The Obsidian PRO SB50-2400 deputy card is the same as the main card, except that the components that are not used for SLI connection are eliminated, see the following figure.
Obsidian PRO SB50-2400 Qualification sample
1.6.2 Amethyst pro daughtercard
Compared with the Amethyst daughtercard, the Amethyst pro daughtercard mainly reduces the exclusion below the front video memory. 4MB video memory. The PCB date is 9651 weeks. FAB No. 600-0014-03.
The Amethyst pro 50-0040 daughtercard is shown in the figure below. The upper side is the back side and the lower side is the front side.
Amethyst pro 50-0040 Qualification sample
1.6.3 Obsidian 100DB-4440 Qualification Sample
There is another story about this card. At that time, the card was transported from the United States to China as e-waste, and after being disassembled in Guangzhou, it was placed on Taobao.com and bought by friends. When I knew the news of the card, It returned to the United States after changing hands many times and was exchanged into Gary's hands. I am fortunate to have the help of gamma742, and return this distinguished Obsidian 100DB card from the United States to China.
Obsidian 100DB-4440 Qualification Sample
Once I played Obsidian 100DB at random, I was attracted by the FRIST ARTICLE label on the card, and I noticed the unusualness of the card. I checked a lot of information to identify it as a Qualification Sample. It has two special places: one There is a "FRIST ARTICLE" label on the card, indicating that it is the first pair or batch of Obsidian 100DB produced, and only after passing the test can it enter the formal product mass production link. Two and two cards have the "200140-26" label , Which means the inspection serial number or the 26th card in the first batch to be tested.
Since Obsidian 100DB is a 3Dfx research project, the unsaleable Obsidian 100DB-4440 is still a 3Dfx asset, so this card is listed under the name of 3Dfx.
2. Quantum3D
31 March 1997, Founded by 3dfx, Gemini Technology and SGI co-founders, along with former Intel and Sun Microsystems employees including Ross Q. Smith, John Archdeacon, Charles "Herb" Kuta, Dan Downum, Phil Huelson, and Dale Stimson.
Separated from 3Dfx on April 8, 1997, took the Obsidian brand and continued to develop 3dfx related products.
The establishment of Quantum3D is essentially the 3Dfx coveted the lucrative profits of the mid-to-high-end Voodoo card market. After Quantum3D was separated from 3Dfx, it participated in the development and production of Obsidian graphics cards for 3Dfx for a long period of time. Finally, it was also sold under the name Quantum3D. After cultivating a good team and accumulating a certain strength, Quantum3D took away the Obsidian brand and Obsidian-related assets, truly independent, and independently developed products.
2.1 3Dfx licensed products
2.1.1 Obsidian 100DB-4440
Obsidian 100DB is a very peculiar graphics card sold by Quantum3D. It is connected by two Obsidian pro SB50-2440 SLI and is called Obsidian 100DB-4440. In fact, it should be called Obsidian 100DB-2440. It may be displayed as Obsidian after loading the driver. This is the case with 100DB-4440.
Since the Obsidian 100DB-4440 was highly positioned and had very little output at that time, few people knew about it, so that when it comes to SLI, everyone will think that Voodoo2 graphics card is the ancestor of SLI. What is even more depressing is that the existence of Obsidian 100DB-4440 is extremely low. Over the years, I have only seen and heard that there are only 6 pairs in the hands of collectors. There are 5 pairs in this article, and 1 pair EBAY was taken away. Like the green Obsidian SB50-2200, it is the earliest card of the Voodoo graphics card that is extremely difficult to collect.
This pair of cards is the collection friend of 3dfx.cz website.
Obsidian 100DB-4440
（From 3dfx.cz)
The boxed pair below is Gary's second pair Obsidian 100DB-4440, it seems that this boxed is also very special.
Obsidian 100DB-4440
Gary has the third pair of obsidian 100db-4440. I don't know if it belongs to him now.
Obsidian 100DB-4440
2.1.2 Obsidian SB50 series
Quantum3D started by selling 3Dfx Obsidian SB50 series graphics cards. These cards have ASSY stickers. The following Obsidian SB50-4440 graphics card is boxed. The "Quantum3D installation guide" is the first version of August 29, 1997 (9735 weeks), and the PCB date of this card is 9628 weeks a year ago.
It can be seen that 3dfx wants to produce all the voodoo cards by itself in the voodoo era, but it has no strength.
Because of coveting the retail market, 3Dfx has been complained by manufacturers such as Orchid and Dimeng. Finally, it can only target professional users in the name of Quantum3D and sell value-added mid- and high-end Obsidian graphics cards.
（From edmundoab）
The following Obsidian Pro SB50-2200 graphics cards are produced and sold after Quantum3D is completely free from 3Dfx. Quantum3D uses the more compact Obsidian pro board type.
（From worthpoint.com）
2.2 Self-Developed products
Quantum3D self-research products are all marked with its own logo.
