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3dfx users please read

I'm using a voodoo 3 with the 3dfx tools ver. 2.6.2.116. I'm just wondering how you have your advanced features setup (both direct 3d and openGL/glide). Maybe this is the wrong forum but I figured the gamers would have the setup that I'm looking for....

I would help you but my voodoo 3 crapped out on me, and I don't remember what I had it at.

anyone else??

Also, I don't have any agp slots only pci. So am I pretty much out of luck for upgrading the video card?

I have a voodoo3 pci and my advanced features are all set to default.

are you content with the performance at the default level?

Mine is agp (I think) but it's actually on my motherboard itself. I have an empty pci slot and was thinking about getting a pci video card that would take me from 8 meg of video memory up to 32 meg but I don't know if it's worth it or not. I don't have any agp slots so I don't really have many options.... :brickwl:

These are from the x3dfx Community modified 3dfx drivers included "Optimal Settings" .txt file. BTW, I find their 1.08.04 "unofficial" drivers to work great. Note that some of these settings are exclusive to the x3dfx tools, and may not be available with the tools you are using.

Quote:

Fastest performance:

General:-
* AGP Command FIFO = 2x
* Refresh Optimisation = Enabled

D3D:-
* 3D Filter Quality = Normal
* Alpha Blending = Smoother
* Anti-Aliasing = Disabled
* Guardband Clipping = Enabled
* Level of Detail Bias = 2 or 8 (depends on what driver set u have)
* Maximum Buffered Frames = 1 (more buffered frames can increase performance but can cause system latency)
* Mip Map Dithering = Disabled
* Vertical Sync = Disabled (if suffering from erratic frame rates enable this for some FPS stability)
* Z-Buffer Optimisation = Enabled

OGL/GLide:-
* 3D Filter Quality = Normal
* Alpha Blending = Smoother
* Anti-Aliasing = Disabled
* Depth Precision = Faster (if this causes visual defects set back to "fast".)
* Force 16bit Textures = Enable
* Guardband Clipping = Enabled (Use EITHER Gaurdband clipping OR HSR, not both)
* Hidden Surface Removal (HSR) = Aggressive Tiling (may cause visual defects)
* Legacy Texture Compression = Enable
* Level Of Detail Bias = 2 or 8 (depends on what driver set u have)
* Maximum Buffered Frames = 1 (more buffered frames can increase performance but can cause system latency)
* Mip Map Dithering = Disabled
* Rendering Color Depth = Software Controlled
* Triple Buffering = Enabled
* Vertical Sync = Disabled (if suffering from erratic frame rates enable this for some FPS stability)

Optimal Performance and visuals (unless specifically stated leave the same as "Fastest Performance" settings)

D3D:-
* 3D Filter Quality = Automatic
* Alpha Blending = Automatic
* Anti-Aliasing = Disabled
* Guardband Clipping = Enabled
* Level of Detail Bias = 0
* Mip Map Dithering = Enabled

OGL/GLide:-
* 3D Filter Quality = Auto
* Alpha Blending = Auto
* Anti-Aliasing = Disabled
* Guardband Clipping = Enabled (Use EITHER Gaurdband clipping OR HSR, not both)
* Hidden Surface Removal (HSR) = Aggressive Tiling (may cause visual defects)
* Level Of Detail Bias = 0
* Mip Map Dithering = Enabled

Best Visuals (unless specifically stated leave the same as "Fastest Performance" settings):

D3D:
* 3D Filter Quality = High
* Alpha Blending = Sharper
* Anti-Aliasing = Enabled
* Guardband Clipping = Enabled
* Level Of Detail Bias = -2 or -8 (depends on what driver set u have)
* Maximum Buffered Frames = 1 (more buffered frames can increase performance but can cause system latency)
* Mip Map Dithering = Enabled
* Vertical Sync = Disabled (if suffering from erratic frame rates enable this for some FPS stability)

OGL/GLide:
* 3D Filter Quality = High
* Alpha Blending = Sharp
* Anti-Aliasing = Enabled
* Depth Precision = Faster (if this causes visual defects set back to "fast".)
* Force 16bit Textures = Disable
* Guardband Clipping = Enabled (Use EITHER Gaurdband clipping OR HSR, not both)
* Hidden Surface Removal (HSR) = Disable
* Legacy Texture Compression = Disable
* Level Of Detail Bias = -2 or -8 (depends on what driver set u have)
* Maximum Buffered Frames = 1 (more buffered frames can increase performance but can cause system latency)
* Mip Map Dithering = Enabled
* Rendering Color Depth = Force 32bpp Rendering (may cause some games not to run, if so then return to the previous "Software Controlled" setting)
* Triple Buffering = Enabled
* Vertical Sync = Disabled (if suffering from erratic frame rates enable this for some FPS stability)

Super helpful settings guide!! Thanks a lot! Now I'm going to have to play around with the settings there and see if I can even tell a difference....

For anyone else looking for some drivers or other terrific resources, here's a GREAT site that has a lot to offer for 3dfx users
http://www.voodoofiles.com/top15.asp?cat_id=0

I just want to add to anybody reading this: Don't buy the Voodoo3! I own one (AGP, 16MB) and while it has served me admirably for many games, it seems like one of the more problematic 3dfx cards. Ghost Recon is near unplayable due to extremely blurred text (in their help file, the developers state flat out that they won't support Voodoo3) and Paris-Dakar Rally won't run at all. With 3dfx no longer around, I don't expect the situation for this card to improve.

If you must buy a card in this price/technology range, pick up a card using a Nvidia chipset.

Quote:

Originally posted by ipkevin
I just want to add to anybody reading this: Don't buy the Voodoo3! I own one (AGP, 16MB) and while it has served me admirably for many games, it seems like one of the more problematic 3dfx cards. Ghost Recon is near unplayable due to extremely blurred text (in their help file, the developers state flat out that they won't support Voodoo3) and Paris-Dakar Rally won't run at all. With 3dfx no longer around, I don't expect the situation for this card to improve.

I have a Voodoo5 and I cant even play the game at all. The screen I see is only about half of the normal size and its' all divide in rectangles that go through the screen horizontally.

Quote:

Originally posted by Feneant

I have a Voodoo5 and I cant even play the game at all. The screen I see is only about half of the normal size and its' all divide in rectangles that go through the screen horizontally.

Try upgrading your drivers, even if it means using one of those independent drivers available at the links above. Then install directx8. I know that's how many people using a V3 were able to get Ghost Recon to run at all, so it stands to reason that the same should work for the V5.