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G400 drivers v5.41.008 for Win9x - readme
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PDREADME.TXT MATROX GRAPHICS INC. 1999.11.26
Matrox PowerDesk for Windows 95/98
Revision 5.41.008
Contents
========
- Description of this release
- Installation
- More information
- Notes, problems, and limitations
- Matrox TV output
Description of this release
===========================
Matrox PowerDesk software includes a display driver and display utilities.
With this software, you can take full advantage of your Matrox graphics
hardware and you can access additional Matrox display-related features.
Installation
============
To install Matrox PowerDesk, start the "setup" program included with it,
then follow the on-screen instructions.
The setup program will only install software if a Matrox graphics card model
supported by the setup program is installed in your computer.
More information
================
For more information on Matrox PowerDesk, see the help file included with it.
For information specific to your Matrox graphics card, see your Matrox or
system manual.
Notes, problems, and limitations
================================
- DirectDraw, Direct3D and DirectVideo support
The DirectDraw driver we provide is compatible with DirectX 2 (and
later) and includes Direct3D support. For our DirectDraw/Direct3D
driver to be called, and benefit from hardware acceleration,
Microsoft DirectX 2 (or later) MUST be installed, even for programs
originally made for DirectX 1.
Also, if a recent version of DirectX isn't installed, some Matrox
PowerDesk features may not be available.
We provide DirectX on the Matrox CD-ROM. The latest DirectX is
available from the Microsoft Web site, and is included with many
DirectX programs.
IMPORTANT: If the DirectX setup program prompts you to replace the
existing display drivers, click "No". Otherwise, the setup program
installs display drivers which are not as optimized as the Matrox
drivers and which do not support PowerDesk software.
Note that depending on the origin of your Microsoft DirectX software,
it may not include DirectVideo support. For faster playback of Indeo
and Cinepak AVI files, you should install Microsoft DirectVideo
support.
- Matrox bus mastering
This driver supports bus mastering. Bus mastering is a feature that
allows expansion cards to perform tasks at the same time as your
computer's CPU. If you have a fast Pentium computer (faster than
166 MHz), the display performance of most programs is improved when
bus mastering is used.
To use bus mastering with 3D (DirectX) programs, your graphics card
needs an interrupt request (IRQ). Most computers automatically assign
an IRQ to graphics cards, but some do not. If your graphics card hasn't
been assigned an IRQ, programs that use Matrox bus mastering may not
work properly. For more information, see your Matrox or system manual.
- Adobe Type Manager limitation
With Adobe Type Manager installed, you cannot run the driver if
the "Advanced Graphics Acceleration Settings" is set to none. Note
that ATM is installed as part of Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is an
Adobe problem documented in the Windows 95/98 "display.txt" file.
- Monitors in interlaced mode
Some older monitors such as the NEC 3D and many "SuperVGA" monitors
do not support non-interlaced mode in all resolutions. The Matrox display
driver does not properly handle interlaced mode with the Windows 95/98
monitor selection method. If you have one of these monitors, please
use the Matrox Monitor selection method.
- DirectDraw and Automatic Power Management
As stated in "Microsoft DirectX release Notes", September 30, 1995, a
DirectDraw game may be unable to restore properly if it is suspended
by Automatic Power Management utilities.
- Installation in different language versions of Windows 95/98
If you install software in a language different from the language of
your operating system (for example, English software on a Japanese
system), you may have problems with text and dialog box controls being
cut off. This is because of differences in system fonts.
- Matrox "DualHead Zoom" feature with digital video
If your Matrox graphics card has DualHead support and you're using Windows
95/98, the "DualHead Zoom" feature doesn't display digital video that is
using the video overlay feature of your Matrox graphics card. Programs that
use the video overlay feature include Microsoft Media Player, Zoran SoftDVD
and other programs that use ActiveMovie or DirectX Media. If the "DualHead
Zoom" feature is used on a region that's using hardware-based video
overlay, that region will appear as a solid color on your secondary display.
(If your secondary display is a TV, you can use the "DualHead DVDMax"
feature to view this type of video full-screen on your secondary display.)
