Gmlb256 wrote on 2022-03-13, 13:25:
For me it would be the Compaq S3 ViRGE/GX due to build quality and one of the less common S3 card that comes with VBE 2.0 BIOS onboard. The only disadvantages are that it comes with 2MB RAM without a very rare upgrade and uses SGRAM (which is slower on 3D games due to the ViRGE architecture, although there are ViRGE/GX cards using EDO RAM such as the STB Nitro 3D) but for 2D games it's not that relevant.
Yah I've got one of those, it's a solid reliable piece.
I dispute that VBE 2.0 is not quite common though, seemed to be on all the s3s my buddies had, even the trio models back in the day. I think what's happening is that the bottom of the barrel cards that nobody wants without it, are most commonly for sale and cheapest. Get into some "virgin" junk that hasn't been picked over and you'd probably find 8/10 with VBE 2.0
It is as well to remember the expectations for first gen 3D back in the day... it was expected to enable 640x480 gaming, de-slideshow it, when 15fps was regarded as "full motion", as an upgrade from 320x240 software rendered modes. Seems to be some school of thought out there that "If I get the absolute best 3D card from 199x, it will play 199x games at 1024x768 60fps" ummm no.
Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.