
Release Notes
Compaq PowerStorm 300/350 Driver for Alpha NT
=============================================

Compaq Computer Corporation
Houston, Texas

Compaq Computer Corporation makes no representations that the use of its
products in the manner described in this publication will not infringe on
existing or future patent rights, nor do the descriptions contained in this
publication imply the granting of licenses to make, use, or sell equipment
or software in accordance with the description.  Possession, use, or copying
of the software described in this publication is authorized only pursuant
to a valid written license from Digital or an authorized sublicensor.

Compaq Computer Corporation 1999. All rights reserved.

The following are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation:
Compaq, PowerStorm and the COMPAQ logo.

Microsoft is a registered trademark, and Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft
Corporation.
OpenGL is a trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their
respective holders. 



Introduction & Related Documentation
====================================

  This driver supports the PowerStorm 300 and PowerStorm 350
graphics devices on Windows NT 4.0, Service Pack 3 or higher,
for Alpha platforms.

  This kit can  be used to install or upgrade the 2D and 3D display
drivers for the PowerStorm 300/350
The drivers in this kit provide support for the PowerStorm 300/350
graphics option.

  This driver works only on supported configurations.
Refer to "Compaq PowerStorm 300/350 Graphics Controller Installation
Guide part# EK-CPSGC-IG" for details of the capabilities of the
hardware and the software; for specific NT Service Pack version requirements;
for the list of supported configurations; and for instructions on
how to contact Compaq Technical Support.

  For installation and the requirements of Microsoft Windows NT
Version 4.0, Service Pack, please refer to Microsoft Windows NT Service
Pack CD.


Installation
============

To install as an upgrade or to replace an existing driver for another
card perform the following steps:

1) Start the Control Panel. (My Computer->Control Panel)

2) Select the DISPLAY applet.

3) In the Display Properties dialog box, click on the "Settings"
   tab.

4) In the Settings dialog select the "Display Type" button.

5) In the Display Properties dialog select the "Change" Button.

6) In the Change Display dialog select "Have Disk". Enter the path of the
   PowerStorm 300/350 installation kit.

7) You will get another change Display dialog with ONLY the
   line "Compaq PowerStorm 300/350 (pbxgdac)". Select "OK".

8) You will be informed that this is a third party driver and
   asked to proceed. Select "Yes".

9) Windows NT will display a status box with a gauge to show you
   the progress of the installation.  A dialog box announcing the
   completion of the installation process will  be displayed.  Click on
   "OK".

10) Select "Close" in the Display properties dialog.

11) Select "Close" in the Display applet.

12) You will be informed that you must restart your computer to use
    the new drivers.  Click on "Yes".

13) Your system will reboot and use the new PowerStorm
    300/350 drivers.  You may want to reset the screen
    resolution and refresh rate using the Control Panel Display applet.

14) The installation is now complete.


To install these as part of a new NT V4.0 installation please install Windows
NT using the default V4.0 VGA drivers. Then use these drivers as in the
above procedure and install the PowerStorm 300/350 drivers.


Using SoftImage with PowerStorm 300/350
=======================================

For proper operation of SoftImage with the PowerStorm 300/350, the following
steps must be taken prior to running SoftImage:

  A) Set the checkbox "SoftImage Customizations" by performing the following
     steps:

	1) Start the Control Panel. (My Computer->Control Panel)

	2) Select the DISPLAY applet.

	3) In the Display Properties dialog box, choose the "REALimage (tm)
	   Settings" tab.

	4) Check the "SoftImage Customizations" box.

	5) Choose "Apply" or "OK".

	6) When a message displays stating that you must reboot your system
	   to use the new settings, choose "Yes". The new settings will not
	   be applied unless you reboot your system.

NOTE: The SI_OVERLAY environment variable should NOT be defined.


Running Stereo applications with PowerStorm 300/350
===================================================

In order to activate the stereo feature of the PowerStorm 350, the following
steps must be taken prior to running a stereo application:

  A) Set the checkbox "Stereo" by performing the following
     steps:

	1) Start the Control Panel. (My Computer->Control Panel)

	2) Select the DISPLAY applet.

	3) In the Display Properties dialog box, choose the "REALimage (tm)
	   Settings" tab.

	4) Check the "Stereo" box.

	5) Choose "Apply" or "OK".

	6) When a message displays stating that you must reboot your system
	   to use the new settings, choose "Yes". The new settings will not
	   be applied unless you reboot your system.

Once your system is rebooted with the stereo feature turned on, you can run 
stereo applications. When a stereo application becomes active, then all 2D and
3D applications will run in stereo mode. This will affect performance of 2D and
non-stereo 3D applications. Stereo mode is turned off once the last 3D stereo 
application exits.

Please note that the stereo feature is not allowed on the PowerStorm 300. It
is also disabled when running dual PowerStorm 350 adapters.


