chapter

V IDEO /G RAPHICS S UBSYSTEM

This chapter describes the general video/graphics subsystem architecture . For detailed
information regarding components used in this subsystem, refer to the particular
components data sheet. The video/graphics subsystem provides desktop-level
performance through advanced multimedia acceleration and integrated 64-bit 2D and
3D graphics acceleration with XGA flat panel and/or CRT displays.

Video/Graphics Subsystem 8-1

Video Interface
The computer uses the ATI 3D RAGE LT Pro Flat Panel / CRT VGA Controller. The
3D RAGE LT Pro integrates the flat panel/VGA controller, 2D/3D graphics
acceleration hardware, motion compensation of MPEG-2 data, memory controller with
a 64 bit data path, RAMDAC, clock synthesizer, Zoomed Video interface, and LVDS
control interface into a 312 pin BGA package. The 3D RAGE LT Pro interfaces
directly to the AGP bus.
Optional
ROM

Display
Memory

AGP or PCI Local Bus

64
Host Bus Interface

Memory Controller and Interface

Drawing Coprocessor
Setup Engine
Six Clock
Synthesizers

3D Engine

Display Controller #1
Primary Display
Controller
VGA
ATTR
Controller

Display
FIFO #1

Texture Control
Power
Management
Controller

Front end
Video Engine
YUV2
Scaler
RGB

Built-In Self
Diagnostics

2D Engine
VGA Graphics
Controller

Display Controller #2
Secondary Display
Controller
Display
FIFO #2

Graphics
Stream
Hardware
Cursor

Back end
Video Stream
Scaler

Palette
DAC
with
Overlay
Control

Palette
#2

YUV2
RGB

Video I/O
Interface

ATI Media Channel

and Zoom Video Port
Courtesy of ATI Technologies, Inc.

LCD Engine

TV Encoder

Panel

TV

CRT

Figure 8-1. 3D RAGE LT Pro Graphics Controller

The video interface is hardware and register compatible to the VGA standard. This 312
pin BGA packaged device uses a 3.3 V video controller core voltage and provides
external high resolution video and a variety of LCD panel support. The 3D RAGE LT
Pro supports full SimulScan operation, where the two displays can not only have
different resolutions, pixel depths, and refresh rates, but with proper OS support
different video data.

8-2 Video/Graphics Subsystem

This device provides hardware and register compatible VGA video drivers to support
640X480, 800X600, and 1024X768 panels, with up to 16M colors on 24 bit active
matrix panels, as well as up to 1600x1200 pixels and 100Hz refresh support (not
simultaneously) for external monitors. The controller also utilizes the 32-bit AGP Bus
interface and 64-bit memory interface for significantly improved video performance.
The 3D RAGE LT Pro is capable of overlaying MPEG-2 video on top of the display
data, creating a scalable MPEG window of full motion video, while continuing to
produce standard PC video output. It can also convert either or both of these data
streams to NTSC or PAL output format and channel this data to a standard TV
interface.
NOTE: Use of the Mobile Expansion Unit is required to support this interface in the
Armada 6500.

Primary
Display
Path VGA

Palatte
24-bit

RGB Data From Video

Overlay

Graphics/
Video
Overlay
MUX
RGB
RGB
Video
Data

Vertical and
Horizontal
Ratiometric
Expansion
Unit for
LCD Panels

YUV Data
From
Video
Overlay

DAC2
TV
Data

TV
Encoder

YUV

DAC1

Accelerator
Display Path

TV

RGB or YUV 422, Second Display

Path (24-bit)

Palette
24-bit

LCD
Engine

Monitor

LCD
Panel

Figure 8-2. 3D RAGE LT Pro Display Data Pipelines

Bus Interface
The 3D RAGE LT Pro provides the following:
Direct 32-bit AGP bus interface at 2X clocking with all sideband signals
64-bit interface to video memory

Options such as internal decoding of all memory and I/O addresses, bus width
translations, and generation of necessary control signals are handled in a fashion
transparent to the CPU.

Video/Graphics Subsystem 8-3

Power Management
Power management for the video controller includes disabling the 3D engine, motion
compensation circuitry, and CRT interface when not needed; eliminating power to the
LCD interface; and powering down the backlight. In the Suspend-to-DRAM state, the
video controller and video memory remain powered, but in a stand-by state. For details
of the video power management refer to Appendix B.

