Manuals

To view menu names that don't fully appear, use the scroll bar on the bottom of the menu panel (as shown in the Quadro FX 3000 screen) to scroll right to see the remaining text.

From any NVIDIA panel, you can toggle between hiding and displaying the NVIDIA menu.

To hide (collapse) the menu, click the green button with the white arrow that appears on the left of the opened menu, as shown in the Quadro FX 3000 screen. The screen on the left shows the Quadro FX 3000 panel with a collapsed menu. 

To display the menu, click the green button with the white arrow on the left of the panel, as shown in the left screen image.

Windows XP

To access the nView Display Mode panel, from the Quadro FX 3000 panel, click the nView Display Mode option.

This panel presents a graphical representation of your nView display configuration. When you click one of the monitor images, you are selecting your display device that is associated with that image as the current display. When you right-click on an image, a pop-up menu of choices allows you to make adjustments for the associated display device.

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Note: You can make the same adjustments using the Device Settings >> option on this this panel. This is the method that is described in this guide.  

Note for Windows 2000 Users: If you are running under Windows 2000 and you cannot access nView Clone mode (options are grayed), see the instructions in  Windows 2000.

nView Modes

• Standard (Dualview). Use this mode if you have only one display device attached to your computer. In this mode, you cannot run multiple displays or Clone mode.
• Clone. This mode displays an exact copy of the primary display on your secondary display.

Display. Displays the currently selected display (monitor image 1 or 2). In the example image above, the Display box shows nView Display 1: Digital Display because the corresponding monitor image 1 is selected on the panel.  

You can select your display in one of two ways

• Click the down arrow in the Display list box and select the display that you want as the current display.  
• Click directly on the monitor image (1 or 2) to select it as the current display.

Make this the primary display.  Use this option to specify that the display corresponding to the display image you selected is the primary display. When you start your computer, the logon dialog box appears on the primary display. Most application windows, by default, appear on the primary display when you initially open them. 

Note:  You can also enable this feature from the Device Settings >> Primary option.

Disable auto-panning on secondary device (viewport lock). Enabling this option locks the current pan position on the secondary Cloned display. This lets you effectively freeze the virtual desktop at a certain position, which is useful for presentations of fine-detail work in applications.

Note:  When your secondary display is selected, you can also enable this feature from the Device Settings >> Lock Pan Position option. For details on how to use the Virtual Desktop feature, see nView Clone Mode: Virtual Desktop. 

Windows 2000

Enable extended desktop mode 

Note: This option appears only if you are running under Windows 2000 and appears at the bottom of your nView Display Mode panel, as shown on the left image. For information on using this option, see Windows 2000: Switching Between Dualview (Extended desktop) and nView Clone Mode.

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4. nView Clone Mode: Virtual Desktop 

Virtual Desktop is a useful feature for flat panels and monitors with limited resolution. Using this feature you pan-and-scan the entire desktop area on your secondary display when its resolution is set to less than the value set on your  primary display.

You can use the Change Resolution option (see steps below for accessing this option) to modify Screen Resolution and Refresh Rate for your secondary display, which allows you to enable Virtual Desktop, 

Note:  If the maximum resolution of your secondary display is less than the current resolution of your primary display, once you enable Clone mode from the nView Display Mode panel, Virtual Desktop will already be enabled!!  However, you still may want to adjust the screen resolution of the secondary display by using the Device Configuration dialog box shown below or the screen resolution of the primary display from the Windows Display Properties Settings tab.

5. Select Output Device

To access the Device Selection panel, from the nView Display Mode panel, click the Device Settings >> option and choose Select Output Device.

The Device Selection panel shows the display device that you selected on the nView Display Mode panel. 

The example on the left shows that a digital display is attached.

To access the Color Correction panel:

1. Open the  nView Display Mode panel.

2. Click the Device Settings >> option.

3. Choose Color Correction.

This panel contains a graphical representation of the color curve, which changes in real time as you adjust the Brightness, Contrast, and Gamma values using the sliders.

• Digital Vibrance Control™ gives you more control over color separation and intensity, resulting in brighter and clearer images in all of your applications. Use the slider to set different levels of Digital Vibrance.

• Brightness, Contrast, and Gamma sliders allow you to adjust the brightness, contrast, and gamma values for the selected color channel. These color correction controls compensate for variations in luminance between a source image and its output on a display device. This is useful when working with image processing applications to help provide more accurate color reproduction of images (such as photographs) when they appear on your display. Also, many 3D-accelerated games may appear too dark to play. Increasing the brightness and/or gamma value equally across all channels makes these games appear brighter and more playable.

• Image Sharpening lets you control the sharpness of the image quality by amplifying high frequency content.

• Active color channel allows you to select the color channel controlled by the Brightness, Contrast, and Gamma sliders. You can individually adjust the red, green, and blue channels or select All Channels to adjust all the color channels at once.

