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Mechwarrior 2 3Dfx issues

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First post, by Aebtdom

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For a short while now, I am playing Mechwarrior 2 Orchid Righteous 3D (3Dfx version of the game). Finished both sides of JF and CW. Lots of fun and memories from the good old days, but now in 3Dfx!
And I have modified the game viewdistance to 2Km.

Recently I have discovered that the game also supports 800x600 resolution, there were some decent framedrops making me decide to lower the viewing distance to a respectable 1200meters.
Which makes the game not perfectly smooth, but very playable none the less.

Besides from the known single line gamma issues (looking dim) the game also runs in 60hz, while the settings are put to 120hz. No matter when I change it to 85 or 75, 60hz remains. When starting Tombraider 2 with no Z buffer nor triple buffering, this game runs at 120hz. The same goes for Grand Theft Auto 1.

Is this another known bug? Or is it something else?

P.s.
This version of Mechwarrior is only playable with the Orchid Righteous 3D drivers installed on the 3Dfx Voodoo 1 card.

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 1 of 24, by Carrera

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Can't you set the refresh rate in a batch file in your autoexec.bet ?
I seem to remember having multiple batch files to optimize my voodoo card for a specific game...
I could be wrong ... the batch file won't help a Windows 95 game though I think...

Reply 2 of 24, by AirIntake

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Aebtdom wrote on 2022-02-08, 11:04:

P.s.
This version of Mechwarrior is only playable with the Orchid Righteous 3D drivers installed on the 3Dfx Voodoo 1 card.

If it's the same as my Orchid Righteous 3D MechWarrior 2 copy then it doesn't actually require Orchid drivers. My copy is playable on my Diamond Monster 3D using Diamond drivers.

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Reply 3 of 24, by vetz

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Carrera wrote on 2022-02-08, 15:22:

Can't you set the refresh rate in a batch file in your autoexec.bet ?
I seem to remember having multiple batch files to optimize my voodoo card for a specific game...
I could be wrong ... the batch file won't help a Windows 95 game though I think...

A batch file with variables will work in Windows 95.

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Reply 4 of 24, by Aebtdom

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vetz wrote on 2022-02-08, 19:10:
Carrera wrote on 2022-02-08, 15:22:

Can't you set the refresh rate in a batch file in your autoexec.bet ?
I seem to remember having multiple batch files to optimize my voodoo card for a specific game...
I could be wrong ... the batch file won't help a Windows 95 game though I think...

A batch file with variables will work in Windows 95.

It depends on what you put into the autoexec.bat
Setting a 120hz only applies to dos since windows drivers override these settings. Fastpci and some other things apply to dos and windows9x.

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 5 of 24, by Aebtdom

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AirIntake wrote on 2022-02-08, 16:19:
Aebtdom wrote on 2022-02-08, 11:04:

P.s.
This version of Mechwarrior is only playable with the Orchid Righteous 3D drivers installed on the 3Dfx Voodoo 1 card.

If it's the same as my Orchid Righteous 3D MechWarrior 2 copy then it doesn't actually require Orchid drivers. My copy is playable on my Diamond Monster 3D using Diamond drivers.

If this is true, I will have a go at it.
My experience was that the levels failed on instant when starting a game in windows98. But these were standard voodoo drivers.

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 6 of 24, by vetz

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Aebtdom wrote on 2022-02-08, 20:33:
vetz wrote on 2022-02-08, 19:10:
Carrera wrote on 2022-02-08, 15:22:

Can't you set the refresh rate in a batch file in your autoexec.bet ?
I seem to remember having multiple batch files to optimize my voodoo card for a specific game...
I could be wrong ... the batch file won't help a Windows 95 game though I think...

A batch file with variables will work in Windows 95.

It depends on what you put into the autoexec.bat
Setting a 120hz only applies to dos since windows drivers override these settings. Fastpci and some other things apply to dos and windows9x.

Don't think it can be in the autoexec.bat when you run a Windows game.

Atleast that is the case if you want to use a Voodoo2 to run Mechwarrior 2. Then the batch file is as follows:

set SST_GRXCLK=90 set SST_FT_CLK_DEL=0x4 set SST_TF0_CLK_DEL=0x6 set SST_TF1_CLK_DEL=0x6 set SST_VIN_CLKDEL=0x1 set SST_TMUMEM_S […]
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set SST_GRXCLK=90
set SST_FT_CLK_DEL=0x4
set SST_TF0_CLK_DEL=0x6
set SST_TF1_CLK_DEL=0x6
set SST_VIN_CLKDEL=0x1
set SST_TMUMEM_SIZE=2
set SSTV2_FASTMEM=1
set SSTV2_FASTPCIRD=1
set FX_GLIDE_ALLOC_COLOR=3
mech2.exe

I see there is no variable for setting refreshrate there, so might not work.

