Cinematic Computing for Every User
GeForce FX 5200/5500/5600/5700/5900 Series

User's Manual

NVIDIA GeForce FX

Contents

Getting Ready Hardware Installation Driver Installation Display Modes Appendies

Contents 1

Getting Ready
2 Package Contents Board Layout Features
Hardware Installation Before Driver Installation Quick Driver Installation Windows XP/2000/ME/98
Manual Driver Installation Windows XP/2000
Manual Driver Installation Windows ME/98
10 Manual Driver Installation Windows NT 4.0

11 Software Settings

11 Display Properties - Overview 13 Display Properties - Screen Settings 14 Display Properties - Advanced Settings
17 nView Display Mode 22 Direct3D Settings 23 OpenGL Settings
GeForce FX Series User's Manual Version A May 2004

P/N: W0500895

Package Contents
AV cable (Optional for TV output)
GeForce FX 5200 / 5600 / 5700 / 5900 board
S-video cable (Optional for TV output)
If the TV-OUT connector on your card looks like this: , the following cable is included: Software CD General Guide/ Quick Installation Guide
S-video-AV cable (Optional)
White (S-In) Video In Orange (AV-In) Red (Pr-Out) Component Out Video Out

VIDEO CARD

Blue (Pb-Out) Green (Y-Out / AV-Out) Black (S-Out)
VIVO cable with HDTV support (Optional)

VIVO cable (Optional)

DVI to VGA adapter (Optional)
Do not have the VIVO cable connected with the AV cable and S-video cable simultaneously. Connect only the cable for currently desired input source for the video to be displayed correctly.

Board Layout

DVI Connector (Optional) VIVO or TV Out Connector (Optional) VGA Connector Bus Connector
Note: The actual board appearance may differ from the diagrams.

Features

Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce FX GPU Graphics Beyond Imagination CineFX 2.0 Engine for GeForce FX 5700 and GeForce FX 5900/ CineFX Engine for GeForce FX 5200/5500/5600 Enables stunning, cinematic-quality special effects along with advanced programmability Intellisample Technology Delivers higher image quality through anti-aliasing at frame rates that rival aliased modes nView Multi-display Technology display options and control Empower user with maximum flexibility in
AGP 8X Utilizes the latest system interface technology with up to 2.1GB/sec bandwidth Microsoft DirectX 9.0 and OpenGL 1.4 Optimizations and Support Video-in/Video-out function support (optional)

Hardware Installation

Step Shut down the computer; unplug all the cables and electrical cords; and remove the cover from the computer chassis.

Remove the old card

Step Locate the AGP bus expansion slot on your system AGP slot mainboard and remove the cover if there is one.
If there is an existing VGA card, remove the old card by loosening the mounting bracket and pulling the card off the slot.

System mainboard

Step Position the new card over the AGP slot. Insert the bus connector in the slot and gently press the bus connector down.

INSERTING

YOUR CARD INTO THE WRONG TYPE OF SLOT CAN DAMAGE YOUR CARD, YOUR COMPUTER, OR BOTH.

AGP slot

WARNING: BE SURE TO CLOSE THE PLASTIC CLIPS AT THE ENDS OF THE
DIMM SLOTS BEFORE INSTALLING THE VIDEO CARD INTO THE AGP SLOT. OTHERWISE, THE CLIPS MAY BLOCK THE PARTS AT THE BACK OF THE VIDEO CARD, AND WILL POSSIBLY DAMAGE THE CARD, AS THE PHOTO SHOWN BELOW.

Do not leave the clips open before installing the video card
Fasten the mounting bracket to the chassis.
Step Put the cover back on the computer. Plug the cord into the matched connector of the graphic card according to what kind of monitor you have.
Step Reconnect all the cables and cords.

r To onito m

(An example for VGA port)

A Note for the Fan

If the heat dissipation device provided is a fan, it is subject to damage if not properly handled. It is important not to put pressure on the axle. A shifted axle may shorten the fan's lifespan.
Do not handle the fan by the axle.
Before Installing the Driver
The product package contains the Software Pack CD. Please read the Readme.txt file for the latest information about the software before proceeding with the driver installation.
Before Driver Installation
Note: It is highly recommended that you follow the steps in this section to
completely uninstall the NVIDIA Display Driver software before installing a new version of the software. To uninstall the NVIDIA Display Driver software, follow these steps: Step
1 From the Windows taskbar, click Start > Settings > Control Panel to open
the Control Panel windows.
2 Double click the Add/Remove Programs item. 3 Click the NVIDIA Windows Display Drivers item from the list. 4 Click Change/Remove. 5 Click Yes to continue. 6 Restart your system.
Quick Driver Installation Windows XP/2000/
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND WINDOWS XP/2000/ME/98 USERS TO USE QUICK DRIVER INSTALLATION. WINDOWS NT 4.0 USERS PLEASE INSTALL THE DRIVER MANUALLY.

