NEWSPAGE DEUTSCH RIVASTATION - There´s something FISHY when you can read this!

15.02 - AGP Artikel

Tom´s Hardware hat einen Artikel über den AGP Bus und dessen Leistung gemacht. Dabei geht er im besonderen auf die verschiedenen AGP 1X/2X/4X Modi ein.

Already at the first launch of the AGP, specifications allowed two different AGP-speeds, AGP1x and AGP2x. The main differences between AGP and PCI start with the fact that AGP is a 'port', which means it can only host one client and this client ought to be a graphics accelerator. PCI is a bus, and it can serve several different kinds of clients, may it be a graphics accelerator, a network card, a SCSI host adapter or a sound card. All those different clients have to share the PCI-bus and its bandwidth, while AGP offers one direct connection to the chipset and from there to the memory, the CPU or the PCI-bus. (...mehr)

15.02 - GeForce Tweaks

RIVA Extreme bietet eine Sammlung von GeForce Tweaks zum Download: GeForce Tweaks

15.02 - S3 Tweak

Voodooextreme berichtete das eine neue Version des Savage-Tweak tools S3 Tweak erhältlich ist. Download: S3 Tweak 1.08b

15.02 - Video 2000 Erhältlich

MadOnion.com´s Video 2000 Benchmark ist nun (seit Montag <g>) zum Download erhältlich. Mit dem Benchmark kann man die Videotauglichkeit eines Rechners in Bezug auf DVD Wiedergabe und MPEG codierung testen. Zu bekommen ist der Benchmark hier.

Artikel zu dem Benchmark gibt es auf den folgenden Seiten:

GPU3D (Bericht)
Gaming in 3D (Screenshots)
Hot Hardware (Kartentests)

14.02 - 3dfx Interview

FiringSquad hat ein Interview mit 3dfx´s Produkt Manager gemacht. Es geht um Themen wie VSA-100, FSAA (full screen anti-aliasing), Bitboys, Playstation2, und andere Themen:

FiringSquad: How does 3dfx view overclocking? There probably isn't as much danger in retail remarking as we've seen in the CPU industry, but is this a major concern? Will overclocking utilities be included in VSA-100 drivers?

Any component that has a clock, can be overclocked. However, with Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 the performance is so superior that there is no need to overclock. We guarantee stability at the shipped clock rate. We do not forsee remarking our chips as a big problem.

We know that our end users love to overclock, but there are some WHQL restrictions that come into play that affect what we can put in the box. We have to insure that what we put in the box is guaranteed to always work. I'm not able to tell you what we're going to do with Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 with regard to enabling overclocking but you just might find something different than what we did for Voodoo3 (which was nothing!).

Das komplette Interview ist hier zu finden.

14.02 - BeOS 5 mit OpenGL

Die neue Version 5 des Betriebssystems BeOS steht an. Grund genug Be einmal nach 3D Support zu fragen. Frank Boosman von Be Incorporated hat mir bestätigt das BeOS 5 mit OpenGL Support kommen wird. Details, also welche Chipsätze unterstützt werden etc. ist aber noch nicht zu erfahren:

Yes, BeOS 5 will support OpenGL. I can't yet tell you how extensive this support will be or which chipsets we'll support... keep watching us for updates as we get closer to release.

14.02 - Webweites

Mouseman vs. Intellimouse - The Techzone
2CoolPC Plus Review - The Techzone
ASUS K7M Review - CPU Review

GNN Relaunch. Das Deutsche Internet Magazin Golem Network News kommt seit heute mit neuem Gesicht. Schaut mal vorbei.

13.02 - Neue Creative Treiber

Creative bietet neue 3D Blaster TNT2/Annihilator Treiber zum Download an, die auf den NVIDIA Referenztreibern v3.68 basieren: Creative 3D Blaster v3.68

13.02 - UltraHLE ist (bald) wieder da!

Der Nintendo N64 Emulator UltraHLE, der letztes Jahr für viel Wirbel sorgte ist bald in einer neuen Version v1.5.0 erhältlich! Diese ist dann nicht mehr nur auf 3dfx´s GLide beschränkt sondern kommt mit OpenGL support. Auf der Website von UltraHLE gibt es erste Screenshots der OpenGL Version v1.5.0, die allerdings noch nicht fertig ist. Es scheint noch etwas zu dauern: OpenGL Developer Screenies

13.02 - Video 2000 Artikel

nV News hat einen Artikel über MadOnion.com´s neuen Benchmark Video 2000 geschrieben.

Video2000 is the first benchmarking tool to evaluate cards based on their DVD playback and MPEG2 encoding measured against the total of the system in regards to AGP performance and CPU power. As such, this test will fit at home with power users who weigh greater importance on video cards and CPUs that can crunch digital video, vs the gamer who can use a tool to report on a better system or game tweak job.