• Automatically apply these settings at startup. Enable this option to automatically apply the color adjustments you have made on this panel after you restart Windows.

  Note: If your computer is running on a network, the color is adjusted after you have logged on to Windows.

• Custom Color Settings shows a list of the custom color settings, if you have saved any. Selecting a setting from the list activates that setting.

• Save As lets you save the current color settings as a custom color setting.

• Delete lets you delete the custom color setting currently selected in the list.

• Restore Hardware Defaults restores all color settings to the hardware factory values.

7. Performance and Quality Settings

To access the Performance and Quality Settings panel:

1. Open the Quadro FX 3000 panel.

2. Click the Performance and Quality Settings menu option.

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• Application setting allows the application to determine the antialiasing level.
• Off disables antialiasing in 3D applications. Select this option if you require maximum performance in your applications. 
• 2x enables antialiasing using the 2x mode. This mode offers improved image quality and high performance in 3D applications.
• 4x enables antialiasing using the 4x mode. This mode offers better image quality at the expense of some performance in 3D applications.
• 4xS affects only Direct3D applications and enables antialiasing using the 4xS mode. This mode offers better image quality than the 4x mode but at slightly lower performance in 3D applications. 
• 6xS affects only Direct3D applications and enables antialiasing using the 6xS mode. This mode offers better image quality than the 4xS mode.  
• 8x enables antialiasing using the 8x mode. This mode offers better image quality than the 6xS mode for Direct3D applications and better image quality that the 4x mode for OpenGL applications.
• 16x enables antialiasing using the 16x mode. This mode offers better image quality than the 8x mode.

Tips on Settings Antialiasing Modes.  Some antialiasing settings require a large amount of video memory. If the mode you requested requires more video memory than available and you see unexpected results, try selecting the next lower mode, and so on, until you achieve the desired result. You may also want to experiment with different screen resolutions, refresh rates, and/or color settings until you arrive at a setting or combination of settings for antialiasing to work.

Anisotropic Filtering. Use this slider to set the degree of Anisotropic filtering for improved image quality. Note that image quality is improved but at the expense of some performance. 

• Off disables Anisotropic filtering. 
• 2x results in improved image quality but at the expense of some performance.
• 4x results in better image quality than 2x but at the expense of some performance. 
• 8x results in the best image quality.

Texture Sharpening. Enabling this option sharpens textures when running 3D applications with antialiasing enabled. This can help improve image quality.

8. OpenGL Settings

To access the OpenGL Settings panel:

1. Open the Quadro FX 3000 panel.

2. Click the OpenGL Settings option.

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Performance and Compatibility Options

• Disable support for enhanced CPU instruction sets. Enable this option to disable driver support for enhanced instructions used by certain CPUs. Some CPUs support additional 3D instructions that complement your NVIDIA GPU and improve performance in 3D games or applications. This option allows you to disable support for these additional 3D instructions in the drivers, which can be useful for performance comparisons or for troubleshooting.

• Use unified back/depth buffer. Enabling this option allows the OpenGL driver to allocate one back buffer and one depth buffer at the same resolution of the display. As a result, OpenGL applications that create multiple windows use video memory more efficiently and show improved performance. Disabling this option causes the OpenGL driver to allocate a back buffer and depth buffer for every window created by an OpenGL application.

• Enable quadbuffered stereo API (Not supported by Dell) Enabling this option allows the driver to export stereo pixel formats so that OpenGL applications can use stereo and enable the stereo shutter glasses. Once you enable this option, you can access the Additional OpenGL Properties option on this panel.

• Enable overlays. Enabling this option allows the driver to export overlay pixel formats so that OpenGL applications can use overlays. Once you enable this option, you can access the Additional OpenGL Properties option on this panel.

• Maximize texture memory. Enabling this option sets aside as much memory as possible for use by texture maps. This can increase performance for highly texture-intensive applications but at the expense of a minor amount of performance for non-textured applications.  

• Enable conformant OpenGL texture clamp behavior. Enabling this option activates conformant OpenGL texture clamping. "Texture clamping" refers to how texture coordinates are handled when they fall outside the body of the texture. Texture coordinates can be clamped to the edge or within the image.

• Enable gamma correction for antialiased lines. Enabling this option improves the display quality of OpenGL smooth lines on non-gamma corrected monitors.

Multi-Display Hardware Acceleration. The options in this list box determine the advanced rendering options when using multiple displays and/or different classes of NVIDIA GPUs.

• Single-Display Mode. If you have only one active display, this is the default setting. You can also specify this setting if you have problems with the "Multi-Display" modes explained below.

• nView Clone/Span Mode is the default setting when your nView display configuration is set to nView Clone mode or nView Span mode. If multiple NVIDIA GPU-based graphics cards in your system are in use with active displays, this setting is replaced by one of the "Multi-Display" modes described below. 

