S3 Graphics S3G003 GRAPHIC CARD User Manual 3

S3 Graphics Co., Ltd. GRAPHIC CARD Users Manual 3

Contents

Users Manual 3

User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 94 8.2 S3 ScreenToys Rotation Rotation of the desktop screen image is available through the S3 Graphics S3 ScreenToys Rotation page. ACCESS: To rotate your desktop screen image, right click on the desktop and select to open the S3 ScreenToys window. In the left menu column, select Advanced, Rotation. The S3 ScreenToys Rotation orientation options are now available for selection. Rotation control is also accessible from the S3 taskbar icon menu. Image Positions Portrait images are greater in the vertical direction than the horizontal, and Landscape images are greater in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. Primary refers to the main or normal screen orientation position. Secondary orientations are 180 degrees off the Primary. When the screen is rotated, the cursor also rotates in sync with the screen orientation to maintain the same frame of reference as the desktop.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 95 Monitor orientation options: OPTIONS: Each connected and enabled device may be rotated independently. The Display to be changed can be selected through the Monitors: dropdown list located in the upper left corner of the S3 ScreenToys Rotation page. S3 ScreenToys Rotation options are: Image area Use this group to step through orientation options and view the result. Orientation reference image View this bitmap image of a desktop to see the effects of any proposed screen orientation selection. CW Click CW once to rotate the sample screen image clockwise 90 degrees. CCW Click CCW once to rotate the sample screen image counter-clockwise 90 degrees.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 96 Orientation area This group contains four radio buttons, one for each of the orientations available for selection. Normal (Primary landscape) Click the Normal (Primary landscape) button to orientate the screen image to the default rotation position. This image has 0 degrees of rotation. 90 degrees (Primary portrait)) Click the 90 degrees (Primary portrait) button to orientate the screen image to a vertical format as if the image were turned 90 degrees clockwise. 180 degrees (Secondary landscape) Click the 180 degrees (Secondary landscape) button to orientate the screen image to a horizontal format as if the image were turned 180 degrees clockwise, or flipped “upside-down.” 270 degrees (Secondary portrait)) Click the 270 degrees (Secondary portrait) button to orientate the screen image to a vertical format as if the image were turned 270 degrees clockwise (or 90 degrees counter-clockwise). Rotation Resolution Landscape modes are expressed as X by Y for compatibility with 0 or 180 degrees of rotation. Modes with Portrait Orientation are expressed as Y by X for 90 or 270 degrees of rotation. The minimum supported Portrait resolution for Windows Vista and Windows XP is 768x1024, since the operating systems avoid providing resolutions with a horizontal size less than 640. For example, the following sample resolutions might appear in the List All Modes box on the Monitor tab while in a Landscape Orientation: 800 by 600, High Color (16 bit), 60 Hertz 800 by 600, True Color (32 bit), 60 Hertz 1024 by 768, High Color (16 bit), 60 Hertz 1024 by 768, True Color (32 bit), 60 Hertz The following are sample modes that would be selectable while you are in a Portrait Orientation: 768 by 1024, High Color (16 bit), 60 Hertz 768 by 1024, True Color (32 bit), 60 Hertz If you are in an 800x600x32 landscape resolution before a 90 degree rotation, the actual resolution you will have after rotation is a portrait 600x800x32. When you reopen the Display Settings window, the lowest resolution available for selection will be 768x1024x8, which is different than the actual resolution. If you select OK, then the resolution will be changed.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 97 SECTION 9 TOOLS FOR THE VIDEO ENTHUSIAST 9.1 Video Requirements Install up-to-date versions of Microsoft’s DirectX and Media Player for your Windows Vista or Windows XP. DirectX Updates Your S3 Graphics software is designed to take full advantage of the advanced features available with DirectX. For the best possible performance and visual experience, be sure you have installed DirectX and are using a level compatible with your driver. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ Or visit the Microsoft download site: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/ and click on the Download Category DirectX. Windows Media Series Your S3 Graphics software is designed to take full advantage of the advanced features available with Windows Media Series Codec and Player. For the best possible performance and visual experience, get the latest version of the Windows Media Series from the Microsoft Windows Update site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ Or visit the Microsoft download site: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/ and click on the Download Category Windows Media.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 98 9.2 Video Viewing with Application Software The advanced high quality ChromotionHD 2.0 programmable video engine of the CHROME 500 Series GPUs is fully compatible with Microsoft DirectX-VA 2.0 media acceleration and supports Protected Video Playback (PVP) of a wide range of video codecs, including Windows Media VideoTM 9 HD (WMV9-HD), MPEG-2 HD, VC-1, and H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC). High definition playback of Blu-ray Discs is possible with lower CPU utilization. PVP support for HD Premium content includes PVP-UAB (User-Accessible Bus) and display output protection. Hardware assisted video playback is available with compatible releases from the following software DVD application vendors: Intervideo Cyberlink Windows Media Player for Windows XP (with a 3rd party DVD codec) Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate Editions (include Media Center which has a Microsoft DVD codec) S3 Graphics GPUs can be used with video playback applications on systems with hardware to support advanced playback, such as a DVD or a Blu-ray disc drive. You can show your video images within a scalable window on any output device connected to your PC: HDMI, DVI, CRT or LCD. Enable ChromoVision and you will be able to display video playback full-screen on HDMI or DP at the same time your playback runs in a scalable window on your CRT, DVI or second HDMI (if your two devices are configured in Clone view to share the desktop’s Primary View). ArtisticLicense Effects, such as Emboss and Neon Edges, can be applied to your video playback images using the S3 ScreenToys Chromotion Video utility.