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EET 450 - Advanced Digital. Display Adapters. Display Adapters. A vital part to the system provides the visual part of the Human/Computer interface In boot process, goes through a variety of steps from mono-text through the highest color mode available Display unit must support the output.
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EET 450 - Advanced Digital Display Adapters
Display Adapters • A vital part to the system • provides the visual part of the Human/Computer interface • In boot process, goes through a variety of steps from mono-text through the highest color mode available • Display unit must support the output
Board Types • VGA boards - standard now • Super VGA - follow VESA standards for high resolutions • Graphic Accelerator - include 2D drawing instructions • 3D accelerator board - includes 3D/rendering commands
Adapters • Process - depends on commands from the CPU to display information • source of image may be from RAM, Disk, or created ‘on the fly’ • Accelerator chips provide hardware support for the ‘on the fly’ image generation • all other image forms are restricted by bus speed.
Technologies that affect speed • Chip-sets for accelerators • BUS technology • Register width of D/A card • Memory technology used • VRAM • Designed to be accessed by both input and output devices at the same time
Video Memory • SGRAM – Synchronous Graphics RAM • Not dual ported – used on moderate to high end cards • WRAM – Window RAM • Faster & less expensive than VRAM • Supports full motion video • 3-D RAM – designed to improve simulated three dimensional representations
Resolution support • 3 basic resolutions 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 • See Table 9-8 • Color support (mode) • 24 bit or 32 - 16.7 Mhues • Speed rating • resolution vs frame rate • Bus bandwidth • ISA – 16 bit, PCI - 32, AGP – 64 bit
Other Issues • BIOS support • OS support • MMX Technology (3DNow) • Graphics accelerator in the CPU (Pentium)
Video Controllers • CRTC – CRT Controller • Motorola 6845 – single chip control of traditional monochrome display. • Pages of text information, erase, scroll, etc. • VGA Controller • Added control registers to allow complex control of detailed color images with greater color depth • Cursor control • Included in hardware
RAM DAC • Random Access Memory – Digital to Analog Converter • Provides analog control voltage for color control. • Video information must be stored in MEMORY • Memory contents (text or graphic information) is converted to display
BIOS • PC Video Bios • Original PC design provided CRT controls in BIOS • VGA Bios • Extended BIOS controls to include color palettes & LCD control information • Super VGA • VESA Bios extensions
Mode Numbers • VESA Standard modes • See Table 16.5
Interfaces • ISA • VESA Local Bus • UMA – Unified Memory Arch. • VGA Auxiliary Video Connector • Card edge connector on VGA Board • VESA feature Connector/ Advanced Feature Connector
Interfaces • VESA Media Channel • Uses PCI Standard for video control features • Advanced Graphics Port
Speed Comparison • Each of the standard ports for Video Adapters are classified as ‘Local Bus’
Other Video Issues • TV Tuner • Video Capture • NTSC • PAL • SECAM • HDTV
Troubleshooting Video Problems • Power Light (LED) does not go on; No Picture • Check power • Check fuse • Check voltage select switch
Troubleshooting Video Problems • Power LED is on; no picture • Check settings (contrast, etc) • Check Cable • Check System Configuration – hardware and software • Test Monitor on known good system • Reseat video card • Check socketed chips • Disable shadow video RAM
Troubleshooting Video Problems • Power on, but monitor displays wrong characters. • Check Video card • Check motherboard
Troubleshooting Video Problems • Monitor Flickers and/or has wavy lines • Check cable connection • Degauss • Check for nearby RF interference • Fluorescent lights, speakers • Check settings for refresh rate
Troubleshooting Video Problems • No graphics display or blank screen when loading certain programs • Check program requirements • Verify that card has necessary capabilities • Check adapter driver
Troubleshooting Video Problems • Other problems • Screen goes blank after 30 seconds • Poor quality color display • Out of focus • Other adjustments
MONDAY • We start at 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM