Kahenraz wrote on 2022-07-29, 18:01:

It's important to find out what the memory bit width is of those MX cards. It will make a big difference in classifying them in your collection.

On that note.
I managed to find an "MX-400" that GPU-z identifies as 128-bit and 334MHz mem.
Pretty sure its reading it wrong.
I'll investigate further next week.

Show us a picture. It can help to identify the bit width by counting the number of memory chips. I don't think you can get 128-bit with only four chips, for example.

Kahenraz wrote on 2022-07-29, 18:01:

Meatball wrote on 2022-07-28, 22:14:

2nd half of the bunch: […]
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2nd half of the bunch:

ATI Rage Pro Turbo 8MB
ATI Rage 128 16MB
ATI Radeon 7200 32MB SDR
ATI Radeon 8500 LE 64MB DDR
ATI Radeon 9600 XT 128MB SDR

GeForce MX 200 32MB SDR
GeForce MX 400 64MB SDR
GeForce MX 420 64MB DDR
GeForce MX 460 64MB DDR

GeForce 256 32MB SDR
GeForce2 GTS 64MB DDR (Pure)
GeForce2 GTS 64MB DDR (Deluxe)
Elsa Gloria III Quadro2 Pro 64MB DDR
GeForce3 Ti500 64MB DDR

It's important to find out what the memory bit width is of those MX cards. It will make a big difference in classifying them in your collection.

I had already done that. In fact, here are some 3dMark 2000 bench numbers I put together while I was going through them. Some of the cards in the lots above aren't on the list because they arrived in a later batch. Some of the most interesting findings I came away with (which is probably well known by most here) are:

A- Most of these cheapo MX and Vanta cards overclock like crazy, and I didn't even push them to their limits.
B- Overclocking a card with a 64-bit memory interface doesn't help all that much, but it is fun to see how far they can go and usually makes the difference between playable and playable + enjoyable.
C- A 64-bit interface isn't all that much of a detriment for retro purposes. There's a lot of factors involved, of course, but with the exception of the crappy OEM Vanta and ATI Rage/Rage128 cards, every single one of those 64-bit cards could be used in an AGP-based 1997 to 1999 build and you'd have a good time. The Vanta (at least these two, in particular) would probably be fine for 1997 and maybe early '98.
D- Lower the resolution to 640x480 or 800x600 and you don't have a loser among the bunch. I tested with 1024x768/16-bit, which is pretty tough for the budget cards to handle.

