This section describes the graphics subsystems used by the D815EEA2 and D815EPEA2 boards:
• The D815EEA2 board uses the Intel 815E graphics subsystem, described below.
• The D815EPEA2 board uses the Intel 815EP graphics subsystem, described in Section 1.10.2, beginning on page 42.
1.10.1 Intel 815E Graphics Subsystem
The 815E chipset, used on the D815EEA2 board, contains two separate, mutually exclusive graphics options. Either the integrated graphics controller (contained within the 82815 GMCH) is used, or an add-in AGP adapter can be used.
The GMCH includes an integrated display cache SDRAM controller that supports a Graphics Performance Accelerator (GPA) card. The GPA card is a 32-bit 133 MHz 4 MB SDRAM array for enhanced integrated 2D and 3D graphics performance. This interface is multiplexed between the display cache interface and the AGP connector. When an AGP card is installed, the integrated graphics controller is disabled and the display cache interface is not used.
For information about Refer to
GPA support Section 1.10.1.3.1, page 41
1.10.1.1 Integrated Graphics Controller
The GMCH features the following:
• Integrated graphics controller
3-D Hyperpipelined architecture
Full 2-D hardware acceleration
Motion video acceleration
• 3-D graphics visual and texturing enhancement
• Display
Integrated 24-bit 230 MHz RAMDAC
Display Data Channel Standard, Version 3.0, Level 2B protocols compliant
• Video
Hardware motion compensation for software MPEG2 decode
Software DVD at 30 fps
Table 7 lists the refresh frequencies supported by the graphics subsystem.
Table 7. Supported Graphics Refresh Frequencies
Resolution Color Palette
Available Refresh Frequencies (Hz) Notes 256 colors 70 D 64 K colors 70 D3 320 x 200 16 M colors 70 D 256 colors 70 D 64 K colors 70 D3 320 x 240 16 M colors 70 D 256 colors 70 D 64 K colors 70 D3 352 x 480 16 M colors 70 D 256 colors 70 D 64 K colors 70 D3 352 x 576 16 M colors 70 D 256 colors 70 D 64 K colors 70 D3 400 x 300 16 M colors 70 D 256 colors 70 D 64 K colors 70 D3 512 x 384 16 M colors 70 D 256 colors 70 D 64 K colors 70 D3 640 x 400 16 M colors 70 D 256 colors 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 KDO 64 K colors 60, 75, 85 KD3O 640 x 480 64 K colors 70, 72 KDO 640 x 480 16 M colors 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 KDO 256 colors 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 KDO 64 K colors 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 KD3O 800 x 600 16 M colors 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 KDO 256 colors 60, 70, 75, 85 KDO 64 K colors 60, 70, 75 KD3O 64 K colors 85 KD3 1024 x 768 16 M colors 60, 70, 75, 85 KD continued
Table 7. Supported Graphics Refresh Frequencies (continued)
Resolution Color Palette
Available Refresh Frequencies (Hz) Notes 256 colors 60, 70, 72, 75 KDO 256 colors 85 KD 64 K colors 60, 70 KD3O 64 K colors 72, 75, 85 KD3 16 M colors 60 KDO 1152 x 864 16 M colors 75, 85 KD
256 colors 60 (reduced blanking) KDOF
64 K colors 60 (reduced blanking) KD3F 1280 x 768
16 M colors 60 (reduced blanking) KDF
256 colors 60 KDO 256 colors 70, 72, 75, 85 KD 64 K colors 60, 70, 72, 75, 85 KD3 1280 x 1024 16 M colors 60, 70, 75, 85 KD 1600 x 1200 256 colors 60, 70, 72, 75 KD Notes: K = Desktop D = DirectDraw†
3 = Direct3D† and OpenGL† O = Overlay
F = Digital Display Device only. A mode will be supported on both analog CRTs and digital display devices (KD3O applies to both types of displays), unless indicated otherwise.
For information about Refer to
Obtaining graphics software and utilities Section 1.3, page 19
1.10.1.2 Digital Video Output (DVO) Connector (Optional)
The D815EEA2 board routes the Intel 82815 GMCH DVO port to an optional onboard 40-pin DVO connector. The DVO connector can be cabled to a DVI or TV out card to enable digital displays or TV out functionality. The Digital Visual Interface (DVI) specification provides a high-speed digital connection for visual data types when using the integrated graphics controller. This interface is active only when the integrated graphics controller is enabled.