- DualHead Multi-Display with other graphics cards
With Windows 98, certain Matrox graphics cards (for example, Millennium G400
graphics cards with the DualHead feature) support the "DualHead Multi-
Display" feature. With this feature, one graphics chip is used to control
two separate displays. Because of problems with Windows 98, this feature
may not work with more than one graphics card in your computer.
- DualHead TV output settings
With DualHead-supporting Matrox graphics cards, there are two sets of
TV output settings (for brightness, contrast, saturation, and so on).
There's one set for the DualHead DVDMax feature (full-screen playback of
certain types of video on your secondary display) and there's another set
for your Windows desktop on your TV. You can access these settings from the
"DualHead" property sheet.
If you change TV output settings for the DVDMax feature, these settings
are only used while you're using this feature. If the DVDMax feature isn't
being used, desktop TV output settings are used. For more information on
DVDMax, see context-sensitive help.
Matrox TV output
================
Certain models of Matrox graphics cards support TV output. With TV output
support, you can view or record your computer display with a TV or video
recorder connected to your graphics card.
Recommendation
--------------
- While playing games using TV output, we recommend you use a 640 x 480
display resolution. This is because the resolution capabilities of TVs are
lower than most computer monitors. If you use a higher display resolution
(800 x 600 or 1024 x 768), the display on your TV may not look as sharp as
the display of your computer monitor -- that is, some of the extra detail
may be harder to see on your TV.
- For Matrox G100/G200 cards with TV output support --
Matrox default advanced TV output settings are good for viewing most
computer graphics (for example, computer games or your Windows desktop) on
most TVs. Based on broadcast standards, there are advanced TV output
settings that are better suited for viewing full-screen video (for example,
from a video file). These settings are:
NTSC
Brightness : 180
Contrast : 234
Saturation : 137
Hue : 0
PAL
Brightness : 167
Contrast : 255
Saturation : 138
Hue : 0
Note: For ideal settings, you may also need to adjust the settings on your
TV. The default brightness, contrast, saturation and hue settings on most
consumer video devices are higher than broadcast standards. These settings
are usually OK for viewing video but may not look OK with computer graphics.
(This is why Matrox default TV output settings are lower than what's ideal
for video.) For more information on how to adjust settings on your TV, see
your TV manual.
PDREADME.TXT MATROX GRAPHICS INC. 1999.11.26
Matrox PowerDesk for Windows 95/98
Revision 5.41.008
Contents
========
- Description of this release
- Installation
- More information
- Notes, problems, and limitations
- Matrox TV output
Description of this release
===========================
Matrox PowerDesk software includes a display driver and display utilities.
With this software, you can take full advantage of your Matrox graphics
hardware and you can access additional Matrox display-related features.
Installation
============
To install Matrox PowerDesk, start the "setup" program included with it,
then follow the on-screen instructions.
The setup program will only install software if a Matrox graphics card model
supported by the setup program is installed in your computer.
More information
================
For more information on Matrox PowerDesk, see the help file included with it.
For information specific to your Matrox graphics card, see your Matrox or
system manual.
Notes, problems, and limitations
================================
- DirectDraw, Direct3D and DirectVideo support
The DirectDraw driver we provide is compatible with DirectX 2 (and
later) and includes Direct3D support. For our DirectDraw/Direct3D
driver to be called, and benefit from hardware acceleration,
Microsoft DirectX 2 (or later) MUST be installed, even for programs
originally made for DirectX 1.
Also, if a recent version of DirectX isn't installed, some Matrox
PowerDesk features may not be available.
We provide DirectX on the Matrox CD-ROM. The latest DirectX is
available from the Microsoft Web site, and is included with many
DirectX programs.
IMPORTANT: If the DirectX setup program prompts you to replace the
existing display drivers, click "No". Otherwise, the setup program
installs display drivers which are not as optimized as the Matrox
drivers and which do not support PowerDesk software.
Note that depending on the origin of your Microsoft DirectX software,
it may not include DirectVideo support. For faster playback of Indeo
and Cinepak AVI files, you should install Microsoft DirectVideo
support.
- Matrox bus mastering
This driver supports bus mastering. Bus mastering is a feature that
allows expansion cards to perform tasks at the same time as your
computer's CPU. If you have a fast Pentium computer (faster than
166 MHz), the display performance of most programs is improved when
bus mastering is used.
