Tomb Raider + Voodoo 2 CPU Speed Issue \ VOGONS

Tomb Raider + Voodoo 2 CPU Speed Issue

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First post, by Oerg866

Posted on 2025-02-15, 15:55

Oerg866 Offline

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Hi,

I'm trying to build a weird Athlon XP + Voodoo 2 (usually SLI, but the FBI on one of the cards has died so only one at the moment) system, but I can't get the 3DFX version of Tomb Raider to run on it at all.

If I use TOMB3DFX.EXE, I lose video signal immediately after starting the executable.
If I use TOMBRUSH.EXE, the game plays the FMVs, and then the menu seems to run, but I just get a black screen. There is a monitor signal coming out of the Voodoo, but it's completely black. The system is not hung and I can Windows-Key my way back to the Desktop.

The V2 card is completely fine in the system otherwise.

Same results in pure DOS.

I transplanted the V2 card to a i440BX system and got the same result, then I asked Computerguy096 and it worked for him, until he tested a higher clock speed, and it seems at around 450-500MHz it stops working.

I confirmed this by downgrading the system to a Celeron 366, then I was able to play the game just fine.

Any ideas? Is this a known problem? Couldn't find anything on a brief google.

EDIT: Just realized I may have posted in the wrong subforum, feel free to move.

Thanks,
Eric

Last edited by Oerg866 on 2025-02-16, 23:02. Edited 2 times in total.

Reply 1 of 5, by bloodem

Posted on 2025-02-15, 16:01

bloodem Offline

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Yes, it's a known problem, but I was able to make it work on a fast Athlon XP system by decreasing the CPU speed as much as possible (6 x 100 MHz) + using the original executable for Voodoo 1 with the following environment variables:

1SET SST_GRXCLK=90
2SET SST_FT_CLK_DEL=0x4
3SET SST_TF0_CLK_DEL=0x6
4SET SST_TF1_CLK_DEL=0x6
5SET SST_VIN_CLKDEL=0x1
6SET SST_VOUT_CLKDEL=0x0
7SET SST_TMUMEM_SIZE=2
8SET SST_SCREENREFRESH=60
9SET SST_RGAMMA=1.30
10SET SST_GGAMMA=1.30
11SET SST_BGAMMA=1.30
12SET SSTV2_FASTMEM=1
13SET SSTV2_FASTPCIRD=1
14SET FX_GLIDE_ALLOC_COLOR=3

Having said that, it will definitely be hit & miss, I don't guarantee that it will work on EVERY socket A system.

2 x PLCC-68 / 4 x PGA132 / 5 x Skt 3 / 1 x Skt 4 / 9 x Skt 7 / 12 x SS7 / 1 x Skt 8 / 14 x Slot 1 / 6 x Slot A
5 x Skt 370 / 8 x Skt A / 2 x Skt 478 / 2 x Skt 754 / 3 x Skt 939 / 7 x LGA775 / 1 x LGA1155
Current PC: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Backup: Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Reply 2 of 5, by Gmlb256

Posted on 2025-02-15, 16:44

Gmlb256 Offline

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As bloodem said, it is a known problem. Depending on the platform, slowing down the CPU (setting the FSB to 66 MHz, reducing the multiplier, .etc) and applying the essential environment variables would help.

This is because the original 3dfx version of Tomb Raider (TOMB3DFX) uses Glide 2.1.1 which is speed sensitive, was designed for the original Voodoo Graphics card and whose DOS version of the API gets integrated into the executable. The Voodoo Rush (TOMBRUSH) version uses the external GLIDE2X.OVL file and shouldn't have this kind of problem. The only downside with this version is the lack of shadows.

Reply 3 of 5, by Oerg866

Posted on 2025-02-15, 17:10

Oerg866 Offline

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Sadly the rush version is having this problem 🙁

Is there maybe a Glide2x OVL file that is patched?

Reply 4 of 5, by Gmlb256

Posted on 2025-02-15, 17:50

Gmlb256 Offline

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I haven't seen a patched version of the Voodoo2's GLIDE2X.OVL file. 🙁

If anything, you can try my my modded DOS Glide 2.4x files for the Voodoo2. YMMV on that CPU though.

Reply 5 of 5, by Oerg866

Posted on 2025-02-16, 23:02

Oerg866 Offline

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Oh that looks helpful, thanks! One moment 😀

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