2.2.1 Obsidian SB50-4400TV
The Obsidian SB50-4400TV designed by Quantum3D has a video output and the Amethyst daughtercard is eliminated.
2.2.2 Obsidian 100SB-4440
Obsidian 100SB-4440 puts the two-card SLI Obsidian 100DB-4440 mentioned above on one card SLI. This design is very Niubility.
Obsidian 100SB-4440
3.Orchid
Nov. 6, 1995 Orchid Technology announced the development of a 3D game board for consumers based on Voodoo graphics.
March 20, 1996 Micronics Computers, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Orchid Technology, today announced a strategic alliance with 3Dfx Interactive, Inc. to develop an integrated system solution for the arcade game industry and peripheral products for the personal computer market. Orchid Technology will develop its "Righteous 3D" TM graphics accelerator card based on the 3Dfx Voodoo chipset and Glide API.
October 3,1996 Righteous 3D ships to direct sales customers. （NEWS from www.orchid.com）
3.1 Righteous 3D BIOS version Engineering sample
Orchid as the earliest partner of 3DFX. When March 20, 1996 (9612 weeks) announced the development of Righteous 3D graphics cards, the earliest Obsidian green version of our 3DFX collection graphics cards (9615 weeks) had not yet been finalized. Righteous 3D's FCCID: DDS7EFF06964M3DFX was approved on July 24, 1996 (9630 weeks). The general FCCID certification takes about three weeks, so it seems that Righteous 3D is 9626 weeks finalized, which is almost the same as 9625 weeks of 3DFX finalization date. The Righteous 3D promotional image below is the one that has passed FCCID certification. It can be seen that Righteous 3D was originally designed with BIOS.
（From futureworld.amiga32.com）
The following is a sample project picture of the BIOS version of the Righteous 3D background image attached to the navigation of the Orchid official website. This version did not end up in retail.
3.2 Righteous 3D Triode version
Righteous 3D is commercialized in the Triode version.
Righteous 3D
3.3 Righteous 3D later version
Triode for Righteous 3D graphics cards was later cancelled.
Righteous 3D
Another feature of the Righteous 3D graphics card is the use of 2 Relay switch. It is said that 2 Relay switch were canceled in the end. I have not seen the real thing.
4. Diamond
August 6, 1996 -- Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. at the Siggraph trade show announced it will begin offering its new Monster 3D™ graphics subsystem to OEMs looking to create high-performance PC gaming machines. Monster 3D is expected to begin shipping to OEMs this month, a retail version is planned for this Fall.
The release date of Diamond Monster 3D is later than October 3, 1996 of Orchid Righteous 3D.
4.1 Monster 3D BIOS version
Monster 3D was originally designed as BIOS version like righteous 3D, but it is commercialized.
4.1.1 Monster 3D Engineering sample
The following official image of Monster 3D is an engineering sample.
（From 3dfx.cz）
4.1.2 Monster 3D review version
The FCCID of the Monster 3D graphics card: FTUPCI2184M, the time of passing the certification after inquiries is 08/26/1996 , 9635weeks. The official announcement date is August 6, which is 9632 weeks. The card below is a Monster 3D review version graphics card with a PCB date of 9630, which will be finalized before the official announcement. The date of the stamp on the PCB is 9634 weeks, indicating that this time has been made. On October 3, 1996 (9640 weeks), Orchid officially released the Voodoo card for the first time, and Diamond was later than this date.This card is a pre release version of Qualification Sample.
The two chips on this card are early silver paint, not ordinary white paint.
Monster 3D review version
4.1.3 Monster 3D 1996 version
The officially released Monster 3D 1996 version cancels the BIOS chip.
Monster 3D 1996 version
4.2 Monster 3D Triode version Engineering sample
Like orchid, diamond also developed the monster 3D triode version, but in the end, it abandoned the triode and simplified it to the monster 3D 1997 version. .
Monster 3D Triode version
（From 3dfx.cz）
4.3 Monster 3D 1997 version
Monster 3D 1997 version sold more.
Monster 3D 1997 version
5. Other special Voodoo graphics cards
As can be seen from the graphics cards produced by the 3dfx company and the 3dfx company's two oldest partners above, 3DFX does not provide a reference design for Voodoo cards. After that, other manufacturers in the field of voodoo card also do their best, and they all showed their magical powers to produce a variety of Voodooo cards. This also makes the Voodoo card the most valuable graphics card.
5.1 Skywell Technology Magic 3D Plus
Directly using the 3Dfx Obsidian board type graphics card except for Q3D may only have Skywell.The Magic 3D plus graphics card uses the design of obsidian pro and 8MB video memory.There are very few Voodoo cards with 8MB of video memory, the most common are 4MB of video memory, and there are not many graphics cards with 6MB of video memory.
Magic 3D Plus
5.2 Skywell Technology Magic 3D Plus1
The Magic 3D plus1 designed by skywell technology for 8MB video memory is also powerful.
Magic 3D Plus1
（From 3Dfx_Aslinger）