-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IBM Fire GL Series Graphics Accelerator
IBM Fire GL Series Video Driver for Windows NT 4.0
Release 1100
Driver Version 4.00.1381.2046
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please read the entire contents of this document. Information in this
file may not appear in printed documentation or online help.
This READ-ME file contains the following information:
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 List of Product Files
1.2 Installing the IBM Fire GL Series Graphics Accelerator
2. INSTALLING THE IBM FIRE GL2/3 SERIES VIDEO DRIVER
2.1 Menu-controlled Video Driver Installation
2.2 Unattended Video Driver Installation
3. CHANGING THE VIDEO SETTINGS
3.1 Setting Resolution and Color Depth
3.2 Choosing Monitors and Display Refresh Rates
3.3 Adjusting the Monitors' Display
4. UNINSTALLING THE IBM Fire GL2/3 VIDEO DRIVER
4.1 Menu-controlled De-installation
4.2 Unattended De-installation
5. CONFIGURATION FEATURES AND INFORMATION
5.1 Diamond Information Dialog
5.2 Diamond Configuration Menu (for experienced users only!)
6. NOTES, PROBLEMS, AND LIMITATIONS
7. SERVICE, SUPPORT, AND SOFTWARE UPGRADES
8. SUPPORTED RESOLUTIONS, COLOR DEPTHS, AND REFRESH RATES
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
----------------------
1.1 List of product files
-------------------------
The following files are in the \DIAMOND subdirectory of your
video adapter device driver CD:
\INSTALL
INSTALL.EXE Diamond Installer
INST16.EXE Diamond Installer 16-Bit extension
DMINSTAL.SYS Diamond Installer device extension
_INSTALL.??? Diamond Installer resource extension
COMPANY.INI Diamond Installer script
SETUPNT4.IN Diamond Installer script
READ-ME.TXT This file ( English )
READ-MEJ.TXT This file ( Japanese )
SETUP.BAT Command file for unattended installation
UNINSTALL.BAT Command file for unattended de-installation
\NT4
FIREGL23.INF Driver installation script
VERSION.TXT Information about current driver version
FGL23.DL_ Display driver
FGL23EXT.DL_ Display driver extension
FGL23M.SY_ Miniport driver
FGL23GL.DL_ OpenGL driver
FGL23GLS.DL_ OpenGL driver
FGL23GLW.DL_ OpenGL driver
FGL23MON.??_ Diamond Monitor control panel
F23MO???.HL_ Diamond Monitor control panel context help
FGL23MON.IN_ Diamond Monitor data base
FGL23INF.??_ Diamond Information control panel
FGL23CFG.??_ Diamond Configuration control panel
F23CF???.HL_ Diamond Configuration control panel context help
FGL23ADJ.??_ Diamond Adjustment control panel
F23AD???.HL_ Diamond Adjustment control panel context help
FGL23EVI.??_ Diamond Visual Enhancements control panel
F23EV???.HL_ Diamond Visual Enhancements control panel context help
FGL23DEL.EX_ Diamond driver uninstall utility
FGL23DEL.IN Diamond uninstall script
FGL23OGL.DR_ Driver for 3D Studio MAX/VIZ
F23MXINS.??_ 3D Studio MAX/VIZ driver install utility
FGL23MUL.??_ Diamond DualScreen control panel
F23MU???.HL_ Diamond DualScreen control panel context help
F23HAPP.EX_ Diamond DualScreen hook loader
F23HDLL.DL_ Diamond DualScreen hooks
F23HSER.EX_ Diamond utility device driver
GETVPDC.EX_ IBM Vital Product Data Utility
PMEMNT.SY_ IBM Vital Product Data Utility
PMEMW.DL_ IBM Vital Product Data Utility
WHATGRAP.EX_ IBM Vital Product Data Utility
where '??' or '???' stands for supported language identifiers (e.g., ENG).
1.2 Installing the IBM Fire GL Series Graphics Accelerator
------------------------------------------------------------
Your computer is shipped with the first/primary IBM Fire GL Series
Graphics Accelerator and its drivers factory-installed. Refer to the
following directions and information only if you plan to install
additional Fire GL Series, for example, for a multi-monitor configuration.
