rec.autos.simulators

I was wondering if anyone who has some experience with 3D cards
(hopefullyl more than one) could please give me some advice. I was
thinking about getting
a 3D video card, either Rendition or 3Dfx/Voodoo. Based on 3D and 2D
performance, price, quality of support, and number of software titles that
support/are optimized for one of these 3D cards (or plan on in the near
future), which one would you recommend? I think that there are several
cards
that use the Verite or 3Dfx (Screaming 3D, Total 3D, Diamond Monster 3D,
etc)
would you recommend? Thanks.

http://www.gamecenter.com/Hardware/Roundup/3dcards/index.html?cnfd

I don't know if you should follow their advices, but it's worth looking
at.

Michel

p.s. Please excuse my nnglish if it's not good. I'm french.

Thanks for the info. I'm satisfied with my current 2D card, so my best bet
would
probably be to get a Monster 3D card with a 3Dfx Voodoo chip.
Unfortunately,
it is pretty expensive and right now there are no special versions of ICR2
or N2
for it, but it is the best 3D accelerator (97 fps high/28 fps low in
special version
of Quake, 30 fps high/30 fps low in MTM, etc.) and there are more
supported
or optimized software titles for it.

I only have experience with the 3Dfx cards, but think either 3Dfx or a
Rendition based card is a good choice.  If you have a good 2D card
now, I'd get the 3Dfx.  If your 2D card is below average, then a
Rendition based card would be a better choice.  (IMO)
It seems (at least lately) the 3Dfx is getting slightly better
support.  (just going by the recent demos that have been released.)  
NASCAR 2 supports Rendition out of the box though, so something else
to consider. :-)  

Andy

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I think the 3Dfx cards can be had for as low as $150.  (Flash 3D)  If
you are only (or mostly)  interested in ICR2, and NASCAR 2 then maybe
a Rendition based card would be better for you.  There are still
rumors that 3Dfx users _may_ see a NASCAR 2 port, but I'm not holding
my breath, nor would I base a buying decision on it.

Andy

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Of course it'd be nice if there would be a 3Dfx patch for ICR2 and/or N2,
but I'm
not basing my buying decision on it. I might still go with a Verite card,
but I'd
like to keep my current 2D card, too. Monster 3D and Orchid are supposed
to
be the fastest 3D cards since all they are designed for is 3D. However,
the retail
price of the Orchid is about 40 bucks higher than for the Monster 3D
(although
some stores are selling the Monster 3D $40 over retail). By the way,
MicroProse
doesn't plan either a 3Dfx or Verite patch for Gp2, right?

No 3d patch is in the works for GP2 for any card! My suggestion to you is
go out and pick up a Rendition Vertite' card to run both 2d&3d operations.
Then save some of your hard earned dollars and get a 3dfx voodoo card to
add with it. You won't be sorry that you did

Well if you want to keep your current card then a 3Dfx card is the
right choice for you. :-)  Both the Monster and Orchid perform the
same.  (one may be a bit faster, but honestly not sure which, guessing
I would say the Monster)   Some people passed on the Diamond because
of Diamond's support.  (me included) but 3Dfx seems to be releasing
updates quicker than both Orchid and Monster.  So I wouldn't be to
concerned about that.

No. :(

Andy

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