               README.TXT - Documentation Supplement
                   April 13, 1994 - Release 2.20
                                    
                    Hercules Dynamite Card(tm)    (D201/D201E)
                     Hercules Dynamite VL(tm)     (D501)
                   Hercules Dynamite Pro ISA(tm)  (D301, D302)
                   Hercules Dynamite Pro VL(tm)   (D601, D602)
                   Hercules Dynamite Pro PCI(tm)  (D901)

                      Installation Diskette
                 Windows Display Driver Diskette



  Thank you for purchasing a Hercules Dynamite product. This
  file contains changes or additions to the printed Installation 
  Guides.


  CONTENTS:
    What's New in this Release
    Warranty Registration Card
    Hercules Phone, Fax and BBS Access Numbers
    Using the DPMS Windows Screen Saver
    Using the PowerMem utility
    Using the PowerTune utility
    Using the VESA BIOS Extension Display Modes
    Installing the AutoCAD ADI Drivers
    SPEEDY: Windows Performance Benchmark Test
    Changing your Monitor Selection
    Windows -- Known Limitations
    DOS Games -- Flickering Display
    AutoCAD -- Known Limitations
    Additional Information for QEMM386 Users
    Documentation Errata
    Hercules Dynamite Series Software Revision History



   What's New in this Release
   --------------------------
   Installation diskette:
    1) A new utility called PowerTune (POWERTUN.COM).
       PowerTune replaces CENTER.COM and provides more
       degrees of screen adjustments.
    2) New version of INSTALL.EXE to support new Hercules
       products.
    3) README.TXT file (this one).

   Windows Display Driver diskette:
    1) New 16-bit driver (VGA4AHT.DRV).

   Recommendation:
   ---------------
   If you are using release 2.12 or 2.11 or 2.10 software,
   and experiencing no problems, you do not need to upgrade 
   to this version of software.

   If you want the PowerTune utility, you can download it
   from our BBS.



   Warranty Registration Card
   --------------------------
   Please take a few minutes to fill out and return the enclosed
   Warranty Registration Card. It is essential that we receive
   the card in order to provide you with the following service
   and support:

   *  Free technical support via phone, fax and Hercules BBS
   *  Software updates via mail and Hercules BBS
   *  Third party support information via mail and Hercules BBS

   Register today!



   Hercules Phone, Fax and BBS Access Numbers
   ------------------------------------------
   Hercules Sales Group.............(800) 532-0600
   Hercules Technical Support.......(510) 623-6050
   Fax..............................(510) 623-1112
   BBS (3 lines)....................(510) 623-7449 (1200-V.32bis)
   Other Inquiries..................(510) 623-6030

   In Europe:
   German BBS....................(+49) 40-65737335 (1200-V.32bis)

  

   Using the DPMS Windows Screen Saver
   -----------------------------------
   If you have a monitor that supports the Display Power 
   Management Signaling standard (DPMS), you may use the 
   included Hercules Dynamite VESA DPMS Screen Saver for 
   Microsoft Windows.

   To use this DPMS Windows Screen Saver, perform the 
   following steps:

   1) Copy the file DYNADPMS.SCR from your Dynamite software
      directory (e.g. C:\HERCULES) into your Windows directory
      (e.g. C:\WINDOWS).
   2) Run Windows and select the Desktop icon under the Control
      Panel of the Main program group.
   3) Select the screen saver titled "Tseng VESA DPMS".
   4) Set desired delay time.



   Using the PowerMem utility
   --------------------------
   (Available on Dynamite Pro ISA, Pro VL, and Pro PCI)

   The Dynamite Pro series of products employs a special "memory
   interleaving" technique when configured with 2MB of memory.
   The second megabyte of DRAM in combination with this
   interleave design raises the bandwidth of memory by 100%.
   This dramatically affects the performance of various memory
   transfer operations under Windows: memory-to-screen BitBlt
   speeds increase by over 40% and screen-to-screen BitBlts
   more than double in speed. The effect is observable in
   certain applications or benchmarks, such as Microsoft Excel
   (scrolling), WinBench or the Torque benchmark. The effect is
   especially noticable when the board operates in a high memory
   bandwidth requirement situation, such as in the 1024x768
   256-color 72Hz mode. In a low bandwidth case like the 640x480
   256-color 72Hz mode, the performance gain is less noticable.
  
   In order to demonstrate the effect of memory interleaving on
   Dynamite Pro, Hercules has provided a utility called
   POWERMEM.EXE which can execute on the 2MB models.

     Type POWERMEM 0 [Enter] to disable the memory interleaving.
     Type POWERMEM 1 [Enter] to enable the memory interleaving.

   Note that for the 2MB models, the default condition is
   equivalent to the POWERMEM 1 case, and you should always
   have memory interleaving enabled in normal operation.



   Using the PowerTune utility
   ---------------------------
   The PowerTune (POWERTUN.COM) utility allows you to adjust the
   screen positions (left, right, up, down) and change both the
   horizontal and vertical sync polarities. Type POWERTUN at the
   DOS prompt to find out how to use this program. The PowerTune
   utility replaces the CENTER.COM utility.



   Using the VESA BIOS Extension Display Modes
   -------------------------------------------
   Some models of the Dynamite products have the VESA BIOS
   Extension Support implemented within the on-board Video
   BIOS. In this case, you do not need to load the VESA.COM
   TSR program to utilize any of the VESA BIOS extended
   display modes. The installation program will not prompt
   you to install the VESA.COM program.



