You may also run into issues with the 512MB of VRAM (Win9x should be limited to 256MB of VRAM to avoid problems). You couldn't have picked a more troublesome system combination to work on that's for sure. If you search this board and the MSFN.org forums, you can work your way out of this hell... but you already know what you're getting yourself into. Perhaps you're like "Rambo," and instead of hell you call this "home."

If you do swap out the video card, I think I read the GeForce cards are not very good choices to pair with the PowerVR, so that's one more issue. Anything else will work but search around.

Good luck!

I managed to got Win98SE loaded, but none of the hacked Nvidia drivers work for my card, so I think I'll have to seek an inexpensive 2D card. Any idea what would be good enough without being too pricey?

Looks on this list. You can find many of these cards extremely cheap (and maximumly DOS compatible; even on eBay (except for the 3dfx cards, of course). Reminder: Avoid GeForce cards because of the PowerVR add-in.

https://gona.mactar.hu/DOS_TESTS/

I picked up an S3 Trio 3D cheaply, should be enough for what I need. That list is amazing! I'm not building a retro machine though, more reworking my old PC just to play a few PowerVR titles 😁

Argh... I forgot my ABIT IC-7G motherboard is 4X/8X, not 2X, so the AGP connector is the wrong way around!

Can anyone recommend a cheap AGP 4X/8X card that'll work fine in Windows 98SE? My Gainward GS7800+ never had Windows 98 drivers, and the hacked ones don't work.

Since you need to stay away from Nvidia GeForce and later because of the PowerVR, any version of Rage Pro Fury or Ultra or Radeon from the 7000 series will work, perform adequately to very well, and be cheap. All are AGP 2x/4x. AGP 2x/4x is also compatible with a 4x/8x motherboard. It's the 1x/2x you have to watch out for (unless you have a universal slot, which it appears you don't).

Thanks, will see what I can get

i never heard of Power VR. I would love to mess around with a compatible card. i don't really know what to search for, anyone have any hints/leads of which cards to pick up? i am in the US.

The desire of seeking one depends on a particular acquired taste:

- Do you like early 3d accelerated games?
- Do you like early Japan-exclusive 3d accelerated PC games?
- Are you content with the compatibility rate sharply dropping from 1998 onward as well as having no support for any NT based OS?
- Do you want decent enough 3D acceleration to pair with your really good sharp Matrox Millennium/Mystique video card?
- Do you want to build a chimera of a computer that can use all of the supported APIs found on UnrealEngine1 games?
- Do you have a dangerously obsessive interest in the Sega Dreamcast and have silly WhatCouldHaveBeen daydream scenarios of it coming out a year earlier?

In the US the Matrox M3D is the most common card, and the Apocalypse 5D is the least common (that's really a combo card as it adds a 2D Tseng core.(yes... 3D+2D=5D)) and the unobtanium's the NEC PC3DEngine2 (Japan only)

I bidded on a 5D last week, it went for £320 I think!!!

If I recall correctly, there was also an apocalypse 5d sonic which also included a soundcard.

Johnylyr wrote on 2022-02-15, 10:12:

If I recall correctly, there was also an apocalypse 5d sonic which also included a soundcard.

You are correct

Before I dip in and get an ATi card, I saw a post over here: Help me find GOOD WORKING ATi Radeon 7000 VE drivers for '98! that said "Plus ATI Win9x drivers are ctd if you have HT/multicore CPU or have 512+ MB RAM."

I've limited RAM to 512MB but I'm running a hyperthread P4 EE. I assume that hyperthreading might be disable-able in BIOS perhaps, or should I get a different 2D card, maybe an SiS one?

I sometimes feel buying a whole retro machine might be easier, but I'm attempting to make-do-and-mend with what I have lying around 😁

I told you.... heh (2nd post).

Anyway,
You can get all the best ATI drivers at Phil's:
https://www.philscomputerlab.com/ati-9x-driver-archive.html

Stay away from VisionTek ATI cards, unless you absolutely 100% know really know what you're getting. VisionTek often puts some kind of ATI "Mobility" chip on PCI/AGP desktop form factors, making driver installation (even from their own CD!) a horrid experience.

A SiS 315E is AGP 2x, so you can't use that one, but the 315 is 4x. You're still not going to get a "non-E" version cheaply, though. Priced similarly to the Xabre 200/400, if not even more expensive. SiS Xabre 200/400 are pretty good, but they are expensive. You're going to pay $40 - $50, but if you want to wait around or look harder, you can probably find one cheaper.

Meatball wrote on 2022-02-15, 13:40:

A SiS 315 is AGP 2x.

4x

Putas wrote on 2022-02-15, 13:45:

Meatball wrote on 2022-02-15, 13:40:

A SiS 315 is AGP 2x.

4x

You're right, I was looking at a 315E

https://vgamuseum.info/index.php/component/k2 … em/396-sis-315e

What about a SIS 6326? They sound very low end but I just need something for 2D alongside the PowerVR, does it need to be a particularly flashy 2D card?

6326 is AGP 2x; and is decent, but you can't use it in your board. If you want to limit yourself to a PCI card instead, then the sky's the limit.

leileilol wrote on 2022-02-15, 05:10:

The desire of seeking one depends on a particular acquired taste: […]
Show full quote

The desire of seeking one depends on a particular acquired taste:

- Do you like early 3d accelerated games?
- Do you like early Japan-exclusive 3d accelerated PC games?
- Are you content with the compatibility rate sharply dropping from 1998 onward as well as having no support for any NT based OS?
- Do you want decent enough 3D acceleration to pair with your really good sharp Matrox Millennium/Mystique video card?
- Do you want to build a chimera of a computer that can use all of the supported APIs found on UnrealEngine1 games?
- Do you have a dangerously obsessive interest in the Sega Dreamcast and have silly WhatCouldHaveBeen daydream scenarios of it coming out a year earlier?

In the US the Matrox M3D is the most common card, and the Apocalypse 5D is the least common (that's really a combo card as it adds a 2D Tseng core.(yes... 3D+2D=5D)) and the unobtanium's the NEC PC3DEngine2 (Japan only)

- love early 3d accelerated games. i am all about collecting and building systems of the mid to early 90s.
- i have no experience with such, i generally like to play games in a language i can read
- yeah this is not a problem. i have a ton of various cards and platforms.
- no experience with Matrox either. should i pick up a Millennium/Mystique to mess around with?
- absolutely!
- always.

What search terms do you recommend i use to find a matrox m3d? do you know where other than ebay i can buy/trade for one?