#ATI Ultra vs Genoa 7900
11 messages in this thread
I have a 486/50 w/Genoa 7900 multimedia video board and I am very pleased with
it. Its got 1MB of RAM.
We are now getting a 486/66 and the vendor is offering a 24 bit ATI Ultra Pro
with 2 MB of RAM. My questions are:
a) Is it true that ATI Ultra Pro 24 bit 2MB local bus board owners are really
beta testers for the board.
b) What is the diff between 1MB and 2MB on a targa board?
c) Does 3DS have troubles with the ATI?
d) What is the best 24 bit video board for 3DS?
Thanks,
Mitch
Mitch,
<< a) Is it true that ATI Ultra Pro 24 bit 2MB local bus board owners are
really beta testers for the board.>>
No, but I'd put money on their drivers not working for 3ds.
<< b) What is the diff between 1MB and 2MB on a targa board? >>
If you mean the targa+ then 2 mb gives you the effect of having 2 buffers of
32-bit each and allows some higher vga modes / resolutions. But you still can't
get 756x486x32-bit like the Vista. Most people seem to go for the targa+ 16/32
rather than the targa+ 64 in terms of value for money.
<< c) Does 3DS have troubles with the ATI? >>
From what I've heard on this forum that seems to be the case in flic playback
(not limited to ATI) and in ADI drivers for the 24-bit cards – people seem to
end up buying the full commercial Panacea or Vibrant drivers to circumvent that
problem although they probably shouldn't have to.
<< d) What is the best 24 bit video board for 3DS? >>
Well, I dunno, but I've heard good stuff about Hercules (Chrome, Gold,
Graphite) since they've been in the Autocad arena for a while. I personally
love the Genoa 7900 mainly just because the drivers work in both Windows and
3ds at the resolutions it's capable/advertised to do – that's not much to ask
but it seems like it is for many of the new boards coming out with new fangled
co-processors/accelerators.
Martin
Thank Martin for the info. You qualified my suspicions and I'm gonna stick with
the Genoa which I know works well. When ATI irons out its drivers I'll get one
unless something better is out. Do you know how many megapixels you can get out
of the ATI. Using the PC Mag video benchmark and the Genoa 7900 I get about 4
megapixels per second on a 486/50 with a local bus.
Mitch,
good idea to stick with the Genoa until the others get the drivers in order. I
don't know any megapixel specs, unfortunately. I do know that the Genoa is far
faster at dos operations, such as anipro, than my new Diamond Stealth 24 (which
is a real dog in anipro but very fast in Windows – although it's drivers don't
all work for Windows, yet).
I think 4 megapixels is at the bottom of the scale compared to some figures I
have seen that go as high as 25 MP, but I think 3D Studio doesn't care about
that figure from what I now understand about its internal 24 bit coloring.
Mitchell:
While I have had little to no problem using ATI products with 3DS (ie VGA
WonderXL and XL24) the ATI forum here on CIS is jambed _full_ of people with
driver problems with the GUP VLB card. There are no production drivers
available from ATI for Windows or anything, and there _are_ currently some
problems with flic playback from within 3DS (ask Jack Bayt of Vibrant).
I have had _zero_ problems with ATI's 24-bit XL24 board and 3DS. I can't
comment on some of the other boards like the Diamond Viper, etc.
Dave
MItchell,
>> ATI?
I'd stay away from them. I stopped selling the card because of too many
problems. The Genoa is an "OK" card. It's a simple, reliable 24-bit card
which isn't doing anything fancy, not doing it extreemly fast, but will get you
there without any problems. If you are going to be in Windows, and you want a
VGA card (640x480x24bit) then I am now recommending the Graphite to my
customers.
>>what is the best 24-bit card for 3DS?
I'd have to ask you what are you planning to do with 3DS? Are you generating
images for pre-press or for video tape? If you are doing prepres work, then
I'd get a Hercules Chrome 431. It will allow you to do 1150x900x24bit and it
has very good Windows drivers as well as 3DS drivers. Also, Ron Scott's HiRes
QFX supports the card as well (and even make use of the on board DRAM for
sertain functions). If you are doing video and are going to an S-video format
(SVHS or Hi8), then I'd go with the Targa+32.
Now, as far as I have seen, these cards are compatible with each other. The
Chrome offers a VGA pass thru (don't ever set-up the Targa+ with the VGA
pass-thru). If you are a "jack of all trades" you could get all three (a cheap
VGA, the Targa+ and the Chrome).
Ang
Angelo:
Thanks for the tip on ATI. I'm gonna get the Genoa again.
Most of my "work" besides coming up with book ideas, is creating object-de-art
for computer book covers and catalogs. So far I have just tossed the production
department a 640 x 480 x 256 GIF. I guess I should render to a targa for
maximum color. I mainly like to watch the rendering go by too, and I also kind
of like jaggies, so super high res is not on my list.
The Chrome might be overkill right now for me but it sounds great. Does a
Chrome cost > $1K?
I heard pass thru was the best way to go because the 24 bit cards are slugs in
VGA mode.
>> Chrome about $1k & pass thru is the way to go
Mitchell,
The Chrome comes in a lot of flavors and I'm at home so I don't remember the
exact cost matrix (Jim@Hercules.. I could use a little help here if your
listening). The Chrome 431, which will allow 1150x900x24bit is … hmmm … I
think $1295 … or $995 .. I can't remember. For pre-press work … its a hard
card to beat. 1150 resolution at a 175 line screen would give you nearly a 5×7
full screen picture. I agree with the VGA also … though the #9 seems to be
pulling it off pretty will with its GXiL29 card (24bit at 1024×768 … but more
expensive than the Chrome and I don't believe it has the preformce).
Ang
Gosh that Chrome unit sounds like a wonderful product. If I rendered in the
full 1150 x 175 line resolution that is equivalent to 5 x 7 feet, how long
would it take my trusty 486/66 to do that? Seems like it could take days….
I am favoring the Genoa 7900 at this point because of its low cost and super
compatibility, and then I would add the Chrome afterward.
>> 5×7 feet
Mitchell,
Don't tell me … I used a "_'_" instead of a "_"_"…… opps <g>
Going with the 7900 is probably a good descission … especially if you aren't
planning to "do windows". HiRes QFX works great on the card .. (actually Ron
Scott professes that simple frame cards like the 7900 actually run his program
faster that other "sooped-up" VGAs …. all them smarts just get in his way
<g>)
Ang