rec.autos.simulators

Are there any drawbacks to using a 4 mb version of
the Stealth 220 with GPL?  I'm thinking of selling
my Sierra screamin' 3d and upgrading.

Also, is the S220 a v2100 or v2200 chip?

Thanks,

--
Pat Dotson
IMPACT Motorsports
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

It's a v2100, I have one. I guess you mean drawbacks against v2200 and 8MB. I've
read somewhere (think one of the beta testers upgraded) the v2200 is faster in
GPL and with 8MB you get 1024*768, and with 4MB "only" 800*600 :o).

/Christer
--
http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41236/ (Read all about the "Global online
racing"-proposal under "For developers". Read it a couple of times, cause noone
has understood it the first time they've read it yet :o))

While I have not been able to run the GPL demo with it yet, I recently got
the Hercules Thriller 3d 8mb pci card, V2200, and it screams with N2. I
replaced my Screamin 3d with it, and was amazed at how much smoother the GNS
tracks especially were.
Only reason I have not run the GPL demo with it is because I installed Win98
at the same time I put the card in, and have been too lazy to download and
follow the specific directions posted by others to get it to work with
win98.
I also have heard from several folks who have the DS card that are very
pleased with it.

--
Don Burnette
Palmetto Racing
Dburn on Ten
AOLL Iroc Series Administrator
http://pages.southtech.net/palmetto/aoll.htm

I've got the Stealth II S220 (4mb)

I used to have a Diamond Viper 330 AGP (2d/3d card as well), but bought the
Stealth specifically for GPL as it only cost me $40 after rebates. I hadn't
realized at the time that it was a 2d/3d card.. so I had to toss my Viper
:o((

The Stealth does pretty amazingly for a cheap card. The 2d and 3d (w
software rendering) speed is not quite as good as the Viper, but for less
than $75, what do you expect.

I have a P2-233 w. 64 MB ram, and I get a STEADY 36 frames/sec (the maximum)
in GPL at 640 x 480 resolution with FULL SOUND, FULL DETAIL, ALL GRAPHICS,
and MAX COMPETITORS. Very nice....

If I go to 800 x 600 mode, I get a steady 28 frames/sec with the above
setups. If I drop the number of sounds to 6, and set the detail bias to 50%,
I can achieve 32 frames/sec on a constant basis.

.. but 640 x .. resolution looks very good, so there isn't really much
point.

Of course, the framerate will drop horribly when in the pits, or at the
start of a race (to as low as 8 fps at times on some tracks).. but this is
only momentarily. (I use F10 to go to the "chase" view for the start ONLY,
as framerate is drastically improved over the in-car).

And remember.. this is ONLY THE BETA.. with the final version, hopefully
things will have been optimized so framerates should improve further.

So my verdict: If you don't have too much money to spend (less than $75) and
are looking to replace your S3 Trio or Trident VGA card (!) then the Stealth
is a great buy. Of course, it only runs Rendition games (no 3Dfx), so if you
like Sierra games, then you will have no problems.. great little card to
own.

Oh, by the way.. it is a Rendition V2100 chipset.

Can anyone tell me why I can't run 1024 x .. resolution with the card in the
GPL BETA?? The card should be capable, I believe, but I don't have that
option on the setup screen.

doktorB
http://webhome.idirect.com/~drbryan/gpl
For the GPL track files, FAQs (I've got them!), installation help, release
date updates, PC GAMER preview pics, and more!
This week's Poll-of-the-Week: Did you, or didn't you download the WAREZ GPL?
----

The 4Mb version is slower, simply because it has to do more  texture
thrashing, that is pulling texture memory from the main memory more
often than the 8 Mb version. How much lower the framerate is, I don't
know. I'm running the demo with a 4Mb Stealth II, and I am quite
satisfied with it. The framerate is quite acceptable, and it looks good.
I will try not to buy another graphics board before the next generation
Verite gets out (the RRedline chip - to be released early next year)...
Going to be tough, I know...

Selling your Screamin' sounds like a good idea, the V2X00 runs D3D and
OpenGL much better. The Screamin' runs the native stuff quite well,
though...

---Asgeir---