Generic PowerVR Drivers (Matrox m3D) Version 4.1.1 for Windows 95
March 12, 1998
Note:
This Edition of Generic PowerVR Drivers (4.1.1c2) has been edited to
add the addtional "Advanced Features" for the Matrox m3D card since
Matrox's own drivers (4.1.1.5) will not allow this due to a so called
"Microsoft Certification" If you already own a Videologic Apocalypse
3Dx there is no need to install these drivers.
There are a number of "Advanced Feature" settings already added to
this installation. The settings are exact copies from Videologics own
Drivers and recommendation of settings from their own Web Site.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Installing the generic drivers
3. Hints and tips
4. Troubleshooting
5. Advanced Features
1. Introduction
The Generic PowerVR v4.1.1c2 drivers support all PowerVR PCX2 based
products, such as the Matrox m3D.
These generic drivers may well differ from that provided by your board
vendor; specifically they may not provide the same level of title
compatibility or performance as that provided by your board vendor.
These drivers are supplied as is and if you experience any problem you
should use the drivers supplied by your board vendor and contact them
for support.
VideoLogic Apocalypse drivers can be found on the VideoLogic web site
at http://www.videologic.com/.
Matrox m3D drivers can be found on on the Matrox site at
http://www.matrox.com/.
2. Installing the Generic Drivers
Introduction
This section explains how to install the Generic PowerVR drivers in
the absence of any instructions from your board supplier. It assumes
that you have already installed a PowerVR card as defined by your
supplier.
To install the drivers:
1. Open the Control Panel window by clicking the Start button,
pointing to Settings and clicking Control Panel.
2. Double-click the System icon to open the System Properties
Window.
3. Click the Device Manager tab.
4. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
5. Click Apocalypse 3Dx / M3D or PowerVR, and click Remove.
6. A dialog box is displayed asking you if you want to restart
Windows. Click No.
7. Click Refresh.
8. Device Manager says a new device has been located and requests
the updated drivers. Point Device Manager at the Generic
PowerVR.INF file and follow the instructions. You will be asked to
reboot your machine.
If you Experience Problems
Please note, there may will be an existing .INF file for the board
already installed on your system that is preventing you from
installing the drivers. These .INF files should be deleted or renamed
before retrying the installation. The following .INF files are known
and should be deleted:
Windows\inf\other\VideoLogicA*.inf
Windows\inf\other\VideoLogicP*.inf
Windows\inf\other\Matrox*.inf
3. Hints and Tips
Installing games
Some DirectX games currently on the market are supplied with DirectX
2. If the game's installation forces DirectX 2 to be installed, you
should reinstall the latest version of DirectX from the Microsoft Web
Site.
Microid Research BIOS
Some PCs with an MR BIOS can give a much lower frame rate with
PowerVR. Switching to another BIOS can greatly enhance performance.
16-bit Color
To avoid problems with the Start menu and Windows menus containing
corrupted text, or missing text, you should set your display mode to a
high-color palette, of at least 65,536 colors (16-bit).
4. Troubleshooting
Introduction
This section describes common problems you may encounter when
installing or running PowerVR.
Problem: The application display is corrupted.
Solution: Your graphics system may not support the required DirectX
version. Reinstall DirectX. You can get this from your computer
supplier or from Microsoft.
If the problem persists, contact your graphics card vendor.
Problem: The Start menu and Windows menus contain corrupted text,
or text is missing.
Solution: After playing a game in 8-bit display mode, your computer
has changed from 8-bit to 16-bit display mode automatically, which
your display driver may not be able to support.
Restart your computer in 16-bit mode. Refer to the documentation
supplied with your graphics card if you need help with this.
To avoid this problem in future, you should always be in a 16-bit
display mode before playing a game.
Problem: When running an application that uses PowerSGL or
Direct3D, the system freezes or restarts.
Solution: You may have installed PowerVR into a PCI bus slot that
does not have bus-mastering capability.
Install the card into a slot that supports bus-mastering.
Solution: Try changing the 3D Acceleration to Standard on the
PowerVR Display Properties page.
Problem: I am not given the D3D Hal option with the D3D demos.
