rec.autos.simulators

As a CPA whose only been using computers for business for a  few months  I
am relatively new to Sim racing. I have acquired every good sim I can ( i.e.
N1, N2, Cart
(Sierra), Motoracer, Soda (for $13.00!), and GP2.

I think its time to add a 3D type card to my HP166 ( it only has one or two
expansion slots)  I want to maximize the graphics in all sims if possible.

Therefore,  do I get a 3d card ( e.g. Voodoo) or  a 3dfx card?????????
 I looking to spend less than $ 200.00.

thanks for your help !

Tim

well, you see, A Voodoo card is a 3dfx card, so your question is well... odd.

Advice: If you want buy aVoodoo2 card now. a 8mb card might just be in budget.
It's not going to be any faster than a V1 card in your current system, but
will be useful if and when you upgrade your cpu.

The other suggestion is to buy a Voodoo1 6mb card- The canopus, e.g If you are
not looking at moving to a P II in the consdierable future, save yourself some
money now by buying one of these.

Which card to buy, depends on whether you plan to upgrade your cpu or not, and
do you want to buy a Voodoo 2, which in your current system is not going to
yeild much advatnage over a Voodoo1.

Z.

A few months ago I added a monster 3D from Diamond and have been very happy
with it.  I got it when Papyrus announced the 3dfx Nascar2 patch back around
Christmas.  To my supprise it made alot of games run faster, because the
card, probably all those 3dfx cards, uses Direct x 5.  At the time, I had
the SODA demo off the GNSEP for N2 and I ran it once after the card was in
and my framerate was great and all the choppyness was gone.  Now before some
crackhead who thinks they are a computer genius replys saying that SODA is
not 3dfx so my monster isn't even turning on, this is how it works.  With
the monster set as the direct 3d (d3d) card (which it does when you install
the software), it will take over all those D3D graphics.  They still look
the same as when my trusty old S3 virge was doing it but now the framerate
is alot better and I could turn on all the graphics (making it look better
in round about way).

Sorry for the long reply,
Rick Miller (Arrowhed12)

Z.

On Thu, 02 Apr 1998 10:27:58 GMT, "Tim Deatherage"

N1 and GP2 make no use of 3D acceleration, so buying a 3D card isn't
going to help those games at all.

Since you have a "lower end" system and you've set your budget, I
suggest getting a Voodoo1 card (ie. Diamond Monster 3D, Canopus
Pure3D).

Marc.
--------
To replay via e-mail, remove "spam." from the beginning
of my e-mail address (Tyring to avoid junk mail)

I think you are slightly confused, there are basically 2 types of 3D
cards out there (there are more, but there are 2 *main* ones which
most people buy).

And they are 3Dfx based cards which use the Voodoo chipset (and the
new Voodoo2 chipset), and there is also the Power VR cards, which are
also 3D cards, but *not* 3Dfx.

3Dfx are supported by more developers/manufacturers, However, I think
some people would argue that Power VR cards give *slightly* better
performance. In reality you would not notice the difference much at
all?

If you are gonna buy a new 3D card buy a Voodoo2 card, as they are
the cards that will give you the best performance for your money. You
can buy an older 3dfx card, but why buy old technology?

NB: You can also get a few 5D cards, which replace your old 2D card
as well as giving you a 3D card (thus saving an expansion slot in
your pc) although they generally do not perform quite as well as a
two card combination?

Confused, you will be! check out some of the 3D card newsgroups for
more info.

8?)

*Peter*  8-)

On Thu, 02 Apr 1998 10:27:58 GMT, "Tim Deatherage"

     If you want 3dfx go for a Diamond Monster 3D accelerator card. It
has a Voodoo 1 chip. So you can get it for less than $100 new. Or
spend $250 and get the Diamond Monster 3D ll card. It contains the new
Voodoo ll chip that should double your frame rates with sims that use
3dfx to about 60 fps.

Regards,

Joel Willstein

ICQ2690036

what's wrong with ati all in wonder pro?

Games USE DirectX. Cards SUPPORT it. 3Dfx supports. Direct3D (part of
DirectX), Glide, and some OpenGL with the Quake miniport. 3Dfx has no effect
on SODA. It uses the Rendition Verite, check your README. Crackhead. You
probably have a Rendition and don't even know it. SODA does not use D3D. Do
you really think it looks the same, it but only affects framerate? Even Moto
Racer at least adds bilinear filtering with acceleration.

--
[PC2] 1st Lt. Dark Phoenix
Join the world's best CO-OP clan!
http://www.globalserve.net/~goldenhawk/quake2/
ICQ # 5905329

Tim,

You wanna make sure you have the terminology right before going shopping, or
you may wind up with something you didn't want.

Voodoo and 3Dfx are one in the same.  3Dfx (the company) makes Voodoo (the
chipset) which several manufacturers use in their 3D video cards.  Look for
the 3dfx logo on the boxes.

The latest Voodoo 2 chipset is used in several new cards, but you might get
the best deal on a Voodoo 1 based card (I love my Diamond Monster 3d, but
there are others, too).  Avoid Voodoo Rush based cards (they do both 2D and
3D at the expense of 3D speed).

The bottom line is 3Dfx makes an amazing difference in games written
specifically for 3Dfx chips and for Direct3d, even on my P100 when I had it.

Go to www.3dfx.com for more information.

Hope this help...Tim.

Thanks for the help.! ! ....I have been using pc's for over 10 and this new
tech
overload ( especially in the graphic's area) is overwhelming ! !

I appreciate the assistance !    I'll wait till after April 15 til I go
shopping and probably come back to the NG for more great help !

Thanks again !

Tim

If you noticed in Tim's first post on this thread, he's a CPA. Nothing else
happens in the world of a CPA until after the tax deadline of April 15th! <G>

don

 - Jeff D. Garant  -  Ford Motor Credit - Systems Analyst -