John...
With all due respect, John, I have to disagree. Here's why:
Yesterday, I received a Thriller 3D 8MB AGP card. With anxious anticipation,
I dropped it in my PC, replacing the Banshee that had frustrated me with its
intermittent texture problems. Man, was I surprised!
First thing I noticed was my desktop. The Banshee offered 100Hz at 1024 x
768. The Thriller? Could do no better than 90Hz. In addition, as much as I
adjusted both the horizontal and vertical moir settings on my monitor, I
just couldn't quite get rid of all the moir effects that Thriller was
producing in collaboration with my 19" Hitachi 751. The Banshee 2D screen
had been superb and quick. I'm in front of my PC all day, so these aspects
of the Thriller weren't thrilling me. But superb GPL performance awaited, so
I moved on.
After downloading the latest Thriller drivers from Hercules, I was finally
able to run GPL at a Banshee-matching 1024 x 768. (The out-of-the-box
drivers had only offered 800 x 600.) I then quickly discovered that, even in
Training mode, the Thriller couldn't hit 36fps with the graphics settings
that I usually use for online racing. With less than 2 hours left until race
time, I had to get going. Opted for the 800 x 600 quick fix.
Another disturbing thing I noticed regarded vertical scan frequency in GPL.
My Banshee had provided 100Hz at 1024 x 768. With the Thriller the frequency
dropped to 75Hz at a *lower* 800x 600 resolution. My money says that in a
Pro Long or GP length event, my eyes will *feel* that difference! And to add
insult to injury, when I left GPL, my 1024 desktop was restored at 75Hz, not
the 90Hz I was in when I started GPL. With the Banshee my desktop had always
been restored to 100Hz.
Puzzled by all this I decided to do a little testing this morning. Here the
results:
Track: Watkins Glen
Mode: Training
Graphics Settings: At Maximum (except as noted)
Sound Settings: At Maximum
----------------------------------------
Hercules Thriller 3D 8 MB AGP
Resolution: 800 x 600
With Anti-Aliasing:
FPS
24-28 Esses
28-30 Average Elsewhere
31 Maximum
Without Anti-Aliasing:
FPS
25-31 Esses
29-30 Average Elsewhere
34 Maximum
----------------------------------------
Creative Labs 3D Blaster Banshee 16MB AGP
Resolution: 1024 x 768
Without Anti-Aliasing (not available):
FPS
35-36 Esses
35-36 Average Elsewhere
36 Maximum
----------------------------------------
Test Platform:
PII-450-128MB
These results seem to speak for themselves. The Banshee basically pegs the
frame counter all the way around the Glen. The Thriller runs around 28-30
fps typically, dropping noticeably in a few spots on the track. Amazingly,
the Banshee was tested at 1024 x 768 and the Rendition-based Thriller at 800
x 600!
Having owned all four of the GPL-friendly boards (Banshee, Voodoo2, TNT, and
now Rendition), I'd have to say that my unequivocal recommendation, among
currently available boards, is Banshee, at least for higher end systems.
Let's just hope the intermittent texture problems get resolved by future
drivers!
Hope this helps a few of you trying to make a video board decision for GPL!
P.S. I have a 1-day-old Thriller for sale for $70 + shipping (that's my cost
less BuyComp.com's restocking fee) for anybody that wants it!