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 99 9.3 S3 ScreenToys Video Color Settings With S3 ScreenToys Video Color Settings you can adjust the brightness, contrast, hue and saturation of the display of video. S3 ScreenToys Video Color Settings include ChromoColor™ support using the front-end pixel shader for these adjustments. ACCESS: To adjust video settings, right click on the desktop and click from the menu to select S3 ScreenToys. From the left panel Basic menu, select Video Color Settings. This utility is also accessible from the CHROME® menu available on right-click of the taskbar icon menu. OPTIONS: S3 ScreenToys Video Color Settings for color adjustment of video may include the following. Upper area Video settings are applied to the video stream currently being assisted by hardware and are applied irrespectively of the Monitors setting. Monitors: droplist If only one display monitor is connected, this list will not be selectable. If two display monitors are connected, a dropdown monitor list will be available for selection. Click the arrow to the right of the Monitors: dropdown list to show a menu of all connected display output devices (monitors). Each display device is shown as "N. Display device name", where N is a number starting from 1.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 100 Select the device whose video adjustments you wish to configure. (You can test the selection by experimentally moving a slider to detect which monitor is currently configurable.) ChromoColor image This image shows a graphic. This is a non-functional user interface element. Profiles area Video Color Settings Profiles can be created at any time, and saved for future re-use. Profiles Click on the arrow to the right of the Profiles: dropdown list which provides a menu of all Video Color Settings schemes available for selection. Click on a profile to select it. Save as… Click Save as… to save the current settings using the existing profile name or a new name. Click OK to finish your save. Delete Click Delete to delete the currently selected profile. Video Color sliders area Sliders Use the four slider bars in Video Color Settings to change brightness, contrast, hue and saturation. Refer to the S3 ScreenToys Basics for general instructions on using a slider. Brightness slider Drag the slider thumb along the bar to the right to increase the luminance or amount of light in the display output. Drag the slider bar to the left to decrease the brightness and darken the display output. Contrast slider Drag the slider thumb along the bar to the right to increase the level of difference between the light and dark areas of the display output. Drag the slider bar to the left decrease the amount of contrast in the display output.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 101 Hue slider Drag the slider thumb along the bar to the right to adjust the hue of the display output towards purple. Drag the slider bar to the left to make the hue greener. Saturation slider Drag the slider thumb along the bar to the right to increase the intensity of the colors in the display output. Drag the slider thumb along the bar to the left to decrease the color intensity of the display output. Reset Click the Reset button to the right of each slider to return the corresponding setting to the default. Tonal Adjustments Use the Tonal Adjustments sliders to set threshold levels which will change the dynamic ranges for shadows (darks) and highlights (lights) in a video image. The images below show the types of changes in gray scale that can be applied to the highlight and shadow areas of an image by manipulating the Tonal Adjustments slider thumbs. For reference, the original image is: Black Point Enhancement slider The Black Point Enhancement control allows you to adjust the range of black values which are displayed in the shadow areas of the whole image. The adjustment lets you expand the value range to make the darks in the image appear more intense (deeper darks) or clip the range to make the shadows lighter (brighter and lower contrast). Move the Black Point Enhancement slider thumb along the bar to the left to decrease the Black Point Enhancement threshold. This will decrease the darkness of the shadows and thus lighten the shadows in the image. Move the Black Point Enhancement slider thumb along the bar to the right to increase the Black Point Enhancement threshold. This will increase the darkness of the shadows and thus deepen the shadows in the image. In the example below the Black Point threshold
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 102 value has been increased, and the overall image shadows appear darker. Original: Black Point Threshold increased: White Point Enhancement slider The White Point Enhancement control allows you to adjust the range of white values which are displayed in the highlight areas of the image. The adjustment lets you expand the value range to make the whites in the image appear either more intense (whiter whites) or clip the value range to make the highlights darker (darker with lower contrast). Move the White Point Enhancement slider thumb along the bar to the left to decrease the White Point Enhancement threshold. This will decrease the brightness of the highlights and thus darken the highlights in the image. Move the White Point Enhancement slider thumb along the bar to the right to increase the White Point Enhancement threshold. This will increase the brightness of the highlights in the image. In the example below the White Point threshold value has been increased, and the overall image appears lighter. Original: White Point Threshold increased:
