On 9 Mar 99, at 12:27, Dean Kukral wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pinelands <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wednesday, March 10, 1999 12:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Deference between 3D processor and 3DFX processor
> >
> > <snip>
> > For the most performance get a good 2D Graphics card and a good 3D
> > graphics card that is based on the voodoo 3 chipset.
>
> I am thinking of getting a new video card, but I do not understand
> this. How do you have two video cards??  If you get a 2d card and a
> 3d card, how do you hook them up?   Can you hook your monitor to
> either one and they talk through the pci bus?

  The VGA spec includes a "feature connector" which allows an alternate
video source to be sent out through the main card's connector.  So in this
configuration, the 3D card connects to the feature connector of the 2D
card, and the monitor plugs into the 2D card.  When software calls the
driver for the 3D card, output from the 3D card is sent to the monitor -
- the 2D card is ignored in this mode.

> How does an SLI connection work?  Is it a cable between the two
> cards, or do they talk through the bus?

  The SLI configuration that I'm aware of is where you have TWO 3D cards;
SLI allows them to coordinate efforts, one rendering the even scan
lines and the other the odd ones.  This is good for frame rates, but
uses up slots....

> Also, I play games on my computer a lot.  I like things like
> Civilization and Might and Magic as opposed to the shoot-em games
> like Quake or Doom. Do I need 3d cards with "high frame rates?"
> What about high-res games like Railroad Tycoon II that use 1280 x
> 1040?

  I'm not familiar with Might and Magic, but there is nothing in
Civilization (one of my personal favourites) that will benefit from 3D
hardware.

  High *resolutions* like 1280x1024 are largely a matter of sufficient
RAM on the 2D card; 4 MB could be enough, although 5 MB (which probably '
means buying 8...) will be faster -- or you could cut the colour depth.

  High *frame rates* apply to those 3D shoot-em games, where every time
you move, the scene must be repainted from a different perspective -- if
the frame rate is too low, these repainst will be "choppy" rather than
smooth.  This is where one or two dedicate 3D-only cards can help.

> PS:  My video card is only about a year old.  It is already old, slow
> stuff. Oh well...

  AGP throws a different set of variables into the mix....


David G

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