• Multi-Device Compatibility Mode is available if you have two or more active display devices when running in nView Dualview mode or if you are using different classes of NVIDIA GPUs. 

Note:  When this mode is in effect, OpenGL renders in "compatibility" mode for all displays. In this mode, when different classes of GPUs are in use, the lowest common feature set of all active GPUs is exposed to OpenGL applications. The OpenGL rendering performance is slightly slower than in Single-Display mode. 

• Multi-Device Performance Mode is available if you have two or more active display devices when running in nView Dualview mode or if you are using different classes of NVIDIA GPU-based cards. 

Note:  When this mode is in effect, OpenGL renders in "performance" mode for all displays. As in "Compatibility Mode", when different classes of GPUs are in use, the lowest common feature set of all active GPUs is exposed to OpenGL applications. However, the rendering performance is "faster" than in Compatibility Mode, although switching or spanning display devices may result in minor transient rendering artifacts. 

Default Color Depth (for textures) determines whether textures of a specific color setting should be used by default in OpenGL applications. Use desktop color depth always uses textures of the color setting at which your Windows desktop is running. The Always use 16 bpp and Always use 32 bpp options force the use of textures of the specified color setting, regardless of your desktop settings.

Buffer-Flipping Mode determines the buffer-flipping mode for full-screen OpenGL applications. You can choose Use block transfer or Auto-select. Auto-select allows the driver to determine the best method based on your hardware configuration.

Vertical Sync lets you specify how vertical sync is handled in OpenGL. Always off always disables vertical sync in OpenGL applications. Off by default keeps vertical sync disabled, unless an application specifically requests that it be enabled. On by default keeps vertical sync enabled, unless an application specifically requests that it be disabled.

Use up to ___ MB of system memory for textures in PCI mode allows the NVIDIA GPU to utilize up to the specified amount of system memory for texture storage (in addition to the memory installed on the graphics card itself).

Note: The maximum amount of system memory that can be reserved for texture storage is calculated based on the amount of physical RAM installed in your computer. The more physical RAM available, the better the value you can set. This setting applies only to PCI graphics cards (or AGP graphics cards running in PCI-compatibility mode).

Custom OpenGL Applications Setting. Click the down arrow on the list box to display a list of preconfigured settings that correspond to OpenGL workstation applications. Settings include AutoCAD, CATIA, 3D Paint, 3D Studio Max. Pro/ENGINEER, Lightwave, CDRS, Solidworks, Unigraphics, and others.

Additional OpenGL Properties. Click this option to open a dialog box where you can customize additional OpenGL stereo (Not supported by Dell) and overlay settings. 

Note: To access this option, you need to enable either the Enable quadbuffered stereo API or Enable Overlays option described earlier.

Restore Defaults. Restores all settings to their default values.

9. Additional OpenGL Properties

To access the Additional OpenGL Properties panel:

1. Open the Quadro FX 3000 panel.

2. Click the OpenGL Settings option to open the OpenGL Settings panel.

3. Enable either the Enable quadbuffered stereo API (Not supported by Dell) or Enable Overlays option described in the previous OpenGL Settings section.

4. Click the Additional OpenGL Properties option to open the panel shown on the left.

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Enable Overlay in OpenGL. Enabling this option allows the driver to export overlay pixel formats. Some applications require overlay planes, which are used as a paletted surface in addition to the normal color (RGB) buffer. Overlays are supported in 16-bit and 32-bit color settings and need additional onboard graphics memory, so they may not be available under all resolutions.

• Color indexed overlays (8 bpp) allow the application to use 8-bit paletted overlays.
• RGB overlays (RGB555 format) allows the application to use 16-bit (RGB555) overlays.
• Color indexed (8 bpp) and RGB555 format allows the application to use either 8-bit paletted or 16-bit (RGB555) overlays.

Note:  Overlays need additional onboard graphics memory and may not be available under all resolutions. You may want to reduce the resolution or color depth if you have problems accessing overlay functionality.

Enable Stereo in OpenGL (Not supported by Dell) Enable this option to run stereo applications with shutter glasses or other hardware. This allows stereoscopic and monoscopic applications to be used simultaneously. Stereo viewing requires additional onboard graphics memory and may not be available under all resolutions. Enable this option only if it is necessary because some applications may not properly handle the stereo pixel format.

• Use Vertical Interlace monitor (Not supported by Dell) Select this option if you have connected an auto-stereo flat panel to your graphics card. Non-stereo flat panels are not recommended for stereo viewing.

• Use Onboard DIN connector (Not supported by Dell) If your graphics card has a built-in 3-pin DIN connector, select this option to enable the feature. In this case, you do not need extra adapters such as those shipped with the ELSA 3D Revelator or StereoGraphics glasses. You can connect any stereo hardware using the 3-pin-DIN connector directly to the graphics card.