Video Controller Clock Generation

The 3D RAGE LT Pro requires only a 14.31818 MHz reference clock input on the
XTALI pin. This is generated from the MK1438 clock generator on the system board.
The 3D RAGE LT Pros integrated clock synthesizer generates a variety of
programmable memory clock and dot clock frequencies, such that a wide variety of
display resolutions and vertical refresh rates are supported.

Flat Panel Support

The 3D RAGE LT Pro can provide support for different flat panels. The computer
supports a 14.1 XGA 1024x768 TFT display, using the Low Voltage Differential
Signaling (LVDS) interface.

CRT
The 3D RAGE LT Pro supports high-resolution variable frequency analog monitors in
interlaced and non-interlaced modes of operation. Other than color depth, the modes
supported by the 3D RAGE LT Pro apply to both the LCD and the CRT. The exception
to this is the 1280x1024 and 1600x1200 modes, which are supported for the CRT only.
A CRT has unlimited color depth so it can support whatever colors the video controller
supports; the 3D RAGE LT Pro supports up to 32-bit (4.3G) colors. The panels planned
for the computer support 18-bit (256K) color.
The external video interface is capable of supporting all VGA compatible monitors
with a horizontal scan frequency of 31.49 kHz and a vertical refresh rate of 60 to 100
Hertz. The external video signals are analog RGB at 0 to +. 714 volts full scale, with
zero volts representing black. Output impedance is 75 ohms. The color DAC is
powered by Vcc at 5 volts.
When an external monitor is attached, the video circuit detects the type of monitor
(*monochrome* or color) present using the analog voltage comparator method and
automatically configures itself for the proper operating mode. This same method is
used to determine if a monitor is present during a resume operation.
The DDC (display data channel) 2B specification is also supported. This uses an IIC
interface to determine a CRT monitors capabilities.

8-4 Video/Graphics Subsystem

2D Acceleration
The 3D RAGE LT Pro has built-in 2D video acceleration including the following:
Hardware acceleration of Bit-BLT, line draw, polygon/rectangle fill, bit masking,
monochrome expansion, panning/scrolling, and scissoring
Hardware cursor support (up to 64 x 64 pixels x 2 colors)
Game acceleration with support for the DirectDraw API -- double buffering, virtual
sprites, masked BLT, transparent BLT, and context chaining
Acceleration in 8/16/24/32 bit/pixel modes

3D Acceleration
The 3D RAGE LT Pro has built-in 3D video acceleration, including the following:

Integrated 1 million triangle/sec. setup engine

4K on-chip texture cache for 3D primitives
Complete 3D primitive support points, lines, triangles, lists, strips, quadrilaterals,
and BLTs with Z-compare
Full screen or window double buffering
Hidden surface removal using 16-bit Z-buffering
Edge anti-aliasing
Sub-pixel and sub-texel accuracy
Gouraud and specular shaded polygons
Perspective-corrected mip-mapped texturing with chroma-key support
Support for single pass bi- and tri-linear texture filtering
Full support of Direct3D texture lighting

TV Out
The 3D RAGE LT Pro supports standard 50 Hz and 60 Hz TV monitors in interlaced
operation. All CRT color depths are supported.
A television monitor has unlimited color depth so it can support whatever colors the
video controller supports; the 3D RAGE LT Pro supports up to 32-bit (4.3 G) colors.

Video/Graphics Subsystem 8-5

The external TV interface supports the formats listed in Table 8-1.

Table 8-1
Formats Supported
Standard

Frequency

Use

NTSC
NTSC-J
PAL
PAL-M

60Hz
60Hz
50Hz
60Hz

North America, South America

Japan
Europe, Asia
Brazil

Simultaneous Scan Mode

The 3D RAGE LT Pro provides simultaneous display operation with Multi-Sync
variable frequency CRT, PS/2 fixed frequency CRT, or TV monitors and SS or DS
LCDs. Scanning is supported in high-resolution modes. A 640x480 LCD panel can be
used in simultaneous mode with a CRT at 1024x768 (or 800x600) using scanning. The
LCD panel displays only a 640x480 portion of the 1024x768 (or 800x600) display.
This portion may be scrolled to different areas of the higher resolution display with
either a keyboard or pointing device. This allows the user to disconnect the CRT and
still be able to read the flat panel when in high-resolution modes.
The system has the capability of driving both the LCD display and the external CRT
display simultaneously as well as switching between them. The LCD/CRT switching is
handled by the 3D RAGE LT Pro and is controlled via Fn-F4 key.