Step Step

Insert the software pack CD into the CD-ROM drive. Step
Windows is installing the driver. A dialog box appears showing the progress.
The Autorun screen will display on the screen. Select Driver Install by clicking on it.
If a warning message appears, click Continue Anyway.
A dialog box tells you it is ready to install the driver. Click Next.

When it is finished, a dialog box asks you if you want to restart your computer. Tick Yes and click Finish.
Manual Driver Installation

Windows XP/2000

1 As you logon to Windows, the system tells you there is a new hardware
found. Click on the balloon or wait for a few seconds.
2 Insert the software CD into your CD-ROM drive. 3 The Found New Hardware dialog box appears. Tick Install from a list.

Then click Next.

4 Another dialog box appears. Tick Include this location. And type in
X:\Drivers\WinXP_2K (assuming X: is your CD-ROM drive) or browse for it.

Then click Next. Step

5 The dialog box with a list of graphics products appears. Select the model of

your purchase.

6 The system will then start searching for the software you specified.

Anyway.

7 If a message warning you about the compatibility appears, click Continue
7 If the system fails to locate certain files for the driver, the Insert Disk dialog
box will appear. Click OK and give the driver location again as previously stated.
8 The installation begins and a dialog box appears showing you the progress. 9 When the installation is completed, a dialog box appears to tell you so. Click

Finish.

Windows ME/98
Step Right click on the desktop and a pop-up menu appears on the screen. Then click on Properties. Step The Display Properties dialog box appears. Click on Settings. Another dialog box appears, then click on Advanced.
Step Click on Adapter to bring up the Adapter dialog box. Then click Change.
Step Place the Software Pack CD in your CDROM drive. Step Type in X:\Drivers\WinME_98 or browse for it. (Assuming X: is the CD-ROM drive) Then click OK. Step The Select Device dialog box appears with a list of models. Select the model of your purchase. And then click OK.
Step Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box appears. Click Next.
Step If a warning message appears, click Yes.
Step Select Display a list of all the drivers. Then click Next.
Step A dialog box tells you Windows is ready to install the driver. Click Next.
Step Click Have Disk to prompt for a directory specified by you.
Step A dialog box appears after the driver is installed successfully. Click Finish.
Step The Install From Disk dialog box appears.
Step Windows will ask you if you want to restart your computer. Click Yes.

Windows NT4.0

BEFORE INSTALLING THE DISPLAY DRIVER UNDER WINDOWS NT4.0, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE INSTALLED THE WINDOWS NT 4.0 SERVICE PACK LATER VERSION.
1 Reboot the system and select
"Windows NT 4.0 (VGA)" from the Boot Menu List.
9 The Change Display dialog box
reappears with a list of models. Select the model of your purchase. And then click OK.

2 Right click on the desktop, a flyout appears on the screen. Click on Properties. Step
10 A dialog box appears asking
if you want to install the selected driver. Click Yes.
3 The Display Properties dialog
box appears. Click the Settings tab. And then click the Display Type button. Step

11 The System Settings

Change dialog box appears prompting you to restart your computer. Click Yes.
4 The Display Type dialog box

appears. Click Change.

5 The Change Display dialog box
appears. Click on Have Disk to install from a specified disk.

Step Step Step

6 The Install From Disk dialog

box appears.

7 Insert the Software Pack CD into

the CD-ROM drive.

8 Type in the field
X:\Drivers\WinNT40 or browse for it. (X: being the CD-ROM drive) Then Click OK.
After logging on Windows NT, the "Invalid Display Setting" applet will appear on your screen. It only appears when you use a display driver for the first time. You should then determine how you want the display to appear by choosing a resolution, color palette, refresh rate, etc. You can also use the "TEST" button to verify whether the monitor supports the specified resolution and refresh rate.
Software Settings Display Properties-Overview
Calling up the Display Properties Settings Panel
Display properties related to the graphics adapter are all under the Settings tab as shown in the figure below. 1. Right-click on the display desktop to open a pop-up menu. Method 2 2. Click the Properties option to call up the 5-tabbed Display Properties setup panel. It is under the Themes tab initially. 3. Click the Settings tab to switch to the Settings panel.