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 103 9.4 S3 ScreenToys ChromoVision for HDMI ACCESS: To enable ChromoVision capabilities for your HDMI device, visit the Advanced/Options settings page accessible from the S3 ScreenToys Device Management window. In the Display Devices area, click the HDMI icon. Next check the Device Status checkbox underneath the icon. In the lower device settings area, click the Advanced button. Locate the ChromoVision checkbox. ChromoVision options ChromoVision configuration options are usually available for selection through the Options window. Use ChromoVision to display full-screen video Click the Use ChromoVision to display full-screen video checkbox to enable ChromoVision. When you are using Windows Vista or Windows XP, ChromoVision allows full screen playback on your digital HD device, while windowed video plays on another display device associated with the Primary View. When enabled, you can move and resize a video window on your primary DVI or CRT device, and full screen video will continue on your secondary HDMI, device. You must be in Clone mode. ChromoVision is not available when there is only one display output device, and is not available when you Extend the desktop. ChromoVision Modes (for wide screen devices) When ChromoVision is enabled (the ChromoVision (full-screen video) check box is selected) and the native aspect ratio of your display device is 16:9, then the ChromoVision Modes options may be available for optimizing viewing of 4:3 source content on your wide-screen 16:9 display device. These modes will not appear if you are not in Clone mode or if your HDMI display device does not have a native 16:9 aspect ratio.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 104 Normal Select Normal to display 4:3 source on 16:9 wide screen with no scaling and no change to aspect ratio. With Normal view, vertical black bars will appear on both sides of the 4:3 image to fill the unused areas of the wide screen. Zoom Select Zoom to display letterboxed 4:3 source which would otherwise show black bars all around the wide screen image (such as a 4:3 letterbox DVD). Zoom uses equal amounts of horizontal and vertical linear scaling to expand the image to fill the wide screen 16:9 area. There is no change to the aspect ratio. Full Select Full to display source material that has been horizontally compressed during encoding, such as anamorphic DVDs that are enhanced for 16:9. Full uses linear scaling to horizontally and vertically stretch the 4:3 source to fit the 16:9 wide screen. This option changes the aspect ratio. Enhanced zoom (ChromeView) Select Enhanced zoom to display standard 4:3 source material that has not been horizontally compressed during encoding. Enhanced zoom uses S3 Graphics’ customized ChromeView non-linear scaling algorithms to provide optimal horizontal expansion of standard 4:3 source onto the 16:9 wide screen. ChromeView Enhanced zoom is designed to provide less expansion in the central image area where viewers usually focus their attention. This option changes the aspect ratio.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 105
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 106 9.5 S3 ScreenToys Chromotion Video S3 Graphics’ hardware support for video acceleration is optimized for compatibility with DirectX Video Acceleration (DXVA). The Chromotion Video Engine provides IDCT support and post-processing capabilities for de-interlacing, subpicture blending, video scaling, rotation, color conversion and video effects. S3 ScreenToys Chromotion Video settings window allows you to apply real time Chromotion Video Effects or Chromotion Video Deblocking to video images playing on your desktop. ACCESS: To use S3 ScreenToys Chromotion Video, right click on any unpopulated area of the Desktop. Click S3 ScreenToys. From the Advanced dropdown list menu in the left panel, click Chromotion Video. S3 ScreenToys Chromotion Video is also accessible from the CHROME® menu available on right-click of the S3 taskbar icon. Once the S3 ScreenToys Chromotion Video settings window appears, the Chromotion Video effects and deblocking filters will be available for configuration. OPTIONS: S3 ScreenToys Chromotion Video settings options are: Upper area Effects monitor image This "monitor" image shows a graphic preview image of the artistic effects settings currently selected. These are static images and change with the effect option but do not reflect all changes in slider steppings.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 107 Effect/Filter dropdown list Select an effect or filter from this dropdown list. Then use the slider to set a value for the amount of visual effect to be used during display of any video playback. A slider bar allows you to adjust the amount or intensity of the effect. The slider thumb can be moved to the right to increase (More) or the left to decrease (Less) the amount of the effect. Each filter may have a different number of allowed steps between left (Less) and right (More). Disable All Click Disable All to remove any Deblocking filters or Artistic License effects currently applied. The slider bar is unavailable. Emboss Click Emboss to produce output where most of the image is displayed in (gray) tonal values. Edges retain their original color. This makes the image resemble an engraved stone relief image. (three step) Neon Edges Click Neon Edges to produce a high-contrast image, similar in effect to that of solarization in a photographic print. Most of the image will have a very dark value (low brightness) except for the edges between areas. The edges are expressed as bands of bright, neon-like colors. (three step) Soft Focus Click Soft Focus to produce output where sharp edges are removed to blur the image and produce a hazy effect. Soft focus is also sometimes referred to as Gaussian blur. This effect is often used by photographers to soften facial details in portraiture. (two step) Sharpen Click Sharpen to produce output where the edges of objects appear crisper. This is accomplished through manipulation of the differences in contrast level between the edge components. (multiple stepping)
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 108 Complex Picture Smoothing Click Complex Picture Smoothing to use offset deblocking which affects both the block boundaries and the inside of the block. Use this method for flat images. Complex Picture Smoothing should resolve image artifacts propagated from the previous frame. Move the slider thumb along the bar to the right to increase the amount of the applied effect. (seven step).
