Number Nine Imagine128 Series 2 OPENSTEP Driver Overview

This article discusses a device driver for the OPENSTEP Mach operating system, versions 4.0 through 4.2.
Driver: Number Nine Imagine128 Series 2
Last Update: December 18, 1997

Availability Information

An updated release version of this driver, version 4.02, is avaiable on Apple's FTP servers at:
ftp://ftp.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/MultiCountry/Enterprise/openstep/drivers/released/Num9Imagine128S2.pkg.compressed

Driver Name / Installer .pkg: Number9Imagine128S2DisplayDriver
Driver Type: Display
Driver Scope: Product Family
Supported Components: IBM RGB 526 RAMDAC, IBM RGB 528 RAMDAC, Number9 Imagine II, Number9 T2R
PC Bus / Interface Supported by Driver**: PCI

General Overview notes: This graphics driver is designed to support the Imagine 128 Series 2 and Revolution 3D adapters from Number Nine Visual Technology Inc.

This driver supports the use of 4MB, or 8MB of display memory. This driver also includes support for multi-headed displays.

Supported Products / Add-on Adapters:
Number9 Imagine 128 Series 2 (4MB) (90-228120-000)
Number9 Imagine 128 Series 2 (8MB) (90-228130)
Number9 Revolution 3D (4MB)
Number9 Revolution 3D (8MB)

Special Features of Driver / Driver Notes:
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: 4MB VRAM, 4MB WRAM, 8MB VRAM, 8MB WRAM

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

32 Bit Color Modes*:
1024x768 (4MB+), 1152x864 (4MB+), 1600x1200(8MB+), 640x480 (2MB+), 800x600 (2MB+)

16 Bit Color Modes*:
1024x768 (2MB+), 1152x864 (2MB+), 1280x1024 (4MB+), 1600x1200 (4MB+), 640x480 (1MB+), 800x600 (1MB+)

8 Bit Color / Greyscale Modes*:
1024x768 (1MB+), 1152X864 (1MB+), 1280x1024 (2MB+), 1600x1200 (4MB+), 640X480 (1MB+), 800x600 (1MB+)

Known Problems

Some PCI machines will not start up if there is more than one Number Nine Imagine128 display adpter present. This is a BIOS limitation.

The Revolution 3D cards used for driver development exhibited a slight distortion on screen under the following display modes:

1600x1200x32@70Hz
1280x1024x32@75Hz

The distortion causes the right side of windows to undulate. This is most noticeable on a text filled window with white background. This seems to be caused by some unknown hardware problem on those cards.


Driver Version Notes

4.00 - Initial Version
4.01 - Added support for Series 2 cards with integrated VGA controller. Added support for 8MB VRAM cards.
4.02 - Added support for Revolution 3D cards based on the T2R engine and WRAM display memory.

* - Indicates information that is inclusive of the entire capability of this driver. Not all devices supported by this driver may include all features listed.

Product Vendor
Number Nine Visual Technology
18 Hartwell Avenue
Lexington, MA 02173-3103

Voice: (617) 674-0009
FAX: (617) 674-2919
BBS: (617) 862-7502 (8/1/N, up to 28kbps)
URL: http://www.nine.com
Published Date: Feb 20, 2012