CompuServe Thread

>>>Has Autodesk tested 3DS on the Dell Dimension XPS P90, with the Imagine 128 Graphics Accelerator? This is the machine I'm going to buy (subject to AD approval rating).<<< I have that exact system. Dell XPS P90, 32MB RAM, 1GB EIDE HD, Imagine 128, Adaptec 2940 PCI/SCSI, NEC 4Xi, HP C1533A DAT, DPS PAR w/Micropolis 2217A 1.7GB IDE. Plus a Sound Blaster AWE32, but that doesn't do anything for 3DS. Everything works great with 3DS, ACAD 12, CADKEY. The video drivers are lacking at the moment. The Imagine 128 is two cards in one, the 128 bit GUI (Windows) accelerator and a Cirrus Logic 54xx VGA chipset with 512K RAM for DOS video. The Windows drivers work great, but DOS programs don't support as high a resolution as I want. The VGA only supports 640x480x256, 800x600x256, and 1024x768x16 only. So if running 3DS in one of those resolutions is OK with you then you shouldn't have any problems. I was running 3DS on a Viper VLB at 1280×1024 on my 486/66 with a render/Material Editor screen with 800x600x16.7mil colors. I prefer the 3DS support on the Viper at this point. I did get a Imagine 128 driver for Cadkey, which is a DOS program, and it supports the 128bit chipset. It looks great at 1600×1200 on my Nokia 447X. So if Vibrant comes out with Imagine 128 support it will be very nice. Nik or Jonas said Imagine 128 support wouldn't be in the next drivers so I don't think it will happen soon. I'm selling my Imagine 128 to get a #9 GXE64Pro/4MB card mainly for 3DS stuff and some DOS flight sims. The GXE64Pro is 2.5 times faster in DOS video than the Imagine 128. Other than the lack of decent drivers, the system works great. The Dell runs super cool, it comes apart without screws, and uses the Intel Premiere II motherboard.

Mike, I have the XPS P90, and I heard about the problems with the 128 bit card so I ordered the GXEPro 64 w/2mb instead. This card works very well. Vibrant drivers and all( 24 bit screen render capable). My suggestion is to order the machine without the 128 bit card. I just got my box about 2 weeks ago and I am soooo hapy with the improved render times. makes my other two Dell machines look sick in comparison. (486DX50 & 486DX2/66). I've been very happy with the Dell machines, and setup for the XPS was quite smooth. 3DS loaded and came up right away with no problem. Tom Flannery