Intergraph Reactor Card and ICR2

Thanks to the posts here in R.A.S. I was encouraged to purchase the Intergraph Reactor card based on the Rendition Verite chip. It is fantastic! Previously, I was using the Matrox Millennium w/ 4Mb WRAM. I was concerned about diminished Windows 95 performance when switching to the Reactor. My concern was unfounded. I notice no change in Windows 95 operation. On the other hand, ICR2 is spectacular with this card. 1. Frame rate is much improved as advertised and expected. With a P133 a frame rate of 30 seems the norm although occasionally it will drop into the mid 20's in heavy traffic. Still very smooth. 2. Surprisingly, the car set which I brought over from the original version of ICR2 without modification appears much improved. When passing cars (or getting passed) it is very easy to read the sponsor names and car number. Much greater detail than with the old video card. 3. Most importantly, the Indianapolis track converted as before and is spectacular with improved clarity and detail. This amazed me since no modifications were made. Clearly, the Rendition Verite card and the Rendition version of ICR2 make a lot of difference even when using older car sets and tracks. How? I have no idea. But I have never been more pleased with the results of spending $199. G. Kush

You can thank your friends bi-linear filtering (smoothing the textures), anti-aliasing (smoothing lines and polygon edges), and perspective correction (keeps textures in the appropriate position regardless of viewing angle). There are other things that come into play (like the translucent haze on the horizon) but these are responsible for the major improvements. -- Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/

What resolution do you use? I doubt that it is 1280x1024x16bpp or higher. So, what is really new about the Intergraph version of ICR? I get 30fps with all detail on max with my PPro200 using the old ICR2. Has the driving model been updated or is it still the crappy 2-D sheet-of-ice type of driving model? Seems ironic that a 3-D game does not have any 3rd dimension with a vertical axis. Have any new enhancements been made such as curbs or better sound? Or is it just an ICR2 with smoother polygons? Personally, I'm going to be getting a Orchid 3DFX board so, unless there is a substantially improved (in gameplay) Direct3D release or 3DFX port, Sierra won't be getting any more of my money. I don't wish to, (or feel I should have to) give up the speed, clarity and resolution of my 4MB Matrox Millienium at 1280x1024.

Actually, the card does support that resolution and quite nicely I might add, though it's a bit small for my tastes. Considering with the Intergraph version I get 30pfs on my lowly P120 at higher detail levels than the regular version (see below for the enhancements of this version), I'm not too impressed. To get that performance, it only cost me an extra $200. How much was your PPro? The physics model, as far as I know, has not been changed. No curbs and I don't know about the sound (I've never really played the old version). As far as improvements go, for starters how about anti-aliasing of all lines and polygon edges, bi-linear filtering of textures, a new textured sky, and full graphic detail in the mirrors. Also, five of the tracks have been completely revamped with 16-bit color textures. All of this running at much higher framerates than the original version. With Sierra producing its own card based on the Verite chip, I wouldn't expect a Direct3D port anytime soon. The Verite cards are very similar to the Matrox in terms of VESA 2.0 SVGA speeds (they may even be faster). Right now they will be slower in Windows, but you have to keep in mind it is their initial driver release. Even the Matrox has shown marked improvement since its first drivers. If I had paid the price you did for your Matrox, I would be very hesitant to replace it as well. -- Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/

Where can I learn more about this card. I am running a p133, with an ATI Mach 64. I am very unhappy. Thanks in advance

> Where can I learn more about this card. I am running a p133, with an ATI > Mach 64. I am very unhappy. Thanks in advance Just buy it. I did, and its great!!! Icr2 never looked better! I even pulled my Indy track over from Icr2 and it looks and runs better on Icr2 3-D. It's great! Even Gp2 was faster (but not by much). Mike