Refer to the User's Guide of your computer to install the IBM Fire GL
Series Graphics Accelerator in your system. NOTE: If you want to install
the Fire GL Series card to replace your existing graphics solution it may
be helpful to set your display driver to standard VGA before you shut down
your PC and remove a previously installed card.
2. INSTALLING THE IBM Fire GL Series VIDEO DRIVER
-------------------------------------------------
Your computer system shipped with the graphics software drivers for the
Fire GL Series card pre-installed.
You need the information in this section on re-installation of the basic
driver software for Windows NT only if you are re-installing the
operating system.
For your convenience the following procedures describe how to install
the graphics driver software.
The Unattended Video Driver Installation as described in 2.2 allows to
install (uninstall - see 4.2) the drivers and configure your monitor
settings by command line editing. You can also set parameters for a
'silent' installation (no messages displayed during the installation).
NOTE: Before installing the IBM Fire GL Series video driver, please
close all open application programs and disable any anti-virus
software that is running on your computer until the driver
installation is complete!
2.1 Menu-controlled Video Driver Installation
-------------------------------------------------
1. Click the 'Start' button in the task bar, click 'Run' and then
select 'Install.exe' from the hard drive or CD-ROM directory where the
driver files are stored. The 'Diamond Install' dialog appears.
NOTES:
You can find the factory-installed 'Diamond Install' dialog on your
hard drive via Start > Programs > Diamond. Then click 'DIAMOND
Install/Uninstall Utility.'
The Diamond installation dialog displays in English if the
language of your operationg system is not supported.
2. Enter the path to which you want to install the driver software
and click 'Next.'
3. When the 'INSTALLATION COMPLETE' message appears click 'Next' again.
This will restart your computer.
4. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Settings, or
right-click on the Windows desktop, and select 'Properties' and
'Settings'. Set the resolution, color depth, and refresh rate that
best suit your requirements and your monitor's performance.
5. Click OK.
2.2 Unattended Video Driver Installation
------------------------------------
If you prefer to configure your system by command line editing you may
install the video drivers and set the monitor configuration as follows:
Note:
The IBM Fire GL2/3 video adapter will not install unless SP4 is already
installed, and running in NT4. When creating a NT4 unattended installation
package, you must ensure SP4 is installed and operating before trying to
install the IBM Fire GL2/3 driver. Note that you cannot use the UNATTEND.TXT,
nor the CMDLINES.TXT methods to install the Fire GL2/3 driver. A recommended
method to perform the unattended installation of the IBM Fire GL2/3 driver is:
1) Install SP4 by CMDLINES.TXT method
2) Install IBM Fire GL2/3 driver using RUNONCE.REG method ==> See
Microsoft's Automating Windows NT Setup documentation for details.
1. Click the 'Start' button in the task bar, click 'Run' and then enter
or browse to the INSTALL subdirectory on the hard drive or CD-ROM
where the video driver files are stored.
2. Enter the following command:
INSTALL -0[x] -1[y] -2[z] -s[e] -r
These are the command line options:
-0[x] Resolution (horizontal)
-1[y] Color Depth (in bit)
-2[z] Refresh rate (in Hz)
-s[e] Silent Installation - no installation messages displayed during
installation
[e] no error messages displayed
-r Restart system after installation
Note: If you do not set the commmand line option -r, the system
does not restart after the installation is complete.
Valid Resolution/Color/Refresh combinations for the command line option are
[y] -Color
Resolution [x] -Resolution Depth (bpp) [z] -Refresh Rates (Hz)
---------- --------------- ----------------- -----------------------
640x480 640 32 60, 72, 75, 85, DDC
800x600 800 32 60, 72, 75, 85, DDC
1024x768 1024 32 60, 70, 75, 85, DDC
1280x1024 1280 32 60, 75, 85, DDC
1600x1200 1600 32 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, DDC
1792x1344 1792 32 60, DDC
1920x1200 1920 32 60, 75, DDC
NOTES:
1) For the DDC parameter, the highest possible refresh rate for the
monitor is used if a PnP/DDC monitor is connected and detected.
