What's the good 3dfx card?
William Smith
[Unless there's a FAQ I'm missing somewhere...]
Now that I'm really hooked on I76, and have seen some of the effects
that the 3dfx cards are capable of, what's the good one?
I've been looking at either the Hercules Stingray 128/3D S3318TV with
8M (4M 2D, 4M 3D texture) and video output (and the rumor of a goggles
port), or the Jazz Adrenaline Rush 3D with 6M.
They both seem to have the same chipsets (Alliance ProMotion AT3D
128-bit 2D and 3dfx Rush 3D), both have VMI connector for DVD and
"Live Video Input" (what are those, and what would I need to connect
an NTSC video signal, and could I then have video in a window?), and
with the exception of the extra texture memory, one video mode, video
output, and slightly higher refresh rates, they seem awfully similar.
Anyone have experience with either (or both?), other reccomendations,
or ideas on which one I should buy? Money's not that much of an
object, but if I get it wrong it'll be a year or so before I can
replace it...
--
Willie Smith wp...@world.std.com N1...@amsat.org
#define NII Information SuperCollider
Kevin J. Lin
William Smith wrote:
>
> [Unless there's a FAQ I'm missing somewhere...]
>
> Now that I'm really hooked on I76, and have seen some of the effects
> that the 3dfx cards are capable of, what's the good one?
>
> I've been looking at either the Hercules Stingray 128/3D S3318TV with
> 8M (4M 2D, 4M 3D texture) and video output (and the rumor of a goggles
> port), or the Jazz Adrenaline Rush 3D with 6M.
>
I'd actually steer away from the Voodoo Rush in favor of the standard
vanilla 3dfx. Unless you desperately need a) an all-in-one 2d/3d
solution (say, if you've run out of PCI slots) or b) you really need to
play 3d games windowed.
Voodoo Rush isn't bad, but it isn't quite as good as Voodoo for 3d
acceleration. Also, the 2D display isn't as good as a top of the line
2d card.
I have an Orchid Righteous, and am happy with it, but all the 3dfx
voodoo-based boards are nearly identical. Supposedly the RealVision
Flash 3D may be better for future games because of the extra texture
RAM.
William Smith
Kevin J. Lin <ke...@wx3.com> wrote:
>William Smith wrote:
>> Now that I'm really hooked on I76, and have seen some of the effects
>> that the 3dfx cards are capable of, what's the good one?
>> I've been looking at either the Hercules Stingray 128/3D S3318TV with
>> 8M (4M 2D, 4M 3D texture) and video output (and the rumor of a goggles
>> port), or the Jazz Adrenaline Rush 3D with 6M.
>I'd actually steer away from the Voodoo Rush in favor of the standard
>vanilla 3dfx. Unless you desperately need a) an all-in-one 2d/3d
>solution (say, if you've run out of PCI slots) or b) you really need to
>play 3d games windowed.
That's me! All slots full, and not a single IRQ free...
Maslinda Maidin P
William Smith (wp...@world.std.com) wrote:
: [Unless there's a FAQ I'm missing somewhere...]
I'm also looking for a 3D card. Is there a FAQ ?
: Now that I'm really hooked on I76, and have seen some of the effects
: that the 3dfx cards are capable of, what's the good one?
: I've been looking at either the Hercules Stingray 128/3D S3318TV with
: 8M (4M 2D, 4M 3D texture) and video output (and the rumor of a goggles
: port), or the Jazz Adrenaline Rush 3D with 6M.
Unlike William, $$$ matters to me, I'm looking at Monster3D and
Canopus' Pure3D, anybody's got comments on these 2 cards ? Are they
worth paying for ?
What got me to seriously think about getting one of these cards is Wing
Commander Prophecy :P
: They both seem to have the same chipsets (Alliance ProMotion AT3D
: 128-bit 2D and 3dfx Rush 3D), both have VMI connector for DVD and
: "Live Video Input" (what are those, and what would I need to connect
: an NTSC video signal, and could I then have video in a window?), and
: with the exception of the extra texture memory, one video mode, video
: output, and slightly higher refresh rates, they seem awfully similar.
: Anyone have experience with either (or both?), other reccomendations,
: or ideas on which one I should buy? Money's not that much of an
: object, but if I get it wrong it'll be a year or so before I can
: replace it...
: --
Joe
fba6...@leonis.nus.sg (Maslinda Maidin P) wrote:
>Unlike William, $$$ matters to me, I'm looking at Monster3D and
>Canopus' Pure3D, anybody's got comments on these 2 cards ? Are they
>worth paying for ?
Monster 3D is a great card, compatible with all 3dfx software and very
fast. As to being worth paying for, it's the best "bang for the buck"
performance improvement I've ever gotten out of a hardware upgrade. Go
for it. You will not be disappointed, that I can guarentee (and I
guarentee very few things!).
Joe McGinn
===================================================
Author of Inside LotusScript
http://www.manning.com/McGinn/459.html
===================================================
Marc
On 30 Dec 1997 02:13:15 GMT, fba6...@leonis.nus.sg (Maslinda Maidin
P) wrote:
>William Smith (wp...@world.std.com) wrote:
>
>: [Unless there's a FAQ I'm missing somewhere...]