P3@1000/133/256 - 3DMark 2000 - 1024x768/16-bit/VSync OFF

1997 Marks 341 ATI XPERT@Play Rage 3D Pro Turbo AGP 2X 8MB SDR 75MHz/100MHz/ 64-bit
1998 Marks 2198 STB Velocity 4400 Riva TNT AGP 2X 16MB SDR 90MHz/110MHz/128-bit
1998 Marks 2033 Asus V3400 Riva TNT AGP 2X 16MB SDR 90MHz/110MHz/128-bit
1999 Marks 3373 Asus V3800 Riva TNT2 Pro AGP 4X 16MB SDR 142MHz/166MHz/128-bit
1999 Marks 1795 IBM Vanta AGP 4X 16MB SDR 100MHz/125MHz/ 64-bit
1999 Marks 1824 VisionTek Vanta AGP 4X 8MB SDR 100MHz/125MHz/ 64-bit
1999 Marks 2109 VisionTek Vanta AGP 4X 8MB SDR 100MHz/150MHz/ 64-bit OC
1999 Marks 2268 VisionTek Vanta AGP 4X 8MB SDR 125MHz/150MHz/ 64-bit OC
1999 Marks 2207 Aztech Riva TNT2 M64 AGP 2X 32MB SDR 125MHz/150MHz/ 64-bit
1999 Marks 2566 Aztech Riva TNT2 M64 AGP 2X 32MB SDR 125MHz/180MHz/ 64-bit OC
1999 Marks 2740 Aztech Riva TNT2 M64 AGP 2X 32MB SDR 150MHz/185MHz/ 64-bit OC
1999 Marks 2128 Compaq Riva TNT2 M64 AGP 4X 32MB SDR 133MHz/143MHz/ 64-bit
1999 Marks 2505 Dell Rage 128 Pro AGP 4X 16MB SDR 143MHz/125MHz/128-bit
1999 Marks 1964 Dell Rage 128 Ultra AGP 4X 16MB SDR 130MHz/130MHz/ 64-bit
1999 Marks 1964 ATI Rage 128 Pro AGP 4X 16MB SDR 130MHz/130MHz/ 64-bit
1999 Marks 2269 ATI Rage 128 Pro AGP 4X 16MB SDR 130MHz/165MHz/ 64-bit OC
1999 Marks 2403 ATI Rage 128 Pro AGP 4X 16MB SDR 150MHz/165MHz/ 64-bit OC
1999 Marks 4868 Asus V6800 GeForce 256 DDR AGP 4X 32MB SGR 120MHz/300MHz/128-bit
1999 Marks 5211 Asus V6800 GeForce 256 DDR AGP 4X 32MB SGR 120MHz/400MHz/128-bit OC
1999 Marks 5327 Asus V6800 GeForce 256 DDR AGP 4X 32MB SGR 120MHz/415MHz/128-bit OC
2000 Marks 7295 Asus V7700 Deluxe GeForce2 GTS AGP 4X 64MB DDR 200MHz/333MHz/128-bit
2000 Marks 7447 Asus V7700 Pure GeForce2 Pro AGP 4X 64MB DDR 200MHz/400MHz/128-bit
2000 Marks 4427 ATI Radeon 7200 AGP 4X 32MB SDR 149MHz/149MHz/128-bit
2001 Marks 3259 VisionTek GeForce2 MX 200 AGP 4X 32MB SDR 175MHz/167MHz/ 64-bit
2001 Marks 3651 VisionTek GeForce2 MX 200 AGP 4X 32MB SDR 175MHz/190MHz/ 64-bit OC
2001 Marks 3701 VisionTek GeForce2 MX 200 AGP 4X 32MB SDR 200MHz/190MHz/ 64-bit OC
2001 Marks 4862 Nvidia GeForce2 MX 400 AGP 4X 64MB SDR 200MHz/167MHz/128-bit
2002 Marks 5389 Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420 AGP 4X 64MB DDR 250MHz/333MHz/ 64-bit
2002 Marks 6124 Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420 AGP 4X 64MB DDR 250MHz/435MHz/ 64-bit OC
2002 Marks 6316 Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420 AGP 4X 64MB DDR 300MHz/435MHz/ 64-bit OC
2002 Marks 6410 Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420 AGP 4X 64MB DDR 332MHz/443MHz/ 64-bit OC
2003 Marks 6845 ATI Radeon 9600 XT AGP 8X 128MB SDR 500MHz/300MHz/128-bit

Couldn't miss the oportunity of getting two greatly yellowed Roland MA-20 monitor speakers for 75€. Tomorrow I'm going to start cleaning them and hopefully i will retrobright them during the weekend.

I also got an extra mouse for my compaq presario cds 520, an Compaq M-S28 (Logitech)

I don't know what it is exactly, but I really like the design of that Compaq mouse. You just never really see something so angular anymore. It reminds me of the wedge shape of the original Macintosh mouse.

Kahenraz wrote on 2022-07-29, 23:21:

I don't know what it is exactly, but I really like the design of that Compaq mouse. You just never really see something so angular anymore. It reminds me of the wedge shape of the original Macintosh mouse.

To me its the somehow square, yet sleek curved design. The contrast is beautiful

It really screams 90s "Compaq" brand.

Kahenraz wrote on 2022-07-30, 15:19:

It really screams 90s "Compaq" brand.

just finished retrobrighting it 😀

I have the Logitech serial variant (model M-M28-9F). Decent mouse with good looks.

pampilhoso wrote on 2022-07-30, 16:59:

Kahenraz wrote on 2022-07-30, 15:19:

It really screams 90s "Compaq" brand.

just finished retrobrighting it 😀

DSC04301.JPG

It looks wonderful! Very well done. 😀

bearking wrote on 2022-07-23, 13:28:

20220723_143011.jpg […]
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20220723_143011.jpg

Radeon 9700(PRO ??) 128 MB - dead
Leadtek GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB - dead
Sapphire X1950 GT 265 MB - dead

🙁 didn't had a lot of luck in the last couple of months... But hey, at least they didn't cost a fortune, 2 euro for the last one...

Also bought a gtx 260, a gtx 275, a hd 5850 and a hd 5870. The 260 and the 5870 are working, the other two are dead.
So far this summer wasn't my "best GPU summer" at all.