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 109 SECTION 10 TOOLS FOR THE 3D ENTHUSIAST 10.1 S3 ScreenToys 3D Settings Use the S3 ScreenToys 3D settings configuration page to configure or toggle 3D-related capabilities to compensate for differences in the requirements and behaviors of various Direct3D and OpenGL applications. ACCESS: To adjust 3D Settings, right click on the desktop and select S3 ScreenToys from the menu. In the Advanced dropdown list in the left panel, click 3D Settings. This utility is also available from the CHROME® menu accessible on right-click of the S3 taskbar icon. Once the S3 ScreenToys 3D Settings window appears, options for 3D feature settings will be available. Note: After you have completed your changes, please close and reopen your 3D application. Different applications behave differently and some feature settings may be initialized by the application only at launch time. The 3D Settings configuration page includes the following components: 10.1.1 S3 ScreenToys 3D Settings Application List
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 110 Application area The application area allows you to specify an application for which you can select custom 3D feature settings. Application dropdown list Click on the down arrow to view a dropdown list of application names whose features you can customize. Three types of applications may be listed: Overall setting is the default “application.” The settings established for Overall setting are applied to all applications’ features which do not have a customized setting. Provided: These items are provided by the S3 Graphics software and include representative titles. Custom: These are application names which you have added to the list using the Add button. Add button Click the Add button to open the Add Application dialog window. In the dialog you can type or Browse… to the file Location and Name of application you want to add to the list. The name can be a nickname. Note that only one entry will be accepted for any given file location. Click OK to add the name to the list. Or click Cancel to exit the page without adding to the list. Remove button Use the Remove button to remove any application you have added. First select the added application from the application dropdown list. The Remove button will become available. If you select a provided item, the Remove button will remain gray and unavailable. You cannot remove list items provided with the driver software. Note: The Defaults button at the bottom of the page does not remove added applications. You must use the Remove button.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 111 10.1.2 S3 ScreenToys 3D Settings Features and Settings You can customize 3D features both globally and by application using the Feature and Setting portion of the S3 ScreenToys 3D Settings page. Feature and Setting table: general notes To change the globally-applied settings, make sure Overall setting appears as the target application in the application list in the upper right area of the 3D Settings page. To customize settings for a single application, select the application from the application dropdown list. If the application you want to select is not available, use the Add button to add it. Feature list The Feature list is a static list of 3D features which can be customized. Each feature has a green circular-shaped icon z before the name. To select a feature for customization, left click on the feature so that a blue highlight appears on the row. Then move to the Setting column to continue. Setting dropdown list The Setting area contains a row for each feature whose settings can be customized.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 112 The Setting column reports the values you have currently selected. These are not active values until after you have clicked Apply All to set your new parameters To customize a setting: After you right click a row in the Feature and Setting table, the selected Feature row will have a blue highlight, indicating this is the feature available for customization. In the Setting column, right click again and a dropdown list will appear which contains the values available to customize the selected Feature. Select the desired value. The dropdown list will fade and the new value will appear. Reminder: You must click Apply All to activate the new value. The appearance of the text strings in the Setting area will vary. For the Overall setting entry, the list will contain only the value name of the setting. For all other application entries, o a value which is not customized, will appear as Overall setting (value name) where the value in parentheses is the same as the current saved value for Overall setting. (This can be a default or a custom value.) If you change a feature value for Overall setting, then this feature’s value will also change for this and all other applications for which this value is not customized. o a value which is customized appears as value name without parentheses and without Overall setting in the string. This value will apply only to this specific application and feature combination. If you restore the Overall setting values to their Defaults, this custom setting will not be changed.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 113 Overall setting default value Setting list for an application with default values Overall setting with custom value Setting list for an application with one global custom value and one application-specific custom value Apply All Click Apply All and the new settings will take effect immediately. Note: If you have an open 3D application, you should restart the application to be sure the new settings take effect for that application. 10.1.3 S3 ScreenToys 3D Settings Features Descriptions Feature descriptions The Feature list contains options available for adjustment. Most features can be applied for both Direct3D and OpenGL 3D applications. Selected features and associated settings are saved automatically and maintained by the driver. If a new driver is installed, custom setting values must be re-established. Settings are not affected by changes in resolution, refresh or display output device changes. Vertical Sync Control Sometimes called Wait for Vsync, this feature option controls whether or not buffer swaps and other activities should be synchronized to the display’s Vertical Synchronization or Vertical Retrace Signal and blanking period, during which the display blanks as it retraces its way from the bottom right to the upper left corner of the Overall custom Application custom
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 114 screen. Setting options include: By Application (default) – Select By Application if you want the Vertical Sync Control setting to change on application requests. If Vsync OFF is requested, the back buffer is flipped without waiting for vertical retrace. If the application requests VSync ON, then the back buffer is flipped while in vertical retrace. ON – Select ON to always force a wait for monitor sync. This option will reduce “tearing” artifacts. Synchronizing with the vertical retrace constrains the frame rate so that it does not exceed the refresh rate. OFF – Select OFF to allow buffer swaps to be processed without waiting for vertical synchronization. When a buffer flip occurs at a different time than during the vertical blanking period, visual artifacts, often described as “tearing” or “shearing” may be apparent. Note that while visual artifacts will probably occur with this setting, the frame rate may increase. Multi-Core CPU optimization S3 Graphics drivers include optimizations which can allow applications to more fully utilize the processing power available with systems which have not only a powerful GPU but also a multi-Core CPU. These optimizations are often useful when running newer applications which can take advantage of thread scheduling prioritization. Setting options include: Auto (default) – Select Auto if you want the driver to decide when to do optimization for Multi-Core CPUs. ON – Select ON to use the graphics driver’s multi-Core CPU threading optimizations. Newer applications usually run faster with this setting. OFF – Select OFF to avoid possible compatibility problems when running older applications. The application will run slower. Force Anti-alias mode Anti-aliasing is a technique to reduce jagged edges (“jaggies”) of polygons and lines. Pixels on either side of edges are sampled and then rendered as a blend of the adjoining colors to smooth the appearance of the edge. When anti-aliasing is enabled, images are less likely to display “staircase” edges and broken lines. Sampling