Video Mode Support

The following video modes are supported by the 3D RAGE LT Pro. Application
support requires suitable drivers for the operating system. Some modes may not be
available in all operating systems.

8-6 Video/Graphics Subsystem

Single Display Modes

The 3D RAGE LT Pro supports the video modes illustrated in Table 8-2 when using a
single display (LCD or CRT):

Table 8-2
Single CRT Supported Modes (TFT or DSTN or CRT)
Minimum amount of Memory Required
dsp wid

dsp hgt

ref (Hz)

8bpp

16bpp

24bpp

640
640
640
640
640
800
800
800
800
800
1024
1024
1024
1024
1024
1280
1280
1280
1280
1600
1600
1600
1600

480
60
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
480
72
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
480
75
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
480
90
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
480
100
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
600
60
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
600
70
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
600
75
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
600
90
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
600
100
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
768
60
2 MB
2 MB
4 MB
768
72
2 MB
2 MB
4 MB
768
75
2 MB
2 MB
4 MB
768
90
2 MB
2 MB
4 MB
768
100
2 MB
2 MB
4 MB
1024
43
2 MB
4 MB
4 MB
1024
60
2 MB
4 MB
4 MB
1024
70
2 MB
4 MB
4 MB
1024
72
2 MB
4 MB
4 MB
1200
60
4 MB
4 MB
1200
66
4 MB
4 MB
1200
76
4 MB
4 MB
1200
85
4 MB
4 MB
Shading indicates modes not supported by secondary display

32bpp
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
2 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB

NOTE: Video modes supported by the 3D RAGE LT Pro but requiring greater than 4
MB of video memory are not shown.
NOTE: Video resolutions greater than 1024x768 are not supported by the LCD
display. Refresh rates other than 60 Hz are not used by the LCD display.
NOTE: The LCD panel supports 18-bit color. Color depths greater than 18-bit are
approximated by pixel dithering.

Video/Graphics Subsystem 8-7

Dual Display Modes

The 3D RAGE LT Pro supports the following video modes when using two displays
simultaneously (LCD + CRT):

Table 8-3
Dual Display for 4Meg SGRAM 100 MHz and 75 MHz Refresh for Both Displays
Max Secondary Display Resolution
dsp1 wid

dsp1 hgt

dsp2 wid

dsp2 hgt

dsp1 8bpp

dsp1 16bpp

dsp1 24 bpp

dsp1 32bpp

640
640
640
640
800
800
800
800
1024
1024
1024
1024
1280
1280
1280
1280
1600
1600
1600
1600

480
480
480
480
600
600
600
600
768
768
768
768
1024
1024
1024
1024
1200
1200
1200
1200

640
800
1024
1280
640
800
1024
1280
640
800
1024
1280
640
800
1024
1280
640
800
1024
1280

480
600
768
1024
480
600
768
1024
480
600
768
1024
480
600
768
1024
480
600
768
1024

32 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
16 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
42 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
16 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
24 bpp
16 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
16 bpp
8 bpp

32 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
16 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
24 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
24 bpp
8 bpp
32 bpp
24 bpp
8 bpp
8 bpp
8 bpp

32 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
16 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
24 bpp
24 bpp
32 bpp
24 bpp
16 bpp
8 bpp

32 bpp
32 bpp
24 bpp
16 bpp
32 bpp
32 bpp
16 bpp
16 bpp
24 bpp
16 bpp
8 bpp

NOTE: Video resolutions greater than 1024x768 are not supported by the LCD
display. Refresh rates other than 60Hz are not used by the LCD display.
NOTE: The LCD panel supports 18-bit color. Color depths greater than 18-bit are
approximated by pixel dithering.

