Matrox EpicA Series User manual

www.matrox.com/graphics
Graphics Solutions for Professionals
User Guide
10963-301-0111
2008.01.28
Matrox Epic A Series
ENGLISH

2 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide
Overview
Thank you for purchasing a Matrox Epic A graphics card. Your Matrox Epic A product is a high
performance, low-powered graphics card designed for thin client systems. Matrox Epic
A server-side
software manages your Windows desktop in remote sessions.
Hardware supplied
Software supplied
Matrox software is available from the Matrox Web site
(www.matrox.com/graphics/en/finent/products/epica/drivers_software.php).
Client-side software (Windows 2000/XP/XPe and Linux)
! Matrox display drivers and PowerDesk-SE – to use your Matrox graphics hardware and
manage program windows in your local session
! Matrox PowerSpace – to organize your Windows desktop in your local session
Server-side software (Windows 2000/XP and Windows Server 2003)
! Matrox PowerDesk Epic A – to manage program windows in remote sessions
! Matrox PowerSpace Epic A – to organise your Windows desktop in remote sessions
Matrox EpicAcard
(EpicATC2 card shown)
DVI dual-monitor cable*
* Included with Matrox EpicATC2 or TC2-Lite products.
DVI quad-monitor cable†
† Included with Matrox EpicATC4 products.
DVI-to-HD15 adapters ‡
‡ 2 adapters included with a dual-monitor cable and 4 with a quad-monitor cable.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 3
Installation overview
To install your Matrox product:
1 Install the Matrox card – see “Hardware installation”, page 4.
2 Connect your monitors – see “Connection setup”, page 7.
3 Install the software – see “Software setup”, page 11.
Note: If your Matrox product is already partially or fully installed on your computer, some
or all the installation information in this guide may not apply to you. However, this
information may be useful if you need to reinstall your Matrox product.

4 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide
Hardware installation
This section describes how to install your Matrox card. If your Matrox graphics card is already
installed in your computer, skip to “Connection setup”, page 7. For information specific to your
computer, like how to remove its cover, see your system manual.
1Open your computer and
remove your existing graphics
card *
If a graphics card isn’t already installed in
your computer, skip to step 2.
a Using Add/Remove Programs in the
Windows
Control Panel , remove any
currently installed display drivers.
Restart your computer for the changes
to take effect.
After your computer restarts, you’re
prompted to install drivers for the new graphics hardware detected. Click
Cancel .
WAR NING: To avoid personal injury and to prevent damage to your computer or Matrox
hardware, turn off your computer, unplug it, and then wait for it to cool before you install
your Matrox product and touch any of the internal parts of your computer.
While your computer is turned off but still plugged in, some electrical current is supplied
to the motherboard. This current may prevent newly installed hardware from working
properly.
Also, static electricity can severely damage electronic parts. Before touching any electronic
parts, drain static electricity from your body (for example, by touching the metal frame of
your computer). When handling a card, carefully hold it by its edges and avoid touching its
circuitry.
Note: Matrox low-profile graphics cards ship with ATX brackets compatible with most
systems. If you have a low-profile system, you may need to change the standard bracket on
your graphics card to a low-profile bracket. For more information, see “Replacing brackets
on a low-profile graphics card”, page 6.
Note: Server only - If you’re not installing a Matrox graphics card on your server, skip to
“Server-side software setup”, page 12.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 5
b Turn off your computer and all peripherals such as your monitor or printer.
c Open the computer and remove your existing graphics card. (If graphics hardware is
built into the motherboard of your computer, you may need to disable it manually. For
more information, see your system manual.)
2Choose a PCI slot
Most computers have different types of
expansion slots. Choose a
PCI (not PCI
Express
) slot for your graphics card. Your
card supports both 64-bit and 32-bit PCI
slots. Your system manual should identify
the location of each type of expansion slot in
your computer.
* With multi-display mode, you may be able to use your existing graphics card. For Windows 2000/XP, see Windows 2000/XP
online help under “Install additional monitors”.
(64-bit)
(Back of computer)
(32-bit)
PCI
Express
slots
(×16)
(×1)
PCI
slots
Note: If you’re using a PCI graphics card in a PCI 64-bit compatible slot, your choice of PCI
slot may affect your card or system performance. For more information, see your computer
manual.
WAR NING: Inserting your Matrox card
into the wrong type of slot could damage
your card, your computer, or both.
If you have a PCI card and the versions
(32- or 64-bit) of your card and PCI
expansion slot are different, only part of
the card’s edge connector (the part closest
to the bracket) or expansion slot (the part
closest to the back of the computer)
should be used.
PCI card
32-bit 64-bit
PCI Express ×16 card