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 115 results can be downscaled to the original size, producing sub-samples of high quality. Setting options include: By Application (default) – Select By Application to allow the application to specify which level of super-sampling should be applied. Otherwise, the driver selects an optimized value. This is the default. OFF – Select OFF to disable anti-aliasing. Image quality usually suffers, but performance may increase because less pixel processing occurs. 2X, 4X, 8X – Select a level to enable optimized super-sampled anti-aliasing. This will provide optimized anti-aliasing and still have only a minimal impact on performance speed. Anisotropic ratio Anisotropic (which means non-uniform shape) filtering is a filtering technique more advanced than trilinear and is a technique which is useful for quadrilateral shaped and angled areas of a texture image. A shaper image is accomplished by interpolating and filtering multiple samples from one or more MIP maps to better approximate very distorted textures. Anisotropic can be used in conjunction with bilinear or trilinear filtering as well as MIP map filtering. While trilinear filtering is capable of producing fine visuals, it only samples from a square area, which is not the ideal sampling area for all cases. Anisotropic filtering averages sixteen texture samples, or taps, in a non-square, rectangular or parallelogram shaped texture sampling pattern whose length varies in proportion to the orientation of the stretch effect. This sampling rate is four times the sampling level of bilinear filtering and twice the sampling level of trilinear filtering. Textures applied to a sloped surface will not look fuzzy, which is especially useful when rendering shapes with a high degree of surface tilting in the X-Y-Z planes. Full use of the anisotropic filtering capabilities may impact performance. Setting options include: By Application (default) – Select By Application if you want S3 Graphics software to use the anisotropic filtering level requested by the application. Not all applications request anisotropic filtering, and S3 Graphics software does not perform anisotropic filtering unless requested. This is the default.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 116 OFF – Select OFF to force anisotropic filtering to be always off. 2X – Select 2X to enable anisotropic filtering at its lowest level. With this setting, 16 texture samples (taps) selected from a non-square pattern will be averaged to generate one texture element (texel) that is then applied to a single pixel. 3X,4X,…– Select intermediate sampling levels to match your preferred balance between quality and performance. The higher the sampling level, the greater the degree of filtering. Visual quality will improve at the expense of performance. 16X – Select 16X to force use of classic anisotropic sampling using 128 taps in a non-square sampling pattern. This level of filtering will produce very high quality visual output, usually with a decrease in rendering speed. 10.1.4 S3 ScreenToys 3D Settings Feature Descriptions for OpenGL-only Feature descriptions (for OpenGL only) The following Features will be applied only to OpenGL applications. This setting value will be ignored for Direct3D applications. OpenGL Conformant Texture Clamp This OpenGL-only feature allows you to select between two methods which determine the way texture border color is sampled.. OFF – Select OFF (default) to not use an OpenGL standard-conforming texture clamp. Instead, this method uses GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE which only samples texture texels to simulate GL_CLAMP. ON – Select ON to use an OpenGL standard-conforming texture clamp method for GL_CLAMP. This method causes texture border color to be sampled which may produce unexpected visual artifacts. OpenGL Error Reports This OpenGL-only feature provides a mechanism to turn off error reporting for applications where you suspect error reporting may be having a negative impact on performance. OFF – Select OFF to ignore error reporting. Performance should increase. ON – Select ON (default) to have the driver report errors when requested to do so by the application.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 117 OpenGL Limit Extensions This OpenGL-only feature allows limiting of extension reporting as an aid in improving compatibility with older applications. OFF – Select OFF (default) so that the driver does not limit the number of extensions. This value provides optimal performance for newer OpenGL applications. ON – Select ON to have the driver trim the number of extensions reported. This setting allows for compatibility with older applications, which expect support for an earlier version of OpenGL which might have a smaller buffer allocated to store extension information. Use this option to prevent unexpected problems with older OpenGL applications. 10.2 S3 ScreenToys and MultiChrome Special Note on MultiChrome: If two identical S3 Graphics display adapters are detected as installed in your system and your installed software supports MultiChrome, the MultiChrome option may be available for selection from the Advanced area of the left menu bar. Refer to the MultiChrome User Guide for details on this option.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 118 SECTION 11 POWER MANAGEMENT CONTROLS The S3 ScreenToys Power Management controls provide an aid for conserving power on notebook (laptop) and other power-sensitive systems. It is available on selected systems running Windows Vista and Windows XP. 11.1 S3 ScreenToys Power Management S3 ScreenToys Power Management has two basic modes for controlling the level of power conservation: Automatic Power Conservation Mode (Default setting) which lets the S3 Graphics software decide the optimal setting for you. Manual Power Conservation Mode which allows you to use a slider bar to change between settings that conserve power (but reduce speed) or increase speed (but use more power). ACCESS: If your configuration supports power management through S3 ScreenToys Power Management, a menu option will be available through the CHROME menu accessible by right click on the taskbar icon, or from the Advanced menu on the S3 ScreenToys window. OPTIONS: S3 ScreenToys Power Management options are applied globally, regardless of display configuration. You cannot adjust settings unless you have selected the Let me change other power plans (Advanced) checkbox.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 119 System Status This area shows the current graphics power management status. Power Source The power source may be reported as: AC power Battery, or Unknown. If the power source is not Battery, then the Battery and hours remaining options are blank and disabled. Battery remaining If the power source is Battery, then the battery life remaining (as a percentage) is shown. Hours remaining If the power source is Battery, then the time remaining for the available battery power is shown. The time will be shown in hours. If the operating system reports both minutes and hours, then minutes will also be displayed. Current Power Plan This shows the currently selected Power Plan. See below for detail description of the available power plans. Let me change… Click the checkbox Let me change other power plans (Advanced) to disable the Automatic (default) power setting and enable Manual power setting. If power management options are not configurable on this system, this option will be dimmed and not available. Uncheck this option to use the default Automatic settings optimized for your system. When this option is unchecked or when it is dimmed and not available, the slider is not available for adjustment. S3 Graphics software will automatically: provide maximum speed when the graphics engines are active, or conserve power when engines are idle. If your system supports automatic power management, and you have not previously manually specified a preferred S3 ScreenToys Power management power savings setting, automatic power management will be enabled by default.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 120 GPU Power Settings area When the Let me change… checkbox is checked, you are in Advanced manual mode and the slider bar will be available to adjust and change power settings. A dropdown list will appear along the area’s title bar, which will contain a menu of the available power options. Power source bitmap A bitmap to the left of the slider bar represents the current power source. Power setting slider (Advanced manual mode) In Advanced Manual Power Management Mode, the slider bar is available and allows you to manually change conservation levels. One end of the slider bar is associated with high power conservation and the other end of the slider scale is associated with high performance/speed. Move the slider bar to the left towards the green Power Saver (left) side to conserve power (reduces speed). Move the slider bar to the right towards the red High Performance (right) side to increase performance and speed (and power consumption). When you select a power setting via the slider bar and apply it, S3 Graphics software will remember and restore the specified power setting during normal operation and at re-boot and resume. This setting is applied regardless of your current power source (AC or battery).
