MSI N580GTX LIGHTNING User Manual

Card features, Unpacking, System requirements

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Fan Connector

8-pin Power Connectors

V-Check point

1536MB DDR5 memory

NVIDIA GeForce GTX580

PCI Express Interface

Bios Switch

This switch is located on the back
side of the card.

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SLI Interface**

Display Port

HDMI Connector

DVI-I Ports
- HDMI supported
- HDCP supported
- Dual Dual-link DVI
output supported

**1 To ensure the best SLI

performance, please visit MSI
website to update the latest
driver.

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Card Features

For reference only

Unpacking

Please check out the following items to make sure that you get the complete product:
> VGA card
> Disk: Drivers, documentation, and applications
Consult your dealer immediately if anything is missing or damaged.

System Requirements

To install the VGA card, your computer system needs to meet the following requirements:
>

PCI Express or PCI Express 2.0 - compliant motherboard with one dual-width x16 graphics slot

>

Two 8-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.

>

>

CD-ROM / DVD-ROM for driver installation

>

Visiting MSI website for further information of operating system support

Minimum 700 Watt or greater system power supply (with a minimum 12V current rating of 42A)

is recommended.

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etting Started

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etting Started

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Hardware

Follow the steps below to install the VGA card:

1. Remove the computer case.

2. Locate the expansion slot on your mainboard.

Warning: Inserting the VGA card into a wrong
slot may damage your card (refer to your
mainboard manual for more Information).

3. Put the card directly over the expansion slot

and press one end of the card into the slot
first. Gently but firmly press the other end
until the card is fully seated in the slot.

4. Secure the card with a bracket screw.

5. Install all other cards and devices and connect

all the cables, and then install the case.

6. Connect the monitor. Now, you are ready to

install the software on your computer.

To install the driver of the VGA card to your computer, please follow the steps below:

1. Turn on the computer.

2. Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive. The Autorun program will start the Setup

program, and show the setup screen as follows:

Tip: If, on your computer, the Autorun
program does not execute
automatically, please 1) enable the
CD-ROM drive Auto-detect function
from Control Panel; or 2) find and run
the setup.exe file manually from the
CD.

To operate the overclocking function, it is required to install the Lightning Afterburner
application in advance.

To install the Lightning Afterburner application, please click the Utility tag, and follow
the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

The Lightning Afterburner function includes:

1) GPU Overclocking,
2) Memory overclocking,
3) GPU Overvoltage, and
4) Fan Speed Control(%)

Software

3. Click the Driver tag, and follow the on-

screen instructions to complete the
installation.

4. After finishing the installation, restart

the computer as instructed.

Q

uick Installation

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The VGA card shown here is for reference, and may
vary from the actual card.

For further information, please visit MSI's website at
www.msi.com

> NVIDIA GeForce Unified Driver Architecture (UDA)

Delivers a proven record of compatibility, reliability, and stability with the widest range of

games and application. NVIDIA GeForce drivers provide the best out-of-box experience for

every user and deliver continuous performance and feature updates over the life of NVIDIA

GeForce GPUs.

> Microsoft Windows 7 Support

Windows 7 is the next generation operating system that will mark a dramatic improvement in
the way the OS takes advantage of the graphics processing unit (GPU) to provide a more
compelling user experience. By taking advantage of the GPU for both graphics and
computing, Windows 7 will not only make today's PCs more visual and more interactive but
also ensure that they have the speed and responsiveness customers want.

> NVIDIA PhysX - Technology

Full support for NVIDIA PhysX technology technology,enabling a totally new class of physical
gaming interaction for a more dynamic and realistic experience with GeForce.

TM

> NVIDIA CUDA

Technology

CUDA technology unlocks the power of the GPU's processing cores to accelerate the most
demanding system tasks - such as video transcoding - delivering up to 7x performance over
traditional CPUs.

TM

> NVIDIA 3D Vision

Surround Ready

Expand your games across three displays in full stereoscopic 3D for the ultimate "inside the
game" experience with the power of NVIDIA 3D Vision and SLI technologies. NVIDIA 3D
Vision Surround also supports triple screen gaming with non-stereo displays.
NVIDIA 3D Version surround requires (1) specific drivers released by NVIDIA, (2) two or
more graphic cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration, (3) 3D vision glasses, and (4) three
identical displays in support of 3D version. See www.nvidia.com/surround for more
information.

> Noise Reduction

Improves movie image quality by removing unwanted artifacts.

> Edge Enhancement

Sharpens movie images by providing higher contrast around lines and objects.

TM

> 3-way

NVIDIA SLI Technology

Industry leading 3-way NVIDIA SLI technology offers amazing performance scaling by
implementing 3-way AFR(Alternate frame Rendering) for the world's premier gaming solution
under Windows 7 with solid, state-of-the-are drivers.

> PCI Express 2.0 Support

Designed for the new PCI Express 2.0 bus architecture offering the highest data transfer
speeds for the most bandwidth-hungry games and 3D applications, while maintaining backwards
compatibility with existing PCI Express motherboards for the broadest support.

> OpenGL 3.2 Optimization and Support

Ensures top-notch compatibility and performance for OpenGL applications.

> OpenCL Support

Full support for OpenCL GPU computing API.

> DirectCompute Support

Full support for DirectCompute, Microsoft's GPU computing API..

> 32x Anti-aliasing Technology

Lightning fast, high-quality anti-aliasing at up to 32x sample rates obliterates jagged edges.

> Dual-link DVI Support

Able to drive industry's largest and highest resolution flat-panel displays up to 2560x1600 and
with support for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP).

> HDMI 1.3a Support

Fully integrated support for HDMI 1.3a including xvYCC, Deep color and 7.1 digital surround
sound.

TM

> NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology

The combination of high-definition video decode acceleration and post-processing that delivers
unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for
movies and video.

> Dual-stream Hardware Acceleration

Supports picture-in-picture content for the ultimate interactive Blu-ray and HD DVD movie
experience.

> Dynamic Contrast Enhancement & Color Stretch

Provides post-processing and optimization of High Definition movies on a scene by scene basis
for spectacular picture clarity.

> Dual-link HDCP Capable

Designed to meet the output protection management (HDCP) and security specifications of the
Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, allowing the playback of encrypted movie content on PCs
when connected to HDCP-compliant displays.

> High-Quality Scaling

Enlarges lower resolution movies and videos to HDTV resolutions, while maintaining a clear,
clean image. Also provides downscaling of videos, including high-definition, while preserving
image detail.

> Bad Edit Correction

Recovers original film images from films-converted-to-video (DVDs, 1080i HD content),
providing more accurate movie playback and superior picture quality.

> Enhanced Error Resilience

Correct errors or losses in broadcast content to ensure crisp, high quality playback.

> Hardware Decode Acceleration

Provides ultra-smooth playback of H.264, VC-1, WMV, DivX, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 HD and SD
movies without the need for a dual or quad-core CPU.

> Microsoft DirectX 11 Support

DirectX 11 GPU with ShaderModel 5.0 support designed for ultrahigh performance in the new
API's key graphics feature, GPU-accelerated tessellation.

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