VideoLogic Apocalypse 3D User manual

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................ 2
Installing Apocalypse 3D ............................................................. 4
Troubleshooting ....................................................................... 8
Technical support ...................................................................... 9
Index .................................................................................. 10

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Introduction
The Apocalypse 3D™accelerator card from VideoLogic uses the revolutionary PowerVR
architecture to provide the ultimate in realistic, real-time 3D rendering. It brings arcade-level
performance to a growing range of applications such as games, web browsing and multi-
media, and comes with drivers for VideoLogic’s own PowerSGL™3D graphics language, and
Microsoft®Direct3D.™
To run Apocalypse 3D you need an IBM or fully compatible Pentium 90 (or better) PC running
Microsoft Windows™ 95 and DirectX, which has a spare bus-mastering PCI bus slot, a
minimum of 16 MB of RAM and a 2 MB PCI graphics card with drivers that support
DirectDraw.™
You may find it helpful to have to hand the Windows User’s Guide and any other documenta-
tion supplied with your PC and computer monitor.
Conventions used in this guide
Throughout this guide: bold text is used for anything you type; italics are for references to
other documents; and small capitals are used for keyboard keys, for example ENTER, SHIFT, CTRL.
Before you start
DirectDraw compliance
Before you start installing the card, make sure that your PC graphics system can support the
required version of Microsoft DirectDraw. There is a utility on the CD that can do this for you.
To run the utility, insert the VideoLogic software library disk into your CD drive, click the Start
menu, point to Run, and type [disk]:\DDDIAG.EXE where [disk] is your CD drive.Click OK,
and follow the instructions on the screen.
Readme files
When you’re sure you can continue, look at the readme file on the CD, by double-clicking My
Computer on your desktop, then the CD drive, then the readme file.

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Handling the card
Like all cards, Apocalypse 3D can be damaged by electrostatic charges during handling. To
minimize the risk, follow these simple guidelines:
•Keep the card in its protective packaging until you are ready to install it.
•Just before handling the card, touch the metal frame of your computer with the back of
your hand to discharge any static electricity which may have built up on you or your
clothes.
•Hold the card by the adapter bracket or by its edges; do not touch the printed circuit
board.
•Do not place the card on top of your computer or on any other metal surface.
•Make sure that the card is not accidentally touched by anyone else.
•Handle the card with care to avoid damage to the fragile electronic components mounted
on the circuit board.

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Installing Apocalypse 3D
Installing the hardware and drivers
Warning: Always switch off your computer before removing the cover and observe the
warnings specified in the manufacturer’s documentation.
The diagram below shows the connector on the card.
PCI bus connector
POWERVR
Before installation, make sure you are using a graphics card with drivers that support
Microsoft DirectDraw, and that your PC is running Microsoft Windows 95 and DirectX.

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
1. Switch off your computer, monitor, and any hardware devices such as printers connected
to your computer. Leave the power cable connected to the power outlet so that your
computer is grounded.
2. Remove the computer’s cover. You may need to refer to the documentation supplied with
your computer for instructions on how to do this.
3. Locate an empty PCI bus expansion slot and remove the slot cover. Keep the screw, you
will need it later to secure the card.
4. Touch the bare metal chassis of your computer with the back of your hand to discharge
any static that may have built up on you or your clothes.
5. Align Apocalypse 3D with the slot you have chosen. Firmly press it into the slot, as shown
in the diagram below. You will need to use some pressure to push the card into position,
but do not use excessive force.

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
6. Secure the card using the screw that you removed previously.
7. Replace the cover of your computer and switch on your computer and your computer
monitor.
8. When your computer has restarted, a dialog box is displayed, telling you that Windows
has found new hardware. Click the check box for the driver provided by the hardware
manufacturer. Click OK.
9. Another dialog box is displayed, asking for the location of the software. Browse to
[disk]:\ where [disk] is your CD drive. After browsing, click OK.
10. You are now ready to install the drivers. Click OK.
Two sets of drivers are installed, for PowerSGL and Direct3D.
PowerSGL is VideoLogic’s proprietary 3D language. Direct3D is Microsoft’s 3D graphics
language. These drivers enable you to optimally run applications based on either
language.
11. When the drivers have been installed, a message is displayed asking whether you want to
restart Windows. Click Yes.
When your computer has restarted Apocalypse 3D is ready for use.