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 121 Power Plans Below are the power plans which may be available. Power Saver setting Use the Power Saver setting to reduce power consumption. This setting will reduce speed and may lower performance. Balanced setting The Balanced setting provided the default setting provided by the driver to provide an optimal balance between power consumption and high performance. High Performance setting Increase the High Performance setting by moving the slider bar to the right. Selecting maximum speed will provide maximum speed, regardless of the current power source. When the power source is battery and you have selected the maximum speed setting, you will have maximum drain on the battery. This will significantly shorten the time you will be able to run the system before the battery needs recharging.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 122 SECTION 12 DISPLAY IDENTIFICATION & INFORMATION Use S3 ScreenToys Information, Control Panel System tools or WinS3ID to identify your Display Adapter. This information is useful when troubleshooting or locating compatible driver updates. 12.1 S3 ScreenToys Information S3 ScreenToys Information page and tab both tell you information about the S3 Graphics adapter and associated software. The S3 ScreenToys tab has been discussed previously, see Display Settings Advanced S3 ScreenToys tab. The Information page contains additional information. ACCESS: To use the S3 ScreenToys Information page, right click on any unpopulated area of the Desktop. Click S3 ScreenToys. From the left panel Basic menu select Information. This utility is also accessible from the CHROME® menu available on right-click of the taskbar icon menu. The Information settings panel will now be available for viewing. OPTIONS: The S3 ScreenToys Information page settings area includes the following items which are also reported on the Display Settings Advanced S3 ScreenToys tab. Additional detail is provided, such as Memory Clock and Engine Clock.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 123 System Configuration area This area includes information related to the system and BIOS configuration. Chip type Shows the S3 Graphics chip type name. ID string Shows the PCI Vendor ID, Device ID, Subsystem ID and Subsystem Vendor ID for the graphics hardware. BIOS version Shows the S3 Graphics video BIOS version. System memory Shows the amount of detected system memory. Video memory Shows the amount of detected video memory. Bus information Shows the bus interface standard for this Hardware (for example, PCI Express x16), and the current enabled capability. Engine clock Memory clock Shows the graphics engine clock setting and the clock setting for the graphics memory. S3 Driver area This area includes information about the display drivers. File data is provided, such as the file size and date/time. (XP: names will be different) DirectX 10 UserMode and UserMode driver Shows the S3 Graphics Windows Vista User Mode display driver filename, version number and DirectX level. Driver version numbers are divided into two portions separated by a hyphen. The first portion is the version number following Microsoft’s conventional format. The portion after the hyphen is S3 Graphics internal version number. Kernel driver Shows the S3 Graphics Windows Vista Kernel Mode driver filename and version number. OpenGL ICD Shows the S3 Graphics Installable Client Driver for OpenGL filename and version number. The following additional items are found on the S3 ScreenToys Information settings area. (These are not found on the Display Settings Advanced S3 ScreenToys tab, but many may be found using system reporting tools provided with the operating system, such as are accessible from Control Panel.)
