#Graphics ultra pro
11 messages in this thread
Anyone had these problems with the 2Mb graphics ultra pro? I am
set up as they recommend for 3ds- 800x600x16 for the editor,
640x480x256 for the materials editor,640x480x16 million for the
rendering. 1. Viewing an image saved before I got the ultra (640×480
or smaller) results in the request to chop or resize. 2. If I view a
flc, more often than not the computer reboots!! 3. I use a Mag 17"
and changing from editor to renderer is not a smooth change from
800×600 to 640×480, instead the ultra card seems to pass through
other resolutions on the way, i.e., the Mag displays resolutions such
as 600×400 (momentarily) accompanied by light flashes and a clicking
sound. Several of these flashes and clicks occur. If this part of my
problems is o.k. it is still extremely annoying.
Anyone have these experiences or suggestions??
– mike
Mike,
The VESA driver for the ATI Graphics Ultra Pro is not fully compatible
with 3DS. I have installed 3DS on several machines with these cards and the
same thing happens when viewing .flc's. The best thing to do for viewing flc's
is to download AAPLAYHI off the forum here. The ATI card seems to work O.K.
with it, and it has the added benefit that you can load the flc's into memory
for very smooth playback.
John Schmidty
I am considering becoming an ATI Graphics Ultra Pro customer configured
on a 486-66 system with a VESA bus. My main goal is to run 3DS and after
reading this subject the thought crosses my mind that I might be making a
mistake. This ATI fix sounds OK but I'm wondering if there are other cards out
there of comparable price and performance that might run 3DS on a VESA system
better than the ATI. I have read about Diamond Viper and Orchid P9000/VLB VESA
but am not sure how or if they perform with 3DS. I am told that the ATI drivers
for 3DS are very good and that is what I've been banking on when shopping for a
system. Any comments would be appreciated.
This is my first DAY on CIS so I have probably stomped all over Forum eticate.
Sorry if I took this subject too far astray.
Bernie Maurer
I have the ATI VLB GUP 2Mb, and prior have used both the VGA Wonder XL and the
XL/24 – never had any real problem (other than some of their VESA drivers were
better than others) — BUT — I will warn you that the Windows drivers for this
card _suck_ big time — the latest version 1.5(59) is _supposed_ to be a
non-beta release, but you can't prove it by me. You can't print to certain
printers or from within certain programs with it (Windows maintains a tight
relationship between printer and video drivers), and many image break-up
problems.
Also, there is some bug (hardware?) that ATI is having a tough time tracking
down that manifests itself as flashing white horizontal noise lines when using
certain DOS programs in text modes with non-black backgrounds.
I would not recommend buying the card at this time (sorry, ATI).
Dave
(I _do_ like their 9600 modem, though.)
I also have FLC playback problems, but not the others. May be your monitor.
I'm running a 20" Viewsonic 8 at 1024 resolution, and that works fine.
bill
I've got the card, and am using Vibrant's ProRes3D drivers for 3DStudio (very
resonable price & color icons, to boot). I haven't had any real problems with
it and 3DS (although, yes — the monitor does jump and jive between modes, but
I have a feeling that it may have to do with the fact that 3DS doesn't really
expect you to use more than 300×200 in the material editor). There _is_
supposed to be a problem with the ATI and playing FLCs using 3DS's built-in
player, but a) I haven't had the problem, and b) the solution is to put APLAY
in your Program pull-down menu.
Dave
David,
PMJI, but when you said:
>> 3DS doesn't really expect you to use more than 300×200 in the material >>
editor
I wondered why you said it. I've been able to run the materials editor at
640×480, and above, on several combinations of cards and drivers. The potential
gain of such an action may be questionable but it's certainly possible.
Well, yeah, you can run it >300×200 (and with the Vibrant driver it _is_
actually at 640×480) but 3DS is still just sending out a 300×200 image. I
supposed that Vibrant is doing something funky to get a real (looking) 640×480
image, and that might explain some of the acrobatics that I see the monitor
jumping through.
Upon reflection, the real reason for the flashing and clicking and other
machinations (in a non-Vibrant driver<g>) is probably a poorly written driver.
We had a machine with an Nth Engine and the Nth drivers for 3DS, and you'd
think the monitor was going to explode from all the hissing and squeaking going
on. It was as if the driver was stepping through, one by one, all of the card's
modes to get to the one it wanted, and then back again, while the monitor tried
to keep sync. Dumped that Nth stuff (from the 3DS machine) real quick.
Dave "Not-necessarily-responsible-for-what-he-says" Rhoten
Mike,
First or all you may want to consider getting another driver for used with 3DS
like Vibrant Graphics DL-Xpress or Pro-Res. This may solve your display/FLC
problem. The MAG's clicking is it trying to sync to the new resolution. It
sounds like you must have a Gateway 2000 – just because of the video/monitor
combo. I also have a Gateway and was using the ATI card with VESA drivers –
something ATI is notorious for having bugs with. Switching to DL-Xpress solved
my problems. Most multisync monitors will do the clincking you described – that
is something you may have to just live with – or run everyting at the same
resolution. Hope this helps.
BTW – if you have a 17" monitor you should really run the editor in at
least 1024×768 if not even 1280×1024. You will get to see much more.
Dave Mennenoh
Thanks for the information.
I wasn't aware that it is possible to obtain 3DS drivers for the ATI
GUP other than the one that comes with the card. This is something new to me.
Could someone let me know where separate drivers can be purchased?
Thanks Mike
Mike –
I just purchased a new system that came with the ATI card and Mag
monitor and yes, I noticed the same behavior. For more reasons than
just these, I elected to go back to my NEC monitor and Video 7, VRAM
II card (better colors, brighter picture, better support, etc, etc,
etc). Not too sure about the reboot problem. My system reboots too
when I shell out and try to get back into 3DS. Something tells me
other people know about these reboot problems and have seen these
kind of messages more than once. – Good Luck!