A software mode 3d accelerator is an oxymoron itself

The CPU is the software mode 3d accelerator.

A 3D accelerator is a card that does 3D functions in hardware. If the CPU is still computing in software the 3D functions, it's not a accelerator.

Maybe you have heard about some 3D cards doing some functions in software. That's because the game is using an API (i.e. DirectX) that define some function AND the 3D card is unable to perform that function in hardware (i.e. T&L). In some cases, the driver reports that the card can do that function and replaces it with a routine performed by the CPU (in other cases, the driver reports that the card does not support the function, so the API falls back to software or directly does not use that function).

There are few DOS APIs, and those APIs were tied to 3D cards or chipsets that performed every function supported in hardware, so I don't think that you'll find such a card.

The S3-968 can not accelerate Mpeg video, it has however overlay support.

Ah okay, as I said in another post, modern day computing has really made me "DOS dumb" lmao, it's so odd how fast you forget this kinda stuff. I grew up in the DOS era [was born in 1980, i'm 31] so it's embarassing how much i've forgotten. D'oh! >.<

elianda wrote:

The S3-968 can not accelerate Mpeg video, it has however overlay support.

I have the MVP daughter card attached. 😀

As already mentioned software would not really accelerate much compared to a hardware card. What you probably mean by the title of the topic would be something like a "3DFX" emulator for DOS and no i dont think it exists. However - the good news is that many games actually contained a software mode to have the 3D calculated in CPU rather than in a 3D card. I think like GTA had an option to run with a 3DFX card or just "by software". And hell yeah the 3DFX was so much nicer and faster. If you feel your card sucks too much you can still try to shoot one at ebay, with some luck you get some nice card for less than what a pizza costs including postage.

Some 3D accelerators look like they are accelerating software mode. Matrox Mystique and 3D Blaster VLB for example. The lack of filtering and transparency.

swaaye wrote:

Some 3D accelerators look like they are accelerating software mode. Matrox Mystique and 3D Blaster VLB for example. The lack of filtering and transparency.

Hehehe, indeed! Looks kinda neat too!

swaaye wrote:

Some 3D accelerators look like they are accelerating software mode. Matrox Mystique and 3D Blaster VLB for example. The lack of filtering and transparency.

That almost made me ROFL, but I definitely 🤣'ed 😀

I don't really know about 2D cards but 4mb VRAM S3-968 PCI looks like it should be great for games with VESA modes that first "3d" games were using and plenty fast for anything older. If such games are your concern consider your machine accelerated.

I remember some DOS games specifically supported certain video chips for an "accelerated" mode. Typically Tseng Labs or S3 chips. I have the feeling that it was similar to VESA VBE usage though (better memory access primarily?). GUI accelerators weren't particularly useful for most game graphics.

Tekwar has some accelerated modes that don't do anything tangible, for example. 😉 I can't remember others offhand...