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 124 Additional Info: Direct X version Reports the version of Direct X installed in the system. Direct X Media version Display the current version number of the installed Direct X Media files. Processor information These lines contain detailed information about the system processor, including manufacturer, speed, cache detail and key features.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 125 12.2 Information from Control Panel System To use Windows Vista or Windows XP Control Panel System information to identify your graphics device: • In Windows Vista, click Start. Right click on Computer, click Manage. In the left panel, select Device Manager, or • In Windows Vista, click Start, click System & Maintenance, then click System. In the left panel Tasks list, select Device Manager, or • In Windows XP, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click the System icon. This opens the System Properties window. Click Hardware tab, then click Device Manager button. Click the plus sign in the box preceding Display adapters. Double-click S3 Graphics CHROME 500 Series (or specific product name). Information regarding your adapter is now accessible through the General, Driver and Resources tabs.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 126 12.3 WinS3ID for Chip Identification WinS3ID is a Windows-compatible utility that you can run to identify the S3 Graphics product installed in your system, even when no S3 Graphics software drivers are installed. This tool is not included in driver packages, but is available for download from the www.s3graphics.com drivers download access page.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 127 SECTION 13 MAINTENANCE GUIDE 13.1 Finding Driver Updates Periodic software updates may be issued by your vendor as new features or bug fixes become available. Places to check for driver updates available for installation with your hardware might include: Your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) board vendor’s website. This is often the only location where drivers customized for specific OEM hardware are available. Microsoft Windows Update is an online extension to Windows that delivers driver updates to Windows XP, Windows Vista and related operating systems. http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us To look specifically for updates compatible with your graphics board, follow the on-screen directions to scan or review available drivers. Follow the online directions to complete your update. Your chipset adapter manufacturer’s website: www.s3graphics.com. S3 Graphics provides standard drivers which may not be customized to your specific hardware. 13.2 Installing Driver Updates Driver update packages from S3 Graphics include a compatible set of display drivers and multi-language utility applets as well as an install tool for easy installation. A software driver update can be performed by running SETUP.EXE from the S3 Graphics software package. Rebooting the system ensures that you have fully initialized the update. Step 1. Copy a S3 Graphics Driver Update package that is compatible with your hardware to a CD or to a folder on your hard disk. Driver packages are often compressed. If you do not see SETUP, double click on the executable file to expand the package prior to installation. Step 2. Click Start, Run, and Browse to the location of SETUP.EXE. Click Open.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 128 Step 3. Follow the install tool’s direction. Steps for this install are similar to those outlined for initial installation using your vendor supplied CD, except that the hardware is already in use. Step 4. Click Start, Shutdown, Restart to fully initialize your update. 13.3 Software Removal Use one of the following procedures if you want to remove your S3 Graphics software. 13.3.1 Software Removal with Vista Uninstall Step 1. With Windows Vista: Click Start, then Control Panel. Step 2. Click Programs/Uninstall a program to open the Uninstall or change a program window. Step 3. Scroll through the list of programs available for automatic removal and click S3 Graphics CHROME 500 Series Windows Vista Display follow by version number. Note: the Display driver title may vary. Step 4. Click Uninstall This launches the uninstall program for the S3 Graphics CHROME 500 Series Windows Vista Display. Step 5. Follow the instructions. Once the wizard has finished, the driver and utility removal will be complete only after a system restart. Review the following step before selecting restart.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 129 Step 6. For the changes to take full effect, you must now reboot. If you are going to physically remove your S3 Graphics hardware: Click Start, Shutdown, Shutdown. Remove the board from your system now before rebooting the computer. If you will keep your current S3 Graphics hardware in the computer: Click Start, Shutdown, Restart. Your computer will restart. Caution: Windows will not physically delete the S3Graphics Driver and Utilities files. After reboot, Windows may be able to identify your hardware and will try to reinstall the drivers. 13.3.2 Software Removal with XP Add/Remove Programs Step 7. With Windows XP: Click Start, then Settings, Control Panel. Step 8. Double-click Add or Remove Programs to open the Add or Remove Programs window. Step 9. Scroll through the list of programs available for automatic removal and click S3 Graphics CHROME 500 Series Windows XP Display follow by version number. Note: the Display driver title may vary. Step 10. Click Change/Remove. This launches the uninstall program for the S3 Graphics CHROME 500 Series Windows XP Display. Step 11. Follow the instructions. Once the wizard has finished and the system is restarted, the driver and utility removal is complete.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 130 Step 12. For the changes to take full effect, you must now reboot. If you are going to physically remove your S3 Graphics hardware: Click Start, Shutdown, Shutdown. Remove the board from your system now before rebooting the computer. If you will keep your current S3 Graphics hardware in the computer: Click Start, Shutdown, Restart. Your computer will restart. Caution: Windows will not physically delete the S3Graphics Driver and Utilities files. After reboot, Windows may be able to identify your hardware and will try to reinstall the drivers. 13.3.3 Software Removal Using Device Manager Step 1. Vista: Click Start. Right click Computer. Click Manage. XP: Right click My Computer. Click Manage. Step 2. The Computer Management window will appear. In the left panel, click Device Manager. Step 3. The right panel of the window will display a list of devices. Step 4. Click the plus sign in the box preceding Display adapters. Double-click S3 Graphics CHROME 500 Series (or other device you wish to remove). Click Driver tab. Click Uninstall.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 131 Step 5. The Confirm Device Removal window will appear. Click OK. Step 6. The System Settings Change window will appear, asking “Do you want to restart your computer now?” Select No. Step 7. For the changes to take full effect, you must now reboot. If you are going to physically remove your S3 Graphics hardware: Click Start, Shutdown, Shutdown. Remove the board from your system now before rebooting the system. If you will keep your current S3 Graphics hardware in the computer. Click Start, Shutdown, Restart. Your computer will restart. Caution: Windows will not physically delete the S3 Graphics Driver and Utilities files. After reboot, Windows may be able to identify your hardware and will try to reinstall the drivers.