Nvidia Vision 2 Manual

							NVIDIA Corporation17 C
HAPTER 2
Using the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver
Gam e Ratings for Stereo
The level of effective stereo viewing varies from game to game. NVIDIA has evaluated a 
number of games and provides information to help users determine how well their game 
will look in stereo. 
Understanding the Game Ratings
Ratings for each game are provided in two areas:
Stereo Value - Indicates how much added entertainment value the game has in stereo. 
Some games are rich in 3D information while others are little more than 2D.
Stereo Compatibility - Indicates how well the game translates to stereo. Some games 
may contain issues that interfere with good stereo viewing, such as placing objects at 
depths that are difficult to view. 
Viewing of games that have a low rating can result in adverse symptoms such as 
headaches and visual problems. It is the user’s responsibility to decide whether to 
view certain games in stereo based on the information provided. 
Viewing the Game Ratings
To view the Stereo Value and Stereo Compatibility rating for particular games:
1From the Stereo Properties sheet, click the Game Configuration... button.
2In the Game Name drop down menu, locate your game, then click the name. 
Figure 2.7Game Configuration Sheet (Windows 98)
Stereo Value and Compatibility 
The Comments section describes
issues in the game that interfere with
good stereo viewing.
Ratings 
						

							18NVIDIA 3D Stereo User’s Guide – Revision 2.0 C
HAPTER 2
Using the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver
Stereo Test and Refresh Rate Setup
The Stereo Setup & Test feature allows you to:
Test different color depth, resolution and refresh rate combinations to determine the 
limitations of your system and the optimum display mode for your games.
Set the stereo refresh rate for your games. 
This refresh rate overrides the display adapter control panel refresh rate setting. 
Stereo must be enabled and a mode change performed for the stereo refresh rate to 
go into effect. 
Controlling the Refresh Rate 
Specifying the Refresh Rate
1From the Stereo Properties sheet, click the Stereo Setup & Test... button.
The Stereo Setup & Test page appears. 
Figure 2.8Stereo Setup & Test Page
2
Select the color depth using the Bit Depth radio buttons, then move the Resolution slide 
bar to the desired resolution. 
3Set the refresh rate using the Stereo Refresh Rate slide bar. The best stereo image is 
achieved at high refresh rates, preferably over 100 Hz.
4Click the Save Setting button.  
						

							NVIDIA Corporation19 C
HAPTER 2
Using the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver
The New Refresh Rate Behavior
The display switches to the new refresh rate under the following conditions:
 If the Always Use Refresh Rate check box is checked:
The refresh rate is set when you click OK at the dialog box.
 If the Always Use Refresh Rate check box is not checked:
The new refresh rate is set when the corresponding resolution is set by the game, or if 
the resolution is set during the display test procedure described below. 
Note: There must be a mode change for any refresh rate changes to go into effect. If 
stereo is disabled, the stereo refresh rate will continue until a change is made to 
the desktop resolution. 
						

							20NVIDIA 3D Stereo User’s Guide – Revision 2.0 C
HAPTER 2
Using the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver
Testing Display Combinations
Basic Instructions
1Choose a new combination using the Stereo Test Configuration sheet, then click 
Launch Test Application. (DirectX 8 is required to view the test screen.)
A blank screen appears while the refresh rate is measured, then the test screen 
appears..
To change settings while viewing the test screen, press F1. 
A hot key menu appears instructing how to change settings while viewing the test 
screen. You can then select, view, and save different combinations from this screen.
2If the image is a clear stereo image, press F6 to save this combination. 
The settings will revert to a “safe” refresh rate, such as 60 Hz, after 15 seconds. Make 
sure to press F6 before the time runs out if you want to save the current settings. 
Suggested Approach
1Set desired bit depth, then select an optimum refresh rate, such as 120 Hz.
2Click Set Rate for All Resolutions. 
This forces the selected refresh rate on all resolutions in the test. If the rate is not 
available, the driver will select the closest available refresh rate for that resolution.
3Launch the test.
4Press the (+) key to increase the refresh rate or the (-) key to decrease it as needed to 
find the highest refresh rate that will pass the test, then press F6 to save this setting.
5Press the Home/End key to test the next highest/lowest resolution. 
						

							NVIDIA Corporation21 C
HAPTER 2
Using the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver
3D Stereo Laser Sight
Cross-hair sights in first-person shooter games are usually positioned at screen depth when 
view in stereo, making it difficult to aim. 
To resolve this, NVIDIA provides a selection of 3D “laser” sights that appear on the 
targeted object. The NVIDIA laser sights work in properly configured first-person shooter 
games with screen-centered sights. 
To use the NVIDIA laser sight:
1From the Stereo Properties sheet, click the Additional Properties... button. 
Figure 2.9Additional Stereo Properties Sheet
2
Enable the NVIDIA laser sight.
Select On for Configured Games.
3Select a laser sight design.
Click the up or down arrow button to scroll through the selection of sights.
4Move the Transparency slide bar to adjust the laser transparency—from 0% (solid laser 
sight) to 100% (almost see-through sight).
The recommended setting is at 25%. 
5When finished, click OK or Apply. 
The laser sight appears when stereo is turned on during a game. To avoid confusion, 
disable the sight provided by the game. Refer to the Config Values section under Stereo 
Properties > Game Configurations > Advanced Settings for any special instructions. 
Enable NVIDIA Laser Sight
Select choice of sight design
Adjust sight transparency 
						

							NVIDIA Corporation22
CHAPTER
3
USING THE GAME CONFIGURATION FEATURE
This chapter describes the advanced game configuration feature of the NVIDIA 3D Stereo 
Driver. It contains these sections:
“The Purpose of Game Configurations” on page 23
explains the purpose of the game configurations.
“Creating and Modifying Game Configurations” on page 24
explains how to change the configuration parameters and save the changes.
“Assigning Configurations to Games” on page 29
explains how to use demo version configurations for the full game version of a game, or 
visa versa. 
						

