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Release Notes for
Mac OS X
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Mac OS
X Update 10.2.8 Required
The RADEON software requires
version 10.2.8 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 10.2 Jaguar 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 Panther, Mac OS X 10.3. Panther 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 at low resolutions
for games like Quake 3 Arena and Unreal Tournament 2003 (All RADEON
series)
- Halo, BloodRayne, and X2: Wolverine's
Revenge: FSAA fixes (All RADEON series)
- formZ RadioZity: slow performance fix (All
RADEON series)
- Strata 3DPro: corruption fix (RADEON 9800/9700/9600)
- Total Immersion Racing: high resolution and
FSAA fix (RADEON 8500/9000/7000 & RADEON AGP/PCI)
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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 labeled 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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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 DVD window will only display,
and support dragging, within the Menu Bar display. At this time, Apple DVD
Player for Mac OS X 10.2.x does not support moving or stretching
the video window between displays.
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Apple DVD
Player and Mirror Displays
Mac OS X 10.2.x Jaguar (all RADEON series cards): The newest version of Mac OS X introduces a
new presentation method for DVD playback, using ATI's 3D engine instead of
the standard video overlay. This allows for a number of Mac OS X
display features to better interact with DVD, including display mirroring.
Mac OS X 10.2.x Jaguar (Rage 128 series cards): The same limitations as
outlined for Mac OS X 10.1.3 to 10.1.5 exist for older ATI graphics
products supporting DVD. For optimal playback performance, these products
continue to use the video overlay.
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VERSAVISION and 3D Games (RADEON 9800 Pro)
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 (RADEON 9800 Pro)
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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