The DVI interface allows interfacing with a discrete Transmission Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) transmitter to enable platform support for DVI compliant digital displays or with a discrete TV encoder for TV out functionality.
For information about Refer to
The location of the DVO connector Figure 14, page 69 The signal names of the DVO connector Table 32, page 71
1.10.1.3 AGP Universal Connector
✏
NOTE
Install memory in the DIMM sockets prior to installing the AGP video card to avoid interference with the memory retention mechanism.
The AGP universal connector supports either:
• Graphics Performance Accelerator (GPA) cards with 133 MHz SDRAM display cache
• 1x, 2x, or 4x AGP add-in cards with either 3.3 V or 1.5 V I/O For information about Refer to
The location of the AGP universal connector Figure 15, page 73 The signal names of the AGP universal connector Table 41, page 76
1.10.1.3.1 Graphics Performance Accelerator (GPA) Support
The Intel 815E GMCH display cache is a single channel 32-bit wide SDRAM interface. The 4 MB display cache resides on a GPA card that plugs into the AGP connector. The BIOS detects a GPA card if present in the AGP port and initializes it as display cache memory. When a GPA card is initialized, the BIOS allocates 1 MB of system memory to support the internal display device operation.
1.10.1.3.2 Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT)
DVMT enables enhanced graphics and memory performance through Direct AGP, and highly efficient memory utilization. DVMT ensures the most efficient use of all available memory for maximum 2D/3D graphic performance. DVMT is implemented on the D815EEA2 board with a GPA (Graphics Performance Accelerator) card installed in the AGP connector.
✏
NOTE
In earlier documentation, the GPA card was referred to as the AGP Inline Memory Module (AIMM).
DVMT uses 1 MB of system physical memory for compatibility with legacy applications. An example of this would be when using VGA graphics under DOS. Once loaded, the operating system and graphics drivers allocate the buffers needed for performing graphics functions. When the 4 MB GPA card is installed, the Z-buffer and GDI data are managed directly from this dedicated graphics memory thereby avoiding operating system memory manager calls and improving performance.
At system BIOS POST, the BIOS displays either the amount of physical memory allocated for display cache or the size of the GPA card (4 MB) if installed. Operating systems such as
Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 may display the maximum amount of frame buffer memory possible based on the system memory configuration.
✏
NOTE
The use of DVMT requires operating system driver support. For information about Refer to
Obtaining the DVMT white paper http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets/815e/ Obtaining the AIMM specification Table 4, page 20
1.10.1.3.3 AGP Add-in Card Support
AGP is a high-performance interface for graphics-intensive applications, such as 3D applications. While based on the PCI Local Bus Specification, Rev. 2.1, AGP is independent of the PCI bus and is intended for exclusive use with graphical display devices. AGP overcomes certain limitations of the PCI bus related to handling large amounts of graphics data with the following features:
• Pipelined memory read and write operations that hide memory access latency
• Demultiplexing of address and data on the bus for nearly 100 percent efficiency For information about Refer to
Obtaining the Accelerated Graphics Port Interface Specification Table 4, page 20
1.10.2 Intel 815EP Graphics Subsystem
✏
NOTE
Install memory in the DIMM sockets prior to installing the AGP video card to avoid interference with the memory retention mechanism.
The Intel 815EP chipset, used on the D815EPEA2 board, provides an AGP universal connector which supports a 1x, 2x, or 4x AGP add-in card with either 3.3 V or 1.5 V I/O.
AGP is a high-performance interface for graphics-intensive applications, such as 3D applications. While based on the PCI Local Bus Specification, Rev. 2.1, AGP is independent of the PCI bus and is intended for exclusive use with graphical display devices. AGP overcomes certain limitations of the PCI bus related to handling large amounts of graphics data with the following features:
• Pipelined memory read and write operations that hide memory access latency
• Demultiplexing of address and data on the bus for nearly 100 percent efficiency For information about Refer to
The location of the AGP universal connector Figure 15, page 73 The signal names of the AGP universal connector Table 41, page 76 Obtaining the Accelerated Graphics Port Interface Specification Table 4, page 20