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Release Notes for Mac OS X
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Mac OS X Update 10.3.6 Required
The RADEON software requires version 10.3.6 of Mac OS X. Do not attempt to run this installer with earlier versions of Mac OS X - the software is not designed for earlier versions and will not work. Free Mac OS X updates are available from the Apple web site (note that 10.3 Panther is a purchased upgrade).
If you have a newer release of Mac OS X, you should already have the required ATI components as part of your OS. Running this installer will not install anything. This installer and its core driver set are not compatible with Tiger, Mac OS X 10.4. Tiger already includes its own versions of the ATI core drivers. Any future updates will be available on the ATI web site.
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Installer Password Request
The RADEON software installer for Mac OS X will prompt you for a System Administrator password during the installation process. Only someone with system administrator privileges should be installing device drivers under Mac OS X. This password verification ensures security for these actions and allows the installer to access your System folder.
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Recent Enhancements & Changes
- Performance enhancements for games like Doom 3 and Halo 2
- Added support for X800 Mac Edition
- Various minor ROM fixes
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Mac2TV - Simulscan (Monitor & TV within the same mode list with the same image - NOT Mirror Displays)
Simulscan is the display of the same image on a TV and CRT when both appear within one mode list (sharing one frame buffer). To enable this feature, choose a mode labeled "simulscan" in the Displays Panel of System Preferences. The RADEON 9800 Pro, when running in Single-Headed mode, will automatically enable Simulscan for all NTSC TV modes, even if those modes are not specifically labled as "Simulscan" in the display list. Note that simulscan only works with NTSC TV Out - Both CRT and TV must support the chosen refresh rate of 60Hz.
Simulscan mode is not supported when ONLY a DVI flat panel and TV are connected on any RADEON card.
- RADEON Mac Edition (PCI or AGP) and earlier cards: simulscan is only possible when a CRT and TV are connected.
- RADEON 7000 & 8500 Mac Edition: simulscan is only available when a DVI panel is connected along with a CRT and TV. Otherwise, TV and CRT each receive their own frame buffer and you must use Mirror Displays. Please see Mirror Displays notes below for discussion of that feature.
- RADEON 9200, 9800 Pro and Special Edition: Simulscan is available when using ATI Displays' Advanced Panel to "Force Single Display Operation" as well as the cases outlined for RADEON 7000 and 8500 in Multi-Display modes.
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Mirror Displays - VERSAVISION, 3D, 2D and DVD Acceleration Support
Using the Displays panel of the System Preferences or the Resolution menu item, it is possible to set two independent displays to show an identical desktop (useful for presentations). This is not to be confused with the Simulscan TV output mode which uses only one frame buffer.
- VERSAVISION: VERSAVISION Display Rotation works while multiple displays are being mirrored, however, it should be enabled before mirroring is turned on to prevent possible visual corruption. Mirror mode should be disabled any time the display is being rotated and re-enabled when the desktop is in the preferred orientation.
- 3D & RADEON (9800 Pro, 9000 Pro, 8500 or 7000) with two displays: This is a "Hardware Mirror" mode. When using this mode, 3D hardware acceleration is fully supported when both displays are set to the same color depth (3D acceleration requires Thousands or Millions of colors). Each display is still running from its own frame buffer.
- 3D & two cards (any model) with one display each: This is a "Software Mirror" mode. 3D hardware acceleration is available, but will perform very slowly compared to non-mirrored displays. This is true when mirroring the displays of two separate cards, regardless of card model/brand. To maintain optimum acceleration and associated features, do not enable video mirroring and continue to run in an extended desktop configuration.
- 2D & any card combination: 2D (desktop and window) hardware acceleration is supported when running either display at any color depth on all RADEON and Rage 128 products. See note below about Mac OS X Jaguar.
- DVD & any card combination: Please see the section below ("Apple DVD Player and Mirror Displays")
NOTE: In Mac OS X, each display must be at the same resolution and color depth to enable Mirror Displays. The OS may switch modes on one display automatically to match the other, or it may disable the Mirroring check box until the display modes are in sync.
