#Colors w. ATI/Vibrant ?
3 messages in this thread
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!
Although I wouldn't recomend it myself, the aperture problem is only valid for
ISA systems.
>>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
NOT true, exactly. With the ISA version of the card, the above statement is
true, and when you disable the real apature, the card uses a "virtual" apature
(whatever that means). BUT, with the VLB version of the card, you can locate
the apature as high as xx Mb, and, of course, the EISA version isn't a real
problem.
I agree that I have been somewhat upset at the premature release of the
hardware without solid Windows drivers, but they now have a release 2
(non-beta) out that I have no problems with (yet) and I have had no problems
outside of Windows.
Dave