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Version 4
January 23rd 2000
For ATI Rage Fury Pro and ATI Xpert 2000 Pro only
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| Product Questions
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| Q1: |
What is the graphics controller used on the
RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO boards?
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| Q2: |
What advanced chip technology is incorporated
into the RAGE 128 chip?
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| Q3: |
What configurations of RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert
2000 PRO are available?
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| Q4: |
What are the various packaging formats used
by ATI for these new board products?
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| Q5: |
What is the performance increase with the
RAGE FURY PRO over RAGE FURY?
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| Q6: |
Can the on-board memory be upgraded?
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| Q7: |
What about 32-bit color and 32-bit Z?
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| Q8: |
Will there be PAL versions of RAGE FURY PRO
available?
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| Q9: |
What is the DAC speed of the RAGE FURY PRO
and Xpert 2000 PRO?
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| Q10: |
When will the new RAGE 128 PRO boards be
shipping?
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| Q11: |
Will there be a PCI version?
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Software and Hardware Support Questions
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| Q12: |
What operating systems do the RAGE 128 PRO
boards support?
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| Q13: |
Windows 2000 - will the Rage 128 Pro boards
have Win2k drivers/support? What features will be supported?
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| Q14: |
What is the recommended system?
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| Q15: |
Are these products PC 98 and PC 99 Compliant?
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Multimedia Expansion Questions
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| Q16: |
Will the RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO
boards work with the ATI-TV (PCI), ATI-TV Fm, ATI-TV (ISA)?
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| Q17: |
Do RAGE FURY PRO boards allow video capture
as well as TV-out?
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| Q18: |
What software has ATI implemented to enable
all the new features?
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| Q19: |
Can I use my ATI-TV WONDER with RAGE FURY
PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO?
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| Q20: |
How is hardware DVD/MPEG-2 acceleration achieved?
Do all RAGE 128 PRO boards support this?
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Product Questions
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| Q1: |
What is the graphics controller used
on the RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO boards? |
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| A1: |
RAGE FURY PRO is powered by ATI’s RAGE 128 PRO graphics
chip. Xpert 2000 PRO is also powered by the RAGE 128 PRO, only this implementation
operates in 64-bit mode.
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| Q2: |
What advanced chip technology is incorporated
into the RAGE 128 chip? |
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| A2: |
- RAGE 128 PRO technology includes all features of the original
RAGE 128 chip as well many new "step-up features" above and beyond that
of the RAGE 128.
New step up features of the RAGE 128 PRO graphics boards over the original
RAGE 128 graphics boards (RAGE FURY, Xpert 128, and Xpert 2000) can be grouped
into 3 sections as follows:
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- Increased visual quality
- Increased game frame rate performance
- Added video functionality
The step up features are accomplished through the addition of the following
enhancements to our product:-
- Integrated TMDS transmitter to enable flat panel
displays
- Increased triangle set up engine from 4M triangles/sec
to 8M triangles/sec for more bandwidth to increase CPU/graphics
board efficiency
- Full AGP 4X bus compliance with AGP 2X backward
compatibility
- Video capture capability as well as TV-out (RAGE
FURY PRO 32MB only)
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| Q3: |
What configurations of RAGE FURY PRO
and Xpert 2000 PRO are available? |
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| A3: |
RAGE FURY PRO is available with an AGP 4X/2X bus in the
following configurations:
RAGE FURY PRO 32MB w/Video-in and TV-out
RAGE FURY PRO 32MB w/ DVI connector (for Digital Flat Panel displays)
RAGE FURY PRO 32MB (base configuration)
RAGE FURY PRO 16MB (base configuration)
Xpert 2000 PRO is available with an AGP 4X/2X bus in the following configurations:
Xpert 2000 PRO 32MB
Xpert 2000 PRO 8MB
Xpert 2000 PRO 8MB w/ DVI connector (for Digital Flat Panel displays)
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| Q4: |
What are the various packaging formats
used by ATI for these new board products? |
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| A4: |
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Retail |
White Box |
Multipack |
RAGE FURY PRO 32MB
w/Video-in and TV-out |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
RAGE FURY PRO 32MB
w/DVI connector (for DFP
displays) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
RAGE FURY PRO 16MB
(base configuration) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
RAGE FURY PRO 16MB
(base configuration) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| XPERT 2000 PRO 32MB |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| XPERT 2000 PRO 8MB |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
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| Q5: |
What is the performance increase with
the RAGE FURY PRO over RAGE FURY? |
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| A5: |
RAGE FURY PRO provides up to 50% increase 3D performance,
and up to 40% increase in game frame rates.
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| Q6: |
Can the on-board memory be upgraded?
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| A6: |
RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO boards are not memory
upgradable.
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| Q7: |
What about 32-bit color and 32-bit
Z? |
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| A7: |
RAGE FURY PRO, like the original RAGE FURY offers true
color (32-bit) rendering as well as full 32-bit Z. With 32-bit color rendering
you get millions of more colors on your screen for life-like visuals and
smooth colors and graphics without a checkerboard look. This translates
into stunning images with tremendous color depths. 32-bit color and 32-bit
Z-buffer rendering also permit users to see special effects (particularly
in a 3D environment) like reflections, shadows, water depth etc and distant
object accuracy.
Today’s game developers are always pushing the limits of technology in order
to deliver to the end user faster games with better visual imagery. However,
many of today’s gamers play games in 16bpp and thus, realize very little
of the overall visual experience. Images and visual qualities (like shadows,
and lighting effects) are programmed into the game, however few users get
to see them because their graphics card won’t provide playable frame rates
in higher color depths where these amazing images are waiting!!
With ATI’s 32-bit (true color) and 32-bit Z rendering technology, users
can now play games in true color – experience all of the amazing visual
qualities and images that exist in the game.