>
>I'm also looking for a 3D card. Is there a FAQ ?
>
>: Now that I'm really hooked on I76, and have seen some of the effects
>: that the 3dfx cards are capable of, what's the good one?
>
>: I've been looking at either the Hercules Stingray 128/3D S3318TV with
>: 8M (4M 2D, 4M 3D texture) and video output (and the rumor of a goggles
>: port), or the Jazz Adrenaline Rush 3D with 6M.
>
>Unlike William, $$$ matters to me, I'm looking at Monster3D and
>Canopus' Pure3D, anybody's got comments on these 2 cards ? Are they
>worth paying for ?
>
>What got me to seriously think about getting one of these cards is Wing
>Commander Prophecy :P
Both those cards are excellent. I would recommend any card that uses
the Voodoo chipset (not Voodoo Rush - since its a tad slower, and it
has some compatability problems).
The Monster is a little cheaper. The Canopus is more expensive, and
has an extra 2 megs of texture memory along with TV-out (so you can
play on your TV).
The next generation Voodoo card (Voodoo2) will be out in 2-4 months
and will be 3x the speed, and will have extra features that future
games can take advantage of.
My suggestion is:
1. If you cannot wait a few months to get the Voodoo2, but WANT to
get one when it is released, then get the Monster 3D today.
2. if you DONT want to get the Voodoo2 card, then go for the Canopus
Pure 3D, since it has the extra memory - giving the card a longer life
before having to upgrade.
Either way, you cant go wrong with a Voodoo card.
Hope this helps.
Marc.
William Smith
Marc <ma...@cgocable.net> wrote:
>>Unlike William, $$$ matters to me, I'm looking at Monster3D and
>>Canopus' Pure3D, anybody's got comments on these 2 cards ? Are they
It's less than 10 percent of what the rest of the computer cost me,
think of it as a tax. 8*)
>Both those cards are excellent. I would recommend any card that uses
>the Voodoo chipset (not Voodoo Rush - since its a tad slower, and it
>has some compatability problems).
Are there integrated 2D/3D cards with just straight Voodoo? I have no
slots free (and I like the idea of putting stuff in a window), is Rush
the only option?
>The next generation Voodoo card (Voodoo2) will be out in 2-4 months
>and will be 3x the speed, and will have extra features that future
Will there be a Rush2 chipset? How long will it be before the
existing chipset it obsolete and I have (well, want to) swap the
board?
David Masten
In article <EM02u...@world.std.com>, wp...@world.std.com (William Smith) wrote:
>Marc <ma...@cgocable.net> wrote:
>Are there integrated 2D/3D cards with just straight Voodoo? I have no
>slots free (and I like the idea of putting stuff in a window), is Rush
>the only option?
No. The "Voodoo Rush" is the only 3dfx chip that works with an integrated 2D
chip. The "Voodoo Graphics" is their 3D stand-alone only.
>>The next generation Voodoo card (Voodoo2) will be out in 2-4 months
>>and will be 3x the speed, and will have extra features that future
>
>Will there be a Rush2 chipset?
There is talk of their "Banshee" which, if I read correctly, will incorporate
the Voodoo2 advances and be 2D/3D capable like the Rush chip. I don't know
when it is scheduled for release.
>How long will it be before the
>existing chipset it obsolete and I have (well, want to) swap the
>board?
This depends on you. I have a P133. Is that obsolete? Many will say yes.
When the Voodoo2 comes out, a lot of Voodoo (and purchasers of non-3dfx
accelerators) will consider their cards obsolete, but they will still play
Quake at 20-30-whatever fps.
Shaun Shaver
William Smith wrote in message ...
>Marc <ma...@cgocable.net> wrote:
> fba6...@leonis.nus.sg (Maslinda MaidinP) wrote:
>>>William Smith (wp...@world.std.com) wrote:
>
>>>Unlike William, $$$ matters to me, I'm looking at Monster3D and
>>>Canopus' Pure3D, anybody's got comments on these 2 cards ? Are they
>
>It's less than 10 percent of what the rest of the computer cost me,
>think of it as a tax. 8*)
>
>>Both those cards are excellent. I would recommend any card that uses
>>the Voodoo chipset (not Voodoo Rush - since its a tad slower, and it
>>has some compatability problems).
>
>Are there integrated 2D/3D cards with just straight Voodoo? I have no
>slots free (and I like the idea of putting stuff in a window), is Rush
>the only option?
>
No the Voodoo Rush was supposed to be like a Voodoo chip with 2D but it
didn't seem to work out.
>>The next generation Voodoo card (Voodoo2) will be out in 2-4 months
>>and will be 3x the speed, and will have extra features that future
>
>Will there be a Rush2 chipset? How long will it be before the
>existing chipset it obsolete and I have (well, want to) swap the
>board?
> I don't think there will be a Rush2 chip, I read somewhere that the next
generation chip will be called Banshee and will be 2d/3d and will be totally
new..