Der Artikel ist hier zu finden.

12.02 - AGP Wiz

Auf riva.hardware.ru findet sich das Creative Tool AGP Wiz. Damit lässt sich für NVIDIA basierende Grafikkarten der AGP Mode (1x/2x/4x) einstellen sowie Optionen wie AGP Sidebanding und Fast Writes aktivieren. Ob das Tool nur mit Creative Karten läuft oder ob auch andere Karten unterstützt werden ist noch unbekannt. Auch ist noch nicht bewiesen ob sich die Sideband Option mit GeForce Karten tasächlich benutzen lässt, oder ob dies nur für TNT/TNT2 Karten gedacht ist, bei denen Sidebanding mit v3.xx Treibern von Default aus aktiviert ist.

Download

12.02 - Video 2000

Nein, damit ist nicht das alte Video-System gemeint sondern MadOnion.com´s neuer Video/DVD Benchmark Video 2000. Damit lässt sich ein System auf die Videotauglichkeit (Video editing, DVD playback, and MPEG encoding) testen:

Key Features of Video2000 include:

- Task-focused results for areas such as DVD, encoding & decoding MPEG2, HDTV, Netmeeting and Home Theater
- Advanced image quality tests for analyzing the quality of video-playback in all situations
- Thorough video subsystem performance analysis - A capability-check to evaluate the limitations and extra features the graphics subsystem offers
- A real-world MPEG-2 encoding-test to assess the CPU-power available to perform software- based video-compression, effects or other tasks.
- Video Decoder Quality Tests to enable the user to gain knowledge about the accuracy and quality of the DVD-playback solution that is available on the system
- Runs under the new DirectX7 and DirectShow

Video 2000

Der Benchmark wird ab Montag erhältlich sein: Pressrelease

11.02 - Voodoo4/5 News

Björn 3D hat News zu der Voodoo4/5 CeBit Präsentation von 3dfx bekommen. Demnach sollen die V4 und V5 auf der Messe gezeigt werden. Noch dieses Frühjahr sollen die V4 4500, V5 5000 und V5 5500 erhältlich sein - Wann die 4Chip Version V5 6000 kommt ist noch unbekannt.

I received a mail from the people who handles 3dfx in Sweden. It appears that 3dfx will have their first showing of the Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 at this year's CeBit (held in Hannover 24 Feb to 1 March).

I won't translate the whole press-release as it contains the usual PR-talk but something that should interest some of you is that Lara Croft (!) will be presenting the Voodoo4 and 5 at the stand :). Lara is currently being played by the Dutch model Lara Weller (click for some pics). Lara will be at the stand after 14.00 the 25 Feb. Ok Ok, here's another picture

The press-release ends with 3dfx saying that the Voodoo4 4500, Voodoo5 5000 and Voodoo5 5500 will be out sometime this spring. No word about the V5 6000 though ....

Mehr dazu hier.

11.02 - neue SGI Workstation mit NVIDIA Grafik?!?

RIVA 3D sind Gerüchte zu ohren gekommen, nach denen SGI bald eine neue Workstation namens "Flash" vorstellt, in der ein NVIDIA Quadro für die Grafik sorgen wird.

SGI is getting ready to announce its new LINUX workstation, code named FLASH, which contains...(drum roll please)...the NVIDIA Quadro as the graphics processor!

In addition, they are about to announce a new system which uses a 32MB DDR (probably Quadro again)GPU, and at NAB, they'll roll out two more systems, the first being a dual Intel CPU with a 64MB DDR GPU (again a Quadro most likely).

But the really huge news is the third system that contains 4 Intel CPUs, and a MULTI-GPU being developed by NVIDIA AND SGI. The system reportedly will process 50 million poly's per second!

11.02 - 3Dfx und NVIDIA zu Speicherausnutzung

Reverent the Pulpit´s hat 3dfx´s Scott Sellers und NVIDIA´s Chris Donahue auf die Speicherausnutzung von Voodoo5 angesprochen. Im Detail was passiert wenn eine Anwendung mehr verlangt als die 32MB hergeben.

[Scott]...but I think also I would call into question the relevence of your example map. For one thing, if you are using so many textures, they clearly do not need to all be 32-bit textures. If this was a real game with real artwork, the large majority of the textures could easily be 16-bit textures with absolutely NO loss in visual quality. Yes, there are some texture maps that would need to be 32-bit (for example, explosions and translucent surfaces such as the sky maps as such...) but by and large any developer that we have talked with will use 16-bit textures for the majority of their artwork.

