[English]
README.TXT              MATROX GRAPHICS INC.             2001.07.11

                     Matrox PowerDesk for Linux
                           Version 1.00-6


Contents
========

- Description of this release
- Installation
- Notes, problems, and limitations


Description of this release
===========================

Matrox PowerDesk is software to help you configure display settings 
for Matrox graphics hardware under XFree86. With this software, you 
can more easily adjust display resolutions, color palettes, refresh 
rates, and display positioning. With PowerDesk, you can also enable 
special Matrox features such as DualHead, DVI, and TV output.

This version of PowerDesk supports XFree86 4.0.2, 4.0.3, or 4.1.0.

The Matrox HAL ("Hardware Abstraction Layer") library is required 
to enable DualHead, TV output, and digital flat panel support with 
G400-based graphics hardware. The HAL library is required for 
certain PowerDesk features such as adjusting refresh rates and 
display positioning.

Although PowerDesk is intended for use with the graphics hardware 
supported by the HAL library, you can also use PowerDesk to adjust 
resolutions and color palettes with older Matrox products not 
supported by the HAL library (for example, the original Millennium 
graphics card).

Matrox PowerDesk for Linux is released under the GNU General Public 
License (GPL).


Installation
============

Before you install Matrox PowerDesk, you need to install an XFree86 
display driver that supports PowerDesk. This driver is available 
from the Matrox Web site (www.matrox.com/mga). This driver is based 
on the Matrox driver source included with XFree86 but includes 
special support for PowerDesk. For more information, see the 
"Readme" file included with the driver.

To install PowerDesk from the RPM ("Red Hat Package Manager") 
package, enter the following command: *

  rpm -ivh <filename>.rpm

If you choose to install from the source "tarball", enter the 
following commands: *

  tar xvzf <filename>.tgz

  cd mgapdesk

  ./configure --prefix=/usr/X11R6

  make

  make install

* IMPORTANT: For the commands listed above, replace "<filename>" 
  with the file name prefix of the corresponding file in the 
  PowerDesk distribution files.

You must be logged in as "root" to use PowerDesk. To start the 
software, enter the following from a terminal:

  mgapdesk

You can also create a shortcut by making a link to 
"/usr/X11R6/bin/mgapdesk" on your desktop.

PowerDesk parses and edits your configuration file ("XF86Config" or 
"XF86Config-4"). Each time PowerDesk starts, a backup of your 
configuration file is created. Whenever changes are made to your 
display settings, a new configuration file is created based on the 
previous version.

Because there are many different configuration possibilities, 
PowerDesk may not be able to parse the "XF86Config" file properly. 
This may cause unexpected results such as not being able to restart 
the X server.

Immediately after installing Matrox PowerDesk, we recommend you 
create a security backup of your configuration file. This backup 
should have a different name than the name of the backup created by 
PowerDesk, for example: "XF86Config-4_original".

WARNING: If incorrect display settings are applied, some monitors 
can be permanently damaged. For more information, see your monitor 
documentation.


Notes, problems, and limitations
================================

Note the following support limitations with Linux:

- TV output support is only available with G400-based graphics 
  hardware.

- DVI is only supported with G400- and G550-based graphics 
  hardware.

- Multi-display support isn't available for Matrox G200 MMS 
  products.

- You may experience problems if you try to enable features not 
  supported by your graphics hardware.