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 132 SECTION 14 TROUBLESHOOTING Below are some of the common answers and solutions available for questions and problems that can occur with display driver installation and use. No Display on System Boot Verify that your graphics card is properly seated in its slot. Verify that all display cables are properly connected to your card. Verify that connected displays are plugged-in and receiving power. Lost Monitor Information If you are using an older model monitor, a BNC cable, a dongle, or a switch box, important data from your CRT, DVI or HDMI monitor may not be transmitted to your S3 Graphics adapter. WORKAROUND: Use standard cables and DDC compatible display devices which are capable of transmitting information to the adapter. Use Video Display Help The How do I get the best display? hyperlink on the Windows Vista Display Settings page provides a link to Windows Help and Support information provided by Microsoft. For Windows XP the similar link is Troubleshoot button for Windows XP: To launch the Video Display Troubleshooter in Windows XP, right click on any unpopulated area of the Desktop. Click Properties. The Display Properties window appears. Click Troubleshoot to launch the Help and Support Center window for the Video Display Troubleshooter provided by the operating system.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 133 HOW TO References Many answers to common Windows questions are provided in the searchable Microsoft Knowledge Base. http://support.microsoft.com/ then click on Search Knowledge Base Windows Driver Roll Back feature If you encounter problems after updating your drivers under Windows Vista or XP, you may use the Driver Roll Back feature to reinstall the previous “good” driver and restore any driver settings that were changed when the new driver was added. To roll back to the previous version of a driver Step 1. In Windows Vista or Windows XP, click Start, then Control Panel. Step 2. In Windows Vista, click System & Maintenance, then click System. In the left panel Tasks list, select Device Manager. In Windows XP, double-click the System icon. This opens the System Properties window. Click Hardware tab, then click Device Manager button. This opens the Device Manager window. Step 3. Click the plus sign in the box preceding Display adapters. Double-click S3 Graphics CHROME 500 Series (or other name that matches your board or chip). Click Driver tab. Click Roll Back Driver. Note that the Driver Roll Back feature will be dimmed and will not be available if this is the first driver installed for the device.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 134 Step 4. You will be prompted to confirm that you would like to roll back to the previous driver. Click Yes. Step 5. Windows will then restore the files and settings for the previously installed display driver. Once the previous driver is restored, click Close. You will then be prompted to restart your computer to complete the driver roll back. Software Updates Windows Updates Your S3 Graphics software has been tested with versions of the Windows operating systems available at the time of the software’s release. Operating system updates are available periodically from the Microsoft Windows Update site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ See also the additional updates discussed in the Tools for the Video Enthusiast Section. DirectX Diagnostic Tool You can test the functionality of DirectX and view information about your system and display hardware using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 135 Step 1. Windows Vista: Click the Start button. In the search box that appears just above the Start button (for Windows XP, click Run), and type dxdiag. This opens the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window. Step 2. Click Display tab. (If you are using Multi-Monitor, then there may be more than one Display tab.) On each Display page you can view information about the currently installed hardware and drivers for that device. Step 3. With Windows XP only, you can click on the Test DirectDraw and/or Test Direct3D buttons to verify that DirectX features are working properly for that particular display. If you suspect that there is a problem with a particular DirectX feature on your system, you can temporarily disable hardware acceleration for DirectDraw, Direct3D, or AGP Textures independently.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 136 SECTION 15 GLOSSARY This glossary includes definitions for only a few of the terms used in the S3 Graphics User Manuals. Numerous on-line glossaries are available if the graphics term you are looking for is not listed below. Brightness - Visually, brightness reflects the intensity (or luminance) of the image going from darker to lighter. In S3 ScreenToys Desktop color, brightness represents the lowering or raising of the gamma curve. Brightness adjustments cause all values on the gamma curve to move down or up by the same amount. Contrast - Visually, contrast reflects the ratio between the lightest and darkest elements in the image going from low contrast to high contrast. In S3 ScreenToys Desktop color, contrast represents the angle of the gamma curve. Contrast adjustments decrease or increase the angle of the gamma curve while keeping the (x, y) point on the curve fixed at (0, 0). CRT – Cathode Ray Tube. Used in reference to an external analog display device, the CRT has the 15-pin VGA connector as its standard interface. DualView -- Microsoft’s term for extended desktop mode in Windows. Microsoft's definition for DualView is available online at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283674 DVI - Digital Video Interface, is a high-speed digital connection for visual data types that is display technology independent. DVI provides digital and analog support in a single connector and allows for plug and play through hot plug detection, EDID and DDC2b. DVI is often used to describe a detachable flat panel display device. Gamma -- Gamma is the brightness of a display adapter's output. In practice, gamma is differentiated from brightness and contrast by the way it affects the adjusted output. Gamma adjustments do not change the bottom left point and the top right point of the gamma curve. In the S3 ScreenToys Desktop color, the Gamma slider allows you to adjust the gamma within a pre-determined range. The value reported on the slider is relative and does not report an actual gamma value. HDMI – High-Definition Multimedia Interface is an uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, PC, DVD player, or A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television. HDMI transmits all ATSC DTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio.
User Guide for Chrome 400/500 Series Graphics SG195-B.1 1/5/2009 Page 137 Multi-Monitor – A Windows feature that allows multiple video cards to be active, each one displaying a portion of the entire desktop. Support for two monitors can be accomplished through the use of either two separate or one dual head adapter. With two separate display adapters, there are two separate drivers driving the separate displays, with each one displaying a portion of an extended desktop. Dual Head adapters, such as S3 Graphics GPUs, simulate the presence of two video cards with a single chip. Primary View, Primary Monitor, Primary Display -- The Primary View display is the display that holds the logon dialog box when you start the computer. This is the display used for prompts and pop-up windows. Most programs will display windows on the Primary Display when you open them. DirectX, Direct3D and current DVD applications typically run full screen on the Primary Display. In SingleView Clone mode all active display output devices are associated with this Primary View. Secondary View, Secondary Monitor, Secondary Display – A secondary display may be any display monitor that is not the Primary View in a dual display Multiple Monitor configuration. Once you select "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor", the Windows desktop is enlarged and extended onto the secondary display. Once in extended desktop configuration, the Control Panel "Display Properties" application allows you to select separate screen resolution and color quality settings for the secondary display. YUV – A color encoding format used to transmit color video images. YUV uses less bandwidth than the three separate video signals in an RGB video transmission. The two major components of YUV are: Luminance (Y), or the brightness of an image pixel. Chrominance (UV or CrCb), or the color of an image pixel. THE END OF SG195

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