• Use Blue-Line-Code for StereoGraphics® products (Not supported by Dell) Select this option if you use an adapter shipped. with StereoGraphics StereoEyes or compatible products. These adapters translate the monitor signal to the standardized 3-pin DIN connector used by most of available stereo hardware. You don't need to use the adapter if your graphics card has a built-in 3-pin DIN connector.

Swap eyes (L becomes R, R becomes L) (Not supported by Dell) Enable this option to exchange the left and right images if there is no stereo effect.

Restore Defaults. Restores the default OpenGL stereo (Not supported by Dell) and overlay settings.

10. Direct3D Settings

1. Open the Quadro FX 3000 panel.

2. Click the Direct3D Settings option.

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Performance and Compatibility Options

• Enable fog table emulation. Enable this option if you want to turn fog table emulation on or off. Direct3D specifies that a graphics card capable of Direct3D hardware acceleration should be able to implement either vertex fog or table fog. Some games do not correctly query the Direct3D hardware capabilities and expect table fog support. Choosing this option ensures that such games run properly with your NVIDIA GPU. 

• Display logo when running Direct3D applications. Enable this option displays the NVIDIA logo in the lower corner of your Windows desktop while Direct3D applications are running.

Mipmap Detail Level allows you to adjust the LOD (Level of Detail) bias for mipmaps. A lower bias provides better image quality, while a higher bias increases application performance. You can choose from five preset bias values, varying from Best image quality to Best performance.

Use up to ___ MB of system memory for textures in PCI mode allows the NVIDIA GPU to utilize up to the specified amount of system memory for texture storage, in addition to the memory installed on the graphics card itself.

Note: The maximum amount of system memory that can be reserved for texture storage is calculated based on the amount of physical RAM installed in your computer. The more physical RAM that is available, the higher the value you can set. This setting applies only to PCI graphics cards (or AGP graphics cards running in PCI-compatibility mode).

Custom Direct3D Settings. Click the arrow button to display a list of the custom settings (or "tweaks") you have saved. Selecting an item from the list activates the setting. To apply the setting, click Apply.

Delete. Lets you delete the custom setting selected in the Custom Direct3D Settings list box. 

Restore Defaults. Restores all settings to their default values.

11. Refresh Rate Overrides

The Refresh Rate Overrides panel lets you select refresh rate overrides to be used in Direct3D applications. 

To access the Refresh Rates panel:

1. Open the Quadro FX 3000 panel.

2. Click the Refresh Rate Overrides option.

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Applications control refresh rates. When enabled, this option allows the Direct3D application to select its own refresh rate. "Default" value in the Refresh Rate column means that the application's refresh rate is used. Any other value means to set the refresh rate to the value for full-screen Direct3D applications. If you want to select refresh rate overrides to be used in Direct3D applications, click Override refresh rates. 

Override refresh rates. When enabled, the list box of values is enabled so you can select individual refresh rates for each resolution and combination of bit depths. To override a refresh rate, follow these steps:

1. From the Refresh Rate column, click the word Default on the line that contains the Resolution for which you want to change the refresh rate. A list box of values appears.[
2. From the list, select the refresh rate you want for the associated value in the Resolution column. 
3. If you want to eliminate any of the three bit depths in the row, simply click to disable (check mark is removed) that bit depth. 
4. Click Apply.

12. Overlay Controls

1. Open the Quadro FX 3000 panel.

2. Click the Overlay Controls option.

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Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation. You can independently control the brightness, contrast, hue, and saturation to achieve optimal image quality when playing back videos or DVD movies on your computer. Use these controls to adjust the quality of the video or DVD playback on your display. You can independently control the brightness, contrast, hue and saturation to achieve optimal image quality when playing back videos or DVD movies on your computer. 

Zoom control - Video Overlay lets you zoom into the rendered video that is running on your display and sets the zoom selection to the primary display on which the overlay video is rendered.  

Select screen region to zoom. Select the area of the video screen you would like to zoom by clicking on the arrow icon that corresponds to the area.  

Out/In. Use the slider to zoom in on or out of the selected portion of the video playback screen. 

Restore Defaults. Click to restore all color values to the hardware factory settings. 

Screen Resolution 

Maximum 
Color Depth 

640x480 ¹ 

32-bit

800x600

32-bit

1024x768  

32-bit

1152x864

32 bits

1280x768

32-bit

1280x1024

32-bit

1600x1200  

1600x1000 (16:10)  

32-bit

1920x1200 (16:10)  

32-bit

Screen Resolution  

Maximum 
Color Depth 

640x480  

32-bit

800x600

32-bit

1024x768  

32-bit

1152x864

32 bit

1280x768

32-bit

1280x1024

32-bit

1600x1200

32-bit