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Upgrading the drivers
From time to time, VideoLogic may issue upgrades to the drivers. If this happens, follow the
instructions below to install them on your PC.
1. Open the Control Panel window by clicking the Start button, pointing to Settings and
clicking Control Panel.
2. From the Control Panel, double-click System. The System Properties dialog box is
displayed.
3. Click the Device Manager tab. A list of devices available on your PC is displayed.
4. From the list, double-click Sound, Video and game controllers. Under Sound, Video and
game controllers, the driver for Apocalypse 3D is displayed.
5. From the list, double-click Apocalypse 3D. The PCI Properties dialog box is displayed.
6. Click the Driver tab. A list of driver files is displayed.
7. Click Change driver. The Select Device dialog box is displayed.
8. Click Have Disk. The Install from Disk dialog box is displayed.
9. Browse to [disk]:\ where [disk] is the drive containing the Apocalypse 3D updates. When
you have browsed, click OK.
10. At the Install from Disk dialog box, click OK. At the Select Device dialog box, click OK. At
the PCI Properties dialog box, click OK. The drivers are upgraded on your PC, which may
take a short while.
11. When the drivers have been upgraded, a message is displayed asking whether you want
to restart Windows. Click Yes.
When your computer has restarted Apocalypse 3D is ready for use.

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Troubleshooting
This section provides solutions to the problems that can happen when installing and using
Apocalypse 3D. For more detailed information, refer to the readme file on the distribution disk,
by double-clicking My Computer on your desktop, then the disk drive and then the readme
file.
Problem: The application display is corrupted.
Solution: Your PC may not be fully DirectDraw compliant.
Run the DirectDraw compliance utility, as explained on page 2 of this guide.
Problem: The application looks fuzzy, with lines appearing alongside the active window.
Solution: The resolution of the window in which the application is running is too high, or the
refresh rate of the screen is too high.
Lower the resolution or the refresh rate in Display Properties.
Problem: The Start menu and Windows menus contain corrupted text, or text is missing.
Solution: After playing a game in 8-bit display mode, your PC has changed from 8-bit to 16-
bit display mode automatically, which your display driver may not be able to
support.
Restart your PC in 16-bit mode. Refer to the documentation supplied with your
graphics card if you need help with this.
To avoid this problem in future, you should always be in a 16-bit display mode
before playing a game.
Problem: When running an application that uses PowerSGL or Direct3D, the system freezes
or restarts.
Solution: You may have installed Apocalypse 3D into a PCI bus slot that does not have bus-
mastering capability.
Install the card into a slot that supports bus-mastering.

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Technical support
If you have any problems while installing or using Apocalypse 3D, go through the steps below.
1. Check the troubleshooting information in the readme file supplied on the distribution disk.
2. Contact us online using one of the following services.
- Internet web site: http://www.videologic.com
- Internet FTP site: ftp://ftp.videologic.com
- Bulletin board (USA, Canada & South America): 415 875 7748 (to 28800 baud, 8-N-1)
- Bulletin board (UK): [phone] (to 28800 baud, 8-N-1)
- Bulletin board (Germany): [phone] 371257 (to 28800 baud, 8-N-1)
3. Contact your original supplier for technical help.
4. Call our customer support group. Try to have details of your system to hand, such as the
card’s serial number and the make of your PC as this will make it easier for us to help you.
USA, Canada & South America: 415 875 0606
Outside USA, Canada & South America: [phone]
Other products and services
For more information about VideoLogic products, contact us via one of the above services, or
through the addresses on the back cover of this guide, or use our FaxBack service.
The VideoLogic FaxBack service provides a complete listing of current VideoLogic products,
with summary descriptions and reviews. When you use this service you will be asked to
provide your fax number. If calling from outside the USA, Canada and South America your
number is 011, then your country code, then your fax number. If your telephone does not
have a £ key, use the # key when prompted to press the pound sign key.
USA, Canada & South America: 800 203 8587
Outside USA, Canada & South America: [phone]

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Apocalypse 3D User Guide
Index
A
Apocalypse 3D
diagram 4
expansion slot 5
handling 3
installing 4
B
bulletin boards 9
bus requirement 2
C
compliance with DirectDraw 2
customer support group 9
D
Direct3D 6
DirectDraw compliance 2
documentation 2
F
FaxBack service 9
FTP site 9
H
handling Apocalypse 3D 3
hardware installation 4
I
installation
hardware 4
software 7
internet address 9
P
PowerSGL 6
R
readme file 2, 8, 9
requirements 2
S
software installation 7
T
technical support 9
troubleshooting 8
U
upgrading drivers 7
V
VideoLogic
addresses 9
FaxBack service 9
W
web site 9