#ATI Ultra pro?????
11 messages in this thread
I've been considering buying an ATI Graphics Ultra Pro (2 mb), and
was wondering if anyone has had any experience with it, good or bad.
The info sheet I've got on it makes it out to be a dream card (1024×768
@ 16 bit, 800×600 @ 24 bit, 3DS support, VESA support, etc….. and FAST!),
but I'm picking up on some message traffic, both here and on the ATI forum,
that sounds kinda scary.
So, the question is; is this board going to be a royal pain in the
behind, or should I give it a shot? Luckily, if I buy it at Comp USA, I
have up to 30 days to return it for a full refund, no questions asked.
Opinions?….
Thanks,
David
PS: I use a 486/33, Targa, Wacom tablet, 3DS2, Anipro, Win 3.1,
Corel, Pic Pub., Painter, etc, etc….
David,
>> ATI snags
I just got an ATI Ultra Pro/2MB and have been using it successfully with
3DS. I currently only have one snag. To view hi-res FLC's in 3DS, you have
to run the VVESA.COM that comes with the card (I do this in my
Autoexec.bat so that its also available for AniPro). But this seems to not
let me view low-res flics without crashing. So basically, I've had to
choose between the two. I haven't had a chance to get technical support on
this problem yet, but I'd be interested if anyone else is having this same
problem.
>> ATI Performance
I love the card so far. I set my RDPADI for the 800x600x16M for high-res
stills and set RCPADI for 640x480x64k for quicker check renders. The
drivers provided by Vibrant allow you to set the resolution of the Editor
screen up (I have mine at 1024x768x16) and the materials editor. Each of
these can have independant resolutions (nice touch). On my 486/50, the card
screems along. Also, the capablility of going to 1024x768x64k is nice and
I've used that once so far.
Ang
Thanks Angelo. I'm glad to here you've had a relatavely painless
time with your board. I've tried "bigger and better" graphics boards
( actually, I think the 24x is the only one I purchased), but I went back
to my fast and rock solid speedstar hi-color. Out of curiosity,
how fast is flic playback in Anipro, and how quickly did you get the card
up and running?
Thanx again,
David
David,
>> how fast up and running
Plugged the card in, installed the drivers, ran 3DS (configuring the card)
and I was "up and running". It did take me a while to figure out that I
need to run the VVESA.COM to view hi-res FLC's, but that was more my fault
than anything else.
>> how fast FLC's
I don't know .. how can you tell. When running AniPro, I don't have any
trouble running at 30fps with anything I've done so far in 3DS (at 640×480).
Is there a benchmark that I should run?
Ang
I've only used the ATI card in Windows, and although it's fast, I'm still
having a number of gnarly problems with it… especially in 1024×768 mode.
ATI has a forum here on CIS, and if you drop in there and ask the same
question, I'm sure you'll get MANY responses.
Good luck,
– G
Gary, thanks. I've been popping in over at the ATI forum, but I
have not asked any questions yet, just reading up on all of the driver
problems people seem to be having. Don't you have the local bus version
thats shipping with the new Gateways? (Rhetorical question – I'm almost
sure you do) Anyway, thanks for the reply.
David
I've been doing the same over there… keeping pretty current with the
various message threads about the Gateway/ATI Ultra. Lots of very unhappy
people there, and the beta drivers that they've got don't seem to help my
problem in 1024×768. I'm hoping that they work the problems out soon…
– G
I hope they get it together soon too… for everybodys sake. It looks like
they released these boards WAY too early. I've already made up my mind,
it'll be more heartache than its worth! Well, good luck with yours.
David
PS: Any ideas on a good accelerated graphics board that'll do
800x600x24 and 1024x768x16 bit for under $800?
I hope so too. I'm so happy with the speed of the board that I'm putting
up with it for awhile (hoping that their final drivers solve the problem).
Regarding an accelerated graphics board… I'm not the best person to ask
about all the various display options. Chris from Panacea is much more
knowledgable than I, since folks who write drivers tend to get experience
with all the various boards out there.
– G
David, Just monitoring your conversations about ATI's drivers. Have
recently purchased Gateway 486/50DX2 with ATI Ultra Pro. Driver file that
is shipped with it, as of last month is DLXPRESS.EXP. Have had several
problems with from rendering to viewing .flc's. ATI suggests their beta
version (DX3810.EXP, I think I'm wrong on that name). It's on their
bulletin board, but then a problem exists with the VIBRANT.CFG. Have yet
to solve problems. Let me know if you come up with any solutions.
Thanks, Chris
Chris,
I'm unlikley to find any solutions to any ATI driver problems,
because I don't have an ATI card. I was going to get one, but with all the
problems I'm hearing about, I've changed my mind (at least for now). ATI
now has a forum here on Compuserve, and you might find some help over
there. It's in the Graphics Vendors forum, section 17. (They've got all of
the new beta drivers there too.)
Good luck,
David