>Where can I learn more about this card. I am running a p133, with an ATI >Mach 64. I am very unhappy. Thanks in advance I don't know why you're "very unhappy" as the Mach64 is quite a satisfactory performer in DOS where the Papyrus sims are concerned (not a speed demon, but satisfactory). I had an identical system a few months ago and was able to run NCR1 with car detail, skids/paint, and smoke/dirt on with 38 draw ahead, 3 behind and 2 heard, and the sim ran very smooth (no jerkiness at all). That's more than acceptable for racing. You might try getting ATI's Vesa driver (m64vbe) and then running the sim. This helped a little. ABOUT THE INTERGRAPH CARD - Get one. I did, and ICR2 is fantasic. /===================================================\ | John Simmons (Redneck Techno-Biker) | | http://www2.connectnet.com/users/jms/index.html | \===================================================/

>Where can I learn more about this card. I am running a p133, with an ATI >Mach 64. I am very unhappy. Thanks in advance You can visit Integraph's website at http://www.intergraph.com or Rendition's website at http://www.rendition.com and there's also a review of the Intergraph 3D on the Late Night website (URL in my sig). Dave (davids) Sparks Late Night League http://www.sequoia-dev.com/Hawaii/latenite.html

>Just buy it. I did, and its great!!! Icr2 never looked better! I even >pulled my Indy track over from Icr2 and it looks and runs better on Icr2 >3-D. It's great! Even Gp2 was faster (but not by much). >Mike I have a P100 with 32 Mb ram, 256k write-back cache and my video card is a Trident TGUI9440AGi. What kind of improvement can I hope for if I buy Intergraph's Reactor? A. Renault

With ICR2 you should be able to get framerates in the mid to upper 20's pretty consistently on the track with full graphic details. It may dip into the high ***s when in very heavy traffic. My P120 (on a slow Zappa MB) is maxed out at 30fps most of the time. -- Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/

: :> I have a P100 with 32 Mb ram, 256k write-back cache and my video card :> is a Trident TGUI9440AGi. What kind of improvement can I hope for if :> I buy Intergraph's Reactor? :> :> A. Renault : :It depends. On games specifically written to use the Rendition chip, :they will blaze. I'd bet that a P100 could run GP2 with EVERYTHING on :at 30 fps no problem, IF Micoprose wrote a patch to take advantage of :the Rendition chip. Without it, your improvement may vary. As for :ICR2/NASCAR2, they will fly!!! I chose rendition because I believe they :will dominate the market for now, and I didn't want to be stuck with a :"better" card (i.e. Voodo 3D-FX) that had no games supporting it. : :Mike Where in the hell are you getting the info for games for 3DFX??? There are more games available for the Voodoo than the Rendition!! I am waiting for the F1 sim fo my Voodoo card. I think it's really a pain in the ***to switch cards in and out just to play ICR2..This really sucks!!! I favor the Voodoo anytime.. I have both the Voodoo and Rendition card... Could someone please set a standard???? Forget Direct 3d it's slow right now.. take care Julian Data IVGA Member #0004 Director of Information Technology ACE Beta Tester and Driver of IVGA Channel Operator of #ivga on IRC (Undernet) Powered by IVGA Pro Gamer System P6-200 oc 233, 96MB EDO

> I have a P100 with 32 Mb ram, 256k write-back cache and my video card > is a Trident TGUI9440AGi. What kind of improvement can I hope for if > I buy Intergraph's Reactor? > A. Renault It depends. On games specifically written to use the Rendition chip, they will blaze. I'd bet that a P100 could run GP2 with EVERYTHING on at 30 fps no problem, IF Micoprose wrote a patch to take advantage of the Rendition chip. Without it, your improvement may vary. As for ICR2/NASCAR2, they will fly!!! I chose rendition because I believe they will dominate the market for now, and I didn't want to be stuck with a "better" card (i.e. Voodo 3D-FX) that had no games supporting it. Mike

If you have both, what's the problem. Games designed for each card should run, oblivious to the fact that the other card is present. Why would you need to remove the Voodoo to play ICR2? -- Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/

