Upgrading my Graphics Card

Hi Could anyone please tell me what graphics card I should get for my comp. Its a PII 300 64 meg SDRAM 4 meg S3 Virge Graphics Card I find that the S3 is dreadfull for any 3d game and I don't know weather I should buy a 12 Meg Voodoo2 to add onto the S3 or to start from scratch and buy a Voodoo Banshee to replace the S3. Allan.

Go for the Voodoo Banshee. If you buy the Voodoo 2, you will still have poor 2D performance, and won't get the most from your 3D card. I reccomend the Maxi Gamer Phoenix myself. Games such as Colin McRae Rally, Motorhead, GP Legends, CART Precision Racing, Monaco GP 2, F1 Racing Simulation, TOCA Touring Car etc....... all run fantastically. The banshee is excellent value for money, especially if your a sim fanatic!

I have the Guillemont Phoenix and it rocks!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott Eslick ICQ # 3889251 Scott's Sim Site Director-Offline Racers Speed Association - Bronze Cup Click to subscribe to the ORSA Mailing List Click to subscribe to the NASCAR 1999 Mailing List -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go for the Voodoo Banshee. If you buy the Voodoo 2, you will still have poor 2D performance, and won't get the most from your 3D card. I reccomend the Maxi Gamer Phoenix myself. Games such as Colin McRae Rally, Motorhead, GP Legends, CART Precision Racing, Monaco GP 2, F1 Racing Simulation, TOCA Touring Car etc....... all run fantastically. The banshee is excellent value for money, especially if your a sim fanatic!

On Sat, 16 Jan 1999 09:19:55 -0000, "ncrowcroft"

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>Go for the Voodoo Banshee. If you buy the Voodoo 2, you will still have poor >2D performance, and won't get the most from your 3D card. I reccomend the >Maxi Gamer Phoenix myself. >Games such as Colin McRae Rally, Motorhead, GP Legends, CART Precision >Racing, Monaco GP 2, F1 Racing Simulation, TOCA Touring Car etc....... all >run fantastically. The banshee is excellent value for money, especially if >your a sim fanatic!

Yup, for sims (single-texture) a Banshee is slightly faster than a V2. But for 3D-ego-shooters a V2 outperforms a Banshee by far due to its second texture processor. And you'll run into fewer compatibility problems with a V2. But you're right, the Virge has to be replaced. A Banshee would be a good idea, you might also consider buying a cheap 2D-card (like Hercules Terminator 128 agp) and a V2, or a nVidia TNT and a V2 if you've got lots of money. But for many sims a TNT isn't nearly as good as Banshee or V2 is as many sims support Glide, 3Dfx' native API. Daniel -- Daniel Lichtenberger, Vienna/Austria

>Yup, for sims (single-texture) a Banshee is slightly faster than a V2. >But for 3D-ego-shooters a V2 outperforms a Banshee by far due to its >second texture processor. And you'll run into fewer compatibility >problems with a V2. Good point on the compatibility. Though I suspect that it is becoming less and less an issue? Well, I don't think it *has* to be. That is, unless the user is going to combinations of very high color/res/refresh, I doubt they'll see a real-world difference in 2D performance. Sure, every 2D card has a little different color pallette, sharpness, etc. But the Virge is a fast (or at least "fast enough") 2D card, unless as stated above. Again, I agree on the Voodoo support need if one is a simmer. And I think the Banshee is a good choice, perhaps best. But if he does go V2, I don't see a reason to get rid of the Virge. Unless he wants a TNT for when its 3D support is better than the V2's.

Well, it depends :) For *** it doesn't have to be replaced. But I thought of some video acceleration for full screen MPEGs or AGP capabilities which newer cards offer, but the Virge IMHO doesn't (correct me if I'm wrong). Daniel -- Daniel Lichtenberger, Vienna/Austria

If you're happy with the 2D on the Virge, then get the 12MB Voodoo II. -- Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors - Super Touring - Alfa Romeo - - V8Supercars - CART -

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>>Well, I don't think it *has* to be. That is, unless the user is going to >>combinations of very high color/res/refresh, I doubt they'll see a real-world >>difference in 2D performance. >Well, it depends :) For *** it doesn't have to be replaced. But I >thought of some video acceleration for full screen MPEGs or AGP >capabilities which newer cards offer, but the Virge IMHO doesn't >(correct me if I'm wrong).

I guess if you want MPEG for a DVD, sure consider a new card. If not, then why change? As to AGP, there doesn't seem to be much difference in performance. There might be with really large textures, but then that has nothing to do with 2D, right? So sure, the Virge isn't SOTA, but if you don't use any of the new capabilities, I wouldn't buy something new.

