So maybe I should hunt for something else then too? Like mentioned Radeon? 😀

haker120 wrote on 2022-07-13, 18:26:

So maybe I should hunt for something else then too? Like mentioned Radeon? 😀

Questions to ask if you should buy a Radeon 7500 (YES/NO):

Do you need an excuse to buy something? YES
Do you need good DOS support? NO
Do you need good 2D support? YES
Do you want to build around 99-01 System (which would be strong around 99, but weak around 01)? YES
Do you want to collect one? YES
Do you plan to run your games at 32bit color? YES
Do you need a primary GPU to pair with a PowerVR or Voodoo2? YES
Will you expend effort to identify which cards are knee-capped OEM models and even cards sellers have misidentified? (NO if not - YES if so)

Good luck getting one in PCI. Maybe you know someone locally. There's 2 listed on eBay US (but maybe other country sites have more). One is priced crazy at $249. The other is NOT a Radeon 7500 - it's a 7000 (which is a 64-bit memory interface version - OK for a Pentium MMX machine, but it is misrepresented in the listing). <-- This is the kind of trouble you're going to run into looking for ATI cards of this era.

Darn, then NOPE.AVI, I just ordered that Matrox G450 PCI for good price of $40, darn shipping costs higher than fully working card itself. xD

Out of curiosity what games don’t work well in Dos on the 7500 I’m curious to try them.

If you did decide that you wanted one I keep an eye out for them on eBay and I can let you know when I see one

Gona didn't have the Radeon 7500 card to test with for his DOS compatibility list, but all of the ATI cards has scrolling problems with Commander Keen (that game gets often mentioned), Jurassic Park and Prehistorik.

For Pentium 1 systems there are a few chips that are good for early Windows non 3D gaming by Matrox, Tseng ET6000, Cirrus Logic, and ATI.

Gmlb256 wrote on 2022-07-13, 21:51:

Gona didn't have the Radeon 7500 card to test with for his DOS compatibility list, but all of the ATI cards has scrolling problems with Commander Keen (that game gets often mentioned), Jurassic Park and Prehistorik.

Terminator: SkyNET (and Future Shock) with the SkyNET VGA Upgrade are unplayable, also, with the Radeon 7500. The HUD is all screwed up splitting the screen in half horizontally. 320x200 works, but it is slow. I know people mention this engine is a mess, but it runs superb on a Voodoo3, Virge DX/GX, and Trident ProVidia 9685 - all of which I have tested.

The following probably doesn't need to be said (and this isn't directed toward you or anyone in particular, I'm just adding to the thread topic); the larger point is surely there will be games which work, but the odds decrease using the Radeon 7500 (or just about any ATI Rage card and later) for DOS. I do love the ATI cards from Rage to Radeon 8500 - but for me they always seem to be eternal benchwarmers because of better performing alternatives.

The only other thing I could think of you doing is getting a super socket 7 motherboard and putting a very direct 3d compatible card in the agp slot , maybe a geforce of some sort , then having your s3 trio card in a pci slot connected to the voodoo 1 in another slot.

Most motherboards should let you boot from pci or agp. I did something like this for my slot 1 pc , but I'd imagine it should work with a super socket 7 as well.

For newer DOS or rather Windows 9X games I built PC with Voodoo 3 3500 so I'm not planning on replacing motherboard but I am open to replace processor if that does even make sense. 😀

You have perfect DOS machine already. You needn't do anything just leave it as is. Maybe some minor polishing. I'm building something like that now and will be happy when i complete it (need recapping some parts).

I wouldn't call it perfect as some DOS titles are too fast with it however for DOS I'll be using S3 Virge 4MB and for more demanding D3D games ordered Matrox G450 and for Glide Voodoo 1. 😀