Getting Graphics card information

[B.E]

How do i get the programming information on a certin graphics card (eg. Radeon 9200)

[AR]

If you want to program the card directly using proper drivers, the easiest thing to do would probably be to look at the Linux driver for it if possible. You can search ATi's site to see if there are docs available but I doubt you'll find any as it's probably a "trade secret"

[Candy]

How do i get the programming information on a certin graphics card (eg. Radeon 9200)

You can always try to ask ATI to send you the docs under an NDA (non-disclosure agreement, you can't tell others what's in and you can indirectly publish it either, such as source code. You can publish binaries.). Doubt they'll give it to you by the way, they consider developers to be people using directx :S. Have sent a request to XGI myself short time ago to hope they'll reply with *anything*, but it's blank so far.

[B.E]

I've applied to be a Registered Developer (it free) and waiting for a reply.

[Candy]

I've applied to be a Registered Developer (it free) and waiting for a reply.

You'll probably get information about how to develop in DirectX using that videocard, and maybe even some cutting edge techniques for OpenGL 2 or 3, but you probably can't do anything with it.

If you do get usable information, tell me how you did it . Been trying for a while now.

[Brendan]

Hi,

If you do get usable information, tell me how you did it . Been trying for a while now.

I tried ATI and Matrox a year or so ago - followed the instructions on their web pages, filled out the forms, send the emails, etc. Neither bothered to reply.

I wonder how much the lack of public documentation has to do with "trade secrets" and how much it has to do with not caring and being too lazy to support the product fully. IMHO any competitior that has the resources to manufacture a modern video card also has the resources to reverse engineer an existing card without the direct programming information.


Cheers,

Brendan

[Pype.Clicker]

your best source of information usually is the open-source drivers for that card. You might not be able to use full 3D acceleration the card offers, but you still can change video mode, use hardware cursor, bitblt and things alike ...

[Solar]

You'll probably get information about how to develop in DirectX using that videocard, and maybe even some cutting edge techniques for OpenGL 2 or 3...

Uh... did I miss something?

(Checking Google...)

Holy Cow! They actually released OpenGL 2, and I didn't realize!

But OpenGL 3? You sure the OpenGL committee actually got to release two versions in the same decade? Couldn't find references to it ad-hoc...?

[Candy]

Holy Cow! They actually released OpenGL 2, and I didn't realize!

But OpenGL 3? You sure the OpenGL committee actually got to release two versions in the same decade? Couldn't find references to it ad-hoc...?

Wasn't sure whether they'd finally realise they needed to do some work and release 2 and 3 in close conjunction, or something like that. Last time I checked was at least a year ago, and they had released 2 back then.

[Solar]

"Give me a standard large enough and a committee to discuss it, and I will prevent the world from moving."
-- Andy Finkel, comp.sys.amiga.tech, <[email protected]>