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Real 3D StarFighter(R) AGP Graphics Adapter README9X0281.TXT
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This is the Real 3D StarFighter AGP Windows 95/98 Display Drivers,
version 0281. It is an update to the version 0259 Display Drivers.
The version 0281 display drivers are compatible with Version 0146
of the StarFighter Video Bios. There is no need to upgrade the
Video Bios if it was already flashed for Version 0259 Drivers.
The Video Bios version can be verified on the Display Properties
R3D Information tab.
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WARNING: If updating the StarFighter Video Bios from a version
------- prior to 0146, the Version 0281 StarFighter Driver must
be updated *BEFORE* flashing the StarFighter Video Bios
to Version 0146. Bios Version 0146 is NOT compatible
with some older drivers (a blue screen of death will
be the result of this combination ... see recovery
procedure below)
These Release Notes address changes since the Version 259 Drivers.
Please check the Real 3D website (www.real3d.com) for the latest
StarFighter AGP Display Driver updates!
New Features
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- Socket 7:
The StarFighter 0281 Drivers provide support for Socket 7 chipsets
from VIA, SIS, and ALi. Note: Although Real 3D strives for 100%
compatibility, due to the number of companies producing low cost
motherboards we cannot guarantee complete compatibility with all
Socket 7 based motherboards.
Real 3D has worked with these chipset manufacturers to determine
StarFighter compatibility with the following versions of the
manufacturers' AGP Drivers for Windows 95/98.
Minimum AGP
-Chipset-- -Driver Rev- -Web URL-----------------
VIA VP3 2.6 www.via.com.tw/driver.htm
VIA MVP3 2.9 www.via.com.tw/driver.htm
ALi M1541/M1621 1.1 www.ali.com.tw/eframes.htm
SIS 5591 1.2 www.sis.com.tw/html/driver1.html#5591agp
Some chipset manufacturers' AGP drivers were pre-release when tested
by Real 3D and may not yet be available on their web sites. These AGP
Drivers should be installed per the chipset manufacturer's README
instructions.
Also note that the SIS systems are very sensitive to installation
order. Before installing StarFighter, the previous video card MUST
be removed and its drivers must be uninstalled.
- Multi-Monitor:
Some minor corruption in Windows 98 Multi-Monitor has been
eliminated. Windows 98 Plus high color screen savers now work.
StarFighter AGP can run in a multi-monitor configuration with
StarFighter PCI (driver versions higher than 0247) or any other
Windows 98 compliant PCI adapter that supports Multi-monitor.
- Direct3D:
The Forsaken bug that would not allow game play at higher
resolutions has been fixed.
The 2D corruption in Final Fantasy 7 has been eliminated.
Modifications were made to the driver to allow more Direct3D games
and applications to take advantage of performance increases by
checking the auto-mipmap box in the Real 3D Display Properties
page.
Fog table support was added to Direct3D. The exponential fog
calculations for Direct3D are now identical to the default
(OpenGL) fog.
The Advanced D3D page accessed via the main R3D Display Properties
tab, has been expanded to give control of additional graphics
parameters.
- OpenGL:
Performance enhancements and various fixes for display anomalies
in high-end applications were put in the OpenGL Installable Client
Driver (ICD).
Limitations or Caveats
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Running Quake II full screen at 800x600 on 4Mb cards may produce
flashing on some systems (will be fixed soon in the next web
refresh).
Requires Windows 95 OSR2.1 (this is Windows 95 OSR2 with the
USB Supplement) or Windows 98
Requires DirectX 5.0 (release 155 or higher)
Troubleshooting Hints:
- Some of the StarFighter bundled software may experience problems
on systems that do not contain a sound card or have sound
directly on the motherboard.
- Check README files or documentation that comes with other
software for special system requirements or limitations.
- If the graphics does not seem to be accelerated, check that the
color depth is set to 16-bit color on the Display Properties
Settings page. Also, some applications may have their own
switch or selection to enable acceleration (Quake, for example).
- Please ensure that the latest drivers for all plug-in cards have
been installed.