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| Q8: |
Will there be PAL versions of RAGE
FURY PRO available? |
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| A8: |
Yes, both NTSC and PAL versions for RAGE FURY PRO are
available. There is no TV-out or video capture with Xpert 2000 PRO configurations.
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| Q9: |
What is the DAC speed of the RAGE FURY
PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO? |
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| A9: |
The DAC frequency is 300 MHz for both product lines.
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| Q10: |
When will the new RAGE 128 PRO boards
be shipping? |
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| A10: |
RAGE FURY PRO is currently shipping to OEM customers and
will becoming available in retail channels in volume by February 2000 as
shipping quantities ramp to full production levels. Xpert 2000 PRO will
begin shipping in late Q1’00.
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Software and Hardware Support Questions
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| Q11: |
Will there be a PCI version? |
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| A11: |
Yes, ATI has released a revised version of Xpert 128 16MB
PCI using Rage 128 Pro graphics chip. This product is shipping now to major
retailers. Please note that the PCI version does not have any multimedia
connectors on it. There is no VIP or AMC connector on the PCI card.
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| Q12: |
What operating systems do the RAGE
128 PRO boards support? |
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| A12: |
Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0. ATI has full support
for DirectX 6.x and OpenGL (Full OpenGL ICD). Please note that Windows 95
does not permit the use of AGP with graphics cards. To enable AGP with ATI
products in a Windows 95 environment, users must use update to Windows 95b.
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| Q13: |
Windows 2000 - will the Rage 128 Pro
boards have Win2k drivers/support? What features will be supported?
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| A13: |
For answers to Windows 2000 questions, please refer to
the following link:Windows 2000 FAQ
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| Q14: |
What is the recommended system? |
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| A14: |
ATI recommends Pentium III/II, Celeron, AMD K6 or Athlon,
or AGP 2.0 compatible processor. There are no known issues using our hardware
with Pentium III/II, Celeron, AMD or Cyrix processors. Performance and compatibility
may vary based on processor and motherboard. Check with your processor and
motherboard vendor to ensure compliance with ATI products.
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| Q15: |
Are these products PC 98 and PC 99
Compliant? |
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| A15: |
Yes. All ATI RAGE 128 PRO-based graphics accelerators
are compliant with PC 98 and PC 99.
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Multimedia & Expansion Questions
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| Q16: |
Will the RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert 2000
PRO boards work with the ATI-TV (PCI), ATI-TV Fm, ATI-TV (ISA)? |
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| A16: |
These boards will not have a VIP or an AMC connector,
and thus will not work with the ATI-TV.
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| Q17: |
Do RAGE FURY PRO boards allow video
capture as well as TV-out? |
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| A17: |
Yes! ATI has added video capture capability to the RAGE
FURY PRO 32MB (full retail version only) so as to allow users not only amazing
3D gaming, and DVD, and TV-out, but now also the added benefit of video
capture. With video capture, users can capture video or still shots for
their web sites, they can use video conferencing or set up web cams, or
even connect a game console their PC! The video capture and TV-out are enabled
by ATI’s RAGE THEATRE chip. Video capture is provided via a "composite-in"
connector on the graphics board. ATI opted not to include an s-video connector
for video capture as the quality difference between composite and s-video
capture is non-existent with the high quality RAGE Theatre multimedia chip.
Also, most video capture devices offer a composite connector. Composite
and S-Video connectors exist for TV-out. The Xpert 2000 PRO does not have
TV-out or video capture.
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| Q18: |
What software has ATI implemented
to enable all the new features? |
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| A18: |
ATI will supply one driver CD with RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert
2000 PRO. This driver CD will deliver all the standard drivers as well as
the ATI Multimedia Center. The ATI Multimedia Center provides VideoCD, AudioCD,
Video Capture and Video editor as well DVD player software (DVD, AudioCD,
and VideoCD only for Xpert 2000 PRO). These modules allow you to playback
DVD movies capture and edit .AVI files (in VCR1 and YUV formats only) video
and listen to audio CDs on your computer.
AVI files captured using ATI’s VCR1 format can only be played back on computers
that have an ATI graphics card that also has VCR1 format. Otherwise, YUV
format should be selected to capture video in order to ensure your AVI files
can be played back on other systems.
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| Q19: |
Can I use my ATI-TV WONDER with RAGE
FURY PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO? |
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| A19: |
Yes, the ATI-TV WONDER functions in conjunction with the
RAGE FURY PRO and Xpert 2000 PRO. If you already have an ATI-TV Wonder,
you must uninstall the ATI-TV WONDER drivers, then install the RAGE FURY
PRO or Xpert 2000 drivers. When completed, re-install the ATI-TV Wonder
drivers and the two devices will function together.
Note: The RAGE FURY PRO video capture is disabled when using the ATI-TV
Wonder (ATI-TV WONDER provides the Video Capture). Video-out (TV-out) from
the RAGE FURY PRO will function regardless if the ATI-TV WONDER is installed
or not.
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| Q20: |
How is hardware DVD/MPEG-2 acceleration
achieved? Do all RAGE 128 PRO boards support this? |
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| A20: |
All RAGE 128 PRO graphics boards have integrated DVD/MPEG-2
decode (IDCT and Motion Compensation) for industry leading DVD with the
lowest possible CPU usage (in Windows 98/95b only). With a DVD drive and
ATI’s DVD Player, the customer can achieve full frame rate, full screen
DVD playback without the added expense of purchasing a separate hardware
DVD decode module as is required with other competing products (not to mention
saving one of your computer’s slots!).
If your questions aren't answered here or you would like more information
or even just to make a comment about our exciting new products please click
here to determine the correct contact at ATI.
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