Otherwise,60 Hz will be used if no PnP/DDC monitor is connected or
none is detected.
2) If a specific refresh rate is used for the [z] parameter, the
refresh rate chosen will override any refresh rates decoded from
a DDC monitor.
3) If an invalid entry is made for any of the above parameters, the
operating system will boot up at 640x480x32bpp the first time after
the driver is installed. The driver will also attempt to detect a
DDC monitor. See note 1 above.
Example: For a silent installation of the Fire GL Series video drivers,
configuring your monitor for 1280x1024 at 75 Hz, TrueColor, and restart
the system after installation, the command looks like this:
INSTALL -01280 -132 -275 -se -r
Warning!
Selecting a resolution or refresh rate that your monitor does not
support can permanently damage the monitor.
Check the documentation of your monitor and make sure that the
monitor supports the selected resolution and refresh rate.
3. CHANGING THE VIDEO SETTINGS
------------------------------
Three dialogs in the 'Diplay Properties' menu allow setting and
adjusting the video settings to suit your requirements best.
Settings: set resolution and color depth
Monitor: choose monitors and display refresh rates
To access the 'Diplay Properties' menu:
1. Start Windows NT 4.0.
2. After Windows NT 4.0 has finished starting, click on the START
button, select 'Settings,' and then click on 'Control Panel.'
3. Double-click on the 'Display' icon. The 'Display Properties' window
appears.
Note: You can also display the 'Display Properties' window by
right-clicking the Windows Desktop background and then
selecting the 'Properties' option from the pop-up menu.
3.1 Setting Resolution and Color Depth
--------------------------------------
Select the 'Settings' dialog in the 'Display Properties' window.
Set the resolution and color depth that best suit your
requirements and your monitors' performance.
3.2 Choosing Monitors and Display Refresh Rates
-----------------------------------------------
Select the 'Monitor' dialog in the 'Display Properties' window.
You can find more information on setting up the monitor(s) in the
context sensitive online help.
Set the desired operation mode for the selected monitor:
Custom Modes
------------
Use resolution and refresh rates for this monitor as
specified in the 'Settings' dialog in 'Display Properties.'
This option allows to fully exploit the resolution/refresh rate
capabilities of the video chip.
Warning!
Selecting a resolution or refresh rate that your monitor does not
support can permanently damage the monitor.
Check the documentation of your monitor and make sure that the
monitor supports the selected resolution and refresh rate.
Select from list
----------------
Use resolution/refresh rate settings optimized for your specific
monitor.
Select your monitor from the displayed monitor list.
To select your monitor, scroll to the manufacturer of your monitor
and highlight the manufacturer in the list. Click on the '+' sign
and select your monitor.
A list on the right menu pane displays resolutions and - for each
resolution - the maximum refresh rate, as supported by the selected
monitor. If the current video mode (specified in the 'Settings'
dialog) is not supported by the selected monitor, the resolution/
refresh rate setting will be automatically reduced.
Select the desired refresh rate in the 'Refresh Rate' section. All
refresh rates supported by the monitor for the currently
selected resolution are displayed.
Click the 'Apply' or 'OK' button to enable your monitor selection.
If the list does not display your monitor type and you have a disk
from the monitor manufacturer, use the 'Have Disk' button to import
the monitor information to the internal monitor list.
Click the 'Have Disk' button, insert the disk, and select the
directory or file containing information about your monitor.
Then select your monitor and click the 'Apply' or 'OK' button.
Note: Click the 'Display Diamond Monitor List' button to switch
the displayed monitor list back from the manufacturer's disk to
the internal monitor list.
PnP Monitor
-----------
Select this option and click the 'Apply' or 'OK' button if you want
the driver to automatically decode the monitor's PnP (Plug-n-Play,
DDC) information on each reboot/NT 4.0 start.
To detect a new DDC monitor immediately, click the 'Detect now'
button. An error message will be displayed if the connected monitor
does not support DDC.
The 'Refresh Rate' section displays the maximum refresh rate
supported by the monitor for the currently selected resolution.
