Maya 2.5.x Qualification for Windows NT / Windows 2000 Professional

Last Updated: May 10th 2000

Qualification of Maya 2.5.2 on Windows NT & Windows 2000 Professional

Products	Version	Software Date
Maya Builder	2.5.2	200003061551
Maya Complete	2.5.2	200003061551
Maya Unlimited	2.5.2	200003061551


Maya 2.5 is Y2K compliant. For a complete description of Alias Year 2000 Compliance, please visit our web site at www.aliaswavefront.com

File Compatibility:

Maya 1.x NT and IRIX	Maya 2.5 can read Maya 1.x/2.x format files.
Others	Maya 2.5 can read Adobe Illustrator EPS files (via Invigorator), OBJ, DXF and IGES files. VRML2 files can be read via a standalone translator. Maya 3.0 exports OBJ, DXF, IGES, VRML2, RIB, RTG and GE2 files.

System

Maya 2.5.2 (and greater) is qualified on Intel Pentium II and Pentium III processors in the following systems with any of the graphics adaptors listed in the graphics table using operating systems Windows NT 4.0 with service pack 4 (or greater) or Windows 2000 Professional.
Maya is not qualified to run on Windows NT Terminal Server.
Note: Maya 2.5 and 2.5.1 will experience problems running on Windows 2000 Pro.

Company	Model	Web
sgi	Visual Workstation 320	www.sgi.com
sgi	Visual Workstation 540	www.sgi.com
Compaq	Professional Workstation 6300	www.compaq.com
Compaq	Professional Workstation AP 400	www.compaq.com
Compaq	Professional Workstation AP 500	www.compaq.com
Compaq	Professional Workstation AP 550	www.compaq.com
Compaq	Professional Workstation SP700	www.compaq.com
Compaq	Professional Workstation 6000	www.compaq.com
Dell	Precision Workstation 210	www.dell.com
Dell	Precision Workstation 220	www.dell.com
Dell	Precision Workstation 410	www.dell.com
Dell	Precision Workstation 420	www.dell.com
Dell	Precision Workstation 610	www.dell.com
Dell	Precision Workstation 620	www.dell.com
HP	HP Kayak X-Class	www.hp.com
HP	HP Visualize X-Class	www.hp.com
HP	HP Visualize P-Class	www.hp.com
IBM	Intellistation M Pro	www.ibm.com
IBM	Intellistation Z Pro	www.ibm.com
Intergraph	TDZ 2000 Graphics Workstation	www.intergraph.com

Graphics

Maya is qualified with the following graphics adapters (with the specified driver for the specified operating system) with any of the systems listed in the systems table.
Important: Graphics drivers are usually different for Windows NT and Windows 2000 Professional. Alias has tested only drivers listed under each OS. While it may be possible to use Maya successfully on earlier or later drivers, Alias cannot guarantee their performance or behaviour. If you encounter problems with a Windows 2000 Professional driver, we strongly suggest that you contact the graphic card vendor to report your problem.

Company	Graphics Controller	Driver Version on Windows NT	Driver Version on Windows 2000 Pro
3Dlabs	Oxygen GMX2000	2.12-0733, 4.0.0	2.13-0602
3Dlabs	Oxygen GVX1	2.14-1030, 4.0.0
3Dlabs	Permedia2	4.00.1381.0277, 4.0.0
Compaq	PowerStorm 600	04.06.02.22, 4.0.0
S3 Professional Graphics	Diamond Fire GL 4000	4.00.1381.2221, 4.0.0
S3 Professional Graphics	Diamond Fire GL1	4.00.1381.1066, 4.0.0	5.00.2195.1089
Evans & Sutherland	AccelGALAXY	4.00.1381.1100.040, 4.0.0 or v3.0GY-B0719
Intergraph	RealiZm II ZX13-GT	04.06.01.49, 4.0.0
Intergraph	RealiZm II ZX25-GT	04.06.01.49, 4.0.0
Intergraph	RealiZm II VX113-GT	04.06.01.49, 4.0.0
Intense3D	Pro 3410-GT	04.06.01.49, 4.0.0
Intense3D	Pro 3400	04.06.02.22, 4.0.0
Intense3D	Wildcat 4000	04.06.02.22, 4.0.0
Elsa	GLoria XL	5.34.00.329, 4.0.53
Elsa	GLoria II	4.02.03.16
HP	Visualize FX4	FX.00.00.26, 4.0.0
HP	Visualize FX6+	FX.00.02.04, 4.0.0
sgi	Cobalt Graphics	4.1.4, 4.1.4	5.1.0

Video Cards without Hardware Overlay Planes

Using video cards without Hardware Overlay planes (or Hardware Overlay planes turned off) can result in poor performance for certain operations within Maya including (but not restricted to) use of tools based on Artisan or Paint Textures technology. There will also be visual differences compared with Hardware overlays that may result in difficulty seeing or manipulating aspects of the scene or Maya interface.
Examples of Graphics cards without Hardware overlays include (but are not restricted to):

NVIDIA based TNT/TNT2/GeForce/GeForce2 video cards
ATI Rage 128/128Pro
Matrox G400
etc.

Examples of Graphics Cards where Hardware Overlays can be turned on/off include (but are not restricted to):

3dlabs GVX210/GVX1/VX1/GMX2000
etc.

Although Maya may be used successfully on systems containing these Graphics Cards, due to these limitations and the extreme sensitivity to driver versioning that these cards exhibit, we are unable to qualify their use for Maya.

Important Notes:

Please Read

A three button mouse is required.
At least 128 MB of RAM is required and 256 MB or more is strongly recommended.
It may be possible to successfully use Maya with a non-qualified or partially qualified configuration, but support and maintenance programs will be subject to the Alias Support services guidelines.
The configurations shown are subject to change, and additional qualified configurations may be added after qualification testing has been carried out.
Where Graphics Controllers are configurable, you must have at least 16MB of texture memory (TRAM). Due to the differences in the manner in which hardware vendors approach display memory, we suggest that you consult your hardware vendor to ensure that your configuration will support your required resolution.
The graphics drivers specified in this table are the drivers that were used for the qualification process. While it may be possible to use Maya successfully on earlier or later drivers, Alias cannot guarantee their performance or behaviour.
We do not recommend saving data directly from Maya to NFS or Novell Netware mounted file systems. We have received several reports of data corruption when saving in this method although we have been unable to reproduce this. We strongly recommend that you save the files locally and then copy the data to the mounted storage system.

Specific Graphics/Driver Information:

sgi Cobalt Graphics

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Cobalt Graphics (SGI)	NT4.0: 4.1.4, 4.1.4 Windows 2000 Pro: 5.1.0
		Silicon Graphics Settings:
		Advanced Options -> Apply Swappable on Vertical Retrace Only	x
		Advanced Options -> Enhance Mixed-Mode Rendering	x
		Graphics Settings and Memory Reservation Profile -> Properties:
		Display Settings -> Color Palette = True Color	x
		Display Settings -> Depth Buffer = 24 bit Depth, 8 bit Stencil	x
		Graphics Options -> Use Back Buffer	x
		Graphics Options -> Enable Overlay Planes	x
The above settings can be set by selecting: Silicon Graphics Settings -> Graphics Settings and Reservation Profile -> Graphics and Animation Design.

Elsa Gloria XL

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Elsa Gloria XL (Elsa)	NT4.0: 5.34.00.329, 4.0.53	3D resolutions: Offer all display resolution
		Enable 3D extensions	x
		GDI in Single Buffered	x
		GDI in Double Buffered		x
		Texturing Quality: 4 out of 5
		Double Buffer	x
		Force Buffer Bit		x
		Use ALpha Channels		x
		Support Overlay Planes	x
		Wait on Vertical Blank		x
		Enable Fast Clear Planes		x
		Unix OpenGL conform		x
		Support Double Write		x
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	Some minor display problems might be encountered. These problems should not affect your workflow.
Solution	These is no solution at this time.
Limitation	When changing image plane settings (luminance/alpha gain/...), Maya might become unstable and crash the Operating System.
Solution	These is no solution at this time.

Elsa GLoria II

Model	Version	Driver Settings
Elsa Gloria II (Elsa)	NT4.0: 4.02.03.16	default settings

*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	Some issues with flickering and speed especially using 'brush' based tools (Artisan and Paint Effects) due to s/w overlay planes. Depending on your task, the speed may be unacceptable.
Solution	None
Limitation	Running Maya when the "Overlay Planes" option is checked in the advanced driver settings causes a blue-screen.
Solution	Run Maya with the default settings.

Diamond Fire GL 4000

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Diamond Fire GL 4000 (S3 Professional Graphics)	NT4.0: 4.00.1381.2221, 4.0.0	Gamma Corrected Visuals	x
		4-Bit Overlay Planes	x
		Stencil Planes		x
		Texel 32-Bit Default	x
		Minimize Tearing	x
		Force Hardware Cursor	x
		Fast Polygon Offset	x
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	Objects behind, but close to opaque objects, will be partially visible through the front object when viewed in shaded mode.
Solution	These is no solution at this time.

Oxygen GMX2000

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Oxygen GMX2000 (3Dlabs)	NT4.0: 2.12-0733, 4.0.0 Windows 2000 Pro: 2.13-0602	Configuration > OpenGL > Advanced Options
		Number of DMA Sub Buffers= 3
		Wait for VBlank	x
		Configuration > OpenGL > Overlay Support
		Default	x
		Maya + Alpha		x
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	Occasionally the wrong Vertices are selected when using the Vertex/Face tool.
Solution	There is no solution at this time.
Limitation	Components become unselectable after the Vertex/Face tool has been activated.
Solution	Maya will have to be restarted.

Oxygen GVX1

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Oxygen GVX1 (3Dlabs)	NT4.0: 2.14-1030, 4.0.0	Advanced > OpenGL Support > Dirver is optimized for application
		Maya (tm)	x

PowerStorm 600

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
PowerStorm 600 (Intense3D)	NT4.0: 04.06.02.22, 4.0.0	Settings > Performance
		Synchronize Buffer Swap to Vertical Sync	x
		Line 3-Pass Anti-aliasing		x
		Pixel Color Format	BGR	RGB

AccelGALAXY

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
AccelGALAXY (Evans&Sutherland)	NT4.0: 4.00.1381.1100.040, 4.0.0	Lower Frame Rate Performance (Sync to screen refresh)
		Gamma Corrected Visuals	x
		Alpha Planes	x
		Stencil Planes	x
		Texel 32 Bit	x
		Use Hardware Cursor	x
		Disable Hardware Acceleration		x
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	Every second time that Panels is selected from the Hotbox, the Hotbox will be displayed as black.
Solution	Select the Hotbox again and it will be displayed properly.
Limitation	Some minor overlay plan display problems might be encountered. These problems should not affect your workflow.
Solution	These is no solution at this time.

Model	Version	Driver Settings
AccelGALAXY (Evans&Sutherland)	NT 4.0: v3.0GY-B0719 (Evans&Sutherland)	In the Display Properties window, select AccelPanel > Configure > Applications > Maya for Windows NT

Intense3D Wildcat 4000

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Intense3D Wildcat 4000 (Intense3D)	NT4.0: 04.06.02.22, 4.0.0	Settings > Performance
		Synchronize Buffer Swap to Vertical Sync	x
		Line 3-Pass Anti-aliasing		x
		GDI Compliant Vectors		x
		Pixel Color Format	BGR	RGB

Intense3D Pro 3410-GT

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Intense3D Pro 3410-GT (Intense3D)	NT 4.0: 04.06.01.49, 4.0.0	Settings > Performance
		Synchronize Buffer Swap to Vertical Sync	x
		Line 3-Pass Anti-aliasing		x
		GDI Compliant Vectors		x
		Pixel Color Format	BGR	RGB

Permedia2

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Permedia2 (S3 Professional Graphics)	NT4.0: 4.00.1381.0277, 4.0.0	Settings > Texture
		Force Nearest Neighbour Filtering		x
		Enable Texture Compression		x
		Texel 32 Bit Default	x
		Settings > Draw
		Draw Line Endpoints		x
		Minimize Tearing	x
		Disable Hardware Rendering		x
		Support Anti-aliasing (lines)	x
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	If "True Color" has been selected in the Display Properties->Settings then the following message may be displayed while Maya is starting up:"Your system does not have hardware accelerated OpenGL, or your driver is not configured properly. ..." This message indicates that the graphics card is not using hardware acceleration, instead it is operating in software mode.
Solution	Maya's performance is best when this graphics card is operated in 65k color mode, however this will cause some display problems. Alternatively, operating the card in True Color mode will eliminate the display problems but will result in lower performance.
Limitation	If the Display Properties->Settings->Color Palette is not set to True Color, portions of the texure on selected geometry displayed in Shaded Mode may not be drawn. These appear as "holes" in the model. These artifacts will not appear in the rendered image.
Solution	De-selecting the model will cause it to be displayed properly.
Limitation	Objects with transparent shaders will appear to be tinted or discolored if they are displayed along the edge of the workspace viewing window. This is a display problem only, the discoloration will not appear on the rendered image.
Solution	These is no solution at this time.

Visualize FX4

Model	Version	Driver Settings
Visualize FX4 (HP)	NT 4.0: FX.00.00.26, 4.0.0	Select the 'Alias Maya' preset setting configuration in the Display Properties window.

Visualize FX6+

Model	Version	Driver Settings
Visualize FX6+ (HP)	NT 4.0: FX.00.02.04, 4.0.0	Select the 'Alias Maya' preset setting configuration in the Display Properties window.

Diamond Fire GL 1

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Diamond Fire GL1 (S3 Professional Graphics)	NT 4.0: 4.00.1381.1066, 4.0.0 Windows 2000 Pro: 5.00.2195.1089	Advanced > OpenGL Support > Driver is optimized for application
		MAYA NT	x
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	Vertices with an Alpha value might not display correctly in shaded mode or in the Harware Render Buffer.
Solution	These is no solution at this time.
Limitation	Temporary square artifacts are left behind from the cursor
Solution	Turn the mouse shadows off in the Mouse control panel.
Limitation	Closing Fcheck using the 'Close' button ("X" button in top right corner) may crash Windows 2000.
Solution	Close Fcheck using File->Exit.

Intense3D Pro 3400

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
Intense3D Pro 3400 (Intense3D)	NT 4.0: 04.06.02.22, 4.0.0	Settings > Performance
		Synchronize Buffer Swap to Vertical Sync	x
		Line 3-Pass Anti-aliasing		x
		GDI Compliant Vectors		x
		Pixel Color Format	BGR	RGB
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	The 2D texture interactive placement box shows through pull-down menus.
Solution	Although there is no solution, this should not impede your use of Maya.

RealiZm II family

Model	Version	Driver Settings	ON	OFF
RealiZm II ZX13-GT RealiZm II ZX25-GT RealiZm II VX25-GT RealiZm II VX113-GT (Intense3D)	NT 4.0: 04.06.01.49, 4.0.0	Settings > Performance
		Synchronize Buffer Swap to Vertical Sync	x
		Line 3-Pass Anti-aliasing		x
		GDI Compliant Vectors		x
		Pixel Color Format	BGR	RGB
*Limitations and Solutions*
Limitation	Sometimes textures do not display in shaded mode after the path to the texture has been changed even if the new path is correct.
Solution	Save the scene, quit and restart Maya, then open the scene.