NeXTSTEP 3.3 Driver: Cirrus Logic GD5434

This document discusses a device driver for the NeXTSTEP operating system, version 3.3. This driver will not work with any version of OPENSTEP.
Availability Information

An updated release version of this driver, version 3.31, is avaiable on Apple's FTP servers at:
ftp://ftp.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/MultiCountry/Enterprise/nextstep/drivers/released/CL_GD5434.pkg.compressed

Driver Name / Installer .pkg: CirrusLogicGD5434DisplayDriver
Driver Type: Display
Driver Scope: Generic-Chipset
Supported Components: Cirrus Logic GD5434
PC Bus / Interface Supported by Driver**: Integrated, PCI, VL-Bus

General Overview notes: This driver is intended to support on-board implementations of GD5434 as well as add-on adapters.

Supported Products / Add-on Adapters:
Diamond SpeedStar 64 (PCI)
Orchid Kelvin 64 (with GD5434)

Supported Products / Systems (ie integrated into PC System):
Elonex WS4100
Intel Premier (with integrated GD5434)
HP Vectra XM Series3 (not tested but reported to work)

Special Features of Driver / Driver Notes:
Because this chip has an integrated RAMDAC with only an 8 bit palette, Preferences's Brightness slider (and hardware gamma correction in general) doesn't work for any non-8 bit modes. Also the 32-bit colors look dark. There is no fix for these problems.

This device driver provides information in the Configure application's help panel. Choose Info>Help from the Configure menu and scroll down to find this device driver's help topic.

Display Driver Details

Supported Connectors: 15-pin High Density (VGA)
Access Mode: Linear Framebuffer
Adapter Memory: 1MB VRAM, 2MB VRAM

Display Modes (Number in () after resolution indicates frame buffer size required)

32 Bit Color Modes**:
640x480 (2MB+), 800x600 (2MB+)

16 Bit Color Modes**:
1024x768 (2MB+), 1152x864 (2MB+), 800x600 (1MB+)

8 Bit Color / Greyscale Modes**:
1024x768 (1MB+), 1280x1024 (2MB+), 800x600 (1MB+)

Known Problems

Cirrus Logic GD5430 is not supported but is reported to work with this driver.


Driver Version Notes

3.31 Added support for PCI cards and 8 bit color

** - Indicates information that is inclusive of the entire capability of this driver. Not all devices supported by this driver may include all features listed. Check any available NeXTanswers and the hardware manual for the device for additional information.

Product Vendor
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012