rec.autos.simulators

>Okay, I know everyone is getting tired of answering questions about video
>cards.  And for every pro-thriller user out there, there is one for the
>Voodoo2 cards.  Let me tell you where I am coming from.  My current system
>is a PII 233/64meg Memory/Viper 330 4meg.  Love it!  Viper 330 does just as
>good (give or take a few frames) as a Voodoo2 8meg on most D3D games.  But,
>I do have an issue with the Viper card that shows up on one of the programs
>that my wife uses.  Big problem!  The other problem is with the line of
>Papyrus games.  They are all Rendition and/or 3dfx.  Once you see N2 (or
>others in Rendition) you gotta have it. So, I fixed that problem.  I bought
>a cheap Rendition V1000 card.  Works great for N2/NR1999, and a little
>better then the software support for GPL (I wasn't expecting much).  It
>doesn't work nearly as well in D3D games.  Example:  Motocross Madeness -
>25-40 fps using the Viper 330  /  10-20 fps using the Canopus card.

>Here are somethings I like and dislike:

>Thriller 8meg with video in/out is a major + with my wife.  Would also work
>great with the Papyrus games.  I haven't heard anything about a predicessor
>to it and that concerns me.  It seems like the TNT based cards and 3dfx is
>running away with the 3D industry.  I don't want to get a thriller card if
a
>TNT will run N3 as good or better.  As it sits right know, I don't see how
>Papyrus can ignore the TNT, infact the haven't.  They released a Open GL
>patch (beta) for GPL quicker then they (or whoever) did with a 3Dfx patch
>for N2.

>My heart says get a Thriller 3D, solve your problems now.  My mind says get
>a TNT and then later get a Voodoo2 card, plan for the future.  Then my mind
>says, but the Thriller has video in!  Then the evil side of me says a few
>thing about the Video card industry that I don't care to repeat and
generaly
>wishes they would come up with a standard.

>I lean more towards the TNT (due to the fact that I have a Viper 330 4meg
>and have seen its performance), but I would like to get a card that has
>video in.  Is there a TNT card with video in/out out there that I am not
>aware of? I am also interested in other opinions.

>Oh!  Here is a short list of the games I play (Will give you an idea as to
>what I am looking for)
>- N2 / NR1999
>- Motocross Madness
>- Rainbow 6
>- Madden 98
>- NHL 98
>- NFL blitz
>- Would like to play GPL

>Thanks for the input.
>Thad

>I lean more towards the TNT (due to the fact that I have a Viper 330 4meg
>and have seen its performance), but I would like to get a card that has
>video in.  Is there a TNT card with video in/out out there that I am not
>aware of? I am also interested in other opinions.

> >I lean more towards the TNT (due to the fact that I have a Viper 330 4meg
> >and have seen its performance), but I would like to get a card that has
> >video in.  Is there a TNT card with video in/out out there that I am not
> >aware of? I am also interested in other opinions.

>   The Canopus Spectra 2500 has a TV output.  Of course, it's several more
> $'s than most other TNT cards.  I'm not aware of any TNT-based cards that
> have a TV input.
>   BTW - I'm by far in the minority, but I had a 8MB Thriller and dumped
> it.  It was fabulous for GPL, but (IMO) absolutely aweful for everything
> else.  Then again, I've owned a Matrox Millenium for years.  I've been
> told I was spoiled by that card.

>If I were you I would wait a few more months..  Somewhere between March and
>June the Voodoo3 will be coming out for both AGP and PCI boards.  It will
be
>by far the fastest 2d/3d card on the market and you will get support for
>Glide, OpenGL and D3D.  You can't go wrong.  And if you want a choice.
>Nvidia will be releasing the successor to TNT around the same time.

>Ebworld is already listing the Voodoo3 3000 for $180 and to be released
>april/1/99 so looks like competition from other card makers will have an
>effect on the pricing.

> If I were you I would wait a few more months..  Somewhere between March and
> June the Voodoo3 will be coming out for both AGP and PCI boards.  It will be
> by far the fastest 2d/3d card on the market and you will get support for
> Glide, OpenGL and D3D.  You can't go wrong.  And if you want a choice.
> Nvidia will be releasing the successor to TNT around the same time.

> Cowen Wilson

> Actually there's no telling what's going to happen in that time.  STB
> will be the ONLY manufacturer making Voodoo3 cards according to 3Dfx (now
> that they bought STB), so without competition, I doubt prices'll drop
> anytime soon.

> Ebworld is already listing the Voodoo3 3000 for $180 and to be released
> april/1/99 so looks like competition from other card makers will have an
> effect on the pricing.