C. Click the 'Apply' or 'OK' button to enable your monitor settings.
3.3 Adjusting the Monitors' Display
-----------------------------------
Select the 'Adjustment' dialog in the 'Display Properties' window.
You can find more information on adjusting the monitors' display in the
context sensitive online help.
A. Monitor Tuning
With the buttons in the 'Move' and 'Size' sections you can tune the
position and size of the monitor's display for the indicated resolution
and refresh rate.
NOTE: Use the hardware setting controls on your monitor, if available,
to adjust your display size or position - instead of the software
controls in 'Adjustment - Monitor Tuning.' Check the documentation of
your monitor for information on your monitor's hardware controls.
NOTE: Resizing the display slightly changes the actual refresh rate.
If you operate a fixed-frequency monitor check the documentation of your
monitor for information on refresh rate tolerances.
Sync Polarity: If you do not get a satisfactory display with the default
sync polarity setting for the current resolution, you may try and change
the settings.
Undo: Click this button to undo the last change you made (i.e. when you
clicked 'Apply').
Default: Click this button to set the 'Monitor Tuning' to the
manufacturer's default settings.
NOTES:
Press the ESC key on your keyboard to undo the changes if your monitor
has lost synchronization.
If you change the resolution (in 'Settings') and/or the refresh
rate (in 'Monitor'), you may need to re-adjust the monitor's display.
B. 'Gamma Correction': Adjust the montior's gamma correction for optimal
brightness with the red, green and blue slider bars.
NOTE: You cannot adjust 'Gamma Correction' for 256-color modes.
When these sliders are changed the gamma correction table modifies each
pixel's color value. The brightness produced at the face of the display
is proportional to the input voltage raised to the power gamma. This
nonlinearity must be compensated to achieve correct reproduction of the
image's brightness. The effect of display gamma is to darken the
midtones relative to the dark and light regions. The gamma correction
adjustment affects the entire screen display. The possible setting
range is 0.3 - 4.0. The default setting is 1.0.
With 'Link sliders' selected, the three sliders move together as
you drag any individual slider. With the check box unchecked, you can
adjust colors individually by dragging the applicable slider.
Click the '>1<' button - for each color - to set the gamma correction
to the default value of 1.0.
C. Click the 'Apply' or 'OK' button to enable your monitor settings.
4. UNINSTALLING THE IBM Fire GL Series VIDEO DRIVER
---------------------------------------------------
This section describes how to properly remove your IBM Fire GL Series
software from your system should you need to do so.
NOTE: Before removing the IBM Fire GL Series video driver, please close
all open application programs and disable any anti-virus software
that is running on your computer until the driver de-installation
is complete!
4.1 Menu-controlled De-installation
-----------------------------------
1. From the 'Start' menu, go to Start > Programs> Diamond, then click
'DIAMOND Display Component Setup (/Uninstall)'.
The 'Diamond Install' dialog appears.
2. Click 'Remove the product' and select 'Diamond Fire GL Series.'
Note: Make sure that only those components are selected that you want
to remove now. (Click 'Back' and 'Add/Remove components' to
select specific software components for removal.)
Then click 'Next.'
3. Click 'Next' to remove the software and shut down your computer.
4.2 Unattended De-installation
------------------------------
This section describes the unattended, command line driven
de-installation of the IBM Fire GL Series video driver.
1. Click the 'Start' button in the task bar, click 'Run' and then enter
or browse to the INSTALL subdirectory on the hard drive or CD-ROM
where the video driver files are stored.
2. Enter the following command:
INSTALL -u[s] -r
These are the command line options:
-u[s] Driver de-installation
[s] silent - no messages displayed during
de-installation
-r Shut down system after de-installation
Note: If you do not set the commmand line option -r, the system
does not shut down when the driver de-installation is
complete.
Example: For a silent de-installation of the Fire GL Series video driver and
shut down of the system, you would type the following:
INSTALL -us -r
5. CONFIGURATION FEATURES AND INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------
5.1 Diamond Information Dialog
------------------------------
Check the 'Information' dialog in the 'Diplay Properties' window for
detailed hardware and driver information on your Fire GL Series card. These
data may be helpful when contacting TechSupport.
