rec.autos.simulators

GPL and Voodo2 SLI

Bob Jiantoni

GPL and Voodo2 SLI

by Bob Jiantoni » Fri, 20 Nov 1998 04:00:00

I am wondering if getting an additional 12 Meg Voodoo 2 will significantly
affect the performance of GPL.

I have a K6-2 350 and I am always looking for more :)

Current Frame rate a Monza with all details and 6 oppponents in race varies
from 18 FPS all the way to 36..

Any comments?

Bob

K.S. Br?nnic

GPL and Voodo2 SLI

by K.S. Br?nnic » Fri, 20 Nov 1998 04:00:00


>I am wondering if getting an additional 12 Meg Voodoo 2 will significantly
>affect the performance of GPL.

>I have a K6-2 350 and I am always looking for more :)

>Current Frame rate a Monza with all details and 6 oppponents in race varies
>from 18 FPS all the way to 36..

SLI will not do anything substantial for you.

Get a V2200 or/and a PII 350 or above.

With identical setups: 19 opponents, all graphics features turned on, max
detail bias and 5 sounds at the back of the grid at Monaco you get the
following results:

K6-2 300 with CL V2 8 mb: 6.5 fps
PII-350 with CL C2 12 mb: 13.6 fps

Regards K.S. Br?nnici

John

GPL and Voodo2 SLI

by John » Sat, 21 Nov 1998 04:00:00

Bob
There is a lot of confusion in this NG about the benefits of SLI in GPL. I
can't comment on the K6 as I have no first hand experience of this
processor, but you should bear in mind that the Voodoo 2 relies on the cpu
for some calculations, so that the processor is the limiting factor up to a
surprisingly high level. Broadly, the rendition-based cards do all their own
processing and therefore can deliver better performance with anything much
less than a P2 300.
Quake benchmarks show the K6350 as comparable to the P2 350.
For the moment, your sensible choices are to first try a Rendition card
(making sure that you can return it if you don't get the performance that
you're looking for!) or, failing that, to change to a P2 based system. Many
people have had excellent results with the Celeron 300a, the Abit BH6 mobo
and 30 seconds in the BIOS settings to safely overclock the chip to 450mHz,
giving you full p2 450 performance. All for not much more than $200. This is
now well-documented so if you need information its out there. Given that you
can sell your existing cpu/mobo for not much less than $200, this seems the
better option. At that point it will be worth getting a second Voodoo2.
The confusion over SLI comes from relying on the frame rate when sitting on
the grid. This can be terribly misleading. For example,a  Banshee SEEMS to
offer performance almost identical to my two Voodoo2s in my P2 400 system -
until you actually start the race and check frame rates in difficult, highly
dynamic circumstances. The same goes for adding a second Voodoo 2. As a
guide, I get a 10-20% benefit from the second card - worthwhile and, for me,
the only option as I'd need to push the cpu to 500mHz to get the same
benefits, currently not possible without compromising stability and/or
spending a lot more than the cost of the second Voodoo.
I hope that this helps you. If you need more, drop me a line.

>I am wondering if getting an additional 12 Meg Voodoo 2 will significantly
>affect the performance of GPL.

>I have a K6-2 350 and I am always looking for more :)

>Current Frame rate a Monza with all details and 6 oppponents in race varies
>from 18 FPS all the way to 36..

>Any comments?

>Bob

Bob Jiantoni

GPL and Voodo2 SLI

by Bob Jiantoni » Sat, 21 Nov 1998 04:00:00

Thanks John,

I was considering the Celeron at 450 :)

My dad wants me to upgrade his computer for Christmas so methinks he is
going to be the proud owner of a K6 350 :)

Where did YOU get your BH6 and Celery from? Do they warrant that the chip
they sell you is of the right stepping range to overclock? Does anyone do
this?

Either way I will probebly get the second Voodoo card. I have $100 burning a
hole in my pocket.....

