How to get started with S3Display

To learn how to use Help, press F1.

If you are not familiar with S3Display, you may want more information about its use.  The following topics can help you get started:

What does S3Display do?

S3Display controls

Switching displays


What does S3Display do?

S3Display lets you change which display devices to use, and lets you adjust different settings on those devices.  Which devices you can turn on and off will depend on what devices are actually connected to your system, but they include:

CRT - This is the standard monitor.  There are no settings to adjust for the CRT.

LCD - This is the display panel built into a laptop, and will not appear for desktop systems.  Settings for the LCD let you change whether your display expands to fill as much of the LCD as possible.

DVI - This is the digital video interface panel, also called a flat panel.  It is usually connected much like a CRT, and typically replaces the CRT.  It has the same type of settings as the LCD.

TV - This is the standard television set.  The TV settings let you change the TV type (e.g. NTSC or PAL).  Depending on the video chipset, there may also be a setting for which port to use for connecting your system to the TV (composite or S-Video).  Finally, an Advanced button lets you change a number of other settings to improve the quality of the display on TV.

Next: The controls


Controls

There are two basic sets of controls in S3Display.  At the top are the Display Devices, where you can turn on or off different displays.  You also use Display Devices to select a device so you can change its settings.  Device settings are in the bottom box.

Display Devices: All the display devices supported by your system are shown in this box.  At a glance, you can see several important pieces of information about each device.  First, is the device on or off?  If the picture of the device shows a miniature version of the desktop, that device is on.  If the device shows a dark rectangle instead, it is off.  A checkbox under the device image shows the same information.  Second, you can tell if a device is connected to your system or not.  If a device is not connected, a large red X and a small image of a connector are shown on top of the device’s picture, and the device is greyed out.

To turn on or off a device, click in the checkbox underneath the device’s picture.  To select a device and see its settings, click on the device’s picture.

Device Settings: This box shows the different settings you can change for the selected device.

Next: Switching displays


Switching displays

You can switch the display devices you use by turning off the devices you do not want to use, and turning on the devices you want.  Note that some devices cannot be turned on together at the same time.  If a device you want cannot be enabled, try turning off another device first.

To change a device between on and off, click the checkbox under the device image.  A checkmark means the device is to be turned on.  A clear checkbox means the device will be turned off.  When you have made the changes you want, select Apply.  You will be asked to confirm your choice at this point.  Select OK to continue.  The display may flicker for a short time, and then the new set of devices should be enabled.  If the new settings are not what you want, or if the display does not appear correctly, wait for 15 seconds and the previous settings will be restored.  Otherwise, select Yes to keep the new settings.


Displays the version of this utility.


Click this to open the web page for this product.


Shows the OEM or product logo.


Controller Options:  Choose between Single or Dual display controller state.


Single:  When the system is set to single controller mode, hotkeys will only cycle through the modes in the single controller list.


Dual:  When the system is set to dual controller mode, hotkeys will only cycle through the modes in the dual controller list.


Lists all the supported device combinations.  To use a different set of devices, choose the combination you want from the list.


Display Devices: Show and select the active display devices. The active display device can be a combination of one or more from CRT, TV, LCD, and DFP.  Click on a device image to select the device, but click on the checkbox to enable or disable the device.


Devices: Shows status of the device.  Right-click each device for more information.


CRT: Shows status of the CRT.  If the CRT is not attached, the CRT image and checkbox will be grayed out.  If it is attached but not active, the CRT image shows a blank screen.  A connected, active CRT shows a representation of the desktop.


LCD: Shows status of the LCD.  If the LCD is not attached, the LCD image and checkbox will be grayed out.  If it is attached but not active, the LCD image shows a blank screen.  A connected, active LCD shows a representation of the desktop.


DFP: Shows status of the DFP.  If the DFP is not attached, the DFP image and checkbox will be grayed out.  If it is attached but not active, the DFP image shows a blank screen.  A connected, active DFP shows a representation of the desktop.


TV: Shows status of the TV.  If the TV is not attached, the TV image and checkbox will be grayed out.  If it is attached but not active, the TV image shows a blank screen.  A connected, active TV shows a representation of the desktop.   Right-click the TV for a popup menu with quick access to some TV adjustment functions.


CRT 2: Shows status of the secondary CRT.  If the CRT is not attached, the CRT image and checkbox will be grayed out.  If it is attached but not active, the CRT image shows a blank screen.  A connected, active CRT shows a representation of the desktop.


Device Settings: Shows the available settings for the currently selected device.  The available settings may be different for each type of device, and some devices have no settings to adjust.


TV Type: Lists the supported TV standards, such as NTSC, NTSC Japan, or PAL.  To use a different TV standard, select the standard you want from the list.


TV Output: Lists the supported TV output connectors, such as Composite or S-Video. To use a different TV connector, select the one you want from the list.


Advanced: Click this to open the Properties screen for the selected device.


Size:  Click the minus or plus sign on the left or right to decrease or increase the horizontal size of the CRT image.  Click the up and down plus and minus signs to make the CRT image taller or shorter.  Click the center button to set the size of the CRT image to the default value.


There are no adjustable settings available for this device.


Position: Click the arrows to shift the position of images displayed on the CRT screen in the direction of the button.  Click the center button to set the position to default setting.


Test pattern: Click this to cycle through test patterns to adjust CRT size and position.


Expand panel image: Check this to expand the desktop source image on the currently selected panel (LCD or DFP).  Uncheck this to center the desktop on the panel.


Panel type: Shows the type and physical screen size of the currently selected panel.


Show tray icon on task bar: Check this to show an icon in the system tray area.  Right-click the tray icon for quick access to some S3Display functions.  The tray icon will also automatically load when Windows starts.  Uncheck this to remove the tray icon, and prevent it from loading when Windows starts.


Flicker filter: Check this to turn on flicker filtering for the TV output.  Flicker filtering can improve the quality of graphics displayed on a TV.


Flicker filter slider: Increases or decreases the amount of filtering used by the system from minimum (leftmost) to maximum (rightmost).


Sharpness: Check this to turn on edge contrast enhancement when using flicker filtering.


Sharpness Slider: Increase or decrease the amount of sharpness used by the system.


Brightness: Drag the slider to set the brightness of the TV output, from darkest (leftmost) to brightest (rightmost).


Contrast: Drag the slider to set the contrast of the TV output, from minimum (leftmost) to maximum (rightmost).


Color: Drag the slider to set the amount of color or saturation in the TV output, from minimum (leftmost) to maximum (rightmost).


Tint: Drag the slider to set the tint or hue of  the TV output, from green (leftmost) to purple (rightmost).


TV Image:  Shows how the current TV size and position settings will look on the TV screen.


Size:  Click the minus or plus sign on the left or right to decrease or increase the horizontal size of the TV image.  Click the up and down plus and minus signs to make the TV image taller or shorter.  Click the center button to set the size of the TV image to the default value.


Position: Click the arrows to shift the position of images displayed on the TV screen in the direction of the button.  Click the center button to set the position to default setting.


Aspect Ratio Lock:  Lock the TV display area to a 4:3 aspect ratio. Only the Vertical Size is adjustable in this case.


Test Pattern: Click this to cycle through test patterns to adjust TV out settings.


Default: Click this to set all TV settings shown to their default values.


Copyright Notice

S3, S3 ON BOARD, S3d (design and word), Trio and ViRGE are registered trademarks of S3 Incorporated. The S3 Corporate Logo, Sight. Sound. Speed., Trio64V2, Savage, Savage3D, Savage4, Savage 2000, DuoView, and Streams Processor are trademarks of S3 Incorporated.