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>> I have a P100 with 32 Mb ram, 256k write-back cache and my video card >> is a Trident TGUI9440AGi. What kind of improvement can I hope for if >> I buy Intergraph's Reactor? >It depends. On games specifically written to use the Rendition chip, >they will blaze. I'd bet that a P100 could run GP2 with EVERYTHING on >at 30 fps no problem, IF Micoprose wrote a patch to take advantage of >the Rendition chip. Without it, your improvement may vary. As for >ICR2/NASCAR2, they will fly!!! I chose rendition because I believe they >will dominate the market for now, and I didn't want to be stuck with a >"better" card (i.e. Voodo 3D-FX) that had no games supporting it.

The best reason for someone monitoring this particular newsgroup to buy a Verite card is because ICR2 and NCR2 are both written for the card. other than that, the voodoo is the best currently available card in terms of 3D performance. I don't know how many games are written specifically to both cards, but with the advent of Direct 3D under Win95, the Voodoo will rule unless Rendition has some new advanced chipset up their collective sleeves which will equal/exceed the Voodoo in performance. I have an Intergraph because I play Nascar Racing quite a bit (and quake), and because it came with ICR2, and it's available right now (unlike Sieera's and CL's card). Market domination? I don't think so. Market leader? Maybe and only temporarily since 3D accellerators are a burgeoning (sp) hardware group, and there's always something better coming out the following week. /===================================================\ | John Simmons (Redneck Techno-Biker) | | http://www2.connectnet.com/users/jms/index.html | \===================================================/

Julian, I have just noticed that all the companies whoose games I usually buy are going Rendition. Id, Papyrus, Sierra, etc. The fact that Pygnosis new F-1 game is going Rendition clinched it for me. I don't know what games you usually play, but frankly, nothing on the Voodo list interests me. The support for Rendition is deep and wide spread, and as I stated, I think it will dominate the market, whether it is "better" or not. Mike

:Julian, I have just noticed that all the companies whoose games I :usually buy are going Rendition. Id, Papyrus, Sierra, etc. The fact :that Pygnosis new F-1 game is going Rendition clinched it for me. I :don't know what games you usually play, but frankly, nothing on the :Voodo list interests me. The support for Rendition is deep and wide :spread, and as I stated, I think it will dominate the market, whether it :is "better" or not. : :Mike Where is the list? I play all of them!!<G> I really don't like the 2D performance of the Rendition. The only reason why I bought it, was for N2 and ICR2. Are you sure the F1 game will be ported to Rendition? I still think it's Voodoo from what they say in the video NG take care

Look at these web pages for upcoming releases: Creative Labs - http://www.creaf.com/wwwnew/arcade/blast3d/3dsoft.html Intergraph - http://205.139.128.5/ics/reactor/titles.htm 3Dfx - http://www.3dfx.com/Platform.html (sorted by platform) -- Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/

it's Voodoo from what they say in the video NG>> Yes. If you go to the Intergraph & Rendition web sites they list Formula 1. Randy

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> :Julian, I have just noticed that all the companies whoose games I > :usually buy are going Rendition. Id, Papyrus, Sierra, etc. The fact > :that Pygnosis new F-1 game is going Rendition clinched it for me. I > :don't know what games you usually play, but frankly, nothing on the > :Voodo list interests me. The support for Rendition is deep and wide > :spread, and as I stated, I think it will dominate the market, whether it > :is "better" or not. > : > :Mike > Where is the list? I play all of them!!<G> I really don't like the 2D > performance of the Rendition. The only reason why I bought it, was for N2 and > ICR2. > Are you sure the F1 game will be ported to Rendition? I still think it's Voodoo > from what they say in the video NG > take care

I don't think anybody in the other newsgroup ever said GP2 would be on Voodoo for sure, they were just wishing. The logic was that if Papyrus was with Rendition that Microprose should go with Voodoo just to be different. If someone at Microprose said they would have a Rendition port it may be so. No way to tell if the source was reliable. Dana Bailes