Re: S3 Virge DX and GX memory

Posted on 2025-04-10, 20:13

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Yeah, i've already found out several days after last post in july 2024, that Virge DX doesn't support SGRAM memory (did some research after), so it can be only EDO memory (but in different, 32-bit wide, package). Yes, that's why only 2 chips are needed to saturate 64-bit memory bus. It's Virge GX, …

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Re: What was logic behind Radeon VE WITH SDR memory?

Posted on 2025-04-07, 15:48

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by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

With any chip manufacturing, you always have to take into account the yields you will get. For starters, anything made on a larger manufacturing node (e.g. 250 nm vs 180 nm, vs 130 nm) will give less chips per the amount of silicon you have. So going to a smaller manufacturing node is cheaper in …

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Re: What was the logic behind the Radeon VE with SDR memory?

Posted on 2025-04-02, 02:44

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Not much different then what Nvidia did with the Geforce 2 MX line, a crippled GF2 with SDR. Even though the MX could theoretically come with DDR as well - it almost never did, even though it would obviously help performance somewhat with a fairly minimal price difference. The MXs are ubiquitous, …

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Re: What was logic behind Radeon VE WITH SDR memory?

Posted on 2025-04-01, 15:15

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

That aside and back to the main topic... I think SDR memory was also starting to get really cheap in value compared to DDR. Given that the Radeon VE/7000 isn't really that good of a video card in terms of 3F capabilities, some manufacturers probably figured they could make it cheaper by using SDR …

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Re: What was logic behind Radeon VE WITH SDR memory?

Posted on 2025-03-31, 00:56

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

TV out in offices, employees watching TV during work? And used TV out? Not sure about this. Also, low profile computers among OEM were not often to see. And it is also this type of Radeon VE, without TV out: https://ibb.co/cSMMqqzz So if it would be the reason, they would use SDR memory only on TV …

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Re: What was logic behind Radeon VE WITH SDR memory?

Posted on 2025-03-30, 08:51

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Cheap more modern video acceleration. Some had Hydravision too. All right, I definitely didn't mean these Radeons http://old.vgamuseum.info/images/stories/zaatharen/ati/ati7000_flq.jpg of course, this would have sense to pay extra, if you use extra VGA connector. But I see SDR memory on these types …

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What was the logic behind the Radeon VE with SDR memory?

Posted on 2025-03-30, 07:43

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

What was logic behind Radeon VE SDR 64-bit? Reference Radeon VE should have DDR memory. But there is lotsa SDR versions. Probably for OEM machines? But why bother in 2001 with Radeon VE SDR, when there was still Rage 128 Pro 64-bit (for example XPert 2000 Pro 32MB) https://cdn.aukro.cz/images/ …

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Re: S3 savage 3D，most suitable platform is?

Posted on 2025-01-11, 02:14

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Anyone Windows XP drivers? Or did you test it under Windows 98?

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Re: TNT2 Ultra faster than Geforce 2MX on Slot A?

Posted on 2024-12-03, 17:20

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Geforce 2 MX should be faster. You're doing something wrong. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4fXHbZfG2k You should make photo of that geforce 2 Mx, can be crippled, underclocked or it can be MX200 version. There can be also different problems. Also, you need to test in more benchmarks, not just one …

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Re: ATI Rage 128 Pro - Better than expected!

Posted on 2024-11-18, 13:52

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Anandtech had often pre-released versions. Manufacturers often sent their products for review even before release of final product. Maybe, they've removed active cooler at the end. The one on the right seems as Rage Fury MAXX version. I've always seen them with fans. https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/ …

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Re: Fast way to test 486 stability in DOS? Please recommend software

Posted on 2024-10-11, 23:16

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I don't think running old games is really proof of stability. If it was rendering a few wrong pixels here and there, are you certain you would notice that? Or would you think it looks normal and your system must be "stable"? At least with modern games, they tend to glitch in more spectacular …

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Re: Which Pentium IIs can be underclocked?

Posted on 2024-10-10, 23:14

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Just found strange behaviour on my PII 333 Deschutes SL2S5 datecode 9832. On PCChips M726MRT (multiplier is set by jumpers), if set on 2x-4.5x (default is 5x), it sometimes set default 5x, like it's locked, but sometimes 2x-4.5x, like it's unlocked. It's like 25% chance after restart / power off and …

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Re: List of UNLOCKED Pentium II CPUs - A Quick Glance

Posted on 2024-10-02, 10:35

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

information with production weeks ( after 1998/31 is locked) is wrong. My unlocked deschutes is from 1998/34 I've found another date code on Slot 1 PCB (inside SECC cartrige). Maybe that one is more important, than found on the SECC. It's only my assumption, they can differ. Maybe not. So that's …

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Re: ASUS PCI/I-P54TP4 Socket 5 motherboard thread/review

Posted on 2024-09-19, 06:57

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Can you renew original pictures, please? And one question. How the board compares to Intel Zappa? https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/intel-advanced-zp-zappa Would you say, it's better or worse, than Intel Zappa? For I am considering to keep only one socket 5 board in collection, rest only socket …

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Re: S3 ViRGE deep dive

Posted on 2024-09-03, 16:34

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Other than configuration file, you can also just double click on the Core or RAM icon under each slider and enter a new percentage. It's much easier then .ini editing. It isn't there. I had different version, probably earlier. I remember it, that it worked this way, but it wasn't there. Probably …

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Re: S3 ViRGE deep dive

Posted on 2024-09-01, 23:30

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

This EDO 32-bit package late Virge DX, can go to monster overclock, from 50/50 to 80/80, and maybe even more (Powerstrip didnt let me). Powerstrip has a configuration file in which you can adjust these limits. Thank you. I couldn't figure out, how to do it, so after 10 minutes, I've gave up. But I …

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Re: S3 ViRGE deep dive

Posted on 2024-09-01, 01:07

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Hello. I couldn't get there from july 2024. Yes, after few days, I've found out, it is really EDO ram, but in different (32-bit) packaging. The card overclocks like crazy, 80 mhz core and 80 mhz (EDO) memory, power strip didn't let me more with slider. Card still ran Final Reality's Robots. I've …

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Re: S3 ViRGE deep dive

Posted on 2024-07-18, 19:56

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by W.x.

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

https://retro.swarm.cz/s3-virge-325-vx-dx-gx-gx2-series-of-early-3d-accelerators-deep-dive/ There is very little difference between ViRGE DX and GX chips. The 3D core is exactly the same. GX just has a better memory controller that allows board manufacturers using synchronous memory chips (SDRAM/ …

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Re: S3 Virge DX and GX memory

Posted on 2024-07-18, 19:42

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Just found comparsion between S3 Virge DX with EDO RAM and SGRAM RAM. But from external source. The test system seems same, but only application, that is shared between two, is Final Reality benchmark. https://www.clous.cz/s3-virge-dx-sgram/ https://www.clous.cz/hercules-terminator-3d-dx/ Seems, …

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Re: S3 Virge DX and GX memory

Posted on 2024-07-18, 18:35

by

by W.x.

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Just found S3 Virge DX with 4 memory chips that looks like SGRAM. core is not seen, as it has Octek sticker on it (I will not remove it). But on BIOS chip is S3 Virge DX sticker. I was also shocked, expected it to be Virge GX. So, obviously, chip Virge DX can be used with SGRAM, question is, if it …

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