Reply 40 of 43, by W.x.
RaiderOfLostVoodoo wrote on 2022-03-13, 04:43:therevisiona wrote on 2020-05-23, 17:00:EvieSigma wrote on 2020-05-23, 16:55:So Virge/DX is better than Virge/GX, I would assume?
Yes, it is
Why should the older DX be better than the newer GX(2)?
Can you explain that?
This article, that Con has recommended , will explain it to you perfectly.
http://retro.swarm.cz/s3-virge-325-vx-dx-gx-g … tors-deep-dive/
But in short, if you don't want to read it all.
Virge chips are very unadvanced, and they don't have texturing cache. That will cause big performance hit with synchronous RAM ( SDRAM, SGRAM).
Virge GX is exactly same chip, as Virge DX, just memory controller was improved to support SGRAM. But DX using EDO , will be faster.
Retroswarm estimated, that Virge DX at 66 mhz EDO RAM, would be around same fast, as 75 Mhz SGRAM version.
So if you overclock that 66 EDO RAM, to 75 mhz, you'll get almost same fast card as GX/2. GX/2 usually has 90 or 100 mhz SGRAM clock. But my GX/2 can be overclocked to 107 mhz, so it will be probably fastest Virge. But it's AGP. So I would say, DX with EDO overclocked to over 80mhz, would be fastest PCI Virge.
There is also mention, that even Virge GX cards were equipped with EDO RAM. in that case, they are basicaly identical to Virge DX, as "improved memory controller" isn't used at all.
So, in short... you need to pick DX/GX with EDO memory, that has smallest possible timings... ideally -40 , or -35 ns. And overclock hell ouf of it, best to go over 80 mhz, then you'll get fastest Virge around.
There's also one type of Virge, that is somehow more rare, but it's also very good. Virge MX. Using mobile core, but there were also PCB with PCI made. According Vintage3d site, there is comparsion of all Virge types, and even Trio3D / Trio3D/2x ... and Virge MX have very good results.