What Settings Panel Does

The Settings panel contains two major parts of settings: 1 Screen Settings, including resolution and color depth settings, with a preview window. 2. Advanced Settings, accessed by clicking the Advanced button as shown in the figure below.

Settings Panel

Advanced Settings Panel
Geforce FX 5700 VE is used as the example throughout the manual.
Software Settings Display PropertiesScreen Settings
Resolution and color depth of your display can be set on the Settings panel (see Page 11). You can also extend your screen to the second device and set its resolution separatly using this panel.

To extend the desktop

Call up the Settings panel as described in Page 11, the preview window shows you have two display devices connected to your computer, the one(s) in use is in solid blue and white, and the unused one is blurred. In the figure to the right, device 1 is in use, and device 2 is not. To extend your desktop to a second device, click the screen 2 Icon to highlight it (Step 1). Then check the check box on the bottom (Step 2). The result will be as in the second figure. Screen 1 is the primary screen; and 2, the extended screen.

Desktop Arrangement

You can move either screen icons freely and arrange them in any fashion (see the second figure from the top). In addition, the resolution of either screen can be changed individually; simply click on one of the screens in the preview window and drag the resolution sliding knob to your desired resolution.

Identify button

Click this button on the bottom of the Settings panel to display on your primary screen a big 1a, and the extended, 1b, as in the figure below, for identification.
Software Settings Display PropertiesAdvanced Settings
Settings Advanced settings
Monitor Model-specific Settings p. 14

1 Monitor

Refresh Rate We recommend you set the refresh rate to 85 Hz to reduce the flickering of the screen. If 85Hz is unavailable, use the default value.

Model-specific Settings

(GeForce FX 5700 VE) nView Display Mode Performance and Quality Settings Overlay Controls Desktop Utilities NVRotate

1 nView Display Mode

2 Performance and Quality Settings
Includes Direct3D and OpenGL settings.

English

Overlay Controls
These controls are used to adjust video quality such as brightness, contrast, hue and saturation.

Desktop Management

Allow you to set up the Media Center Taskbar Utility and Desktop manager.

NVRotate

Temperature Setting
(GeForce FX 5700 VE) nView Display Mode nView Modes Display Detect Displays Device Settings
Display The drop-down list includes all available display output devices on your system (see the figure below). To set one of the devices as the primary display, select that device from the drop-down list and then check Make this the primary display. You can also disable auto-panning on the secondary device by checking the second check box.
Detect Display Click this button to have the system detect for any available display devices.

Device Settings

Click this button to open a popup menu that includes settings for output devices. See page 18 for details.

nView Modes

Under Windows ME/98, only Standard mode and Clone mode are available.
The option checked here determines how the video is displayed on the screen(s) using the nView technology. Four modes are available under Windows XP/2000 systems. Standard (DualView) Allows only one screen to display the output video. Horizontal Span Check to have the Windows desktop span horizontally across on two screens. Clone Check to have the same images displayed on the two screens. Vertical Span Check to have the Windows desktop span vertically across on two screens.

What is nView?

nView is a multi-display technology developed by NVIDIA, which is built into the latest GeForce series video cards. nView supports a wide variety of multidisplay modes, offering users maximum flexibility. It also allows you to set independent resolution, color depth, and refresh rate on a per display basis. nView is only available for models with dual video output ports.
(GeForce FX 5700 VE) nView Display Mode Device Settings (Standard Mode)

Select Output Device

Click this option to select a device from its submenu.

2 Color Correction

This dialogue box allows you to adjust color using slider controls.

Screen Adjustment

Click the arrow icons to adjust the position of the screen on your monitor. Click Display Timing to call up the panel as the figure below.

Display Timing

General Timing Formula is a standard used by most newer hardware. Discrete Monitor Timings (DMT) DMT is an older standard still in use on some hardware. Check this option if your hardware uses DMT. Select TV Format Click this button to bring the Select TV Format menu and select a TV standard used in your country from the list. The system will then set the TV format accordingly.
(GeForce FX 5700 VE) nView Display Mode Device Settings (Multi-Display Modes)
Under multi-display modes, click this option to open the Device Selection (see the last page).