Well nVIDIA is shitty company they tend to die ALOT more then any ATi/ Radeon card it is known... But yes the 9700 Pro you need to be very lucky to get one of these working, they did made them the dumb way, so the protection bracket for the GPU die was higher then the die itself, so that made the cooler not to touch the GPU die, that made about 90%+ of the cards dead sadly and it is sad, as this card was ATi`s first fame model, that made nVIDIA look very dumb... On other side most nVIDIA cards i got are all working, seems i am lucky, no matter if we talk about GEforce 7800GS AGP, 6800 Ultra AGP, FX5950 Ultra (the second one i got for free have hard artifacts Leadtek model), GEforce 7950 GX2... Will see at some point i will want to get AT least 8800GTX (GTS is fine too) as the card is legend, no matter i dont like nVIDIA at all, i like to collect their HW, and any Legendary part or company...

Meatball wrote on 2022-07-23, 20:59:

I've picked up a ton... a TON... of stuff recently, but for now I'll just post my favorites.

A couple of Voodoo3 3000s PCIs (both untested - one worked fine, the other just needed a BIOS re-flash and it works perfectly), a Compaq V3 V3000 running at 3500 speeds (FINALLY I GOT ONE!), and a Voodoo3 2000 which I understand is one of the last 3dfx cards ever produced (2002), only V3 in a blue PCB, and was used in arcade units from Incredible Technologies. It has no BIOS chip (it's on the motherboard of the arcade unit or something), so it is unusable [to the best of my abilities and from what I have read at Dodge Garage and Varus(?)'s sites]. Windows recognizes the card, and I can get drivers installed, but that's as far as it will go - it behaves just like the PCI Voodoo 3 3000 I also have in this lot, which didn't work, before I re-flashed the BIOS. I don't plan to modify, add to, or fix this card. It's a collector's piece for sure. The same seller listed another, but that one had a BIOS.

Rounding up the lot is my new favorite 2D card - Trident ProVidia 9685 w/2MB VRAM expansion (4MB total) & video-out modules.

How much did u pay for these 4 i wonder. How is that nice blue colored PCI Voodoo III 2K UNusable dafuq... There is clear where the spot on the PCB is of the UNsoldered BIOS chip, so when you solder BIOS chip with the V3 bios you are good to go...

Meatball wrote on 2022-07-28, 22:14:

2nd half of the bunch: […]
Show full quote

2nd half of the bunch:

ATI Rage Pro Turbo 8MB
ATI Rage 128 16MB
ATI Radeon 7200 32MB SDR
ATI Radeon 8500 LE 64MB DDR
ATI Radeon 9600 XT 128MB SDR

GeForce MX 200 32MB SDR
GeForce MX 400 64MB SDR
GeForce MX 420 64MB DDR
GeForce MX 460 64MB DDR

GeForce 256 32MB SDR
GeForce2 GTS 64MB DDR (Deluxe)
GeForce2 Pro 64MB DDR (Pure)
Elsa Gloria III Quadro2 Pro 64MB DDR
GeForce3 Ti500 64MB DDR

U found alot of good stuff nice for u. But from what i see GEforce 4 TI4600/ TI4800 and GEforce 2 Ultra both are very rare, dont see them here, dont see also ppl here to find some of them as much as they find GEforce 3 cards, GEforce 5, GEforce 256... Not sure what the deal is specially with TI4600..

Radical Vision wrote on 2022-07-30, 19:20:

Well nVIDIA is shitty company they tend to die ALOT more then any ATi/ Radeon card it is known... But yes the 9700 Pro you need […]
Show full quote

bearking wrote on 2022-07-23, 13:28:

20220723_143011.jpg […]
Show full quote

20220723_143011.jpg

Radeon 9700(PRO ??) 128 MB - dead
Leadtek GeForce 7600 GT 256 MB - dead
Sapphire X1950 GT 265 MB - dead

🙁 didn't had a lot of luck in the last couple of months... But hey, at least they didn't cost a fortune, 2 euro for the last one...

Also bought a gtx 260, a gtx 275, a hd 5850 and a hd 5870. The 260 and the 5870 are working, the other two are dead.
So far this summer wasn't my "best GPU summer" at all.

Well nVIDIA is shitty company they tend to die ALOT more then any ATi/ Radeon card it is known... But yes the 9700 Pro you need to be very lucky to get one of these working, they did made them the dumb way, so the protection bracket for the GPU die was higher then the die itself, so that made the cooler not to touch the GPU die, that made about 90%+ of the cards dead sadly and it is sad, as this card was ATi`s first fame model, that made nVIDIA look very dumb... On other side most nVIDIA cards i got are all working, seems i am lucky, no matter if we talk about GEforce 7800GS AGP, 6800 Ultra AGP, FX5950 Ultra (the second one i got for free have hard artifacts Leadtek model), GEforce 7950 GX2... Will see at some point i will want to get AT least 8800GTX (GTS is fine too) as the card is legend, no matter i dont like nVIDIA at all, i like to collect their HW, and any Legendary part or company...

