This document describes the CL-GD542X Display Drivers and Utilities, a set of software and tools designed to enhance the performance and functionality of CIRRUS LOGIC VGA graphics systems. The manual, with a software revision of 1.41 and a document release date of January 10, 1994, provides detailed instructions for installation, configuration, and usage of the display drivers and utility software.
Function Description
The CIRRUS LOGIC VGA graphics system is 100% VGA compatible. The provided utilities and drivers offer support for additional features such as greater speed, higher resolution, and more available colors. The software aims to improve text resolution for text-based word processing programs and higher graphics resolutions for graphics-based programs.
The core components include:
- CLMode: A utility program to configure panel options, define the attached monitor type, and set supported video modes.
- SetRES: A Windows 3.1 utility that allows users to change screen resolution, number of available colors, and select font sizes and system resources from within Windows.
- Power Management Screen Saver: A feature for Windows 3.1 that controls the power consumption of a computer's monitor, offering five levels of power savings.
- Display Drivers: Specific drivers for various applications like Microsoft Windows 3.1, Autodesk (ADI 4.2), GEM/3, Lotus 123 (v2.x and v3.X), OS/2 (2.0 and 2.1), Ventura Publisher, Microsoft Word, WordPerfect (5.1 and 6.0), and WordStar.
Important Technical Specifications
- VGA Compatibility: The CIRRUS LOGIC VGA graphics system is 100% VGA compatible.
- Monitor Types: CLMode supports various monitor types, including VGA, 8514, Super VGA, Extended Super VGA, Multifrequency, Extended Multifrequency, Super Multifrequency, and Extended Super Multifrequency. Each type has associated horizontal and vertical frequencies and display resolutions (e.g., 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024).
- Refresh Rates: Different refresh rates are available for various resolutions (e.g., 60Hz, 72Hz, 56Hz, 70Hz, 87i interlaced).
- Video Memory: The availability of video modes depends on the amount of video memory present on the VGA controller. For Windows NT drivers, GD542X systems require 1MB of DRAM or more.
- BIOS Version: For centering adjustments, BIOS version 1.30 or greater is required. For the power management screen saver, BIOS versions prior to v1.40 require PM.EXE to be executed before starting Windows 3.1.
- AutoCAD ADI 4.2 Driver (TurboDLDClassic):
- Memory Usage: Actively uses about 300Kbytes of RAM from extended memory. The Display List size can vary from one-tenth to three times the size of the current drawing file.
- System Requirements: Requires a '386, '486 or Pentium based PC.
- Color Support: Includes CustomColors™ for interactive customization of logical and physical colors within AutoCAD.
- Logical Drawing Space: Supports AutoCAD R12's 31-Bit logical drawing space (extending zooming ability by millions) or 15-Bit drawing space (similar to AutoCAD R11).
- OS/2 Drivers:
- 16-color driver: Supports all GD542X chips.
- 256-color accelerated driver: Supports GD5426 and GD5428 chips only. For GD5424, the OS/2 2.1 256-color driver from IBM is used. Requires OS/2 2.0 Corrective Service Pack.
- Memory Requirement (OS/2 2.1 accelerated drivers): 1MB of memory on the driver card.
Usage Features
- CLMode:
- Menu-Driven Interface: Accessible from the DOS prompt, allowing selection of options via hotkeys or mouse.
- Monitor Type Selection: Allows users to select the proper monitor type for optimal output quality and available video modes/refresh rates.
- Advanced Monitor Type: Enables customization of monitor timings for specific resolutions and refresh rates.
- Video Modes Preview: Displays supported video modes based on monitor type and video memory, with a preview function.
- Centering Adjust: Available in Video Modes Preview (for extended Graphics modes 58h and greater) using arrow keys to adjust screen positioning. Saved to CENTER.COM.
- Sync Polarity Adjustment: Allows adjustment of monitor SYNC POLARITY (Vertical Sync Polarity/Horizontal Sync Polarity) using PgUp/PgDn keys in Preview mode.
- Command Line Options: CLMODE.EXE can be run with command-line parameters to set configuration, monitor type, video mode, and refresh rate without displaying menus.
- SetRES:
- Windows Integration: Runs under Windows 3.1, allowing resolution, color depth, and font size changes.
- Immediate or Deferred Effect: Changes can take effect immediately upon Windows restart or the next time Windows is started.
- Power Management Screen Saver:
- Five Levels of Power Savings: Conventional screen saver (black screen with bouncing logo), Reduced on mode, Stand by mode, Suspend mode, and Off mode.
- VESA VBE/PM Standard: Matches power saving modes defined by the VESA VBE/PM (Display Power Management Signalling) standard.
