rec.autos.simulators

I have a p200 with 32 megs of ram and a diamond stealth 3d 2000.  I am
not getting very good frame rates for my system.  No it doesn't have mmx
support so that costs it a little, but I am looking to upgrade my video
card for christmas.  What are the most recommended cards or what will be
coming out soon.

--
Thank you

Marc Johnson

Well you could buy the Diamond Monster 3D which is a 3DFX card and retails
for around $150. This card works wonders for 3D games and most game
companies have or will write games for this chipset. There is supposed to be
a 3DFX - 2 chipset coming out soon that supposedly will have 2 to 3 times
the performance of the current chipset. In addition if you buy two cards and
connect them together you can double that performance. These cards should
start off for about $300. This second generation card will also use the same
glide API that the current  3DFX cards use so you will be able to use it
with all the current and future games that will support the 3DFX chipset. I
personally use a Monster 3D with my P133 and love it. Previously all I had
was a stealth 3D 2000 so I basically had something similar to you but with a
slower processor. The difference the Monster 3D made for 3D games was
unbelievable.

Thanks
John
The APEX - The CART Precision Racing source for setups, fastlaps, editing,
FAQ's, and more!
http://www.quiknet.com/~joja

Look for the Canopus Pure 3D.  6 MB memory (4 for textures) 3DFX (not Rush)
Alliance 2D accelerator as well as TV outs.  I think SRP is $179 but not
sure.  Check it out.

I believe website is www.canopuscorp.com

Naman

Hiya,

I've been shopping for cards too -- just got the Stealth II, which is not as
 fast as the Viper which has an unplayable flicker in CPR, if you care about
 that.  The Viper is fast...  The Stealth II is ok, but suffers a bad draw-in
 distance in CPR, which you can't fix with the Alt F and H commands.  ICR2
 rendition works with the Stealth, but mirrors and***pit view are flawed.
 I'm hoping that the Stealth drivers will get fixed.  I'm somewhat resigned to
 also getting a 3dfx card though.  It seems to be about equal to theViper's
 framerate in accounts here.  If you can wait, the Thriller card which is V2200
 (heavyduty rendition chip) will be better than the Stealth.  Viper seems to
 specialize in Direct 3d.

Here's my comparisons of the 3 cards I've gotten to try:

BENCHMARKS for racing sims - This is my first time trying such an exercise, and
 I'm sure I could have done a better job.  But here's my results, on a Micron
 P133, 48 mgs EDO RAM.

---------
VIPER 330
---------
[CPR demo]
practice mode at Laguna, full detail, 8 bit mono sound, no mirrors,
no track detail,***pit view, maximised, no title bar.
Accel on:
  Turn 2(hi): 22
  Stands after Turn 4: 18
  Corkscrew(lo): 14-15
  Approaching 10 after bridge: 20-21
  Exit 11: 15-16
  Stands on front straight: 13
Accel off:
  Turn 2(hi): 16
  Stands after Turn 4: 13-14
  Corkscrew(lo): 10-11
  Approaching 10 after bridge: 16
  Exit 11: 12-13
  Stands on front straight: 10-11

To gain framerate, turn off:
  Sky: no help
  Hills: +7-10 fps
  Objects: +1-3 fps
  Wheel: +1 fps
  Set sound to mono/8bit: +3 fps

[ICR2 Laguna]
All detail on,***pit view
  Turn 2(hi): 21
  after Turn 4 (no stands): 21
  Corkscrew(lo): 21
  Approaching 10 after bridge: 21
  Exit 11: 21
  Stands on front straight: 21
Variation from 18-23

[GP2 Monaco]
Set for 21.3 fps, est 25.6 fps
Details on: Track, Curbs, Trackside(low); Mirrors: Track only
Occupancy in quick race with one car in mirrors,***pit view:
  S/F line: 75%
  Loews: 75%
  Back straight: 58% (tunnel not visible with these settings)
  Bldg before S/F line: 100%

----------
Stealth II
----------
[CPR demo]
practice mode at Laguna, full detail, 8 bit mono sound, no mirrors,
no track detail,***pit view.
Accel on:
  Turn 2(hi): 21
  Stands after Turn 4: 17
  Corkscrew(lo): 15-16
  Approaching 10 after bridge: 19-20
  Exit 11: 15
  Stands on front straight: 13
Accel off:
  Turn 2(hi): 14
  Stands after Turn 4: 12
  Corkscrew(lo): 9-10
  Approaching 10 after bridge: 14
  Exit 11: 12
  Stands on front straight: 10

[ICR2 Laguna]
All detail on,***pit view
  Turn 2(hi): 21
  after Turn 4 (no stands): 21
  Corkscrew(lo): 21
  Approaching 10 after bridge: 21
  Exit 11: 21
  Stands on front straight: 21
Variation from 18-23

[GP2 Monaco]
Set for 21.3 fps, est 25.6 fps
Details on: Track, Curbs, Trackside(low); Mirrors: Track only
Occupancy in quick race with one car in mirrors,***pit view:
  S/F line: 75%
  Loews: 75%
  Back straight: 66% (tunnel not visible with these settings)
  Bldg before S/F line: 108%

-----------
S3 Trio 64 (my 2-yr old card, came with my P133)
-----------
[CPR demo]
practice mode at Laguna, full detail, 8 bit mono sound, no mirrors,
no track detail,***pit view
Accel on: N/A
Accel off: Game not stable. Seemed 1-2 frames lower than Viper (non-accel)

[ICR2 Laguna]
All detail on,***pit view
  Turn 2(hi): 21
  after Turn 4 (no stands): 21
  Approaching 6: 18
  Corkscrew(lo): 21
  Approaching 10 after bridge: 21
  Exit 11: 21
  Stands on front straight: 21
Variation from 18-23

[GP2 Monaco]
Set for 21.3 fps, est 23.2 fps
Details on: Track, Curbs, Trackside(low); Mirrors: Track only
Occupancy in quick race with one car in mirrors,***pit view:
  S/F line: 91%
  Loews: 83%
  Back straight: 75%(tunnel not visible with these settings)
  Bldg before S/F line: 116%

1) Get a 3dfx card!! Big difference framerates.; )

2) Get the last drivers for the card or use the "reference drivers from 3dFX".

3) "Uncheck POLL" in the Game control panel.

4) If you use the "reference drivers", be sure to "check" the "sync to D3D" and "3d hardware acceleration."

5) "Tweek" the 3dfx card in either the "autoexec.bat" or "win.ini" file. If you want to know more just email me.

6) In CPR, goto the "Graphics menu", turn "OFF"; dashboard, and steering wheel.

That's how I run CPR framerates on average 28. Though when running a "full field" passing the pits during "practice", there is a big slow down. Somewhere at 9fps. Though, when you have "all" the cars out of the pits, there is not much slow down.

I hope this helps.

take care

JD

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l8er
ronny

--
          |\      _,,,---,,_        I want to die like my Grandfather,
   ZZZzz /,`.-'`'    -.  ;-;;,_              in his sleep.
        |,4-  ) )-,_. ,\ (  `'-'     Not like the people in his car,
       '---''(_/--'  `-'\_)            screaming their heads off!

I think I will be getting the Viper PCI card for home soon...

- Mike.

====================================================
 Mike Holthouse - Indianapolis, IN
 I'm sick of spam!! To e-mail me, remove the "x"...
====================================================

I guess you haven't really "tried". When I turn those options off, the***pit is still there. Hello??

JD

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