CompuServe Messages

The ATI Graphics Ultra Pro is the same as the Graphics Ultra+ but with VRAM instead of DRAM. I do NOT recommend ANY of the ATI mach32 boards for ANY PURPOSE. Most of their vaunted speed is done using a "Memory Aperture" feature which makes the video RAM look like system RAM. Problem is, it can only be mapped into the first 16MB, so that it can't be activated if your machine has more than 15MB (for a 1MB video RAM card) or 14MB (for a 2MB card). Since almost EVERYONE who uses 3DS has AT LEAST 16MB of RAM, this is Not Practical. Without the Memory Aperture, the Graphics Ultra+ is actually slower than the much cheaper Diamond SpeedStar 24X under Windows (according to both WinBench 2.5 and WinTach, as well as subjective estimations). There are other problems as well, including buggy drivers and features which don't work as advertised and serious system conflicts, which I have detailed elsewhere. The bottom line: stay the heck away from them!