rec.autos.simulators

My personal experience shows the Thriller 8mb to be far superior to
the
3dfx voodoo2.  I basically run 800x 600 with all details, all ai cars
and the detail slider at 3/4 full detail and get max frame rates for
all but the starting line at the tracks that I've tried so far.  I'm
running the Celeron A (with 128k cache) at 450 mhz.  I have
an SLI voodoo2 setup and the only place it excels is at 1024x768 but
it doesn't get enough of a frame rate for me and I don't want to turn
off any detail.  The image also literally "pales" by comparison. The
3dfx requires more cpu cycles than the Thriller and this kills it
since the AI are already putting heavy demands on the cpu.  I have
confirmed this with other folks.  Note that a single voodoo2 will give
a better performance value than the SLI config for all but the
1024x768 screen size due to overhead of the sli boards I guess. GPL
wants serious cpu and secondary  cache resources for  maximum
performance but the nice thing is that you can get  all the eye-candy
the sim has to offer with our current cpus.  

Jeff

From what I have read it sounds like the Thriller is the card to go with.  I
still use the original Intergraph 1000 w/N2.  I use it on my P2 300.  The
card has been very good up till now.  Now it is time to upgrade once again.
But what kills me about rendition cards is no local stores have them.  Comp
USA, Babbages, Elbow, no one has the card.  I go to the Hercules web site
and they don't have them.  I check out Genoa's site they don't have the
V-Raptor.  What the hell is going on?  I know there are computer shopping
sites that have them.  But thats the only place I can find them.  Is this
the card thats going to give me some future?  I don't know.  Admittedly I
most of my computer *** is Papy games.  But I want to buy something thats
going to have some legs.

Opinions anyone.
Kurt

< some snipped >

Kurt,
I understand your situation. I ended up buying mine mail order from
Insight.  Quite frankly, I think the only use will be for Papyrus'
racing sims although  OpenGL games either do or will work with the
Thriller. (don't know the status of Rendition drivers for openGL). The
card is being replaced with a third generation card that was supposed
to come out but has now been delayed since Rendition was purchased by
Micron. It is called Redline (or was).  I don't know what will happen
since they seem so out of the marketplace.  They have had a superior
product and feature set but marketing is the game and voodoo seems to
really be pushing things.  It is sort of like the old VCR wars.  Sony
betamax was far and away superior to the VHS tape format but look who
won.....  I've just bought the card to enjoy with my Papy sims (which
seem to take most of my game time anyway)..  Good luck.

Jeff