MikeSG wrote on 2024-02-05, 08:19:An infinitely fast 387 wouldn't make Quake any faster than 5FPS on a 386. A VLB video card makes only +2fps difference in Doom d […]
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BitWrangler wrote on 2024-02-05, 03:03:
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387 emulator on Pi Zero for super fast FPU on 386, maybe 286 also but it's already a bit pointless on 386, I doubt quake will go faster than 15fps even if the FP stuff executes instantly due to other system limitations.
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An infinitely fast 387 wouldn't make Quake any faster than 5FPS on a 386. A VLB video card makes only +2fps difference in Doom due to the 386 instruction set.
You need 486/586/Pentium instructions & FPU (not DLC) via a 386/486 hybrid board or 386-486 interposer. Immediate 3x performance boost in Doom & Quake, and can now unlock +5 FPS with a VLB card.
The next question is then- can you convert the empty 387 socket to a VLB/PCI interface...
That makes me wonder, did VGA BIOSes ever utilize x87 instructions for things like "set pixel"? If not, couldn't "we" modify VGA BIOSes for popular graphics cards accordingly?
Because, CAD programs used x87 instructions to dramatically speed up drawing, even if it were just simple dots.
They also may talked to hardware through ADI drivers, which may or may not used VGA BIOS calls.
But about DOOM.. The source is available, right?
Couldn't there be an TIGA or 8514/A build being made?
8514/A was secretly being supported by a few popular ISA cards (Mach something?) or so I heard.
Using VBE/AF might also be an alternative, but I'm not aware of VBE 2/3 compatible VGA cards for ISA bus.
Edit: The MSX2 VDP was quite more intelligent than MCGA, too.
The hypothetical card I've mentioned earlier could be used with a modified DOOM port.
https://www.msx.org/wiki/Category:VDP
The MCGA part would retain compatibility with the other 320x200 256c games of the early 90s DOS era. It could do 640x480 in monochrome, too, for Windows or SimCity etc.
Or, Doom could be ported to Windows and Scitech's WinDirect API (full-screen).
There's a WinDoom port already, but I'm not sure about how it would compare to that.
WinDoom was windowed and required Windows 3.1+Win32s+WinG.
Maybe WinDirect can be combined with Windows 3.0 API?
If so, it would make the use of Watcom's Win386 possible (an early 32-Bit extender for Windows 3.x).
Edit: More information on Win386. Some ambitious Sierra games had used it.
https://www.os2museum.com/wp/watcom-win386/
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