							NVIDIA Corporation23 C
HAPTER 3
Using the Game Configuration Feature
The Purpose of Game Configurations
Characteristics of Good Stereo Viewing
Optimum stereo is achieved when the game display consists of the following:
 Meaningful range of depth, or distance between the nearest and farthest objects. 
 Nearest objects which are not too close for comfortable viewing.
 Heads up displays (HUDs) which are positioned so as not to interfere with the stereo 
experience. Ideally, HUDs should be at screen depth.
The NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver takes certain 3D information contained in the game and 
uses it to generate the stereo display. Since most games are not designed with stereo in 
mind, the resulting stereo display quality will vary from game to game. In some cases, the 
game is not viewable at all in stereo without making adjustments based on observation. 
W hat the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver Provides
Preset Configurations
For most games, NVIDIA has established settings that adjust the display to achieve 
meaningful stereo, based on the needs of each game. 
After you launch a game and enable the NVIDIA stereo support, the driver compares the 
game executable name with its own list. If the driver finds a match, it applies the 
adjustments to that game to improve the stereo display. 
You can view the list of these games in the Stereo Properties > Game Configuration sheet 
under Game Name.
Hot keys to Change or Create Configurations
Configuring game parameters for stereo is a complex process and should be performed 
only by persons who are thoroughly familiar with the parameters involved in creating 
stereo images.
See “Creating and Modifying Game Configurations” on page 24 for instructions on how 
to: 
Create settings for games which are not listed.
Note: The game will not appear in the Game Name list.
Change the settings for listed games.
The NVIDIA provided settings are designed for optimum stereo viewing, and should 
not require further adjustments. It is possible, though, to change these settings to suit 
individual tastes.  
						

							24NVIDIA 3D Stereo User’s Guide – Revision 2.0 C
HAPTER 3
Using the Game Configuration Feature
Creating and Modifying Game Configurations
You can change the stereo parameters for 3D games. When you save the changes, the 
driver uses the saved settings automatically the next time the game is launched. 
Hints to Keep In Mind
 To undo changes that have not been saved, just exit the game.
 To undo changes that have been saved, you must uninstall and then re-install the 3D 
Stereo Driver.
 To restore original configurations that have been deleted, you must uninstall and then 
re-install the 3D Stereo Driver.
To View the Current Configuration
1Find the listed games.
aFrom the Stereo Properties sheet, click Game Configuration.
bScroll through the Game Name list to find your game, then click it.
2Click the Advanced Settings ... button to open the Advanced Game Configuration 
sheet.
The Advanced Game Configuration sheet shows the current settings for the game.  
Figure 3.1Advanced Game Configuration sheet
Custom configuration data
appears here. 
						

							NVIDIA Corporation25 C
HAPTER 3
Using the Game Configuration Feature
To Perform In-Game Configuring:
1Set up and get familiar with the Game Configuration Hot Keys.
aFrom the Stereo Properties sheet, click the Game Configurations button, then click 
the Configure Hot Keys button from the Game Configuration sheet.
 
Figure 3.2Game Configuration Hot Keys
b
If a hot key is not set, click in the New Hot Key box, enter the desired hot-key key 
strokes, then click the corresponding Set button.
Avoid assigning hot keys that are needed by your game, or that are already assigned 
for the basic stereo functions listed under Stereo Properties > Additional Properties. 
cMake sure the Enable In-Game Configuration box is checked.
dClick OK or Apply when finished.
2Use the hot keys to alter the stereo presentation while viewing the game.
See “About the Configuration Hot Key Functions” on page 27 for a description of each 
function, and “Configuration Guidelines” on page 26 for a suggested method of finding 
the optimum settings for your game.
3To save the setting, press Ctl+F7.
The driver saves the settings in the registry, and creates a log file in the folder 
Nvstereo.log. 
4To delete all settings and start over, press Alt+F7.
This removes all stereo configuration settings, including the original NVIDIA settings. 
						

							26NVIDIA 3D Stereo User’s Guide – Revision 2.0 C
HAPTER 3
Using the Game Configuration Feature
Configuration Guidelines
Play a game to see how it looks in stereo. Make adjustments using Table 3.1 as a guide.  
Figure 3.3Graphical Illustration of Stereo Parameters
Table 3.1Stereo Improvement Suggestions
ProblemSuggestion
Objects are too close Decrease Convergence (Ctl+F5)
HUD items too close Increase Screen Depth (Ctl+F10)
HUD items in the background Increase Backplane (Alt+F9)
Side borders blurred, not clear, not visible. Cycle Frustrum Adjust until borders are clear. 
(Ctl+F11)
Convergence setting not good for all parts of the game. Toggle Auto Convergence (Ctl+F8)
Stereo unclear, but not sure what needs to be adjusted, or 
where to start.Suggest Settings (Ctrl+F2)
No
No
Stereo Stereo
Zero parallax
Adjust using Backplane hot keys.
Convergence
User’s View
Minimum RHW (depth information provided by the game)
“RHW Lesser @ screen”: Objects behind this depth are 
Maximum RHW (depth information provided by the game) “RHW greater @ screen”: Objects in front of this depth are
Adjust using Screen Depth hot keys. Adjust using Convergence hot keys.
repositioned to the screen depth.
repositioned to the screen depth.
(Screen depth)