Primary Display

Under multi-display modes, you can click this option (unavailable in Standard mode) to set the selected device (highlighted in the preview window) as the primary display device.
(GeForce FX 5600) Performance and Quality Settings Direct3D Settings

Direct3D Settings

Allows you to adjust the performance and compatibility options and mipmapping for your Direct3D games.
Performance & Compatibility Options This field offers options that change the performance and the compatibility of your Direct3D games.
Mipmap detail level A lower bias provides better image quality; a higher bias increases performances of the applications. You can choose from five preset bias values.
PCI Texture Memory Size Allows you to specify the maximum size of PCI texture heap. Increasing this value on PCI systems with sufficient memory may greatly improve the performance of some Direct3D applications. For performance reasons, this utility does not allow you to set more than half the available system memory as reported by Windows.
Custom Direct3D settings Allows you to save the current settings as a custom "tweak". Saved settings will be added to the adjacent list. Once you have found the optimal settings for a particular Direct3D before starting the program and eliminates the need to set each option individually.

The PCI Texture Memory Size is unavailable for systems using a AGP bus.
(GeForce FX 5600) Performance and Quality Settings OpenGL settings

OpenGL Settings

Allows you to adjust the performance and compatibility options of your OpenGL application.
Multi-Display Hardware Acceleration This option determines advanced rendering options when using multiple displays. The options include: SingleDisplay Mode, nView Clone/Span Mode, and Multi-Device Compatiblity Mode. Note that Multi-display hardware acceleration options do not apply when using nView Multiview mode in Windows NT 4.0.
Custom OpenGL settings A list of the custom settings you have saved. Selecting an item from the list will activate the setting. To apply the setting, please choose the "OK" or "Apply" button.
Vertical Sync Select the type of vertical synchrony.
Default color depth for textures This setting item allows you to select the default Color depth for textures.
Buffer flipping mode Turns on page flipping for full-screen OpenGL applications which may improve their performance. If this is disabled, OpenGL will use a bit block transfer to flip from the back buffer to the front buffer.
(GeForce FX 5600) NVRotate
Controls the display view to suit different viewing directions of the display devices.
Landscape (0 degree rotation).
Inverted Portrait (270 degree rotation).
Portrait (90 degree rotation).
Inverted Landscape (180 degree rotation).

Quick Guide to NVIDIA GeForce Desktop Graphics Processors

POWER OF 3

Superscalar Architecture

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

PERFORMANCE
Maximum Memory Bandwidth (per second)

SOFTWARE

High Dynamic-Range Lighting

Multi-Display Option

Unified Architecture
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
GeForce 9800 GX2 GeForce 9800 GTX GeForce 8800 GTS GeForce 8800 GT GeForce 9600 GT GeForce 8600 GTS GeForce 8600 GT GeForce 7600 GT

Ideal for

Enthusiast
Extreme Gamer, Power User, Multimedia Enthusiast
128-bit 128-bit 128-bit 128-bit 128-bit 128-bit 128-bit 64-bit 64-bit 128-bit 64-bit 64-bit 64-bit 64-bit
HD HD HD HD HD HD HD 2 HD 2 4.0 4.0 HD 2 HD 2 4.4.0
2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 4.0 4.0 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536
2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 2560x1600 1920x1200 1920x1200 1920x1200 1920x1200 1920x1200 1920x1200 1920x1200 2560x1600 1920x1200 1920x1200 1600x1200 1600x1200
1GB 512MB 512MB 512MB 512MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB 256MB
128.0GB 70.4GB 62.1GB 57.6GB 57.6GB 32.0GB 22.4GB 22.4GB 12.8GB 12.8GB 6.4GB 14.5GB 5 13.3GB
76.8 billion 43.2 billion 41.6 billion 33.6 billion 20.8 billion 10.8 billion 8.64 billion 6.7 billion 4.8 billion 3.6 billion 3.6 billion 2.2 billion 1.8 billion 0.9 billion 1.4 billion 1.4 billion 6.0 billion 6.7 billion 4.8 billion 1.4 billion 1.1 billion 1.0 billion GeForce Unified Driver Architecture - Windows Vista x86 - Windows Vista x64 - Windows XP - Windows XP Professional x64 - Windows Server 2003 x64 - Linux 32-bit - Linux 64-bit - FreeBSD 32-bit - FreeBSD 64-bit

Performance

Gamer, Multimedia User, Casual Gamer

PCI Express

GeForce 7600 GS GeForce 8500 GT GeForce 8400 GS GeForce 7300 GS GeForce 7300 LE GeForce 7200 GS GeForce 7100 GS GeForce 6200 TC/LE GeForce 7800 GS GeForce 7600 GT

