================================================================== Real 3D StarFighter(R) PCI Graphics Adapter README9x0323.TXT ================================================================== This is the Real 3D StarFighter PCI Windows 95/98 Display Drivers, version 0323. The version 0323 display drivers are compatible with StarFighter Video Bios version 0146 or higher. The Video Bios version can be verified on the Display Properties R3D Information tab. These Release Notes address changes since the version 0288 Drivers. Please check the Real 3D website (www.real3d.com) for the latest StarFighter PCI Display Driver updates! Updates ------- -- DirectX Support -- Support was added for DirectX 6. However, these drivers are still compatible with DirectX 5.0 (release 155 or higher) libraries. To accommodate some DirectX 5 applications that have problems with Microsoft's DirectX 6.0 release, a pair of radio buttons were added to the Real 3D Display Properties tab as follows: o Standard DirectX 5 or DirectX 6 software o Legacy software with DirectX 6 When running on a DirectX 6 based system, some legacy DirectX 5 applications may exhibit texture anomalies. This can be avoided by selecting the button labeled "Legacy software with DirectX 6". The "legacy" button setting is the default and has no net effect when running with DirectX 5 libraries. The 2D corruption associated with the use of animated cursors has been eliminated. -- OpenGL Enhancements -- Performance enhancements and various fixes for display anomalies in high-end applications were put in the OpenGL Installable Client Driver (ICD). Modifications include: · Improved video memory management for increased performance and memory savings · Pixel format change for increased memory usage efficiency · Removal of full-screen transport delay to improve game play · Faster texture loading · Support was added for the 3D Studio Max OpenGL gl_WIN_swap_hint extension · Misc. fixes for minor 2D corruption, display priorities and special case display list bugs · Support for Unreal in OpenGL · Correction of a special case problem in two-sided lighting · Support for the CDRS-04 benchmark in 1280x1024 resolution · Speed up of Display List generation · Support for Half-Life. Be sure to download the latest patch from www.Sierra.com to get Sierra's fix for shared texture palettes. -- Video -- The new Windows 98 Direct Show video parameters interface for DVD and TVOut has been added. Limitations or Caveats ---------------------- Requires DirectX 5.0 (release 155 or higher) or DirectX 6.0 or higher. Does not support Windows 98 WDM. However video capture software on the market today is almost exclusively VFW-based. This driver supports non-MMX systems and many of the older Pentium configurations. However, the recommended system is a Pentium 166 or equivalent processor or higher and 32 MB or more of RAM. Older systems (pre-Windows 95 OSR2) may require that the Microsoft comctl32.dll be updated. The Starfighter installation includes an official fix-it file from Microsoft that will not affect newer systems that already have the correct comctl32.dll. Please ensure that the system is rebooted after installation so that the Microsoft fix-it executable is launched. 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). - Older systems may be more susceptible to driver conflicts with DirectX 5.0. Check the computer system manufacturer's website for updated drivers. - 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------ WINDOWS 95/98 INSTALLATION ------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- Hardware Installation --------------------- 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 PCI video adapter from the PCI slot and save the screw. 3. Place the StarFighter PCI graphics board into the PCI 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. --------------------- Software Installation --------------------- 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 ----------- Windows 95: ----------- 1. StarFighter board and drivers should already be installed in the system. Power On the system. 2. Right-click on My Computer 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. ----------- Windows 98: ----------- 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------ All product names listed are trademarks or copyrights of their respective owners. www.real3d.com ================================================================== Real 3D, Inc. Copyright 1999, All Rights Reserved ==================================================================