Don't get 3D processors, yet.

Hi Sim pilots and drivers: I've been talking to a friend who evaluates computer graphics equipment. He tells me that while current 3D processors do improve graphics performance, the next generation will do texture mapping in hardware. These will blow the doors off of the current cards. He says all of the makers of these chips are moving to texture map processing. He expects to see these replace the current chips this fall. I don't know much more than that. I know of no sims that exploit these devices anyway. I'll wait. Larry

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>Hi Sim pilots and drivers: > I've been talking to a friend who evaluates computer graphics equipment. > He tells me that while current 3D processors do improve graphics >performance, the next generation will do texture mapping in hardware. >These will blow the doors off of the current cards. > He says all of the makers of these chips are moving to texture map >processing. He expects to see these replace the current chips this fall. > I don't know much more than that. I know of no sims that exploit these >devices anyway. I'll wait.

Agreed. One has already been announced - Cirrus has licensed 3DO's next-gen M2 technology for use in PC boards. They hope to have products available for the 96 Xmass season (your friend's timeline sounds right), and really sell a lot next year. And by then there will be at least 3 Win95 racing games available (IndycarII, Need For Speed Gold, Road Rash) and some flight sims too hopefully. Joe

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>Hi Sim pilots and drivers: > I've been talking to a friend who evaluates computer graphics equipment. > He tells me that while current 3D processors do improve graphics >performance, the next generation will do texture mapping in hardware. >These will blow the doors off of the current cards.

Didn't the Glint and the Martin Matietta chipssets do this already? ---------------------------------------------- [link lost in import: /~aurora] CS student, *** sysadmin

> He tells me that while current 3D processors do improve graphics >performance, the next generation will do texture mapping in hardware. >These will blow the doors off of the current cards. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the Hercules Terminator/3D does do texture mapping (mip mapping) and is slated for release next month. Check it out yourself http://www.hercules.com. Regards/Jaggernaut

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>Hi Sim pilots and drivers: > I've been talking to a friend who evaluates computer graphics equipment. > He tells me that while current 3D processors do improve graphics >performance, the next generation will do texture mapping in hardware. >These will blow the doors off of the current cards. > He says all of the makers of these chips are moving to texture map >processing. He expects to see these replace the current chips this fall. > I don't know much more than that. I know of no sims that exploit these >devices anyway. I'll wait. > Larry

They all do texture mapping in hardware. Well, except for the Millenium. -- http://widget.ecn.purdue.edu/~fmah

But the upcoming PCI versions will be much faster (assuming you have a PCI system of course). More to the point though, as Larry says above, there is no software yet that supports these devices. And since the next-gen 3D chips will be faster (PCI or not), it makes little sense to buy one now. Joe

says... Hi All, I suggest to wait for a few months at least to let the development of 3D chips become mature and wait the further info about the multimedia CPU from Intel, AMD and Cyrix. I will prefer a 3D acceleraator that work together with a multimedia CPU. Actually I am having a P90 witn a 2Mb DRam S3-868 and find in run just fine on every game I have including Nascar, Indycar II and US Navy Fighters. Recently I also bought Earthsiege II and Tested run the Doom for Win95. All these games can run smoothly on my machine. Wait for a while guys! Regards, Kenny >>Hi Sim pilots and drivers: >> I've been talking to a friend who evaluates computer graphics equipment. >> He tells me that while current 3D processors do improve graphics >>performance, the next generation will do texture mapping in hardware. >>These will blow the doors off of the current cards. >> He says all of the makers of these chips are moving to texture map >>processing. He expects to see these replace the current chips this fall. >> I don't know much more than that. I know of no sims that exploit these >>devices anyway. I'll wait. >> Larry >They all do texture mapping in hardware. Well, except for the Millenium. >-- >http://widget.ecn.purdue.edu/~fmah

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>says... >Hi All, >I suggest to wait for a few months at least to let the development of 3D >chips become mature and wait the further info about the multimedia CPU >from Intel, AMD and Cyrix. I will prefer a 3D acceleraator that work >together with a multimedia CPU. >Actually I am having a P90 witn a 2Mb DRam S3-868 and find in run just >fine on every game I have including Nascar, Indycar II and US Navy >Fighters. Recently I also bought Earthsiege II and Tested run the Doom >for Win95. All these games can run smoothly on my machine. >Wait for a while guys! >Regards, >Kenny

I think you're probably right since MMX is coming and lots more card are coming in the fall/winter. -- http://widget.ecn.purdue.edu/~fmah