Bob

> change to a P2 based system. Many
>people have had excellent results with the Celeron 300a, the Abit BH6 mobo
>and 30 seconds in the BIOS settings to safely overclock the chip to 450mHz,
>giving you full p2 450 performance. All for not much more than $200. This
is
>now well-documented so if you need information its out there. Given that
you
>can sell your existing cpu/mobo for not much less than $200, this seems the
>better option. At that point it will be worth getting a second Voodoo2.
>The confusion over SLI comes from relying on the frame rate when sitting on
>the grid. This can be terribly misleading. For example,a  Banshee SEEMS to
>offer performance almost identical to my two Voodoo2s in my P2 400 system -
>until you actually start the race and check frame rates in difficult,
highly
>dynamic circumstances. The same goes for adding a second Voodoo 2. As a
>guide, I get a 10-20% benefit from the second card - worthwhile and, for
me,
>the only option as I'd need to push the cpu to 500mHz to get the same
>benefits, currently not possible without compromising stability and/or
>spending a lot more than the cost of the second Voodoo.
>I hope that this helps you. If you need more, drop me a line.

>>I am wondering if getting an additional 12 Meg Voodoo 2 will significantly
>>affect the performance of GPL.

>>I have a K6-2 350 and I am always looking for more :)

>>Current Frame rate a Monza with all details and 6 oppponents in race
varies
>>from 18 FPS all the way to 36..

>>Any comments?

>>Bob

John

GPL and Voodo2 SLI

by John » Sat, 21 Nov 1998 04:00:00

Bob

My own cpu is a P2 333 running at 4 x 100. I've tried everything and can't
get to 450! Re the celeron, the stepping is not an issue with the 300a, just
with the non-cached celerons. I don't think anyone will warranty
o/clockability. The one downside with the celeron is that it will only run
at its default multiple of 4.5, which means that if you don't get 450 your
only other choice will be 338 (4.5 x 75). Go to a mail order house which
allows you to send stuff back. The locked multiplier problem is now
unavoidable as I've just tried another P2 333 and found that it's also
locked (unlike my original one which allows any multiple up to 5) Very
frustrating as, on a BH6, it actually ran Win98 at 500mHz - at first, then
fell over after a couple of minutes as heat started building up. 450 would
have been achievable, I suspect. The BH6 is readily available here in the UK
and I'm quite sure you'll have no problems if you're in the US.

Good luck.


>Thanks John,

>I was considering the Celeron at 450 :)

>My dad wants me to upgrade his computer for Christmas so methinks he is
>going to be the proud owner of a K6 350 :)

>Where did YOU get your BH6 and Celery from? Do they warrant that the chip
>they sell you is of the right stepping range to overclock? Does anyone do
>this?

>Either way I will probebly get the second Voodoo card. I have $100 burning
a
>hole in my pocket.....

>Bob

>> change to a P2 based system. Many
>>people have had excellent results with the Celeron 300a, the Abit BH6 mobo
>>and 30 seconds in the BIOS settings to safely overclock the chip to
450mHz,
>>giving you full p2 450 performance. All for not much more than $200. This
>is
>>now well-documented so if you need information its out there. Given that
>you
>>can sell your existing cpu/mobo for not much less than $200, this seems
the
>>better option. At that point it will be worth getting a second Voodoo2.
>>The confusion over SLI comes from relying on the frame rate when sitting
on
>>the grid. This can be terribly misleading. For example,a  Banshee SEEMS to
>>offer performance almost identical to my two Voodoo2s in my P2 400
system -
>>until you actually start the race and check frame rates in difficult,
>highly
>>dynamic circumstances. The same goes for adding a second Voodoo 2. As a
>>guide, I get a 10-20% benefit from the second card - worthwhile and, for
>me,
>>the only option as I'd need to push the cpu to 500mHz to get the same
>>benefits, currently not possible without compromising stability and/or
>>spending a lot more than the cost of the second Voodoo.
>>I hope that this helps you. If you need more, drop me a line.

>>>I am wondering if getting an additional 12 Meg Voodoo 2 will
significantly
>>>affect the performance of GPL.

>>>I have a K6-2 350 and I am always looking for more :)

>>>Current Frame rate a Monza with all details and 6 oppponents in race
>varies
>>>from 18 FPS all the way to 36..

>>>Any comments?

>>>Bob


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