Meatball wrote on 2022-07-23, 20:59:

I've picked up a ton... a TON... of stuff recently, but for now I'll just post my favorites.

A couple of Voodoo3 3000s PCIs (both untested - one worked fine, the other just needed a BIOS re-flash and it works perfectly), a Compaq V3 V3000 running at 3500 speeds (FINALLY I GOT ONE!), and a Voodoo3 2000 which I understand is one of the last 3dfx cards ever produced (2002), only V3 in a blue PCB, and was used in arcade units from Incredible Technologies. It has no BIOS chip (it's on the motherboard of the arcade unit or something), so it is unusable [to the best of my abilities and from what I have read at Dodge Garage and Varus(?)'s sites]. Windows recognizes the card, and I can get drivers installed, but that's as far as it will go - it behaves just like the PCI Voodoo 3 3000 I also have in this lot, which didn't work, before I re-flashed the BIOS. I don't plan to modify, add to, or fix this card. It's a collector's piece for sure. The same seller listed another, but that one had a BIOS.

Rounding up the lot is my new favorite 2D card - Trident ProVidia 9685 w/2MB VRAM expansion (4MB total) & video-out modules.

How much did u pay for these 4 i wonder. How is that nice blue colored PCI Voodoo III 2K UNusable dafuq... There is clear where the spot on the PCB is of the UNsoldered BIOS chip, so when you solder BIOS chip with the V3 bios you are good to go...

U found alot of good stuff nice for u. But from what i see GEforce 4 TI4600/ TI4800 and GEforce 2 Ultra both are very rare, dont see them here, dont see also ppl here to find some of them as much as they find GEforce 3 cards, GEforce 5, GEforce 256... Not sure what the deal is specially with TI4600..

Yes, I know pads are there for the BIOS and one can be added; I will leave it as is, and that makes it unusable without the original motherboard. There is no urgency or need to modify this rare, original part - I have plenty of 3dfx cards to choose from.

A Quadro 2 Pro is in the lot - it's the same as a GeForce 2 Ultra.

The 4600's tend to suffer heat failure as you point out in your post, so they are more difficult to come by.

I finally got a GeForce FX 5200 Ultra for my collection. It's not an impressive part on paper, but I've wanted it for some time, as it's a definitive model from the FX series set. Most of the units that I see crop up now and again on the used market though have weird layouts or heatsinks. I wanted a stock reference layout, like that from EVGA, which is much harder to come by. I finally found one recently and got it for a good price. It works great!

The fan spins at 100% at bootup but once it gets to the desktop it actually stops moving (I even turned the logo right side up) and is completely silent when idle.

Hi everyone,

If we are at the "Quadro and/or Geforce FX" chapter, I wand to share with you today's flea market find:

Quadro FX3000 AGP similar to Geforce FX5900, if I'm right. Hope it works...

pampilhoso wrote on 2022-07-30, 16:59:

Kahenraz wrote on 2022-07-30, 15:19:

It really screams 90s "Compaq" brand.

just finished retrobrighting it 😀

DSC04301.JPG

I kinda liked the aged look 😀

Some sealed boxes of these fortified micro floppy disks.

bearking wrote on 2022-07-30, 20:16:

Hi everyone,

If we are at the "Quadro and/or Geforce FX" chapter, I wand to share with you today's flea matket find:

Quadro FX3000 AGP similar to Geforce FX5900, if I'm right. Hope it works...

Good job. That's a nice card. Especially since a lot of 5900 and lesser variants only come with 128MB of memory.

PD2JK wrote on 2022-07-30, 21:04:

Some sealed boxes of these fortified micro floppy disks.

Heh, I had forgotten the floppy = 8" minifloppy= 5.25" microfloppy= 3.5" thing, took me a sec.

BitWrangler wrote on 2022-07-30, 21:48:

PD2JK wrote on 2022-07-30, 21:04:

Some sealed boxes of these fortified micro floppy disks.

Heh, I had forgotten the floppy = 8" minifloppy= 5.25" microfloppy= 3.5" thing, took me a sec.

In what year was that a thing? and what would a 3" floppy be called ?

nanofloppy 😎