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Reply 7 of 24, by Aebtdom

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So if i understand it correctly, what you say is that.
Is there a way to use the voodoo2 to run mechwarrior 2 in msdos?

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 8 of 24, by Aebtdom

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These are my current lines in autoexec.bat

20220208_223523.jpg
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Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 9 of 24, by AirIntake

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Aebtdom wrote on 2022-02-08, 20:35:

If this is true, I will have a go at it.
My experience was that the levels failed on instant when starting a game in windows98. But these were standard voodoo drivers.

It does crash with the standard drivers, but I'm pretty sure it's just a crash, not MechWarrior 2 blocking non-Orchid hardware because I've seen the same crash on the non-3dfx version.

I'm using these Diamond Monster 3D drivers: https://www.philscomputerlab.com/uploads/3/7/ … r_3d_driver.zip

Casio BE-300 Advancement Society alumni

Reply 10 of 24, by vetz

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Aebtdom wrote on 2022-02-08, 21:33:

So if i understand it correctly, what you say is that.
Is there a way to use the voodoo2 to run mechwarrior 2 in msdos?

No, in Windows 95. Mechwarrior 2 is a Glide 2.1.1 game, which is not out of the box compatible with the Voodoo2, but you can use the same variables in a batch file that is executed from within Windows and it will affect the game. Anyway, this is not relevant for you as you're using a Voodoo1, but the variable (SST_SCREENREFRESH) for setting refresh rate could maybe work using the same method.

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Reply 11 of 24, by Aebtdom

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vetz wrote on 2022-02-08, 22:35:

No, in Windows 95. Mechwarrior 2 is a Glide 2.1.1 game, which is not out of the box compatible with the Voodoo2, but you can use the same variables in a batch file that is executed from within Windows and it will affect the game. Anyway, this is not relevant for you as you're using a Voodoo1, but the variable (SST_SCREENREFRESH) for setting refresh rate could maybe work using the same method.

Well, that certainly would be worth giving a try.
I will test this when I have time.
Thanks for now!

I have 2 voodoo 2 cards lying around though, might test it just to see if there is any performance difference. And if the voodoo 2 has the same bug.

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 13 of 24, by Aebtdom

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Well I have tested a few things.
Indeed the game runs on other drivers as well! Yay!
I've tested the Diamond drivers and it works the same way the Orchid does. Unfortunately also on 60hz.
The screen refresh in a batch file doesn't seem to do anything for the game.

I also tested the voodoo2 with the settings provided above, but the game still crashes to failed right afte pressing launch. Maybe another driver is needed here as well?

Anyways, the search continues until it is solved or this is a bug we have to live with

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 14 of 24, by AirIntake

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I just tested my Orchid MechWarrior 2 copy with the Diamond Monster 3D drivers. The refresh rate of 85Hz that I selected in the Monster 3D driver is working, see attached picture.

You might need to do a complete Windows 98 re-install and install the Diamond Monster 3D drivers from scratch to get rid of whatever is causing this issue.

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    MechWarrior 2 Orchid Righteous 3D running at 85Hz
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Reply 15 of 24, by Aebtdom

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AirIntake wrote on 2022-02-09, 23:34:

I just tested my Orchid MechWarrior 2 copy with the Diamond Monster 3D drivers. The refresh rate of 85Hz that I selected in the Monster 3D driver is working, see attached picture.

You might need to do a complete Windows 98 re-install and install the Diamond Monster 3D drivers from scratch to get rid of whatever is causing this issue.

Just to be 100% clear, this is at 800x600?

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 16 of 24, by AirIntake

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Aebtdom wrote on 2022-02-10, 01:55:

Just to be 100% clear, this is at 800x600?

I double checked and yes the resolution is set to 800x600 ("Graphics -> 3. Resolution 800x600 Yes"). I tried to upload a video but Vogons doesn't allow video uploads.

Casio BE-300 Advancement Society alumni

Reply 17 of 24, by Aebtdom

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Could you hand me your monster3D driver version? Just to be sure I have isolated everything before going for a full reinstall?

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.

Reply 18 of 24, by AirIntake

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4.10.01.1600. Also I installed the 3dfx reference drivers 3.01.00 first, but MechWarrior 2 crashed on mission loading with those so the Diamond Monster 3D ones were installed on top, in case that makes a difference.

Casio BE-300 Advancement Society alumni

Reply 19 of 24, by Aebtdom

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Thank you so much for your input.
I've got enough to go on now and will report back if there are any updates on the matter.

Builds:

Xp3000+ gf3 ti200 + vd2 SLI 12MB + 768MB + SB live @ WinXP & 98 Dualboot.

P2 350mhz + Diamond Viper V550 + 3Dfx Voodoo 2 12MB + AWE64 + 128MB SDR @ msdos / win98.