VOGONS


First post, by pRoPh3t

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Hi everyone,

I just received a very unusual 3dfx Voodoo Graphics (Voodoo 1) card and I’m hoping someone here can help identify it. I’ve checked several well-known forums, but so far I haven’t found anyone who recognizes this particular model.

Here’s what stands out:
• The layout closely matches a Skywell Magic 3D.
• However, the PCB is green, unlike the typical black used by Skywell.
• All RAM chips are socketed, which is highly uncommon.
• The PCI connector pins look modified – possibly a prototype or test unit?
• The back side matches a typical Skywell Magic 3D.
• Missing fan header: The pin holes for the fan connector (top left) are absent.

I’ve taken some photos and will post them below. Maybe someone can recognize some details or help figure out the origin or purpose of this card.

Looking forward to your thoughts and input – let’s dig into this mystery together!

Best regards,
pRo

Reply 1 of 6, by pRoPh3t

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Photos part 2

Reply 2 of 6, by pRoPh3t

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Part 1

Reply 3 of 6, by sdz

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This is a bit of a weird one. Besides the things you have mentioned, there are also a few bodges (wires, 2 series resistors in a V instead of one, next to the VGA connectors), and all SMD components look hand soldered. Either someone was really desperate in trying to fix the card, and redid all solder joints by hand, added sockets/bodges, messed with the PCI connector, or it is a prototype (would explain the green color, as it is cheaper than black, and usually used for prototypes). The warranty sticker would invalidate this (unless they accidentally sold a prototype/test board).

Edit: Even the through hole parts are hand soldered, the crystal and the two VGA connectors. Also, the mounting posts of the VGA connectors are not filled with solder, as they would usually be. I'm inclined to believe it's a prototype unit accidentally sold (these sort of things do happen).

Reply 4 of 6, by pRoPh3t

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Indeed, this really is a strange one. The logo on the warranty sticker – is that from Skywell?

About what you wrote – I’m also wondering: why would someone go through all the trouble of hand-soldering all these components, adding sockets, modifying the PCI pins, etc.? It just seems like way too much effort for a repair or mod that doesn’t make much sense.

Also, the green wire connected to pin 10 on the TMU chip is really odd – definitely not something you normally see.

That said, the card works perfectly. I’ve tested it with GLQuake, 3DMark99, and other games – no glitches, no visual artifacts, everything runs as expected.

Reply 5 of 6, by havli

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This is rather late Voodoo, 48th week of 1997 - very unlikely to be a prototype. At this point Voodoo2 was almost finished. The PCB layout is definitely Skywell Magic 3D (one of them, there were at least 3 board types) http://tdfx.de/eng/magic3d.shtml
So very likely this is repair atempt and very thorough. The card looks like it was ran over by truck 😁

Great to hear it works! 😀

HW museum.cz - my collection of PC hardware