You can display the 'Information' dialog by
right-clicking the Windows Desktop background and then selecting
the 'Properties' option from the pop-up menu. Then select the
'Information' tab.
5.2 Diamond Configuration Menu (for experienced users only!)
------------------------------------------------------------
If you experience problems with your application, or if you want to try
to optimize the performance of your system on specific applications, you
may modify the configuration settings.
Select the 'Configuration' dialog in the 'Display Properties' window.
You can find more information on the settings in the
'Configuration' dialog in the context sensitive online help.
You can display the 'Configuration' dialog by
right-clicking the Windows Desktop background and then selecting
the 'Properties' option from the pop-up menu. Then select the
'Configuration' tab.
For some of the most popular applications the optimal configuration
profile is factory-set by default. Select the application from the list
in the 'Configuration Profiles' section. This will change the necessary
Windows NT registry settings.
Click 'Apply' and then restart Windows NT.
1. Click the 'Add' button in the 'Configuration Profiles' section and
enter the new application for which you want to set the configuration
parameters.
2. To modify the configuration settings of a specific application, for
example, Softimage, select the application from the list in the
'Configuration Profiles' section and click the 'Modify' button.
3. In the 'Settings' section select or clear the following checkboxes
according to your requirements:
Overlay Planes
8-Bit double-buffered
Use 8 bit double-buffered overlay planes in the depth buffers. The
driver exports pixelformats with 8-bit double-buffered overlay
planes for OpenGL applications.
8-Bit single-buffered
Use 8 bits of each 32-bit frame buffer pixel as single-buffered
overlay planes.
Force copy swap
Force blit copy from back to front buffer.
Wait for vertical retrace
Buffer swap 'synched' to vertical retrace. This improves the
picture quality but reduces the view performance in, for example,
benchmark testing.
4. Click the 'Apply' or 'OK' button to enable your Configuration
settings.
6. NOTES, PROBLEMS, AND LIMITATIONS
-----------------------------------
NOTE: The current driver version provides no hardware support for Direct3D
and DirectDraw
7. SERVICE, SUPPORT, AND SOFTWARE UPGRADES
------------------------------------------
Video driver updates can be obtained from IBM at the following web
location:
http://www.us.pc.ibm.com/
-select your country and do a search on "drivers"
For technical problems, contact the IBM HelpDesk at 1-800-772-2227
8. SUPPORTED RESOLUTIONS, COLOR DEPTHS, AND REFRESH RATES
----------------------------------------------------------
The resolutions and refresh rates supported by the Fire GL Series are
dependent on the monitor that is selected. To display the resolution
that are supported and the maximum vertical refresh rate for each of your
monitors, refer to the 'Monitor' dialog in the 'Display Properties'
window. You can display the 'Monitor' dialog by right-clicking
the Windows desktop and selecting 'Properties' and then
selecting the 'Monitor' tab.
The table below is showing screen resolution, pixel size, horizontal
line rate and refresh rate for all modes supported under the MS NT4.0
operating system, all modes are providing full screen double buffering
using the OpenGL API.
+==========+=======+=======+===================+
|Resolution| Color | Alpha | Refresh Rate |
| | Bits | Bits | (Hz) |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
| 640x480 | 24 | 8 | 60, 75, 85 |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
| 800x600 | 24 | 8 | 60, 75, 85 |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
|1024x768 | 24 | 8 | 60, 75, 85 |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
|1280x1024 | 24 | 8 | 60, 75, 85 |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
|1600x1200 | 24 | 8 | 60, 75, 85 |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
|1792x1344 | 24 | 8 | 60 |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
|1920x1200 | 24 | 8 | 60, 75 |
+----------+-------+-------+-------------------+
| |
+-------+- This combination appears as 32bpp or TrueColor
in the Display Properties -Settings tab
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All product names listed are trademarks or copyrights of their
respective owners.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (c) 1993-98, All Rights Reserved
Professional Graphics Division
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.