Diamond Fire GL 1000 Pro README ------------------------------- Release 1098 This README file contains the following information: 1. General Information 2. System Preparation 3. Multiple graphics cards under Windows 98 4. Choosing a Monitor 4.1 Windows NT Refresh Rates 4.2 Windows 95 Refresh Rates 5. Features and Restrictions 6. Diamond Multimedia: Support & Service 1. General Information ---------------------- For a complete overview of the contents of this CD, please refer to the contents document available during installation. IMPORTANT! Read this README file and all the documentation supplied BEFORE you continue the installation. These documents contain useful information that will help you complete the install procedure as quickly and easily as possible. 2. System preparation ---------------------- Follow these steps before beginning the installation procedure: 1) If you are upgrading the graphics card in your system, return the display adapter settings back to 'Standard VGA', then remove the graphics card to be replaced from your PC. 2) Follow the hardware installation instructions provided with your card before beginning the software installation. If you plan on installing Diamond Autocad productivity tools (BigFocus for ACAD 13 and 3DWin ACAD 13/14), make sure that Autocad release 13 or higher is correctly installed first. 3. Multiple graphics cards under Windows 98 ------------------------------------------- The Diamond Fire GL 1000 Pro can be installed as both primary and secondary device under Windows 98. To install a secondary graphics adapter, follow the instructions for installing a single card first. After installation for the first card has been completed, add the second card and repeat the software installation procedure. The system BIOS determines which card is the primary adapter. 4. Choosing a Monitor --------------------- In order to make the best use of your Diamond Fire GL 1000 Pro board, the capabilities of graphics monitor you choose should match those of this board. 4.1 Windows NT Refresh Rates ---------------------------- The monitor refresh rate can be directly selected under Windows NT 4.0 under display settings. 4.2 Windows 95/98 Refresh Rates ------------------------------- To select refresh rates under Windows 95/98, click on the 'Display' icon in the 'Control Panel'. Select the 'Settings' property page, and then 'Change Display Type...' The current Adapter Type and Monitor Type will be displayed. Choose 'Change...' next to Monitor Type, and select the monitor type that best matches the description of your monitor. For more information, please refer to your manual. *** IMPORTANT *** Only use settings that your monitor supports. If you specify settings that exceed the ratings specified for your monitor, you may permanently damage the monitor! If you change the monitor, first check the ratings of the new monitor and, if necessary, reconfigure your settings accordingly! 5. Features and Restrictions ---------------------------- BIOS Updates - Your Fire GL 1000 Pro is supplied with a 'flash' BIOS which can be reprogrammed by the user if necessary. The BIOS need not be reprogammed as part of a new installation. Future software releases may require a BIOS update. Check with Diamond's online services for current information. AGP - This software release includes AGP support for Windows95 SR2.1 and Windows98. The optional AGP VXD provided on this CD is compatible with the Intel LX and BX chipsets only, and is only necessary for Windows95. If you have a motherboard which uses a different chipset, please contact the manufacturer for the appropriate software. AGP support can only be installed when an AGP Fire GL 1000 Pro is present in the machine during software installation, and the correct version of Win95 or Win98 has already been installed. DirectX - The Windows95 drivers supplied with this software release are compatible with DirectX 5 and 6. Dual Screen - This product does not support dual screen operation under Windows95 or NT4.0. Hardware acceleration for Direct3D and OpenGL may not be available under Windows98 if more than one graphics adapter has been installed. Stereo - This software release now supports stereo shutter glasses under NT4.0. Stereo display reserves some of the memory available on your Fire GL 1000 Pro for additional stereo images. This limits available 3D accelerated resolutions 640x480 with 4MB, and 1024x768 with 8MB (16 bit). Before using applications which support stereo, select the 'stereo' entry in the device properties, under the 'configuration' tab. HexenOGL and HexenII - Add the extension "-LM_4" to the command line shown in the properties of the shortcut in order to ensure correct texture display. Remove or rename the file "openGL32.dll" installed with the game. Animated Cursor - Software animated cursors may cause corrupted display when used with Direct3d windows under Windows95, and with the 1920x1080 and 1920x1280 modes under NT4. 16 bit Z-buffer - 16 bit Z-buffer resolution is more than adequate for most applications. Those applications that rely on Z-buffer resolutions greater than 16 bits may not display some objects correctly. 3DStudio MAX 1.2/Heidi - Heidi support is provided for NT4 only. When using 32 bit graphics modes, textures may not be mapped to objects correctly. 16 bit color modes operate correctly. 6. Diamond : Service & Support ------------------------------- Technical support for the installation and configuration of Diamond graphic boards and multimedia products, as well as software updates or optional software packages, are available: - from the Diamond Mailbox - in the Internet - via the Diamond ExpertLine Refer to your manual for more information (addresses, phone numbers, etc). All product names listed are trademarks or copyrights of their respective owners. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (c) 1993-98, All Rights Reserved European Division (http://www.diamondmm.de) -------------------------------------------------------------------