ATI Technologies X1650 Adaptive Anti-aliasing, Agp, Alpha Blending, Alternate Frame Rendering

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Adaptive Anti-aliasing

Adaptive anti-aliasing is a technique that applies a combination of multi- sampling (MSAA) and super-sampling (SSAA) on 3D objects to improve edge smoothness and fine detail. Multi-sampling works best on smoothing the edges of solid polygons, but cannot effectively smooth edges within polygons which are partially transparent. Super-sampling is able to more accurately calculate color values adjacent to transparent pixel shader values within polygons with partially transparent textures, but is not applied universally since it is more processor-intensive. Adaptive anti-aliasing works by using super-sampled anti-aliasing on transparent textures, and multi-sampled anti-aliasing on all other textures. This delivers exceptional levels of image quality, while maintaining performance.

AGP

The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) is a slot on the computer motherboard designed specifically for 3D graphics cards. AGP runs 3D images much more smoothly and quickly than was previously possible with PCI video cards; AGP runs at several times the bus speed of PCI and employs sideband addressing, so multiple data transfers between the graphics processor and the computer can take place concurrently. AGP is

currently being phased out in favor of PCI Express® (PCIe).

Alpha Blending

Alpha blending is used in 3D graphics to create transparent or opaque effects for surfaces such as glass and water. Alpha is a transparency value, so the lower the value, the more transparent the image looks. It is also used in animations to produce such things as fading effects, where one image gradually fades into another.

Alternate Frame Rendering

A graphical load-balancing scheme where two graphics cards are used to render alternate frames of the display. This configuration increases the detail of the 3D objects each card can render, as each card handles half of the total number of frames. Essentially, each card has more time to render a scene, delivering a noticeable increase in 3D detail. This type of graphical

operation is only available in Radeon® CrossFiregraphics cards running Microsoft® Direct 3D® and OpenGL® games or applications.

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Contents Radeon X1650 PRO Page Iii Disclaimer Important Safety Instructions Page Table of Contents Glossary Index Features Radeon X1650 PRO FeaturesIntroduction Ring Bus Memory ControllerAvivo Video and Display Platform Advanced Image Quality FeaturesCrossFire System Requirements Uninstall Previous Graphics Card DriversTo uninstall previous drivers System Requirements Connecting Your Monitors Using Multiple DisplaysTo connect your monitors Display Connectors Comments Configuration Used Display ConfigurationsDisplay Configurations Viewing Your PC Display on a TV Using TV Display and Capture FeaturesUsing TV Out To connect S-Video Out Connecting to a TV or VCRConnecting Your S-Video Out to a TV or VCR Using a Monitor vs. Using TV DisplayUsing a TV as the Only Display Connecting to HdtvUsing Games and Applications Viewing Text on a TVATI Hdtv Cable Installing your ATI Hdtv video cableUsing Your ATI Hdtv Video Cable Installing Drivers and Software in Windows Installing Software and DriversSoftware Installation Prerequisites To install ATI drivers and softwareMonitor Configuration To configure your primary display To set up a multi-monitor displayReinstalling Drivers To manually reinstall drivers Express or Custom Install Installing the Catalyst Software Suite Launching Catalyst Control Center Catalyst Control CenterOther Quick Launch Access Points Launching Catalyst Control Center Using the Start MenuLaunching Catalyst Control Center Using the System Tray Launching Catalyst Control Center Using Hot KeysWhat graphics cards work with CrossFire? CrossFire FAQPage Is a driver profile required to make CrossFire work? On what basis are different rendering modes chosen? Allowable CrossFire System Components Welcome to CrossFireCrossFire Overview CrossFire Rendering Modes SuperTiling Scissor Mode Alternate Frame Rendering AFR Mode Super Anti-aliasing Mode CrossFire Overview CrossFire Overview Reference TroubleshootingScreen Defects CrossFire -Specific Troubleshooting CrossFire-Specific Troubleshooting Problem Possible Solution FCC Compliance Information Additional AccessoriesCompliance Information Industry Canada Compliance Statement Electrical SafetyCE Compliance Information Informations de conformité de la CEThis product was manufactured by ATI Technologies Inc 3Dc GlossaryAGP Adaptive Anti-aliasingAlpha Blending Alternate Frame RenderingAnti-aliasing Anisotropic FilteringAspect Aspect RatioBilinear Filtering Back BufferBit Depth BitmapCatalyst Control Center BufferColor Component Color CorrectionComposite Video Component VideoCompositing Engine Control PointCRT Edtv DVIFlat Shading FogGamma Frames Per SecondGouraud Shading HdcpHue HdtvHydraVision HyperZ HDKTX Buffer Region Extension Keyframe InterpolationLighting MipmappingPCI NtscPAL Pipeline PCI Express PCIePixel PulldownRefresh Rate ResolutionRendering SaturationSdtv Scissor ModeSecam Shadow MaskSmoothVision HD SmartShader HDSpecular Highlight Super Anti-aliasingVideo SuperTilingTexel Texture MappingTrilinear Filtering Transition Minimized Differential Signaling TmdsVector Adaptive Deinterlacing VersaVisionVertex shader units VGA ConnectorVideo Immersion VideoShader HDYPbPr VPU Recover