Re: Socket A: Nvidia vs Via - battle of the platforms!

Posted on 2023-07-11, 07:28

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

I'd still say nForce2 Ultra 400 was the fastest socket A chipset, and with working async AGP/PCI lock. KT600 used set of fixed ratios for locking, not sure about KT880.

---

Re: Pentium 2 450 do I need additional heat sink?

Posted on 2023-07-11, 07:13

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

@duboisea You need SECC1 cooler with hooks to attach to plate.

---

Re: What retro activity did you get up to today?

Posted on 2023-07-10, 21:41

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Equipped 2 more ATI cards with better cooling. Most interesting era of ATI cards, at least for me. X800Pro VIVO is unlocked to full 16 pipes 😉. Filename X800Pro.jpg File size 1.4 MiB Views 1403 views Filename X800Pro_Mark2k1.JPG File size 210.7 KiB Views 1403 views Filename 980XXL.jpg File size 1. …

---

Re: Voodoo 3 3000 Build recommendations ?

Posted on 2023-07-10, 21:37

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Intel486dx33 wrote on 2023-07-09, 12:05: My AMD K6-3 @550mhz can be slowed down to 486 speeds using software like “Setmul” ( set multiplier ) That's more for DOS era games. As for V3, period correct are P3 and SB Live! / Aureal Vortex 2.

---

Re: Socket A: Nvidia vs Via - battle of the platforms!

Posted on 2023-07-10, 07:50

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ System Specs

in Marvin \ System Specs

KT333 wins because Universal AGP. That may be another point of view, very valid when taking into account Voodoo cards! I'd say VIA and SiS, with universal AGP for 3dfx compatibility. Both chipsets work fine with Geode NX processors, which is also a big plus. Cool as cucumbers and with software …

---

Re: Asus USB/MIR reverse engineering

Posted on 2023-07-10, 07:20

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Managed to find 3 locally, including cables. One with all of the ports and 2 with just USB, so I'm ok for now 😉.

---

Re: What retro activity did you get up to today?

Posted on 2023-04-10, 18:10

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Thanks. I will investigate.

---

Re: What retro activity did you get up to today?

Posted on 2023-04-10, 15:35

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Finally finished my "Year2k" build based on PIII Coppermine 1GHz, Voodoo 5 and Aureal Vortex 2: 20230410_113218.jpg 20230407_095030.jpg Very silent it is ;). It's based on a PC I had in 2001, with some changes: * GeForce2MX -> 3dfx V5 5500 * SB Live! -> Aureal SQ2500 Case is actually the same.

---

Re: Any use for S754-system with PCIe ?

Posted on 2023-04-03, 14:51

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

I don't think you can with nf4 chipset. This is not Intel.

---

Re: Any use for S754-system with PCIe ?

Posted on 2023-04-03, 08:28

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

There were some interesting s754 PCIe boards ... for example Epox 8NPA SLI or DFI NF4X INFINITY. (I had them both). Epox had all Rubycon caps and nice colors. But I wouldn't count on Win98 compatibility. You need VIA chipset for that. But with cool s754 cpu and VIA K8T800 chipset you can go all the …

---

Re: Bought these (retro) hardware today

Posted on 2023-03-26, 14:14

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Banshee and Diamond V2: Filename 20230326_151536.jpg File size 545.62 KiB Views 1978 views Filename 20230326_150814.jpg File size 1.3 MiB Views 1978 views

---

Re: Radeon 9700 Pro on the way out?

Posted on 2023-03-18, 10:13

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Removing the shim is not for the faint of heart. NOS Zalman coolers (VF700 / VF900 / FATAL1TY FC-ZV9) are much safer option IMHO. Base of the cooler is within the shim.

---

Re: Radeon 9700 Pro on the way out?

Posted on 2023-03-17, 10:19

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

On NOS cards it goes off easily. On used cards it's 1+ hour job with chemicals, heat, toothpicks and razor blade.

---

Re: Radeon 9700 Pro on the way out?

Posted on 2023-03-17, 09:13

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

That thermal adhesive is pure evil 😉. That's the first thing I deal with when refurbing R300 card.

---

Re: Radeon 9700 Pro on the way out?

Posted on 2023-03-16, 04:04

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Samsung 2.8ns BGA chips get burning hot on 9700 Pro, cooling them is beneficial. I think it's cheaper to find new card then get it repaired by a shop, it's not Voodoo 5500. Lowering the clock could help. 9700 non-pro / TX have slower but much cooler memory chips (usually Infineon), and 256-bit bus …

---

Re: Asus USB/MIR reverse engineering

Posted on 2023-03-13, 10:25

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Just checked, CablesOnline charges $70 for shipping to EU (via Fedex) .... insane. I'd be willing to buy one or two via ebay or privately, if anybody is ordering.

---

Re: 3dfx Voodoo 1 fault diagnosis and repair

Posted on 2023-02-27, 18:18

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

35ns EDO chips ... nice. In most cases it was 50ns for early V1s. What equipment did you use for soldering/desoldering? Great job, btw 😉.

---

Re: Repairing Diamond Monster 3D (Voodoo 4MB) - help needed

Posted on 2023-02-25, 21:26

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

Update to this thread: card was actually ok, I had a problem with LCD. All is well after pressing "autosetup" button. Could be a frequency glitch? TMU pad is actually a factory "defect". There is a small blob of solder on the pin but it is connected to the copper pad. Ferrite bead was replaced with …

---

Re: Cooler for PPGA Intel Pentium MMX

Posted on 2023-01-26, 13:39

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

in Marvin \ General Old Hardware

Also have a variation of this cooler. Works great for 233 MMX. Just added more silent fan (~3000-3600 rpm). Filename s7_cooler.JPG File size 39.36 KiB Views 284 views

---

Re: Repairing Diamond Monster 3D (Voodoo 4MB) - help needed

Posted on 2023-01-19, 20:41

by

by stef80

in Marvin \ Video

in Marvin \ Video

keropi wrote on 2023-01-16, 10:09: I would inspect the front ICs for detached/touching legs You were right. Looks like whole pad is gone (TMU chip). Will send it to someone with microscope. Filename 20230119_193829.jpg File size 811.67 KiB Views 489 views Filename 20230119_211134.jpg File size 908. …

---