I'm looking very closely at the ATI Rage Fury that is supposed to start hitting the street tomorrow (20 Jan). Every review I have read has rated the card as excellent, and most say it beats single VooDoo II installations. The 32MB of RAM sure doesn't hurt, either, and I hear the 2D performance is the best there is in mainstream cards. FWIW. -Larry

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> Hi > Could anyone please tell me what graphics card I should get for my comp. > Its a > PII 300 > 64 meg SDRAM > 4 meg S3 Virge Graphics Card > I find that the S3 is dreadfull for any 3d game and I don't know weather I > should buy a 12 Meg Voodoo2 to add onto the S3 or to start from scratch and > buy a Voodoo Banshee to replace the S3. > Allan.

I've just got the Wicked 3D (http://www.wicked3d.com) Vengeance and is it very fast - I'd recommend it anytime - no problems, installed first time etc. Matthew

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>If you're happy with the 2D on the Virge, then get the 12MB Voodoo II. >>Hi >>Could anyone please tell me what graphics card I should get for my comp. >>Its a >> PII 300 >> 64 meg SDRAM >> 4 meg S3 Virge Graphics Card >>I find that the S3 is dreadfull for any 3d game and I don't know weather I >>should buy a 12 Meg Voodoo2 to add onto the S3 or to start from scratch and >>buy a Voodoo Banshee to replace the S3. >>Allan. >-- >Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors > - Super Touring - Alfa Romeo - > - V8Supercars - CART -

########################### |#| [~~~~ ######### | |_[]__[_ [~~~~~~~~] [~~~~~~ | ------ ] ] [http://rrtii.future.easyspace.com | ------ ] ] [http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/urc.yorkshire/index.htm { ------- ]__] [http://www.NetcomUK.co.uk/~jmhorton/index.html _|____________]-[________]-[______ /_o o O O o o o o o o o o

They called the S3 Savage 3D a Voodoo2 killer as well. They called the Riva TNT a Voodoo2 SLI killer, and it doesnt (but still an excellent card for all around). I wouldnt hold my breath on the ATi justyet

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>I'm looking very closely at the ATI Rage Fury that is supposed to start >hitting the street tomorrow (20 Jan). >Every review I have read has rated the card as excellent, and most say >it beats single VooDoo II installations. >The 32MB of RAM sure doesn't hurt, either, and I hear the 2D performance >is the best there is in mainstream cards. >FWIW. >-Larry >> Hi >> Could anyone please tell me what graphics card I should get for my comp. >> Its a >> PII 300 >> 64 meg SDRAM >> 4 meg S3 Virge Graphics Card >> I find that the S3 is dreadfull for any 3d game and I don't know weather I >> should buy a 12 Meg Voodoo2 to add onto the S3 or to start from scratch and >> buy a Voodoo Banshee to replace the S3. >> Allan.

-- Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors - Super Touring - Alfa Romeo - - V8Supercars - CART -

That's ok. I'll protect you and be the guinea pig on this one :) That's if the damned thing ever ships. I'm beginning to wonder if Apple didn't steal all the chips for it's new machines :) -Larry

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> They called the S3 Savage 3D a Voodoo2 killer as well. They called the > Riva TNT a Voodoo2 SLI killer, and it doesnt (but still an excellent > card for all around). > I wouldnt hold my breath on the ATi justyet > >I'm looking very closely at the ATI Rage Fury that is supposed to start > >hitting the street tomorrow (20 Jan). > >Every review I have read has rated the card as excellent, and most say > >it beats single VooDoo II installations. > >The 32MB of RAM sure doesn't hurt, either, and I hear the 2D performance > >is the best there is in mainstream cards. > >FWIW. > >-Larry > >> Hi > >> Could anyone please tell me what graphics card I should get for my comp. > >> Its a > >> PII 300 > >> 64 meg SDRAM > >> 4 meg S3 Virge Graphics Card > >> I find that the S3 is dreadfull for any 3d game and I don't know weather I > >> should buy a 12 Meg Voodoo2 to add onto the S3 or to start from scratch and > >> buy a Voodoo Banshee to replace the S3. > >> Allan. > -- > Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors > - Super Touring - Alfa Romeo - > - V8Supercars - CART -

>That's ok. I'll protect you and be the guinea pig on this one :) >That's if the damned thing ever ships. I'm beginning to wonder if Apple >didn't steal all the chips for it's new machines :) >-Larry I'd be very interested to hear how it goes actually. I wonder if its going to have crappy Open GL like almost every card that ships these days.... (Why do programmers use it and the card makers not support it properly?) -- Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors - Super Touring - Alfa Romeo - - V8Supercars - CART -