To use bus mastering with 3D (DirectX) programs, your graphics card
needs an interrupt request (IRQ). Most computers automatically assign
an IRQ to graphics cards, but some do not. If your graphics card hasn't
been assigned an IRQ, programs that use Matrox bus mastering may not
work properly. For more information, see your Matrox or system manual.
- Adobe Type Manager limitation
With Adobe Type Manager installed, you cannot run the driver if
the "Advanced Graphics Acceleration Settings" is set to none. Note
that ATM is installed as part of Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is an
Adobe problem documented in the Windows 95/98 "display.txt" file.
- Monitors in interlaced mode
Some older monitors such as the NEC 3D and many "SuperVGA" monitors
do not support non-interlaced mode in all resolutions. The Matrox display
driver does not properly handle interlaced mode with the Windows 95/98
monitor selection method. If you have one of these monitors, please
use the Matrox Monitor selection method.
- DirectDraw and Automatic Power Management
As stated in "Microsoft DirectX release Notes", September 30, 1995, a
DirectDraw game may be unable to restore properly if it is suspended
by Automatic Power Management utilities.
- Installation in different language versions of Windows 95/98
If you install software in a language different from the language of
your operating system (for example, English software on a Japanese
system), you may have problems with text and dialog box controls being
cut off. This is because of differences in system fonts.
- Matrox "DualHead Zoom" feature with digital video
If your Matrox graphics card has DualHead support and you're using Windows
95/98, the "DualHead Zoom" feature doesn't display digital video that is
using the video overlay feature of your Matrox graphics card. Programs that
use the video overlay feature include Microsoft Media Player, Zoran SoftDVD
and other programs that use ActiveMovie or DirectX Media. If the "DualHead
Zoom" feature is used on a region that's using hardware-based video
overlay, that region will appear as a solid color on your secondary display.
(If your secondary display is a TV, you can use the "DualHead DVDMax"
feature to view this type of video full-screen on your secondary display.)
- DualHead Multi-Display with other graphics cards
With Windows 98, certain Matrox graphics cards (for example, Millennium G400
graphics cards with the DualHead feature) support the "DualHead Multi-
Display" feature. With this feature, one graphics chip is used to control
two separate displays. Because of problems with Windows 98, this feature
may not work with more than one graphics card in your computer.
- DualHead TV output settings
With DualHead-supporting Matrox graphics cards, there are two sets of
TV output settings (for brightness, contrast, saturation, and so on).
There's one set for the DualHead DVDMax feature (full-screen playback of
certain types of video on your secondary display) and there's another set
for your Windows desktop on your TV. You can access these settings from the
"DualHead" property sheet.
If you change TV output settings for the DVDMax feature, these settings
are only used while you're using this feature. If the DVDMax feature isn't
being used, desktop TV output settings are used. For more information on
DVDMax, see context-sensitive help.
Matrox TV output
================
Certain models of Matrox graphics cards support TV output. With TV output
support, you can view or record your computer display with a TV or video
recorder connected to your graphics card.
Recommendation
--------------
- While playing games using TV output, we recommend you use a 640 x 480
display resolution. This is because the resolution capabilities of TVs are
lower than most computer monitors. If you use a higher display resolution
(800 x 600 or 1024 x 768), the display on your TV may not look as sharp as
the display of your computer monitor -- that is, some of the extra detail
may be harder to see on your TV.
- For Matrox G100/G200 cards with TV output support --
Matrox default advanced TV output settings are good for viewing most
computer graphics (for example, computer games or your Windows desktop) on
most TVs. Based on broadcast standards, there are advanced TV output
settings that are better suited for viewing full-screen video (for example,
from a video file). These settings are:
NTSC
Brightness : 180
Contrast : 234
Saturation : 137
Hue : 0
PAL
Brightness : 167
Contrast : 255
Saturation : 138
Hue : 0
Note: For ideal settings, you may also need to adjust the settings on your
TV. The default brightness, contrast, saturation and hue settings on most
consumer video devices are higher than broadcast standards. These settings
are usually OK for viewing video but may not look OK with computer graphics.
(This is why Matrox default TV output settings are lower than what's ideal
for video.) For more information on how to adjust settings on your TV, see
your TV manual.