8-8 Video/Graphics Subsystem

DVD (MPEG-2) Display Modes

The 3D RAGE LT Pro supports the following video modes when playing back MPEG2 data in a scalable window, using the built-in motion compensation logic (LCD or
CRT):

Table 8-4
DVD Video Playback in a Window with Software MPEG Decoding
Min Req Memory with DVD NTSC Format

Min Req Memory with DVD PAL Format

dsp iwid

dsp hgt

ref(Hz)

8bpp

16bpp

24bpp

32bpp

8bpp

16bpp

24bpp

32bpp

640

480

60

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

640

480

72

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

640

480

75

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

640

480

90

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

640

480

100

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

800

600

60

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

800

600

70

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

800

600

75

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

800

600

90

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

800

600

100

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

1024

768

60

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

1024

768

72

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

1024

768

75

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

1024

768

90

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

1024

768

100

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

4 MB

1280

1024

43

4 MB

4 MB

1280

1024

60

4 MB

4 MB

1280

1024

70

4 MB

4 MB

1280

1024

74

4 MB

4 MB

NOTE: Video modes supported by the 3D RAGE LT Pro but requiring greater than 4
MB video memory are not shown.
NOTE: Video resolutions greater than 1024x768 are not supported by the LCD
display. Refresh rates other than 60Hz are not used by the LCD display.
NOTE: The LCD panel supports 18-bit color. Color depths greater than 18-bit are
approximated by pixel dithering.

Video/Graphics Subsystem 8-9

TV Display Modes
The 3D RAGE LT Pro supports the following video modes when using an NTSC or
PAL television or monitor:

Table 8-5
TV-Out Modes (any Color Depth Without Panning)
Mode

NTSC (60Hz)

PAL (50Hz)

320x350
320x400
320x480
360x400
400x600
512x384
640x350
640x400
640x480
720x350
720x400
720x480
704x480
800x600
512x768
640x768
848x480
1024x768
1024x600

yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
as 1024x600

yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
as 1024x600

Video Memory
The computer supports the two 512K x 32bit, 3.3 volt, self-refresh, 100 MHz
Synchronous Graphics RAMs (SGRAMs) memory configuration for the
3D
RAGE LT Pro.
The 3D RAGE LT Pro uses a 64-bit data path to display memory. Display memory
control signals are derived from the integrated clock synthesizers memory clock. The
3D RAGE LT Pro serves as a DRAM controller for the video display memory. It
handles DRAM refresh, fetches data from display memory for display refresh,
interfaces the CPU and 82443BX to display memory, and supplies all necessary
DRAM control signals. For Armada 6500, self-refreshing DRAMs are used,
eliminating the need to provide refresh-clocking signals during Suspend-to-RAM.
The video RAM is mapped into memory pages A0000H through BFFFFH, and it is
organized to accommodate the various video modes available.

8-10 Video/Graphics Subsystem

By implementing two 512x32 SGRAMs (4 MB), the 3D RAGE LT Pro supports

standard, SVGA (800x600), and XGA (1024x768) resolution modes on a flat panel or
external CRT monitor, as well as 1280x1024 and 1600x1200 resolutions for CRTs.
Ultra-true color (32 bpp = 4 billion colors) is supported for all resolutions except
1280x1024 and 1600x1200. True color (24 bpp = 16 million colors) is supported for
all resolutions except 1600x1200.

Power Planes
The 3D RAGE LT Pro has nine power planes. Three of these planes are VPP, VDDR,
and VDDC -the power rings of the device, while the other six planes provide power
for sensitive analog functions:

Table 8-6
3D RAGE LT Pro Power Planes
Plane

VCC OPTIONS

Selection

Description

VPP
VDDR
VDDC
LPVDD
LPVDDR
AVDD
A2VDD
PVDD
APVDD

5 V or 3.3 V
3.3 V
3.3 V
3.3 V
3.3 V
3.3 V
3.3 V
3.3 V
3.3 V

PMVCC3
PMVCC3
PMVCC3
**
PMVCC3
**
PMVCC3
**
PMVCC3
**
PMVCC3
**
PMVCC3
**
PMVCC3

PCI power ring

Digital I/O power ring
Digital Core power ring
LVDS PLL power
LVDS Output Buffer power
CRT DAC power
TV DAC power
Main PLL power
AGP PLL power

**

filtered version of selected power

All planes remain on in Standby (S1) and Suspend-to-RAM (S3) states. The 3D RAGE
LT Pro internal power management logic removes power to unused functions
automatically, so there is no need for external power control logic for the IC. It also has
leakage control so that no back powering of other system functions occurs in Suspend.