[Chris] Almost all of the developers we talk to have been building games using 32 bit textures since we shipped the TNT in '98. They may have to down sample to fit into older architectures, but the entire industry uses tools that generate the art in 32 bit, seems like less work to use it as is and the benefits are obvious in the higher quality visuals. When the VooDoo 4 and 5 are available I'm sure they will be as enthusiastic about 32 bit color as we have been.

[Scott] Of course developers are utilizing 32-bit textures. That is not what I was arguing against. My point is that developers, in many cases, will take a texture which has a substantially lower memory space and bandwidth requirements if the compressed texture looks just as good as the 32-bit texture. Clearly, not all textures fall into this category. However, many do, so why would a developer waste 8 times the texture memory when they don't need to? The answer is they wouldn't, and instead use that extra texture space for storing more textures, increasing the resolution of the texture maps, etc.

Die kompletten Antworten sind hier zu finden. So richtig beantwortet wird die Frage allerdings nicht....

Auf der Site gibt es auch ein Review einer Quadro DDR Karte mit 64 MB.

11.02 - Reviews

NVIDIA Quadro 64MB DDR - Reverent the Pulpit´s
Absolute Multimedia's Outrageous 3D GeForce DDR - Planetgeforce
Creative Annihilator - The Tech Review

10.02 - Windows 2000 v3.76

Auf RIVA 3D finden sich neue NVIDIA Windows 2000 Beta Treiber in der Version 3.76. Download: NVIDIA W2K v3.76

10.02 - GeForce vs. Viper II

Thresh´s FiringSquad hat die S3/Diamond Viper II gegen eine NVIDIA GeForce Karte mit SDRAM antreten lassen. Getestet wurden die Karten mit Q3, Unreal Tournament und NVIDIA´s Treemark:

Diamond doesn't want the Viper II to be compared to the GeForce, and we think Diamond's argument is perfectly reasonable. The Viper II isn't in the same market segment as the GeForce. A quick trip to a couple price search engines shows us that the Viper II can be had for $50-$100 less than the average GeForce 256 SDR board. Clearly, it would be unfair for us to compare one card against another that is %35 to %65 more expensive.

Then again, if we were to look at the product specifications for both cards we have to ask why shouldn't we compare both cards? They both feature hardware T&L and have similar texel fill rates. If we ignore price, a performance comparison between the GeForce and Viper II must be made because the specifications for both chips are very similar. (...mehr)

09.02 - Athlon/GeForce Tool

Mark Rouleau hat ein kleines Tool erstellt, mit dem man auf Athlon Systemen den AGP 2X Modus aktivieren kann:

Geforce Regedit version 0.7.8
-----------------------------

This was writen for the people that do not like to go in their registries to edit strings and keys to get special functions. Also for the people that could not find the keys to edit. This program is not perfect, I know, but it works. It does what its supposed to.

This is my first ever program in Visual Basic that I have writen. It took some help from people like my partner Jason Alday. I hope you find it useful. If you can give me any hints or suggestions

Zu bekommen is das tool hier.

09.02 - Benchmarks

CTNews 3D hat eine Benchmark-Link page erstellt auf der die gängigsten Benchmark Programme enthalten sind. CT News 3D Benchmarks Page

09.02 - Patenteinigung zwischen S3 und NVIDIA

Nachdem sich NVIDIA und S3 in der Vergangenheit wegen angeblicher Patentverletzungen gegenseitig verklagt hatten, haben beide Parteien nun eine Einigung in der Sache gefunden.

Feb. 9, 2000--NVIDIA(TM) Corporation and S3(R) Incorporated today announced that they have agreed to enter into a seven-year mutual broad patent cross-license agreement.

As part of this agreement, NVIDIA and S3 have agreed to dismiss their pending patent infringement suits against each other.

"With this announcement, we have reached an agreement that is mutually beneficial to both companies," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of NVIDIA Corporation. "Over the years, S3 has developed and acquired a rich portfolio of technologies in graphics, multimedia, microprocessors and system logic. Our license agreements with SGI and S3, combined with NVIDIA's rich technology patent portfolio, gives us a strong technology base on which to build winning products."

"Access to intellectual property is rapidly becoming the highest barrier to entry in today's PC graphics market," said Andrew Wolfe, Chief Technology Officer for S3 Incorporated. "Over the past ten years, S3 has built an incredibly strong IP portfolio through internal development, as well as through licensing agreements with Intel, Exponential, Cirrus and now NVIDIA. Based on our IP strength, S3 and NVIDIA rank as possibly the only two companies positioned to win long-term in the PC graphics market."