Mainstream

Business User, Casual Gamer, Home PC User

13.3GB 5 13.3GB

Business User, Value PC Buyer
13.3GB 5 38.4GB 22.4GB 12.8GB 4.0GB 6.4GB 6.4GB

64-bit 64-bit 64-bit

4.0 4.0 3.0 4

AGP 8x

GeForce 7600 GS GeForce 6200 GeForce FX 5500 GeForce FX 5200
Business User, Home PC User
1 Requires GeForce 91.47 drivers and 128 MB of on-board memory 2 Varies by Add-in-Card partner 3 Graphics cards based on these GeForce GPUs qualify for the Premium Device logo called Certified for Windows Vista. However, depending on the shipping memory configuration, these graphics cards may not qualify for the Windows Vista Premium System Logo.
4 GeForce 7300 GS, 7300 LE, 7200 GS, 7100 GS, 6200 TC/LE, and 6200 models do not include compression technology. 5 NVIDIA TurboCache technology shares the resources of dedicated video memory and dynamically available system memory for turbocharged performance and larger total graphics memory.

Driver/OS Support

Standard Memory Configuration
Maximum Analog Resolution
Maximum Digital Resolution

Quantum Effects

Certified for Windows Vista

TurboCache (TC)

Lumenex Engine
Texture Fill Rate (per second)

CineFX Engine

Intellisample

NVIDIA SLI

PureVideo

DirectX

NVIDIA GEFORCE | LINECARD | MAR 08

NVIDIA GeForce Family

Why NVIDIA GeForce?
GeForce is the most stable, reliable, and recognized brand in graphics technology, and is the leading GPU of choice for both corporate and consumer computer users. GeForce GPUs are backed by the NVIDIA GeForce unified driver architecture, ensuring the best out-ofbox experience for every user. GeForce drivers deliver industry-leading graphics features; one driver for all products and continual performance and feature updates over the life of the product. GeForce is a top-to-bottom solution, delivering GPUs for every user and every budget. From the PC gamer who craves the best graphic performance to the mainstream digital media user, GeForce GPUs provide the perfect solution.

Features and Benefits of NVIDIA GeForce
NVIDIA Cross-Selling Matrix

NVIDIA SOLUTION SEGMENT

GeForce 9800 GX2

REPLACES ATI BOARD

SLI-READY Certified for Windows Vista

Radeon HD 3870 X2

GeForce 9800 GTX GeForce 8800 Ultra GeForce 8800 GTX GeForce 8800 GTS GeForce 8800 GT GeForce 9600 GT Radeon HD 3870 Radeon HD 3850 Radeon HD 2600 XT GDDR4 Radeon HD 2600 XT GDDR3 AMD 2600 Pro Radeon X1650 XT Radeon X1650 Pro Radeon HD 3470 Radeon HD 3450 Radeon X1550 Radeon X1550 Radeon X1050
GeForce 8600 GTS GeForce 8600 GT GeForce 8600 GT DDR2 GeForce 7600 GT GeForce 7600 GS GeForce 8500 GT GeForce 8400 GS
NVIDIA invents and delivers industry-shaping technologies that revolutionize the end-user experience. The latest innovations include an NVIDIA unified architecture as well as NVIDIA SLI and NVIDIA PureVideo HD technologies.
GeForce 7300 GS GeForce 7300 LE GeForce 7200 GS GeForce 7100 GS

Radeon X1050

GeForce 6200 TC/LE GeForce 7800 GS GeForce 7600 GT GeForce 7600 GS GeForce 7300 GT GeForce 6200 GeForce FX 5500 GeForce FX 5200

Radeon X300 SE/HM

Radeon X1650 XT Radeon X1600 Pro Radeon X1600 Pro
Radeon 9600 Radeon 9550 Radeon 9550 / 9250
1 Requires GeForce Release 91.47 drivers and 128MB of on-board memory 2 Graphics cards based on these GeForce GPUs qualify for the Premium Device logo called Certified for Windows Vista. However, depending on the shipping memory configuration, these graphics cards may not qualify for the Windows Vista Premium System Logo.
For more information on NVIDIA and NVIDIA GeForce products, visit www.nvidia.com
2008 NVIDIA Corporation. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, NVIDIA GeForce, NVIDIA SLI, PureVideo, Turbo Cache, Lumenex, and CineFX are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. All company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respected owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.