Best PCI video cards from 1993 to 1996? \ VOGONS

Best PCI video cards from 1993 to 1996?

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First post, by 386SX

Posted on 2015-10-02, 17:45

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Hi,
I am building a Pentium system I am actually posting with, based on a Pentium 120Mhz and I was asking myself, wich were the best PCI native video cards built for 2D features or early 3D with most advanced chipset, BEFORE the big 3d names era, so from the 1993 to 1996.
I am using a Cirrus Logic GD54M30 PCI 1Mb and I find it incredibly good in terms of 2d quality. Obviously speed is not "that" fast but not so bad either. I also have some S3 Trio64V+, VirgeDX, Trident TGUI9680, RealMagic 64/GX, Alliance Promotion AT3D, Matrox Millennium 4Mb etc..
What do you consider the best PCI card intended for the Pentium (non-MMX) era?
Thank

Reply 1 of 10, by Darkman

Posted on 2015-10-02, 17:50

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for the best compatibility , an S3 Virge based card would work well.

The main problem however, is that the image quality and performance isnt the greatest (it varies from card to card) , so I personally prefer either a Matrox Millenium , or an ATI Rage card, both of which tend to have better image quality and performance.

Reply 2 of 10, by alexanrs

Posted on 2015-10-02, 18:01

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If you get a Virge, try a good branded one. Like something from Elsa.

Reply 3 of 10, by 386SX

Posted on 2015-10-02, 18:16

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Unfortunately as you said, I have only cheap branded cards on Virge/DX so image is too bright or too soft (not to mention at 1024x768). 🙁

Reply 4 of 10, by soviet conscript

Posted on 2015-10-02, 18:23

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The Virge compatibility seems to mostly come into play with DOS. if you planning on playing Win9x games mostly go for something else like a Matrox or Rage, maybe a Riva128 but that's a 1997 card?

Reply 5 of 10, by kixs

Posted on 2015-10-02, 18:29

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Best are probably Matrox Millennium and Tseng ET6000. S3 Virge is also good (from a good brand at least - like Diamond).

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Reply 6 of 10, by 386SX

Posted on 2015-10-02, 18:46

386SX Offline

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soviet conscript wrote:
The Virge compatibility seems to mostly come into play with DOS. if you planning on playing Win9x games mostly go for something else like a Matrox or Rage, maybe a Riva128 but that's a 1997 card?

Yeah maybe a bit too modern. For a P120 seems too much.

Reply 7 of 10, by Thandor

Posted on 2015-10-02, 20:27

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A fast card would be a ARK 1000PV (a chip from 1995, found on Paradise Bali 32). It runs Doom and Quake very fast and has good SVGA performance. I personally also like S3-based cards because of compatability and speed (and good 2D image on the 'better' cards).

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Reply 8 of 10, by 386SX

Posted on 2015-10-03, 13:53

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I am trying the Matrox Millennium 4MB SGRAM. Man this is definetely a well built card with incredibly high 2D quality and speed. Almost late cause 1996 but sure ahead of anything "only 2D" I've tried.

Something strange after tried some cpu Intel mmx is reported in system propriety but I'm running on a P-120. Is a way to "refresh" it?

Reply 9 of 10, by kixs

Posted on 2015-10-03, 14:05

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What OS are you running? If win9x then just try do "Automatic hardware detect" in Control Panel. Also check in the Device manager if there is processor listed and just remove it.

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Reply 10 of 10, by 386SX

Posted on 2015-10-03, 14:13

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I am running W98 FE. Tried update in system components and find nothing. Also tried to go to safe mode at boot and no processors listed and stille "Intel MMX" in summary.
Never happened this.

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