Chapter 2 Using the Silicon Graphics MultiLink

This chapter describes how to use the features of the Silicon Graphics MultiLink. The on-screen display provides access to the flat panel display controls.

Understanding the Buttons

The five buttons on top of the MultiLink, shown in Figure 2-1, interact with the on-screen display.

2-1.buttons.on.top.gif

Figure 2-1 Buttons on Top of the MultiLink

You use the five buttons on top of the MultiLink to:

To display the on-screen display, press the select button.

General Layout of the On-Screen Display

Figure 2-2 shows that the layout of the on-screen display includes:

How the On-Screen Display Works

The following scenario explains how to use the five buttons on top of the MultiLink with the on-screen display. Figure 2-3 shows a flowchart of the actions described in the following steps.

  1. To display the on-screen display, press the select button on top of the MultiLink.

  2. To choose a menu, press the right or left directional button.

    Notice that each time you press one of these buttons:

  3. To choose a menu item in the selected menu, press the up or down directional button.

    Notice that each time you press one of these buttons:

  4. To use the menu item controls of the selected menu item:

  5. To end adjustment of the display controls, press the select button.

    Notice that the menu icon highlight and the menu item selection indicator turn white while the menu item controls change color to indicate the current selection. The directional buttons now interact with the menu and menu item choices again.

  6. You now have a choice for your next on-screen display action:

    To use a different menu item or switch to another menu, use the directional buttons. Refer to steps 2 through 5 above.

    Alternately, to exit the on-screen display immediately and save your settings, press the select button. You must press the select button before using any directional buttons or you will not exit the on-screen display.


    Note: The on-screen display will automatically exit and save your settings after a period of inactivity. See the OSD Timeout menu item at "On-Screen Display Menu" for details.

On-Screen Display Flowchart

Figure 2-3 shows in flowchart style how to use the select and menu buttons, as described in "How the On-Screen Display Works". Darkened buttons on the keypad illustrations show how the state of the on-screen display changes according to user input. The Overlapped Modes menu item on the General Menu is shown as an example; all other menus and menu items also follow this flowchart.

OSD.state.table.gif

Figure 2-3 Flowchart of On-Screen Display Interaction

Understanding the Icons on the Bottom of the On-Screen Display

On the bottom of the on-screen display shown in Figure 2-2 are four settings:

Resolution

The resolution is expressed by the number of pixels drawn in the horizontal and vertical directions. For example, the highest resolution is 1600 X 1024, which means 1600 pixels are drawn on each horizontal line and 1024 horizontal lines are drawn.

Your video card sets the resolution. Consult your video card manual for instructions on changing the resolution.

Analog or Digital Input Status

The input to the MultiLink can be either analog or digital, as shown in Figure 2-4.

timing.line.ana.vs.dig.gif

Figure 2-4 Analog and Digital Input Icons

The sine wave icon shown in Figure 2-4 represents an analog input, the square wave icon represents a digital input.

You specify the input by setting the analog and digital (A/D) input switch, shown in Figure 2-5, located on the back of the MultiLink.


Note: For best results, set the analog and digital input switch position before turning on your computer.

2-5.digital.analog.switch.gif

Figure 2-5 Analog and Digital Input Switch

Line Rate

Line rate indicates the speed with which horizontal lines are drawn out of your video card to the MultiLink. Although the numbers you see for line rate will be close to the numbers pictured in this manual, they may not match exactly.

The refresh rate on the MultiLink is fixed at 60 Hz (except in special situations for legacy BIOS mode compatibility). If the refresh rate on the video card is incompatible with the refresh rate of the MultiLink, the LED on top of the MultiLink flashes yellow.


Note: You cannot change the MultiLink's refresh rate value.

Zoom Status

The Zoom feature enables you to do the following (see Figure 2-6):

wide.and.standard.gif

Figure 2-6 Zoom Settings

Figure 2-7 shows the icons for the Standard and the Wide zoom settings, respectively, that are found toward the bottom of the on-screen display.

timing.line.exp.vs.stand.gif

Figure 2-7 Zoom Status Icons

To set the zoom, use the Zoom menu item in the General menu, as shown in Figure 2-8.

zoom.setting.gif

Figure 2-8 Zoom Menu Item

On-Screen Display Menus

This section explains the menu items in each of the on-screen display menus in the following sections:

General Menu

The General Menu, shown in Figure 2-9, adjusts common flat panel display settings and user preferences.

general.menu.gif

Figure 2-9 General Menu Overview

The General Menu has the following menu items:

Image Menu

The Image Menu, shown in Figure 2-10, provides menu items that affect screen appearance parameters.

image.menu.gif

Figure 2-10 Image Menu Overview


Note: The following menu items described as "analog only" appear in the on-screen display only when the MultiLink is set for analog input as described in "Analog or Digital Input Status".

The Image Menu has the following menu items:

On-Screen Display Menu

The On-Screen Display Menu, shown in Figure 2-11, affects the position, time-out setting, size, and language of the on-screen display.

OSD.menu.gif

Figure 2-11 On-Screen Display Menu Overview

The On-Screen Display (OSD) Menu has the following menu items:

Advanced Menu

The Advanced Menu, shown in Figure 2-12, enables you to change settings that are less frequently adjusted.

fltpanel.advanced.menu.gif

Figure 2-12 Advanced Menu Overview


Note: The following menu items described as "analog only" appear in the on-screen display only when the MultiLink is set for analog input as described in "Analog or Digital Input Status".

The Advanced Menu has the following menu items: