all it does is it uses the ATI GPU chip (like a CPU) to make games run faster and smoother and look allot better. if you dont use 3d acceleration it uses what's called software rendering and everything has blocky textures runs slow and dont look as good.

i cant remember but i think it uses the rave API to use 3d acceleration. i dont think it supports openGL. i think there is a few more like 3dfx which you cant use cause you dont have a 3dfx voodoo accelorator card. i think there is one more but i cant remember.

any game you run if the video hardware is supported you have to select rave in the settings to be able to use it. if not its useing software rendering which will only use the video hardware only as a advanced video buffer and wont take advantage of the ability of the GPU.