- Some monitors may not support higher resolutions or refresh
rates. If some rates that StarFighter supports cannot be
selected from the Display Properties Setting page, check with
the manufacturer for a possible monitor .inf file update.
- The current version of the StarFighter Video Bios can be
obtained from the Display Properties R3D Information Tab.
If the Video Bios version is not Version 0146 then you may
experience minor problems. The Version 0146 Video Bios may be
downloaded from the Real 3D web site at http://www.real3d.com
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WINDOWS 95/98 INSTALLATION
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Hardware Installation
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Please see Chapter 3 of the Getting Started Manual for details.
1. Shut down the computer, disconnect the monitor cable, and
remove its cover.
2. Remove existing AGP video adapter from the AGP slot and
save the screw.
3. Place the StarFighter AGP graphics board into the AGP slot,
ensuring that it is inserted completely into the socket,
and replace the screw.
4. Replace the computer cover and reconnect the monitor cable.
Note: If you have no video when power is applied and the
computer emits one long and two short beeps, this
indicates that the StarFighter card is not seated
properly.
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Software Installation
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Please see Chapter 5, section 5.2 of the Getting Started Manual
for details on new StarFighter installations.
SW Upgrades: updating previously installed StarFighter drivers
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Windows 95:
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1. StarFighter board and drivers should already be installed
in the system. Power On the system.
2. Right-click on the desktop and choose "Properties" or
click on "Start", "Settings -> Control Panel" and double
click on the "Display" icon.
3. Choose the "Settings" tab and click on "Advanced Properties"
4. Click on the "Change" button.
5. Click on "Have Disk". From the "Install from Disk" dialog
box, click on "Browse". Navigate to C:\Real3d\Drivers, or
the directory chosen when the download was unzipped (the
.inf file will be the only file visible in the browser) and
click "OK".
6. Click on "OK" in the "Install from Disk" dialog box.
7. Select the Starfighter AGP on the "Select Device" dialog
box and click "OK".
8. Files will be installed.
9. Choose "OK" on the "Advanced Display Properties" dialog box
10. Click on "Apply" on the "Display Properties" dialog box.
11. Choose "YES" in response to the "DO YOU WANT TO RESTART?"
query to reboot the system and complete the installation.
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Windows 98:
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1. StarFighter board and drivers should already be installed
in the system. Power On the system.
2. Right-click on the Desktop and choose "Properties" or
click on "Start", "Settings -> Control Panel" and double
click on "Display".
3. Choose the "Settings" tab and click on "Advanced..."
4. Choose the "Adapter" tab and click on the "Change..."
button.
5. Click on "Next".
6. Select the top choice, "Search for a better driver" and
click on "Next".
7. Clear all check boxes except "Specify a location:" and
click on "Browse". Navigate to C:\Real3D\Drivers, or the
the directory chosen when the download was unzipped (the
inf file will be the only file visible in the browser) and
click "OK".
8. Click on "Next".
9. Select "The updated driver (Recommended)" and click on
"Next".
10. Click on "Next" and the files will be installed.
11. Click on "Finish".
12. Choose "YES" in response to the "DO YOU WANT TO RESTART?"
query to reboot the system and complete the installation.
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Blue Screen of Death Recovery Procedure
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If you have inadvertantly updated the StarFighter video bios to
Version 0146 before upgrading to the StarFighter Version 0259
Display Driver this will result in a fatal error.
To recover your system use the following procedure:
1. Boot system into "Safe" mode.
2. Click the "Start" button.
3. Click "Settings -> Control Panel".
4. Double Click on the "System" icon.
5. Click the "Device Manager" tab.
6. Double Click the "Display adapters" icon.
7. Click "StarFighter AGP Release XXXX"
8. Click the "Remove" button.
9. Click the "Ok" button.
10. Reboot your computer.
11. See Chapter 5, section 5.2 of the Getting Started Manual
for details on installing the new StarFighter Driver.
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All product names listed are trademarks or copyrights of their
respective owners.
www.real3d.com
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Real 3D, Inc. Copyright 1998, All Rights Reserved
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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.