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iTunes with Multiple Displays & Mirror Displays
You will not be able to turn off Display Mirroring after running full-screen visuals in iTunes. A reboot will be necessary to return the OFF functionality for Mirror Displays.
If you are running Apple DVD Player and iTunes at the same time, you may see some corruption in the DVD window when turning off iTunes' full-screen visuals. This corruption may clear when the video frame updates, when the DVD window is moved or by restarting the DVD player. In some cases, turning off visuals may corrupt the entire desktop.
It is not recommended that iTunes' full-screen visuals be activated while playing DVD video.
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Apple DVD Player and Multiple Displays
The Apple DVD Player for Mac OS X 10.3.x supports dragging, but at this time, does not support stretching the video window between displays.
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Apple DVD Player and Mirror Displays
Mac OS X 10.3.x Panther (all RADEON series cards): Mac OS X uses ATI's 3D engine instead of the standard video overlay to present DVD playback. This allows for a number of Mac OS X display features to better interact with DVD, including display mirroring.
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VERSAVISION and 3D Games
Some 3D games are not able to operate in full screen mode while VERSAVISION is enabled in a portrait orientation. Some titles may default to a window mode while others may produce an error message or silently fail. Quake 3 will not work in full screen portrait modes.
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VERSAVISION and Current Resolution
When running in most resolutions, activating one of VERSAVISION's portrait rotations (90 degrees) may switch to an unexpected mode once the display has been re-oriented. Example: initial mode was 1024x768 and after rotating the new mode selected by Mac OS is 1024x1280, instead of 768x1024. Simply select your desired mode from the Apple Display preferences after rotating to run your desired resolution.
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Apple ColorSync 20" Display (aka 850/ M3705) 1280x960 85Hz Mode
When connected with an appropriate adapter, this monitor may show 1280x960 85Hz as an available mode. This mode falls within the specifications reported by the monitor at boot time, however, it may cause the screen to toggle on/off. This is a limitation of the monitor. Simply select the 75Hz mode of this resolution or a different resolution at any refresh rate for a stable display.
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Apple Legacy Displays with Apple 15-Pin connector and No DDC (Display Data Channel)
Please note that Non-DDC Apple monitors, requiring Apple Sense Line codes, are not fully supported by the RADEON 9800 Pro. These monitors, when connected with a standard Apple-VGA adapter, will be viewed/treated as a standard VGA monitor. The default safe booting resolution is 640x480 60Hz in this scenario.
On Multi-Scanning models, the available list in the Monitors control panel will show a variety of modes. Be aware that not all will work for your given display. These are simply default VGA & VESA modes. These monitors may be better supported if using a third-party monitor adapter that provides some sort of DDC information.
Most fixed frequency models will not operate properly because the initial startup resolution of the card will be 640x480 60Hz. Most Apple fixed frequency displays do not support this mode. Fixed frequency models include Apple's Two-Page Mono and Color displays, as well as the Mono Portrait Display. Third-party adapters may be available to allow usage of these older products.
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DVD video overlay key colour issue with PCI cards and cards older than Radeon series
There may be an issue of the DVD video bleeding through an open QT movie if it is overlapping the DVD video window. This is due to the way DVD is displayed on PCI cards or cards older than the Radeon series.
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Full screen 3D games minimum memory requirements
When running full screen 3D games, it is required to have at least 512MB of ram to avoid any possible problems during game play.
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DVD Player Viewer window turns yellow seconds before and after a sleep cycle
There may be an instance where the DVD Viewer window will become yellow for a few seconds before the system goes to sleep and a few seconds after the system wakes from sleep.
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Hot plugging ADC panels may not properly detect the new display.
When swapping an ADC panel connected to the ADC port for a different ADC panel, the new display may not be detected and differentiated from the original display. This situation would therefore continue to have the first display's mode list and perhaps cause some corruption to occur. Restarting the system will clear up this problem.
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