Gigabyte GV-RX55HM256P8-RH User manual

Apr. 28, 2006
VGA Card
GV-RX55HM256P8-RH

VGA Card
Apr. 28, 2006
GV-RX55HM256P8-RH

Copyright
© 2005 GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
Copyright by GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.("GBT"). No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any from
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Due to rapid change in technology, some of the specifications might be out of date before publication of this booklet.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.
Macrovision corporation product notice:
“This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights.
Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other limited viewing
uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.”
User's Manual
Rev. 101
12MD-RX55HM8R-101R
GV-RX55HM256P8-RH
Radeon X550 Graphics Accelerator
* 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.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 3
1.1. Features ..................................................................................................... 3
1.2. Minimum System Requirement ..................................................................... 3
2. Hardware Installation ........................................................................... 4
2.1. Board Layout .............................................................................................. 4
2.2. Hardware Installation ................................................................................... 6
3. Software Installation ............................................................................ 8
3.1. Windows®XP Driver and Utilities Installation ................................................. 8
3.1.1. Operating System Requirement ................................................................................... 8
3.1.2. DirectX Installation .......................................................................................................... 9
3.1.3. Driver Installation .......................................................................................................... 10
3.1.4. Utilities on Driver CD ................................................................................................... 12
3.1.5. Taskbar Icon ................................................................................................................. 15
3.1.6. Display Properties pages ............................................................................................ 18
3.2. Windows®2000 Driver Installation ............................................................. 32
4. Troubleshooting Tips ........................................................................ 33
5. Appendix .......................................................................................... 34
5.1. How to Reflash the BIOS ........................................................................... 34
5.1.1. Reflash BIOS in MS-DOS mode ................................................................................. 34
5.1.2. Reflash BIOS in Windows mode ................................................................................ 34
5.2. Resolutions and Color Depth Table (In Windows®XP) ............................... 35

Introduction- 3 -
English
1. Introduction
1.1. Features
•Powered by ATI X550 with HyperMemoryTM Technology Visual Processing
Unit (VPU)
•Supports the newest PCI Express x 16
•Supports 256MB Video memory (Local on-board memory is 128MB DDRII)
•Supports DirectX 9.0
•Supports TV-Out connector
•Supports DVI-I connector
•Supports AV / S-Video and HDTV output
•Supports TV-Out and D-Sub connector
1.2. Minimum System Requirement
•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 Windows®2000 / Windows®XP
•64MB system memory
•50MB of available disk space for full installation
•CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

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TV-Out
VGA Monitor
Connector
(15-pin)
DVI-I Connector
NTSC / PAL TV
Projector
Analog LCD Monitor Analog Monitor
OR
VGA Output
Analog LCD Monitor
Digital LCD Monitor
DVI Output
DVI-I to D-Sub
Adapter
VGA Output
S-Video Output
Y
HDTV
Pr
Pb/AV Output
2. Hardware Installation
2.1. Board Layout
TV-Out
VGA Monitor Connector
(15pin)
DVI-I Connector

Hardware Installation- 5 -
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.

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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 install your graphics accelerator 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,
see you computer
documentation.

Hardware Installation- 7 -
English
5. 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 drivers. Please refer
to next chapter for detailed instructions.
4. Locate the PCI Express x 16 slot. If
necessary, remove the metal cover from this
slot; then align your graphics card with the
PCI Express x 16 slot, and press it in firmly
until the card is fully seated.
To Flat Panel Display To TV or VCR To VGA Monitor
6. Plug the display cable into your graphics
card; then turn on the computer and monitor.

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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 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.

Software Installation- 9 -
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.
Step 2. Choose I accept the agreement
and click the Next button.
Step 3. Click the Next button.
Step 4. Click Finish to restart computer.
Then the DirectX 9 installation is completed.
Installing the components.
Click the Install DirectX 9 item.

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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.

Software Installation- 11 -
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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".
Click the Install Display Drivers (Radeon
X550 Series) item.
Step 1. When autorun window show up, click the
Install Display Drivers (Radeon X550 Series)
item.
Step 2. Click Next button. Step 3. Click Yes button.
Setp 4. Click Express or Custom icon.
Step 5. Click the Finish button to restart computer.
Then the driver installation is completed.
Windows installings the components.

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Step 3. Enter your name and company.
Step 4. Click the Finish button to restart computer.
Then the V-Tuner2 installation is completed.
Step 2. Click the Next button.
Click the GIGABYTE Utility item.
3.1.4. Utilities on Driver CD
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".
zInstall GIGABYTE Utility (V-Tuner2):

Software Installation- 13 -
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zInstall Hydravision :
Step 2. Click the Next button.
Click the Hydravision Install item.
Step 3. Click the Yes button.
Step 4. Click the Next button.
Step 6. Click the Finish button to restart computer.
Then the Hydravision Install is completed.
Step 5. Click the Next button.
Windows installings the components.

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V-Tuner 2
V-Tuner 2 lets you adjust the working frequency of the graphic engine and video memory
(Core Clock and Memory Clock).
Adjust core
speed
Displays core clock status Displays memory clock status
Adjust memory
speed
Select choice of skinOpen Help page

Software Installation- 15 -
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3.1.5. Taskbar Icon
After installation of the display drivers, you will find a GIGABYTE icon on the taskbar's
status area. Right-clicking this icon opens the GIGABYTE control panel, showing a menu
composed of shortcut of the graphics card's enhanced and other functions.
You may click the "Display Properties" item, and then click Settings. Click "Advanced" after
clicking Settings. Click the appropriate tab to change your display settings.
Right-click the icon.
You can link to GIGABYTE website for updated information about the
graphics accelerator, latest drivers, and other information.
Click the VGA Information
item into the "VGA Info" and
"Color Adjust" tabs.

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VGA Information
VGA Info lists the relevant information about your card.
Color Adjust
Color Adjust allows you to make color adjustments, such as brightness, contrast and
gamma values for each or all of RGB colors.

Software Installation- 17 -
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ATI CATALYSTTM Control Center:
After installation of the display drivers, you will find an ATI CATALYSTTM Control Center icon on
the taskbar's status area. The ATI CATALYSTTM Control Center is used to configure all your graphics
card settings. Right-click the icon to enter the ATI CATALYSTTM Control Center (refer to Fig. 1). Or
you can right-click on the desktop to select Properties>Settings> Advanced> ATI CATALYST Control
Center tab and press ATI CATALYST(tm) Control Center button (refer to Fig. 2).
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
HYDRAVISIONTM :
HYDRAVISION has everything you need to manage increased amounts of information across your
computer desktop. It allows you to quickly and easily tailor your computer desktop to the way you
work. You can:
• arrange and rearrange monitors. • assign Hot Key shortcuts.
• create up to 9 virtual desktops. • add special effects to windows and menus.
You can right-click on ATI CATALYSTTM Control Center icon to select HYDRAVISIONTM.
HYDRAVISIONTM Properties to set the HYDRAVISION (refer to Fig. 3).
Fig. 3

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3.1.6. 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.
Click the Advanced button for adapter and setting.
You can move the slider to change the resolution.
You can click the item to change the color quality.
Display
Matrix
Model GV-RX55HM256P8-RH
CRT+TV Yes
DVI+TV Yes
DVI+TV+CRT Yes