I would go for a Matrox or Riva128 - picture quality is very nice.

Robin4 wrote on 2024-09-14, 22:43:

Dont want to use a VIRGE card.. just because everyone seems to have one.

Well, if you want a period-correct machine, you might want to reconsider the S3 ViRGE. It's so ubiquitous nowadays because it was the budget go-to option back in '96-'97. And it won't make that much of a difference if you want to pair it with a 3dfx voodoo1 I guess.

Robin4 wrote on 2024-09-14, 22:43:

My system components (raw) […]
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My system components (raw)

(i dont know you what speed processor iam going to use)
Guessing between 133 - 150 - 166 (needs to be a 1996 build with a pentium classic)
System is for running everything faster then a 486 66 / 100 / 120 could ever do. ( i know 486 is very bad in 3D graphics, thats why this pentium classic build)
System running FAT 32 with windows 95 (still looking for hard to find OSR 2.0 (not intended to use USB here) I know i can get floppy images on the internet but writing diskettes is still a hassle and i need a grease weasel for it.
FIC PA-2002 motherboard OEM based (vobis branded) case, keyboard and monitor are highscreen branded too.)
48MB of EDO 60nS memory. (enough for this system)
18 GB SCSI drive. 7200 RPM
Sound will be Soundstorm (gravis ultra sound clone) And a soundblaster 64 AWE probably.) or maybe a short card like a vibra 16.
Graphics card now is a ET4000 / 32 Iam guessing its have 1MB of memory.
And there will be a Voodoo 1 4MB installed for 3D.

Like to run in 640x480 resolution at least.. How much graphics memory do i need to have to run this resolution?

And what graphics card is most optimal for this system?

Thinking about to change this one probably for a 2 - 4MB card.

Dont want to use a VIRGE card.. just because everyone seems to have one.

Is there any review of cards that have to be seen, that can make my choice a lot easier?

Cards that i have in mind:

-tseng ET 6000
- ATI mach 64 (probably beter for 486?)
- ARK based card with 2MB
- Dont know if a trio card is to weak and would be better for a 486 instead?)
- Something i did not mentioned here.

- Dont know if a diamond viper v330 PCI makes sense?

I know I'm a little late here, but thanks to some Googling to refresh my memories of some components of my first PC, "ROADKILL," for a post I'm assembling about it I managed to open a tab that landed me here, 🤣! I assume you've probably got your unit built by now (hopefully), or ditched the project (hopefully not). I quickly scanned your post, fingers crossed that I'd see the video card that really helped ROADKILL rock - the Tseng ET-6000 card. And amazingly, there it was in the running! All I can say is that card definitely helped ROADKILL run over lesser boxes, 🤣! I built ROADKILL for one purpose only - to play Interstate '76 when it would come out about a month after ROADKILL was born. Along with the ET-6000 was the original Voodoo Monster 3D daughterboard card (4MB IIRC), and together they did a bang-up job running every version and sequel of the game wonderfully. ROADKILL ended up serving me in so many ways through the years, always getting bigger hard drives along the way, modem upgrades, ethernet eventually, and probably almost 5 years later ditched its Microsoft operating system for Slackware because I heard that's what all the cool kids ran, and if you learned Slackware, you learned about everything under the hood, cutting your own X.org config files that ended up allowing you to hit resolutions beyond the system's specs, 🤣, and that you could work/support any version of Linux since with Slackware back then you had to do most everything by hand and learn how it all functioned as a whole. They were right. 😀

Anyways, I'm in a bit of a rush at the moment, but I'm gonna try to get back here soon so I can read everything else in the thread and perhaps learn how things panned out for you. The Tseng card was the only component that was a surprise score for me. I learned of it thanks to a guy named Hugh, who ran one of the two small Mom & Pop computer shops in town. I bought my motherboard and that Tseng card from him. He suggested the Tseng when I told him what I was putting together. Hugh was a really nice, mellow guy, but hit lit up and extra notch when he started describing and suggesting the Tseng to me. I could feel his honesty and appreciation of that card's unique design and performance when compared to all the usual contenders. He convinced me I would be very happy with it, and that was an understatement!

I don't think I've ever met another person familiar with the Tseng card, let alone an owner, 🤣! If I had to make an automotive analogy (as we always did back then, 🤣), I would say the Tseng was a 1985 Dodge Omni GLH Turbo while the rest of the competition were VW Rabbits and Acura Integras. If you're unfamiliar with the reference, Carroll Shelby designed the GLH series of Omnis to "eat Rabbits." He wanted to call it the "Coyote," but that name was already taken by a track racing car. So, he went with GLH - "Goes Like Hell." And it did. I almost bought a VW Rabbit GTI, or a Mitsubishi Mirage back then, until a good friend saved me by handing me the issue of AutoWeek featuring Carroll Shelby on the cover, sitting on the hood of a beautiful blue 1985 GLH Turbo parked in the middle of a grassy field, holding a rifle with the cover titled, "Carroll Shelby goes Rabbit hunting," 🤣! The same friend joined me for test drives in all these cars, and I knew instantly he was right. The Dodge might have been a teensy bit less refined than the Rabbit (plastic, construction, fabric and such), but that was kind of the point. This was America throwing down the gauntlet reminding European automakers that musclecars only come from one place, America! Yeah, this was the mid-80s 4-banger musclecar. Here's a link to "What Is a Dodge GLH and Did It Really Go Like Hell? (https://www.motortrend.com/features/dodge-glh/) and I've attached an image, as well.

Gotta fly, hopefully see ya again soon!

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