6 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide
3Insert your Matrox card
a Position your Matrox card over the
expansion slot you’ve chosen.
b Push the card in firmly and evenly until
it’s fully seated in the slot.
c Secure the bracket of your Matrox card
to the computer frame.
Your Matrox card is now installed.
Before restarting your computer , connect your monitor or
monitors (“Connection setup”, page 7).
After connecting , restart your computer and install your
Matrox software (see “Software setup”, page 11).
Replacing brackets on a low-profile graphics card
Matrox low-profile graphics cards ship with ATX brackets compatible with most systems. The
following explains how to change your standard bracket to a low-profile bracket.
1 Remove the standard bracket from your
Matrox graphics card by removing the
nuts (
a ) on either side of the monitor
connector. Depending on your Matrox
product, you may need to remove a
screw (
b ) on top of the graphics card.
2 Attach and fasten the low-profile
bracket with the two nuts you just
removed.
ATX bracket
Low-profile bracket

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 7
Connection setup
This section describes how to connect your monitors to your Matrox product.
Connector overview – EpicATC2 and EpicATC2-Lite
* Supported with EpicATC2-Lite and EpicATC2 only. TV output adapters are sold separately (see http://shopmatrox.com).
Connector overview – EpicATC4
Dual-monitor cable
(LFH60-to-DVI)
DVI-to-HD15 adapter
DVI-to-HD15
adapter
Secondary DVI
connector (2/4)
Main DVI connector (1/3)
TV output
adapter*
Composite
video
connector
S-video
connector
Quad-monitor cable
(KX20-to-DVI)
DVI-to-HD15
adapter Main DVI connector (1/5)

8 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide
Step-by-step connection setup
1Attach the dual-monitor cable or quad-monitor cable
Epic A TC-2 and Epic A TC-2-Lite – Attach
your Matrox dual-monitor cable to the
connector on the bracket of your Matrox
card. Make sure the connectors are properly
fastened.
WAR NING: Don’t change monitor connections while your computer is turned on. While
your computer is turned on, itmay be using monitor settings that are specific to the current
monitor connections. Some devices may be permanently damaged if incorrect settings are
used.
Note: Whenever you change your connection setup, make sure you’re using the correct
connectors and that all connectors are properly fastened.
Whenever you restart your computer, make sure your monitors are already turned on.
Otherwise, the software may not be able to properly detect your monitors.
Dual-monitor
cable
WAR NING: To avoid damaging the LFH-60
connector on your dual-monitor cable or on your
graphics card, carefully insert the connector on your
dual-monitor cable as straight as possible into the
connector on your graphics card. Specifically,
inserting the connectors into each other at an angle is
likely to bend and damage the pins on the connector
of the dual-monitor cable.

Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide 9
Epic A TC4 – Attach your Matrox quad-
monitor cable to the connector on the
bracket of your Matrox card. Make sure the
connectors are properly fastened.
2Connect your monitors
Connect your preferred monitor to the main
DVI connector of your multi-monitor cable.
If your monitor has a DVI connector, connect it
directly to the main DVI connector of your
multi-monitor cable.
If your monitor has an HD-15 connector, use
the DVI-to-HD15 adapter included with your
product to connect your monitor to the main
connector. Make sure the connectors are
properly fastened
Your Matrox card is now installed. Restart your computer and install your Matrox software
(see “Software setup”, page 11).
Quad-monitor
cable
Monitor
connector
(DVI)
DVI-to-HD15
adapter
Monitor connector
(HD-15)
Note: Monitors are numbered consecutively
based on which connector each is attached to.
Numbering starts with the
primary display –
the one that first displays information when
you restart your computer. If another graphics
card is installed in your computer, display
numbering may be different.
EpicATC2 and
EpicATC2-Lite EpicATC4

10 Matrox EpicA Series – User Guide
Note: To connect a digital monitor (a monitor that
uses digital input, usually a flat panel monitor) to
your Matrox product, your monitor must have a DVI
connector.
Some monitors with DVI connectors support both
digital and analog input. If you’re using one of these
monitors with your Matrox product, make sure it’s
configured to use the correct type of input. For more
information, see your monitor documentation.
DVI connector
(DVI-D: digital)
HD-15 connector (analog)
DVI connector
(DVI-I: analog/digital)