VOGONS

Search

Common searches

How to overclock an S3 Virge?

Topic actions

First post, by murrayman

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

I have an STB Nitro 3D 1.3 S3 Virge GX 4MB PCI in my Packard Bell system (see sig for specs) that's doing me a nostalgia - I've been playing the S3 versions of Descent II and MechWarrior 2 as of late, as well as Hellbender in D3D. I'm using the superuni fast D3d drivers, and all is stable. However, now that I've digested the low-framerate high-polygon mid-90s nostalgia, I'd like to know how to play around with overclocking the card. I've seen old threads on forums and a couple of YouTube videos that make it clear overclocking is possible, but none of them detail how to do it. I'm currently running Win95 OSR2.1 and have Powerstrip running to keep things locked at 60hz. I see I can adjust the memory clock from Powerstrip, but I'd like to know: Is there any "better" way of overclocking the card, and does anyone know what good figures are for a GX card? Thanks!

Asus P3B-F 1.04, PIII 1.0GHz, 512MB PC133, V5 5500 AGP, SB0160
Asus P3B-F 1.03, PIII 933, 384MB PC133, GeForce DDR 32MB, SB0100
CP 5170, PIII 500, 256MB PC100, DM3DII 12MB, ESS 1868
PB M S610, PMMX 233, 64MB PC100, DM3D 4MB, Sound4

Reply 1 of 6, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t

I see I can adjust the memory clock from Powerstrip, but I'd like to know

S3 Virge core and memory clocks are tied. I think, EDO cards are working with 1:1 divider and SGRAM with 3:4 divider. So if you card has SGRAM you probably can overclock it up to 90-110 Mhz (67-83 Mhz core). If you card has EDO memory, you can overclock it up to 70-80 Mhz.

Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me

Reply 2 of 6, by murrayman

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member
The Serpent Rider wrote on 2020-02-21, 03:58:

I see I can adjust the memory clock from Powerstrip, but I'd like to know

S3 Virge core and memory clocks are tied. I think, EDO cards are working with 1:1 divider and SGRAM with 3:4 divider. So if you card has SGRAM you probably can overclock it up to 90-110 Mhz (67-83 Mhz core). If you card has EDO memory, you can overclock it up to 70-80 Mhz.

Got it. I know that mine currently has a memory clock of 75Mhz, so I’m guessing it’s SGRAM? What’s a good way to confirm this?

Asus P3B-F 1.04, PIII 1.0GHz, 512MB PC133, V5 5500 AGP, SB0160
Asus P3B-F 1.03, PIII 933, 384MB PC133, GeForce DDR 32MB, SB0100
CP 5170, PIII 500, 256MB PC100, DM3DII 12MB, ESS 1868
PB M S610, PMMX 233, 64MB PC100, DM3D 4MB, Sound4

Reply 5 of 6, by murrayman

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Alright, confirmed that it's EDO. Now, is there any way to overclock the card beyond just Powerstrip?

Asus P3B-F 1.04, PIII 1.0GHz, 512MB PC133, V5 5500 AGP, SB0160
Asus P3B-F 1.03, PIII 933, 384MB PC133, GeForce DDR 32MB, SB0100
CP 5170, PIII 500, 256MB PC100, DM3DII 12MB, ESS 1868
PB M S610, PMMX 233, 64MB PC100, DM3D 4MB, Sound4

Reply 6 of 6, by zyga64

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Yes. Use MCLK for DOS http://files.mpoli.fi/unpacked/hardware/displ … 3b.zip/mclk.txt

1) VLSI SCAMP /286@20 /4MB /TVGA9000C /CMI8330
2) i420EX /486DX33 /16MB /TGUI9440 /YMF718+GUS
3) i430HX /P233MMX /64MB /VirgeDX+3DFX /AWE32
4) i440BX /P!!!750 /256MB /GF4MX440 /SBLive!+Vibra16s
5) i865G /E5800 /2GB /Ti4200 /YMF724

Go to top of page Go to top of page
Back to General Old Hardware
Close window
Close window