GPL - Thriller or Banshee - Who's The Single Card King?

Don't think we've really reached a consensus on the top single card video solution for GPL. I've got a Banshee, but I'm irritated by it's intermittent texture problems and don't want to take the performance hit associated with the GPL/Banshee fix announced here earlier. So I'm tempted by Hercules' US$99 Thriller offer, but I don't won't to sacrifice any GPL performance (or significant 2D performance) to eliminate the texture issues. I've also heard conflicting information on image quality differences between these cards. So who's The King? BTW - If you have any machine-specific ideas or recommendations, I have a PII-450-128MB. Thanks!

All I can say is I love the performance of my 8MB Thriller. I went from 10 fps in software mode to a constant 36 in training. The best purchase I made to contribute to lowering my GPL lap times. Plus, I think it looks great too. --Dave

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> Don't think we've really reached a consensus on the top single card video > solution for GPL. > I've got a Banshee, but I'm irritated by it's intermittent texture problems > and don't want to take the performance hit associated with the GPL/Banshee > fix announced here earlier. So I'm tempted by Hercules' US$99 Thriller > offer, but I don't won't to sacrifice any GPL performance (or significant 2D > performance) to eliminate the texture issues. > I've also heard conflicting information on image quality differences between > these cards. > So who's The King? > BTW - If you have any machine-specific ideas or recommendations, I have a > PII-450-128MB. Thanks!

-- Dave Schwabe The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site http://users.wi.net/~schwabe

What resolution, Dave? What graphics settings? How about fps on the grid? Online? I think must everybody with a faster machine and either of these cards is seeing a continuous 36 fps in training mode. What kind of machine do you use? Thanks for your input.

With this configuration you'll want either a thriller or a Voodoo II. The Banshee is a very good card but if you want a change then there's only really those two options. Given the high-power of your machine you probably won't lose that much 2D performance anyway so maybe the Thriller is best for you. It works great on my P200 MMX but I don't have a Voodoo II or Banshee to compare it with. I'll tell you when I get my new PC. It comes with a Banshee and a Voodoo II so I can run back to back comparisons with the Thriller. -- Cheers! Graeme Nash http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk ICQ# 11257824 1998 Xoom GP2 League Champion

I need a single card AGP solution since my PCI slots are in short supply. So, in your opinion, Thriller would be The King? Does everybody agree? If not, why not? Thanks, Graeme.

Go for the Thriller if you want excellent single card 3D performance in Papy sims. It is supported in other sims but not too well since it is a rendition card as opposed to 3DFX. The 2D performance of the Thriller isn't bad anyway, I run GP2 at 23fps in SVGA with all graphics on except sky and get 60-100% processor occupancy in races. And at $99, it's a steal. Thriller is king as far as I'm concerned. -- Cheers! Graeme Nash http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk ICQ# 11257824 1998 Xoom GP2 League Champion

At 800x600 Training=36 fps, Race=27-28 fps on the grid, once we get moving jumps to 36 fps. That's at Monza with everything on, sky, mirrors, etc. Hope that helps... -Ron

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>Don't think we've really reached a consensus on the top single card video >solution for GPL. >I've got a Banshee, but I'm irritated by it's intermittent texture problems >and don't want to take the performance hit associated with the GPL/Banshee >fix announced here earlier. So I'm tempted by Hercules' US$99 Thriller >offer, but I don't won't to sacrifice any GPL performance (or significant

2D >performance) to eliminate the texture issues. >I've also heard conflicting information on image quality differences between >these cards. >So who's The King? >BTW - If you have any machine-specific ideas or recommendations, I have a >PII-450-128MB. Thanks!

I have a P-133 80mb ram Herc Thriller 3d 8mb pci I get 30 fps with all graphics on in rendition ICR2. I downloaded the GPL demo but can't get it to work at all. It freezes in the main menu screen. ALL HAIL THE HERCULES THILLER 3d 8mb pci CARD!!!!!!!

If all you do is playing GPL on your system you can go with the Thriller or equivalent board. Just keep in mind that all these Rendition based cards suck *royally* with everything else, that is especially 2D windows apps, older non accelerated DOS games etc. However on your system it shouldn't really make a difference performance wise whether you use a Banshee or Thriller. Therefore the former might be the better alternative. For the best of both worlds though you should also consider a fast 2D and D3D card like a Matrox G200 in combination with a Voodoo2. With this setup you won't have any problems with *any* stuff you might want to do for a while --Tel