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Release Notes for Mac OS X
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Mac OS X Update 10.2.8 Minimum Required for Full Feature Set.
The software requires version 10.2.8 of Mac OS X for full functionality. It may work on older versions of 10.2.x but has not been expressly designed for them. Free Mac OS X updates are available from the Apple web site (note that 10.2 Jaguar and 10.3 Panther are purchased upgrades).
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Installer Password Request
The 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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ATI Displays - Supported Cards
The current version of ATI Displays supports all retail RADEON, Rage 128 and Rage Pro series cards. ATI Displays will also identify Rage II and older products, but will not provide Mac2TV or other settings.
ATI Displays will also identify a number of Apple's built-in ATI graphics products using the above chipsets. This functionality is for informational purposes only and does not constitute retail-level support for Apple-supplied graphics products by ATI. Users should continue to contact Apple for any issues regarding their computers and built-in graphics.
ATI Displays supports significant new features all RADEON cards. Please see the ATI Displays online help for more information. This release introduces version 4.2 of ATI Displays with its new 3D/OpenGL Overrides panel.
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Mac2TV (Video Output) with RADEON Cards
The current ATI Displays supports features for hot-plugging the TV connection for RADEON 9800 Pro. If connecting a TV or other device after booting, simply use the "Detect Displays" button in ATI Displays to refresh all your display connections. Any new devices, including TV, will now be available to the system. This feature is not yet supported for older cards. Older products must boot with the TV already connected.
The RADEON 9800 Pro, like ATI's other Dual-Display cards (RADEON 8500 and 7000), will generate two displays in an extended desktop layout when a TV is connected along with an LCD or CRT. A new feature in ATI Displays' Advanced panel allows this behavior to be altered by toggling a single-headed mode. In this mode, the display mode list mimicks older RADEON Mac Edition cards and Xclaim cards: all modes, for all devices, are listed together and only a single desktop is active at any one time.
NOTE: Simultaneous connection/activation of three analog displays (TV+CRT+CRT) using any adapter or port configuration is not supported on any RADEON card. In this configuration, RADEON 8500 and 9800 will combine the mode lists of the TV and CRT connected to the DVI port and allow them to toggle (one or the other may generate a display, never both).
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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 9800 Pro: 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 & RADEON 9800 Pro: 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. VERSAVISION is currently only available for RADEON 9800 Pro Mac Edition.
- 3D & RADEON 9800 Pro, 9000 Pro, 8500 & 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.
NOTE: Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar's Quartz Extreme uses 3D hardware acceleration for much of its desktop & window rendering.
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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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