rec.autos.simulators

Well, I guess that topic has already been discussed several times, so I'm
asking again  :-)

Finally I have the money to buy a 3d accelerator card fow my 2nd PC. In my
first computer, which is a PII 266 and 128 MB of RAM, I've got a Creative
Labs Voodoo2.
But now I need something for my 2nd PC, which is a PII 400, whith also 128MB
of RAM.
I just read some reviews at Gamespot, but I just can't decide which one to
buy.
The ones that got the highest score were the Voodoo3/3000, the Diamond Viper
770 Ultra,
and the MaxiGamer Xentor 32, where the Xentor had the highest average fps.
Now, what my problem is, is that I don't know whether the TNT2 boards (Viper
and Xentor) will run without any problems with all games. I noticed that
some people were having problems with their TNT1 boards and GPL, for
example. If those problems are fixed with the TNT2 boards, I only have to
decide between the Viper and the Xentor, where the Xentor seems to be the
faster of the two, whereas the Viper comes with a decent software bundle, a
superb control panel, and the most trouble-free driver installs (the Xentor
had a broken install and old drivers).

So what do you think is the best 3d accelerator on the market? (money
doesn't play a role)

Thanks in advance

Dex

However, I can say that the Hercules and Diamond cards both work with GPL
and the OpenGL beta.  I get 36fps with 1024x768 with all options turned on,
slightly over 1/2 on distance slider and with FF enabled on a P2400 with
192megs of ram.

The best card on the market currently is a tie between the Xentor, Hercules
and G400 cards.  When the Voodoo3500 comes out, at least in older 16bit
games, it might be up there too.  Quarter4/99 and Quarter1/01 will of course
bring about the new parts from 3dfx and Nvidia, etc.

However, if all you are interested in running is GPL, then I'd say probably
the safest bet is a Voodoo3 3000.  But a wise idea is to always buy from a
place you can return the item incase it doesnt work with all your software.

You obviously like starting arguments ;-)

My advice is buy the card that is fit for purpose.  If your main game is GPL
then a V3 is what you want (I've got one for that very reason and it's
superb).  If you want to be able to brag about features and benchmarks, I
suppose the new Matrox card is the one to go for.  If you just want solid
OpenGL support AFAIK the TNT2 is the best way to go. Don't be fooled into
buying a gfx card for games you -might- play in the future because by the
time these 'future games' (a phrase many non voodoo owners seem to use)
you'll probably want to upgrade again.

You haven't stated what you play and what constitutes 'the best' depends
greatly on you point of view.  For ME the -best- card out there now is the V3
3000 because it fully supports what I want, just like the best console for ME
is the PSX, because it's the only one with Gran Turismo...

By 'best', you could mean the card that 'is the out and out fastest', 'has
the most features', 'has most supported software', 'has best (that word
again) after sales service'...

You will, no doubt, get many conflicting answers and may end up wishing you
never asked in the first place...

Cheers
Mark
Reading, UK

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For GPL? Voodoo3, any model....

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Go #43 and #44!

volksy (at) geocities (dot) com
volksy (at) yahoo (dot) com

Unreal Tournament, Rally Championship, etc, etc, etc.. :)

Will the "etc"'s be replaced by real games anytime soon? ;^)

l8er
ronny

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          |\      _,,,---,,_        I want to die like my Grandfather,
   ZZZzz /,`.-'`'    -.  ;-;;,_              in his sleep.
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       '---''(_/--'  `-'\_)            screaming their heads off!

I doubt it.  Unreal Tournament wasn't a completely rebuilt engine, but its
been sufficiently tweaked. And no, Unreal tournament only included a Glide
rasterizer...Sweeny wasnt dumb enough to write the entire engine in Glide
native.

Check out Q3A with a Voodoo3 and a TNT2 or a G400, and the Voodoo3 simply
can't compete, period.

Nope, never said anything of the sort about texture sizes.  And I have no
clue what Sweeney is smoking, because I've seen the picture quality between
the TNT2Ultras and a Voodoo3 2000 and the TNT2 wins hands down in 16bit.
Cant' compare either.

Oh, yeah...Kingpin, um, big deal.  Its really not all that spectacular.

Actually, no, if you pay attention Q3test does have tremendous difference in
picture quality between the 16bit and 32bit.  Its harder to notice, except
in sky, light halos, smoke, etc where there is less chance of banding, i.e.
in very detailed textures from walls, etc.  But in areas where there is less
detail to the textures you can definetely see banding.  Not to mention, the
32bit textures are definetly much sharper than either the 16bit or
compressed.

Hey, your choice.  I don't want Glide support, and I have been running GPL
with mirrors adjustment set to 1 and still getting 36fps.  <shrugs>  Good
thing we can make the choice we want to.

Probably not.  I mean, look how long Duke Nukem Forever has been delayed. :)

Cheers!
John

Thats cool.  I never got into Unreal, just didn't like its play and/or
weapons all that much.

 >Check out Q3A with a Voodoo3 and a TNT2 or a G400, and the Voodoo3 simply

Well, fps after a certain point aren't everything. :)  And up, timedemo
definetly was broken and I still believe broken.  But, I was talking not
about FPS, but more about picture quality which the Voodoo3 in my opinion
doesnt.  And thats after viewing sidebyside Q3test in both Voodoo3 and
TNT2Ultra.

A matter of taste, yes.

Hows the OpenGL ICD for the g400 max?  I ruled that card out at the
beginning becuase I have several friends with the G200 (for 2D reasons) but
they still haven't put out a OpenGL ICD that works (one came out, but its no
longer on their page as a link and doesn't work anyways).

I don't know, I play at 1024x768 in 32bit color and 32bit textures and max
texture detail and seem to have no probs on a P2-400 with 192megs of RAM.
Can't tell you the fps because of course we know its broken.

No calculated risk.  GPL's OpenGL beta rasterizer works with the TNT1.88
drivers, period on either a TNT, TNT2 or TNT2Ultra (happen to have or had
all three...)

But I don't mention the mirror problem because I don't have it on the
TNT2Ultra, which is all I talk about.  If I had the problem, I'd mention it.

Well, making improvement...but still aways to go.  Too bad because there are
a couple of games, including Q3, that would look really nice with the G400s
hardware supported bump mapping.

640x480.

I don't think you can on a TNT.  Considering that a TNT runs about as fast
as a Voodoo2, and I never got acceptable results from one Voodoo2 at
anything other than 640x480.