Another video card question

I need to get a decent video card, that will work with my current m/b and CPU. I have a PII 233, currently with 32Mb RAM but soon 96 Mb. Current video card is S3 Virge 4Mb 2D/3D accelerator (crap). The new card needs to be good for ALL the following if at all possible: CMR Rally 99 IRC TOCA TOCAII GPL (I know my system is not really capable!) F1RS any more like MGPRS2 if I find them cheap. Please dont bother suggesting changing CPU and m/b, the wife informs me that is not an option!! So do I get a combo Banshee or a fully fledged 3D addon card. I'm in the UK and a card up to 100 is about the limit. TIA Rick

: I need to get a decent video card, that will work with my current m/b : and CPU. I have a PII 233, currently with 32Mb RAM but soon 96 Mb. : Current video card is S3 Virge 4Mb 2D/3D accelerator (crap). The new : card needs to be good for ALL the following if at all possible: : CMR : Rally 99 : IRC : TOCA : TOCAII : GPL (I know my system is not really capable!) : F1RS F1RS really requires a 3DFx card to look good - the directX versions I've played look crummy by comparison. Therefore I'd say that your choice is amongst the various Voodoo cards. There are some minor problems with the Banshee on GPL - but nothing that's ever really bothered me - I know that also works for CMR and TOCA. -- Richard G. Clegg Only the mind is waving Dept. of Mathematics (Network Control group) Uni. of York. www: http://manor.york.ac.uk/top.html

I think I'd recommend a Banshee card. The 2D is pretty fast, with good image quality, and that would help with Win apps and any non-3D accelerated stuff, while providing Glide and D3D support. Not a bad deal for the money, and I'm satisfied with the bang for the buck. Scott Moore

FYI, expect to see the prices really drop on Voodoo2 cards in the next month or so with the Voodoo3 release in early April. You can probably also pick up a used one from people that are upgrading. A base Voodoo3 2000 card will be available around US$129 and will also offer 2D display as well as Voodoo2-level 3D quality. On Thu, 18 Mar 1999 10:50:15 +0000, Rick Gower

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>I need to get a decent video card, that will work with my current m/b >and CPU. I have a PII 233, currently with 32Mb RAM but soon 96 Mb. >Current video card is S3 Virge 4Mb 2D/3D accelerator (crap). The new >card needs to be good for ALL the following if at all possible: >CMR >Rally 99 >IRC >TOCA >TOCAII >GPL (I know my system is not really capable!) >F1RS >any more like MGPRS2 if I find them cheap. Please dont bother suggesting >changing CPU and m/b, the wife informs me that is not an option!! So do >I get a combo Banshee or a fully fledged 3D addon card. I'm in the UK >and a card up to 100 is about the limit. >TIA >Rick

With the base Voodoo3s *listing* for $129, wouldn't you expect manufacturers and retailers to be virtually *giving* away what's left of the Voodoo2, and, for that matter, Banshee inventory? Jack Rambo

I wouldn't say your system isn't capable of running GPL acceptably. I first installed it on a machine with a Pentium 233 MMX, Matrox Mistake 4MB, and 32M ram. The addition of a M3D2 made it reasonable with 36fps most of the time except in traffic, at the start, or in an accident situation. Pushing the ram up to 128M and bumping the buss speed to 75Mhz helped even more. If you're not in a position to rebuid your machine, the Voodoo2 will probably be the best alternative. Jeff

On Thu, 18 Mar 1999 10:50:15 +0000, Rick Gower Go for a 12Mb Voodoo2. It will work with all the games listed and heaps more. Voodoo2 gives probably the best compatibility for games at the moment. If you are happy with the Windows performance of the S3, then dont bother getting a 2D/3D combo card like a Banshee. With the Voodoo2, you can always carry it over to your next system (when the wife allows it!) FWIW, in Australia, you can get a Voodoo2 for under $200, which equates to roughly 70pounds - well under your limit. I dont know what prices are like in the UK though sorry. -- Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors Alfa Romeo - Super Touring - Club Cars http://fullspeed.to/astc Australian Super Touring Championship News and Information

Just bought Voodoo 2 (Diamond M2) in Edinburgh for 60 (well within budget). Or go for two at 110 the pair.

On Fri, 19 Mar 1999 23:44:36 -0000, "Colin Cadden" >Just bought Voodoo 2 (Diamond M2) in Edinburgh for 60 (well within budget). >Or go for two at 110 the pair. Sounds like this is the best way to go! -- Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors Alfa Romeo - Super Touring - Club Cars http://fullspeed.to/astc Australian Super Touring Championship News and Information