Solution: Ensure that you have the DirectX 5 graphics drivers
installed, and that your computer is in a display mode greater or
equal to 16 bits per pixel (65,536 colors).
Solution: If your system received an Invalid Page Fault or a
General Protection Fault, restart your system.
Problem: When running an application that uses PowerSGL the system
restarts.
Solution: The display driver may not support buffer flipping. To
support flipping the amount of free off-screen memory must be
greater than the current on-screen memory.
A lower screen resolution may free up sufficient memory, however,
due to other graphics memory requirements (e.g. hardware cursors),
1 MB cards may not support flipping even in a resolution of 640x480
pixels with 16-bit (65,536) colors. This is why we recommend a
minimum graphics memory of 2 MB.
Problem: D3D applications will not work in 1024 x 768 with my
Matrox Millenium II graphics card.
Solution: This is a problem with the Matrox Millenium II memory
handling. Matrox are currently looking into this.
Problem: The Use Hardware Accelerator option within an application
is grayed out.
Solution: The application is currently set to run in a graphics
resolution that cannot be accelerated by PowerVR. Setting the
application's graphics mode to a lower resolution mode makes the
check-box available.
Solution: PowerVR is not being recognized by the system. If you
have sufficient technical knowledge, check that it is in System
Properties, check the BIOS, IRQ allocations etc.
Problem: Mouse control in D3D applications is very jerky.
Solution: Try setting the 3D Acceleration in the PowerVR Display
Properties page to Standard.
Problem: When using PowerVR with AWARD BIOS and the S3 968 or 868
chipset the system crashes.
Solution: Try changing the memory allocation for the PowerVR card
to a range outside the 64 MB used by your graphics card.
To change the memory allocation:
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings and click Control
Panel.
2. Double-lick the System icon.
3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager
tab.
4. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers.
5. Click PowerVR.
6. Click Properties.
7. In the PowerVR dialog box, click the Resources tab.
8. Clear the Use automatic settings check box.
9. In the Resource settings list, double-click the first (top)
Memory Range.
10. In the Value box of the Edit Memory dialog box, type in the
range FFBE0000 - FFBEFFFF, and click OK.
11. In the Resource settings list, double-click the second (bottom)
Memory Range.
12. In the Value box of the Edit Memory dialog box, type in the
range FF400000 - FF7FFFFF, and click OK.
13. At the PowerVR dialog box, click OK.
14. At the System Properties dialog box, click OK.
15. Restart your PC.
You should not have to reconfigure the memory settings again as
Windows 95 will remember the new settings every time it starts up and
reallocate the memory automatically.
Memory Allocation Conflicts
The above steps assume that there is no memory allocation conflict due
to devices present at the addresses you specified. To ensure there is
no conflict, follow steps 1 to 7 above. If, in the Resources tab, the
Conflicting devices list says 'No conflicts.', your PowerVR is ready
to use.
Problem: When using a Matrox display card, my computer hangs when a
Direct3D game goes into full screen.
Solution: Update your Matrox display drivers to v3.70 or later.
Solution: If using earlier drivers, set the 3D Acceleration section
of the PowerVR Display Properties page to Standard.
5. Advanced Features
The Advanced Features section allows you to enable disable certain
feautres within PowerVR Card
Click on the Help button for further Infomation.
The Author of this set of drivers accepts no responsibility for any
problem you
encounter with these drivers. The actual drivers themselves have not
been edited
from their original release format.
Only the PowerVR.inf , Readme.doc and added bitmaps are the only
thiings different about
these drivers, compaired to the Generic drivers from NEC/Videologic.
If you find any problems with the installation that has occurred
with this set of drivers please inform
Simon Slater (powervr@tcbbs.globalnet.co.uk)
My thanks goto:
Ken Lai <ylgu@geocities.com>
Andrew Pylypchuk <android@direct.ca>
Whom without their support and help I would have not bee able to
test the installation out.
Also I'd like to thank NEC/Videologic for releasing the Generic
Drivers as without these I and so many others would be stuck
with the Matrox 4.1.1.5 or 4.0.3.1000 drivers without the advanced
feaures we all want.
I hope you enjoy this edition of drivers.
