[English] README.TXT MATROX GRAPHICS INC. 1998.12.09 Matrox G200 OpenGL ICD for Windows 95/98 Beta1 (v0.0.032) Contents ======== - Description of this release - Installation - Registry settings - General notes, problems, and limitations - Game specific notes - FAQ Description of this release =========================== Please read the following information and FAQ closely to understand the capabilities of the ICD Beta1. The ICD Beta1 release offers support for six OpenGL-based games under Windows 98/95 including, Quake II, Quake, Half Life, Sin, Heretic II and Hexen II. The ICD is stable but not yet optimized for performance. At this time, users seeking optimal performance can use Matrox's Direct3D Wrapper. Matrox is committed to the development and optimization of its OpenGL ICD. Please check the Matrox website for future updates at http://www.matrox.com/mga/drivers/home.htm Installation ============ To install Matrox G200 OpenGL ICD for Windows 95/98, start the included "setup" program. NOTE: if you have played a game with the D3D Wrapper in the past, you need to delete or rename the file "opengl32.dll" in your game directory. If this file is present, it will have priority over the ICD and the ICD will not be enabled. Registry settings ================= The installation creates the following registry switch : [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OpenGLDrivers] "MGA ICD Driver"="MGAICD.DLL" General notes, problems, and limitations ======================================== - This release runs under Windows 95/98 only. Windows NT will be supported in an upcoming release. - This driver requires G200 Windows 95/98 display driver version 4.50.008 (Beta3) or higher. Please make sure that it is installed before installing and running the ICD. This driver can be downloaded from http://www.matrox.com/mga/drivers/latest_drivers/. - DirectX version 6.0 or higher must be installed on your computer. - Both AGP and PCI G200 cards are supported by the ICD Beta1. - This driver does not handle resolution switching. You will be able to play only in the default resolution of the game. - Please make sure that the Bus Mastering option is enabled in your Matrox Display Properties: (Matrox Display Properties->Settings-> Advanced->"Use bus mastering" checkbox is checked). The ICD Beta1 will not work with bus mastering disabled. - This driver is not yet optimized for performance. - Hardware acceleration is available in 16 or 32 bits per pixel graphics modes only. Refer to Matrox Display Properties->Settings. - The games supported by this Beta1 ICD can also be accelerated with the Direct3D wrapper. Please consult the readme of the Direct3D Wrapper for additional details. - Half-Life: (D3D support included in the game) Select the "D3D" option in video settings - Heretic II: (D3D support included in the game) Select the "G200GL" option in video settings - All others: copy the D3D Wrapper in the directory which contains the executable file for the game. Game specific notes =================== Quake ----- No known problems. To play Quake with the ICD: - Install the ICD. - Go to the ID Software web site (www.idsoftware.com) to download the latest GLQuake patch. - Install this patch. - Run "glquake.exe" Quake II -------- Used: Quake II Version 3.20 with "q2-3_20-x86-full-ctf.exe" patch. No known problems. To play Quake II with the ICD: - Install the ICD. - Select "Default OpenGL" in the video options. Half-Life --------- Used: Half-Life Version 1.006 with "hl1006.exe" patch. Known problems: - Possible visual artifacts on the some scorch marks, blood, explosions and decals.  To play Half-Life with the ICD: - Install the ICD. - Select "Default OpenGL" in the video options. - Copy the included file "opengl.cfg" to the ...\valve\hw\ directory under the Half-Life program directory. Sin --- Used: Sin Version 1.01 with "sin101.exe" patch. Known problems: - On a 32-bit desktop, we have sometimes seen that trying to skip the introduction movies will cause the monitor to lose synchronization. If you wait through the movie, the game will start correctly. - Some sound cards may experience problems with the MGA-G200 cards. To resolve the problem, go to the console and type: >s_primary 0 [enter] >snd_restart [enter] To play Sin with the ICD: - Install the ICD. - Select "Default OpenGL" in the video options. Heretic II ---------- No known problems. To play Heretic II with the ICD: - Install the ICD. - Select "Default OpenGL" in the video options. Hexen II -------- Used: Hexen II Version 1.11 with "ph2v111.exe" patch. No known problems. To play Hexen II with the ICD: - Delete or rename the file "opengl32.dll" in the directory where Hexen II is installed (for example C:\HEXEN2). - Install the ICD. - Run "glhexen2.exe" FAQ === Performance difference between the Direct3D Wrapper and the ICD Beta1 --------------------------------------------------------------------- System: Dell Dimension XPS R400/128MB Ram Millennium G200 Drv: 4.50.008 640x480@16bit ICD Beta1 D3D Wrapper Quake II 31 42 Quake I 45 56 Half Life 21 29 800x600@16bit ICD Beta1 D3D Wrapper Quake II 24 31 Quake I 32 37 Half Life 20 28 How does Matrox support OpenGL under Windows 95/98 and NT? ---------------------------------------------------------- Matrox currently offers out of the box support for OpenGL games under Windows 95/98 through its Direct3D wrapper. Matrox will also support a limited number of OpenGL games with ICD Beta1. For applications running under Windows NT, Matrox supports OpenGL through an MCD. Can I work/play without an ICD? ------------------------------- For users looking for a gaming solution, the D3D Wrapper provides support for the most popular OpenGL games, such as all Quake II-based games. For users working under NT, the MCD already provides support for OpenGL. Some design applications such as 3D Studio MAX R2 and Caligari TrueSpace also support Direct3D, and will run very well on MGA-G200 based graphics accelerators under Windows 95/98. What is an ICD? --------------- An ICD (Installable Client Driver) is a software driver model that will enable OpenGL applications to be accelerated by graphics hardware. Historically, it was the original OpenGL driver model used with professional graphics accelerators for high-end design applications. A fully optimized and final ICD will bring MGA-G200 performance and quality to applications ranging from CAD and design to games. What is an MCD? --------------- The MCD (Mini-client driver) enables OpenGL acceleration in the absence of an ICD. The MCD was released by Microsoft to broaden the support base for OpenGL applications previously limited to vendors with an ICD. The MCD offers more graphics hardware support for OpenGL applications under Windows NT 4.0 only. The MGA-G200 family of products fully supports the MCD model to provide OpenGL support under Windows NT 4.0. ICD vs. MCD ----------- By default, an ICD and MCD running on the same hardware will demonstrate similar performance. However, the ICD offers more flexibility to content developers and, over time, allows for further optimizations not possible with an MCD. What is a Direct3D Wrapper? --------------------------- A Direct3D (D3D) Wrapper is a set of software instructions which translates OpenGL commands into Direct3D commands. A Direct3D wrapper can deliver stable and fast performance of OpenGL games in absence of an ICD. ICD vs D3D Wrapper ------------------ A fully optimized ICD will deliver superior performance than a D3D Wrapper and also ensure compatibility across all applications and games. To ensure that gamers get out of the box support for OpenGL with MGA-G200 graphics accelerators, Matrox includes a D3D Wrapper with its shipping products and posts a downloadable version on the Matrox web site. The D3D wrapper supports the most popular OpenGL games like Quake II with good performance, quality and stability.