Running Dual PowerStorm 300/350 Adapters
========================================

The PowerStorm 300/350 is capable of running with dual adapters. The adapters
must be homogeneous adapters (two PowerStorm 300s or two PowerStorm 350s).
To run with dual adapters, install the adapters and change the resolutions to 
one of the resolutions listed below under "Powerstorm 350/300, Dual Head:, 
Two Monitors active:". When installing the dual adapters, one of them must be VGA 
disabled. Make sure that both boards are on the same bus and that 
the VGA enabled board is in the lower numbered slot.
On the XP1000 Professional Workstation, both boards should be in the primary
bus. The upper 3 PCI slots are on the primary bus. Slot 1 is 64 bit, slot
2 is 32 bits and slot 3 is 64 bits.

Note: You can not use stereo when system is configured with dual adapters. 

Supported Video Resolutions
===========================

The Powerstorm 350 supports a number of new video resolutions. In the tables
below, Width is measured in pixels, Height in Scanlines and Vertical Refresh
Frequency in Hz.

Powerstorm 350, Single Head, Stereo Disabled:

Width  Height   Frequencies
-----  ------   -----------
  640     480   60   75   85
  800     600   60   75   85
 1024     768   60   75   85
 1152     864   60   75   85
 1280    1024   60   75   85
 1600    1000   60   75   85
 1600    1200   60   75   85
 1920    1200   60   75

Powerstorm 350, Single Head, Stereo Enabled:

Width  Height   Frequencies
-----  ------   -----------
  640     480   60   75   85   90  100  110       120  130  140  150  160
  800     600   60   75   85   90  100  110       120  130  140  150  160
 1024     768   60   75   85   90  100  110       120  130
 1152     864   60   75   85   90  100  110  118  120
 1280    1024   60   75   85   90  100  110       120

Note: Your monitor may not be able to display the highest frequencies.
Make sure you test a resolution before you OK it.

Powerstorm 350, Dual Head:

Width  Height   Frequencies
-----  ------   -----------
One Monitor Active:
  640     480   60   75   85
  800     600   60   75   85
 1024     768   60   75   85
 1152     864   60   75   85
 1280    1024   60   75   85
 1600    1000   60   75   85
 1600    1200   60   75   85
 1920    1200   60   75
Two Monitors Active:
 1280     480   60   75   85
 1600     600   60   75   85
 2048     768   60   75   85
 2304     864   60   75   85
 2560    1024   60   75   85
 3200    1000   60   75   85
 3200    1200   60   75   85
 3840    1200   60   75

Powerstorm 300, Single Head:

Width  Height   Frequencies
-----  ------   -----------
  640     480   60   72
  800     600   60   72
 1024     768   70   76
 1280    1024   61   66   73   75

Powerstorm 300, Dual Head:

Width  Height   Frequencies
-----  ------   -----------
One Monitor Active:
  640     480   60   72
  800     600   60   72
 1024     768   70   75
 1280    1024   60   66   72   75
Two Monitors Active:
 1280     480   60   72
 1600     600   60   72
 2048     768   70   75
 2560    1024   60   66   72   75


Firmware Requirement
====================

Minimum revision of firmware and system module for Digital Personal Workstation
500a, and 600a is required. For more information, please see the "Compaq
PowerStorm 300/350 Graphics Controller Installation Guide part# EK-CPSGC-lG".


Obtaining Kit Updates
=====================

From time to time, additional Graphics Support Services Software kits
may be made available on the Internet. Please check before entering a
problem report to see that you have the most recent version of this
software. The address is http://www.service.digital.com/open3d/


Known Problems
==============

This section includes the known problems for Compaq PowerStorm 300/350
in this release. Please watch the Compaq web site (see Obtaining Kit
Updates above) for updated drivers or further information.

Application Performance - The Compaq PowerStorm 300/350 supports 15 window
ids. This means, if there are more than 15 OpenGL applications running at
the same time, the 16th and higher applications will perform slower than
the rest of the applications.

Alpha bits - OpenGL application writers and OpenGL application users
need to be aware that the hardware accelerated pixel formats do not
provide alpha planes. Alpha plane support is only available through
unaccelerated pixel formats. Note that alpha planes are not needed to
perform typical blending and alpha test operations.

The wglShareLists routine enables an OpenGL rendering context to share 
the display lists of another rendering  context. In this release of the 
PowerStorm 300/350 OpenGL device driver, wglShareLists also enables the sharing 
of texture objects with another rendering context. This behavior is 
consistent with the resource sharing behavior defined for glX, the 
interface for using OpenGL with the X Windows System. However, wgl does
not explicitly support this feature. In the next release of this device 
driver, wglShareLists will no longer enable sharing of texture objects by 
default. However, mechanism will be provided that causes wglShareLists to 
enable sharing of texture objects.

Singular transformations may not be handled correctly: If the transformation
collapses all geometry to a single plane, geometry that is transformed by
this transformation may not be depth buffered correctly with respect to
geometry that is transformed using a non-singular transformation. For example,
some applications use singular transformations to project "shadows" onto
surfaces in the scene. Such a "shadow" might not be depth buffered correctly
with respect to the surfaces on which it is to be projected. 
