Also, many 3D-
accelerated games may appear too dark to play. Increasing
the brightness and/or the gamma value equally across all
channels makes these games appear brighter and more
playable.