Matrox M9120 User manual

User Guide
20070-301-0100
2008.05.13
Matrox M-Series
M9120 • M9120 Plus LP • M9125 • M9140 LP
ENGLISH

2 Matrox M-Series – User Guide
Overview
Thank you for purchasing a Matrox M-Series graphics card. This product is a high-performance
graphics card that plugs into a PCIe (PCI Express)
× 1 or × 16 slot inside your personal computer.
With a Matrox M-Series card, you can use 2 or 4 computer monitors at a time depending on your
card.
Hardware supplied
Matrox M9120 or M9125
Matrox M9120 Plus LP
Matrox M9140 LP
Matrox graphics card
(M9120 card shown)
2 DVI-to-HD15 adapters
Matrox graphics card 1 dual-monitor cable (LFH60-to-DVI) 2 DVI-to-HD15 adapters
Matrox graphics card 1 quad-monitor cable (KX20-to-DVI) 4 DVI-to-HD15 adapters

Matrox M-Series – User Guide 3
Software available (for Windows 2000/XP/Vista)
 Matrox PowerDesk – to use your Matrox graphics hardware. Matrox provides 32-bit
and 64-bit versions of the display driver. Matrox makes new display drivers available on
the Matrox Technical Support Web site (www.matrox.com/graphics/support/drivers).
 Other software – see the CD-ROM Readme file
Installation overview
To install your Matrox product:
1 Install the Matrox card – see “Hardware installation”, page 4.
2 Connect your monitors – see “Standard (ATX) connection setup”, page 8 or “Low-profile
connection setup”, page 11.
3 Install the software – see “Software setup”, page 15.
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 M-Series – User Guide
Hardware installation
This section describes how to install your Matrox card. 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
(Windows XP) or
Programs and
Features
(Windows Vista) in the
Windows
Control Panel , remove any
currently installed display drivers.
Restart your computer for the changes
to take effect.
WARN I NG: 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: Most Matrox low-profile graphics cards ship with standard (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.
* 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”. For Windows Vista, see the Vista online help under “Add a second monitor”.

Matrox M-Series – User Guide 5
After your computer restarts, you’re prompted to install drivers for the new graphics
hardware detected. Click
Cancel .
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 any). (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 an expansion slot
Most computers have different types of
expansion slots. Choose a PCI Express
(PCIe)
× 16 or × 1 slot depending on the
type of card. Your system manual should
identify the location of each type of
expansion slot in your computer.
Note: We recommend using a PCIe × 16
slot with 16 lane support. If your system
has multiple PCIe
× 16 slots, your choice
of PCIe slots may affect your card or
system performance. For more
information, see your computer manual.
(Back of computer)
(32-bit)
PCI Express
slots
(×16)
(×1)
PCI slots
(64-bit)
WARN I NG: Inserting your Matrox card
into the wrong type of slot could damage
your card, your computer, or both.
×16
×1 ×4 ×8
PCI Express card
64-bit
32-bit
PCI card

6 Matrox M-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.
Replacing brackets on a low-profile graphics card
Most Matrox low-profile graphics cards ship with ATX brackets compatible with most systems. The
following explains how to change brackets on your Matrox product.
1 Remove the current bracket
from your Matrox graphics card
by removing the screw (
a ) on top
of the graphics card, then the
nuts (
b ) on either side of the
monitor connector.
2 Attach and fasten the new
bracket with the two nuts you
just removed.
ATX bracket
Low-profile
bracket

Matrox M-Series – User Guide 7
For M9140 – Secure the bracket to your graphics card
After you install your Matrox
graphics card in your computer,
but before you connect the
quad-monitor cable, properly
secure the large washer to the
metal frame of your computer.
To secure the washer, slip it over
the monitor connector, then
screw the washer onto the
bracket of your graphics card.
Make sure the washer lies flat
against the frame of your
computer.
WARN I NG: To support the weight of your quad-monitor cable and avoid damaging your graphics
card, you need to secure the bracket of your graphics card to your computer.
Note: Two washers are provided with your Matrox product. Use the small washer if the large
washer doesn’t fit on the frame of your computer.
washer
(small)
washer
(large)
washer graphics
card

8 Matrox M-Series – User Guide
Standard (ATX) connection setup
This section describes how to connect your monitors to a standard (ATX) Matrox graphics card.
Note: To c o n n e c t 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.
WARN I NG: Don’t change monitor connections while your computer is turned on. While
your computer is turned on, it may 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.
DVI connector
(DVI-D: digital)
HD-15 connector (analog)
DVI connector
(DVI-I: analog/digital)

Matrox M-Series – User Guide 9
Connection overview – DualHead
Step-by-step connection setup – DualHead
1Connect the first monitor
Connect your preferred monitor to the
main connector (
A ) on your Matrox
graphics card.
If your monitor has a DVI connector,
connect it directly to the main connector of
your graphics card.
If your monitor has an HD-15 connector,
use the DVI-to-HD15 adapter included with
your Matrox product to connect your
monitor to the main connector.
Monitor connector (DVI)
Monitor connector (DVI)
Monitor connector (HD-15)
Monitor connector (HD-15)
DVI-to-HD15
adapter
DVI-to-HD15
adapter
Monitor connector (DVI)
Monitor connector (HD-15)

10 Matrox M-Series – User Guide
2Connect the second monitor
If your second monitor uses a DVI
connector, connect it directly to the
secondary connector (
B ) of your graphics
card.
If your second monitor uses an HD-15
connector, use a DVI-to-HD15 adapter
included with your product to connect your
monitor to the secondary connector.
Your Matrox card is now installed. Restart your computer and install your Matrox software (see
“Software setup”, page 15).
Monitor connector (DVI)
Monitor connector (HD-15)