Inverter
A hotkey combination is used to control brightness. The hot key is monitored by the
SCP, which controls the brightness output. The brightness output is a PWM signal that
is routed to the inverter.

Video/Graphics Subsystem 8-11

Zoomed Video
Zoomed Video (ZV) is only supported in Slot #0 of the system. ZV is a way to get real
time video into the video controller without using up bus bandwidth or CPU cycles. It
utilizes a 16-bit video port on a video controller that accepts YUV data, the same style
port that is used for the VESA Advanced Feature Connector in some desktops.
The port uses a total of 19 signals: Sixteen data bits and three control signals
(HSYNC, VSYNC, and CLK). ZV also specifies an I2S 4 pin interface for audio.
Since there is no way to cable to this port in a portable as can be done in desktop plugin cards, the ZV solution uses the PCMCIA interface. When a ZV card is installed,
several of the PCMCIA pins are re-defined to support the 23 ZV signals. The redefined pins are A4-A25, IOCS16#, INPACK#, and SPKR#. The ZV signals are
buffered between the PCMCIA slot and the video controller. This buffer keeps the
stubs from the slot signals short since this slot can also be used for CardBus. The
buffer also does a 5 V to 3 V translation. Please refer to the PCMCIA Zoomed Video
Port Specification for further details.

Zoomed Video Sources

The computer supports Zoomed Video from the first (bottom) CardBus/PCMCIA slot
only. The following signal definition and diagram explain how the signals are used to
route the ZV data into the video controller:
ZV_SEL#: This signal is generated from the TI-1221s MFUNC0 pin. It is used to
enable Zoom Video from the notebooks bottom PC Card slot.

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Figure 8-3. Zoom Video Signal Path

8-12 Video/Graphics Subsystem

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Zoom Video Signals

Table 8-7
Zoom Video Signals
Signal

Description

PCLK

Used to clock valid data and HREF signal into the ZV Port. The rising edge of PCLK loads 16-bit
pixel data into the ZV Port. The maximum rate is 40 MHz.
Vertical synchronization pulse to the ZV Port
Horizontal synchronization pulse to the ZV Port
Luminance data input to the ZV Port from the PC Card
Chrominance data input to the ZV Port from the PC Card

VSYNC
HREF
Y<7..0>
UV<7..0>

The timing diagram below shows the relationship among the ZV port signals:
Even Field

OddField

VSYNC
T8

T8

HREF

T5
T7
T6

PCLK

T4
T2
T1

Y[7:0] / UV[7.0]

T3
1

T6 T7
2

END

Figure 8-4. Timing Diagram for ZV Port Signals

Table 8-8
ZV Port Signal Parameters
Symbol

Parameter

Minimum

Maximum

T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
T8

PCLK fall time

PCLK low time
PCLK rise time
PCLK high time
PCLK cycle time
Y[7:0] / UV [7:0] / HREF setup time
Y[7:0] / UV [7:0] / HREF hold time
VSYNC setup / hold time to HREF

4ns (TBD)
20ns (TBD)
4ns (TBD)
20ns (TBD)
62.5ns (25ns)
30ns (TBD)
10ns (TBD)
100ns (TBD)

8ns (TBD)
8ns (TBD)

NOTE: The 3D RAGE LT Pros ZV port can run with a PCLK period of 25nSec,
although the PCMCIA specifies 62.5nSec. The timing at 40 MHz is shown in brackets
next to the PCMCIA timing specifications

Video/Graphics Subsystem 8-13

LCD Interface
The interface for all LCDs is LVDS. LVDS is a proven LCD interface that can be used
to lower EMI emissions and cross-talk problems that are common when routing high
speed LCD data through a flex cable. The LVDS interface has the following
characteristics:

Low pin count (8 signals for 24 bit panel)

Low voltage swing differential signaling for reduced EMI
High speed (supports 1024x768 up to 60Hz refresh rates)
Operates at 3.3 V
Offers a backlight power down mode using the ENABKL pin

The interface is made up of the built-in LVDS transmitter in the 3D RAGE LT Pro and
an LVDS receiver in the LCD panel. The LCD panels that support the LVDS interface
can be used with this computer.

8-14 Video/Graphics Subsystem