- Wake-up Behavior: Moving the mouse does not wake up the screen saver in power-saving modes, differing from normal screen savers.
- Autodesk - ADI 4.2 (TurboDLDClassic):
- Speed Enhancement: Accelerates AutoCAD REDRAWs, PANs, and ZOOMs (2 to 12 times faster than non-display list drivers, up to 25 times faster with Drawing Cache).
- Display List: Translates hierarchical drawing structures into a faster-displaying object list (vectors or polygon fills).
- Drawing Cache: Maintains a compressed list of the current viewport for even faster pans, zooms, and redraws.
- Bird's Eye View (BP): Allows dynamic movement within large drawings without exiting the current function. Configurable double-click delay, button assignment, highlight mode (Patt Line, XOR Rect, Both), and refresh behavior.
- CustomColors™: Interactive color configuration utility within AutoCAD for menu, text, dialog box, and drawing colors.
- Regen Mode: Fast Regen (5-10% faster) or Incremental mode.
- Internal Command Echo: Toggles display of TurboDLDClassic internal commands at the AutoCAD command line.
- Static BP: Option to keep the Big Picture on screen at all times for convenient access.
- DLDCOMPACT: Forces manual garbage collection of Display List memory.
- DLDDCACHE: Toggles the drawing cache on/off.
- DLDDLIST: Toggles the display list function on/off.
- DLDHELP: Provides a list of commands and descriptions within AutoCAD.
- DLDREFRESH: Manually updates the Big Picture.
- DLDSTAT: Displays current TurboDLDClassic parameters.
- DLDUSAGE: Provides a byte-by-byte breakdown of memory usage for display list processing.
- DLDVER: Displays version, serial number, and registered user's name.
- DLDVISREGEN: Toggles between Fast and Visible Regen modes.
Maintenance Features
- Software Upgrades: CIRRUS LOGIC releases new drivers and utilities approximately three times a year. Upgrades can be obtained from the CIRRUS LOGIC BBS or the Software Upgrade Service.
- Technical Support: Available via phone for technical assistance.
- Installation Utility (INSTALL.EXE): Menu-driven program to facilitate smooth installation of display drivers and utility software.
- Driver Reconfiguration: Instructions provided for reconfiguring TurboDLDClassic for AutoCAD Release 12 and 11, including deleting configuration files to revert to defaults.
- Troubleshooting:
- Zero-Wait-State Jumper: If problems occur with zero-wait-state enabled, remove the jumper.
- Monitor Type Verification: CLMode's Verify button allows testing new video timings for monitor compatibility.
- Saving Monitor Type: CLMode can save the monitor type to AUTOEXEC.BAT if it's not retained across sessions.
- Centering Adjust Limitations: Only 16 modes can be adjusted and saved to CENTER.COM at a time. CENTER.COM must be unloaded to save new adjustments.
- AutoCAD Memory Management: TurboDLDClassic shares extended memory with AutoCAD. If excessive hard disk access occurs during PANS, REDRAWs, and ZOOMs, users are advised to use DLDCOMPACT or add more memory.
- Keeping Display List Small: Suggestion to put text in its own layer and not display it during editing to reduce memory consumption.
- Older Panacea DLD Drivers: Instructions to remove references to previous DLD driver commands or sub-directories when upgrading.
- AutoCAD Grid Snap: Advised to turn off grid snap if cursor movement issues occur when zoomed far into an image.
- Zoom Dynamic: Not recommended to use TurboDLDClassic features in AutoCAD's Zoom Dynamic mode due to unpredictable results.
- Switching Color Modes: DLDCOLOR should be run after switching color modes (e.g., 16 to 256 colors) to reconfigure the color palette.
- AutoCAD CONFIG Command: Reconfiguring TurboDLDClassic via CONFIG in a drawing session requires re-initializing the static Big Picture.
- Sticky Cursors: Explanation of why the digitizer cursor may appear to stick to the edge of the bird's-eye in Big Picture mode.
- AutoCAD Commands (REGENAUTO, VIEW): Tips to avoid unnecessary REGENs by using VIEW Save/Restore and setting REGENAUTO Off.
- Third-Party Software: Advised to check for ADI 4.2 compatibility and to isolate problems by running AutoCAD without the third-party application or with the VESA compatible driver. Note that some TSRs may not work properly with advanced ADI drivers.
- OS/2 SVGA.EXE Problems: Procedures provided for troubleshooting SVGA.EXE issues in Windowed or Full Screen DOS, including creating SVGADATA.DOS and copying it to the OS/2 subdirectory.
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