Pressrelease

09.02 - T&L Part 4

Statt über den tieferen Sinn ihres Namens zu grübeln haben die Jungs von HardOCP weitere Test mit GeForce und Test Drive 6 durchgeführt. Diesmal mit langsameren CPU´s. Vor allem der "PIII Faktor" ist sehr überraschend:

Hardware T&L and what it will actually get you TODAY.

Does it shine? Has the the "hypometer" been totally blown off the scale by nVidia? Mmm, no, but let's say they have done a good sales job. Hardware T&L does have a very real place in the gaming and hardware world it has just taken some digging to get to it. Now we have been putting our own hype out over this subject and we have done it for a reason, to hopefully raise the awareness of the hardware junkies out there. We could have posted this article first instead of last, but that would have taken all the fun out of it. Besides, all those folks that wrote in and said the Test Drive 6 was NOT the benchmark to show T&L may just eat some of those words. On with the madness, one more time... (...mehr)

08.02 - Brian Hook zu T&L

Brian Hook hat auf Voodooextreme´s "Ask Hook" Seiten eine Frage bezüglich GeForce´s T&L in Spielen beamntwortet:

The GeForce's hardware T&L can only help things as much as the application lets it. While there are a few applications that support hardware T (and sometimes L), such as Quake3, there is still a huge difference between "support" and "optimization for".

Quake3 uses the hardware transformation capabilities of OpenGL, however it still performs a huge chunk of work on the part of the CPU such as lighting (both vertex lighting and lightmap modification) and vertex interpolation on the character models. Not to mention that the shader language supports a lot of capabilities that are done strictly in software, e.g. vertex perturbation, environment mapping, texture scale and scroll, etc. This kind of stuff is not magically handled by the GeForce since the GeForce can only accelerate those things that are accessed through a 3D API by the application.

In the future we'll see more and more titles that are engineered with hardware T&L in mind. Once these start to hit the market, the difference between T&L and non-T&L support will become much more apparent.

Mehr dazu hier.

08.02 - 3dfx zu Support

Die neusten 3Dfx Voodoo3 Treiber sind durch fehler etwas in die Kritik geraten. Avault hat 3Dfx darauf angesprochen:

What is the purpose of the support message boards?
The support message boards on 3dfxgamers.com were created to be the central location for customers that prefer to use message boards to post and get answers from both technicians and other users. Members of the 3dfx tech support group monitor them. We have two people who scan the boards and answer questions on a daily basis.

Specifically what is 3dfx doing to resolve problems with defective drivers, gamma difficulties, and other issues that have been reported on the support boards?
3dfx has one of the best driver teams in the industry. We have a large software engineering staff that is dedicated to providing new drivers. The last drivers we released for DirectX, OpenGL, and Glide were on Jan. 27. We have admitted to the problems Voodoo3 based cards are experiencing with certain configurations and are in the process of reviewing, replicating and solving those issues. Creating drivers is not an exact science and is a situation that requires time to fix. The last drivers we released on Jan. 27 fixed a large majority of the gamma issues. We have specific games that are still experiencing problems, and we are communicating with the developers to solve those problems.

Das komplette Interview ist hier zu finden - Erfreulich wie offen 3dfx dazu Stellung nimmt. Da könnten sich einige andere eine Scheibe abschneiden....

08.02 - GLQuake

Eine neue Version von GLQuake ist verfügbar. Die infoffizielle Engine hat folgende Änderungen/Verbesserungen erfahren:

- ARB_multitexture.
- Bug-fixed shadows.
- OpenGL fog.
- Quake2-style sky rendering.
- Added distance attenuated flickering flares to torches.
- Added some console variables for controling new additions.
- Revised Options menu.
- Increased particle density.
- Misc fixes/additions to original source.
- Created new MSVC 6.0 project file.
- Revised source directory structure.

Zu bekommen ist die neue Version hier. (ThanX to Voodooextreme)

08.02 - Erazor X² Test

hartware hat sich der ELSA Erazor X² angenommen:

Die Elsa Erazor X² hinterläßt bei mir gemischte Gefühle. Einerseits ist die Performance natürlich das beste, was man von einer Grafikkarte zur Zeit bekommen kann. Auf der anderen Seite stehen der sehr hohe Preis und der Eindruck, dass das Gesamt-Paket X² irgendwie hätte runder sein können.
So muss man die durchschnittlichen TV-Features, die mangelnde Overclocking-Fähigkeit und einige fehlende Beigaben erwähnen. Neben einem Overclocking-Utility fehlt im Lieferumfang der X² auch das Programm Elsa ChipGuard, mit dem die Temperatur des Grafikchips überwacht und die Taktfrequenz automatisch geregelt werden kann. Dies war bei der Erazor X noch dabei.

Mehr dazu hier.