TITLE
    ATI Mach64 OPENSTEP Driver Overview
Article ID:
Created:
Modified:
72199
12/14/98
10/21/98

TOPIC

    This article discusses a device driver for OPENSTEP versions 4.0 through 4.2.


DISCUSSION

    Driver: ATI Mach64
    Last Update: December 18, 1997

    Availability Information

    A version of this driver is on the OPENSTEP CD-ROM
    No updated versions of this driver are available

    Driver Name / Installer .pkg: ATIMach64DisplayDriver
    Driver Type: Display
    Driver Scope: Generic-Chipset
    Supported Components: ATI 88800 (Mach64)
    PC Bus / Interface Supported by Driver*: Integrated, PCI, VL-Bus

    General Overview notes: This new graphics driver is designed to support a variety of graphics adapters using the ATI 88800 graphics controller. Adapters based on the 88800 GX/CX (also known as the Mach64) graphics controller chipset can support 1MB, 2MB or 4 MB of VRAM or DRAM. This driver supports a variety of configurations including high-resolution and high-color (32bit) modes and several RAMDAC, frame buffer and interface bus (PCI and VL-Bus only) configurations.

    Due to the wide range of possible combinations, only a few specific adapters will be tested by NeXT. Although this driver may work with most 88800 GX/CX based adapters, Apple will only support the specific adapters tested by Apple.

    Supported Products / Add-on Adapters:
    ATI Graphics Ultra Pro Turbo (PCI, with 2MB VRAM)
    ATI Graphics Ultra Pro Turbo (PCI, with 2MB DRAM)
    ATI Graphics Ultra Pro Turbo (PCI, with 4MB VRAM)
    ATI Graphics Ultra Pro Turbo (PCI, with 4MB DRAM)
    ATI Graphics Ultra Pro Turbo (VL-Bus, with 4MB VRAM)
    ATI Graphics Ultra Pro Turbo (VL-Bus, with 4MB DRAM)

    Supported Products / Systems (ie integrated into PC System):
    AT&T Globalyst 600


    Special Features of Driver / Driver Notes:
    This device driver provides information in the Configure application's help panel. Choose Info>Help from the Configure menu and scroll down to find this device driver's help topic.

    Display Driver Details

    Supported Connectors: 15-pin High Density (VGA)
    Access Mode: Linear Framebuffer
    Adapter Memory: 2MB DRAM, 2MB VRAM, 4MB DRAM, 4MB VRAM

    Display Modes (Number in () after resolution indicates frame buffer size required)

    32 Bit Color Modes*:
    640x480 (4MB+), 800x600 (4MB+)

    16 Bit Color Modes*:
    1024x768 (2MB+), 1152x896 (2MB+), 800x600 (1MB+)

    8 Bit Color / Greyscale Modes*:
    1024x768 (1MB+), 1152x896 (1MB+), 1280x1024 (2MB+), 1600x1200 (2MB+), 800x600 (1MB+)

    Known Problems

    The Mach64 driver makes use of the board's BIOS to switch modes. This requires the user to set up the display adapter as specified in the documentation supplied by ATI. This will usually require running a setup utility. Until this is done, not all supported display modes will be available.

    Driver Version Notes

    3.33 - Added support for additional hardware
    3.34 - Added support for ATI 68860 Rev C and ST1703 RAMDACs.
    3.36 - Beta - Driver rewritten to call Adapter's BIOS to switch modes.
    3.37 - First Released version that uses the Adapter's BIOS - should be robust to RAMDAC changes.
    4.01 - Released on OPENSTEP 4.0 User CD-ROM

    * - Indicates information that is inclusive of the entire capability of this driver. Not all devices supported by this driver may include all features listed.

    Product Vendor
    ATI Technology
    2880 Zanker Road
    Suite 203
    San Jose, CA 95134

    +1 (416) 882 2600 international phone
    +1 (905) 764 9404 bulletin board system
    +1 (416) 882 2600 faxback system
    WWW: http://www.atitech.ca/

Document Information
Product Area: Apple Software
Category: OPENSTEP
Sub Category: Drivers

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