   Installing the AutoCAD ADI Drivers
   ----------------------------------
   When configuring the DL-Xpress driver, choose a 256 color
   mode for display.  Do not select either a "65,536 color" or
   a "16777216 color" mode for display, these are suitable for 
   rendering modes only. If you want true color rendering 
   (as opposed to 256 color rendering) in AutoCAD Release 12, 
   3D Studio, or AutoShade, choose the "640x480 16777216 colors" 
   option when configuring the rendering portion of the driver.

   Installation of the DL-Xpress driver is very straightforward
   with a menu driven utility and can be accomplished without
   printed documentation.  A full manual for the Vibrant driver
   is available for an additional charge.  To order in the United
   States, send a check for $15.00 to Hercules along with a 
   request for the DL-Xpress manual.  Outside of the United 
   States, send a check for $25.00.  Please allow 2-3 weeks for 
   delivery.



   SPEEDY: Windows Performance Benchmark Test
   ------------------------------------------
   SPEEDY, a Windows performance benchmark test, is included
   with this Hercules product. This test is designed to perform
   a standard set of Windows graphics functions and compute a
   performance metric called a "SPEEDMARK." A higher "SPEEDMARK"
   indicates better performance. This test can also be used to
   measure performance of any display adapter that supports
   Windows.

   SPEEDY is available in the Hercules program group. Double-
   click on the Speedy icon to launch the SPEEDY program. Press
   F2 to initiate an "Auto Run" test, F10 to exit the program,
   and F1 to view the on-line documentation.



   Changing your Monitor Selection
   -------------------------------
   If, after the initial installation of Dynamite, you wish to
   change the monitor type, you should delete the SETCRT line 
   (if present) from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file before running the
   installation program.  If there are more than one SETCRT
   entries in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, the wrong timing
   parameters may be used.



   Windows -- Known Limitations
   ----------------------------
   DOS Windows:
     1) It is not possible to run most VGA graphics applications
        in a windowed DOS window session. Instead, choose to run
        your VGA graphics application at full screen.

   640x480 24-bit, 1MB memory:
     The Speedy benchmark's Screen-to-Screen portion may show
     some incorrect pixels.



   DOS Games -- Flickering Display
   -------------------------------
   Some high speed DOS games use an undocumented VGA feature
   that is not supported on the Tseng Labs ET4000/W32 used on
   the D201 and D501 models. (NOTE: The D201E uses a W32i and 
   will not have this problem).  Programs that attempt to use 
   this feature may produce a flickering display.  Workarounds
   and patches are available for the following applications: 

     1) Spectrum Holobyte Falcon 3.0: 
        A patch from Spectrum Holobyte is available on the 
        Hercules BBS.

     2) Microsoft Flight Simulator 4: 
        Select the slow/no flicker option, or upgrade to Flight 
        Simulator 5.

     3) Sublogic ATP: 
        Select [F5] to bring up the Graphics menu and select one 
        of the flicker/speed options that gives the best 
        combination of speed and stability.

   If you own any other programs which exhibit this problem, you 
   may wish to inquire with your software vendor to see if a fix 
   is available.



   AutoCAD -- Known Limitations
   ----------------------------
   The current AutoCAD ADI drivers do not work with any W32p-
   based Dynamite products. Please call Hercules for further
   details.



   Additional Information for QEMM386 Users
   ----------------------------------------
   If you are using QEMM386's Stealth feature (indicated by
   ST:M or ST:F on the QEMM386 device line in CONFIG.SYS) and
   you are experiencing random problems in Windows or DOS, try
   excluding the Dynamite's BIOS area from Stealth by adding
   the parameter XST=C000 to your QEMM386 device line. This is
   in addition to the memory exclusion statements covered in
   the Dynamite manual.



   Documentation Errata
   --------------------
   Dynamite Installation Guide, edition 1.1, page 6-2:
     1) The 1024x768 resolution currently does not support the
        "z=5" option.
     2) SETCRT now has a new parameter called w. Type SETCRT
        at the DOS prompt to see details.

   All editions of Dynamite Installation Guides:
     If your Dynamite product's on-board Video BIOS contains the
     VESA BIOS Extension Support, the installation program
     will not present you with the "Install VESA BIOS Extension
     Support" option during the installation process. You do not
     need to install anything to utilize the VESA BIOS extended
     display modes.



   Hercules Dynamite Series Software Revision History
   --------------------------------------------------
   Release 2.20
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 2.20  04/13/94
     Windows Display Driver Diskette........Rel. 2.20  04/13/94

   Release 2.12 -- Installation diskette change.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 2.12  02/28/94
     Windows Display Driver Diskette........Rel. 2.10  12/06/93

   Release 2.11 -- Updated Installation diskette.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 2.11  01/12/94
     Windows Display Driver Diskette........Rel. 2.10  12/06/93

   Release 2.10 -- First release for the Dynamite PCI Pro
                   products.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 2.10  12/06/93
     Windows Display Driver Diskette........Rel. 2.10  12/06/93

   Release 2.02 -- New Installation diskette for the Dynamite
                   VL Pro and the Dynamite Pro products.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 2.02  11/01/93

   Release 2.01 -- New Installation diskette for the Dynamite
                   VL Pro and the Dynamite Pro products.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 2.01  10/15/93

   Release 2.00 -- First release for the Dynamite VL Pro and
                   the Dynamite Pro products.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 2.00  09/30/93
     Windows Display Driver Diskette........Rel. 2.00  09/30/93

   Release 1.10 -- First release of combined diskettes for the
                   Dynamite Card and VL products.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 1.10  07/28/93
     Windows Display Driver Diskette........Rel. 1.10  07/28/93

   Release 1.00 -- First release.
     Installation Diskette..................Rel. 1.00  06/07/93
     Windows Display Driver Diskette........Rel. 1.00  06/07/93



   ** End of File **
