MRM's Performance

    3D Accelerators

Can't decide between 3Dfx, PowerVR, ATI, and Rendition? All four chips have made the tops, and all have unique features or featured games that make it oh-so-tough to choose. So why choose when you can have it all?

Well, OK, almost all. Windows (until Memphis' multi-monitor support) limits you to a single 2D graphics card, but there's no rule keeping you from heaping on the 3D-only accelerators. Just pick your favorite 2D/3D card and slap in both a PowerVR and a 3Dfx-powered texel thrasher, and you'll be driving the ultimate 3D system this side of SGI--and only boot shows you how to do it.


  1. Check Your Box

    Three 3D cards aren't gonna fit into a system with one free slot no matter what kind of mojo you work. Check your system to make sure you have three free PCI slots before going any further. Keep in mind that you'll be able to ditch your 2D card and may be able to fit an Apocalypse 3Dx into a shared PCI/ISA slot even if the ISA half is full. Also, double check the System Control Panel to make sure there are two free IRQs. (The 3Dfx doesn't consume an IRQ.) If you have an IRQ problem, consider disabling an unused serial port to free some space.

    Our Ultimate 3D System
    ATI All-In-Wonder $285
    Diamond Monster 3D $199
    Apocalypse 3Dx $129 (with $70 rebate)
    Total $613

    Our Cheapest 3D System
    Your Current 2D Card Free
    Deltron Flash 3D $149
    Apocalypse 3Dx $129 (with $70 rebate)
    Total $278
    		Click on Computer Properties in the System Properties control panel to view a list of your system's IRQs.

  2. Making Up Your Mind

    Now you must decide which three cards you want to charge your system with. The VideoLogic Apocalypse 3Dx is the obvious choice on the PowerVR side, but avoid the x-less Apocalypse 3D­it doesn't do filtering! On the 3Dfx side you have three very similar cards to choose from. If money matters, the obvious choice is Deltron Technology's Flash 3D for only $149, but it doesn't come with bundled games (see the review on page 92). The most bundle for your buck comes with the Diamond Monster 3D, which is stuffed with software for $199. In between, the Orchid Righteous 3D has a medium-size bundle for a medium-size price of $179.

    Your 2D/3D choice is less limited and you may want to stick with your current 2D-only card if funds are running low. But to cram the most features into the fewest slots, we suggest the ATI All-In-Wonder. This card rocks as a 2D accelerator and gives you great video-in and -out capabilities (plus it can turn your PC into a killer TV with its built-in tuner).

    If maximum 3D coverage is your concern, go with a Rendition Vérité-based board. The clear performance leader of this bunch is the Canopus Total 3D--and it comes with nifty stereoscopic 3D glasses. But for this 12-Step we're going with ATI.

    For our ultimate system we chose the ATI All-In-Wonder, VideoLogic Apocalypse 3Dx, and the Diamond Monster 3D.

  3. Get 'em Cheap

    Here's a cost-saving tip: VideoLogic is so confident of its card's superiority, it has instituted a competitive upgrade for 3Dfx owners. Buy your 3Dfx card (any model, from anywhere), then call up VideoLogic with the serial number of your board and they'll sell you the Apocalypse 3Dx (including the full retail software bundle) for $129, saving you $70--and you get to keep your 3Dfx card, too!

  4. Clean Out The Trash

    In the Video Control Panel, change your graphics driver to Standard Display Adapter (VGA) and uninstall any display utilities or tools that came with your existing graphics card. You should do this before adding any new 2D accelerator, it greatly reduces the risk of Windows getting confused.

    Also, make sure you have the latest drivers for your cards. Things change fast in the 3D world, and the latest releases can avoid a lot of potential headaches.

    It's a good idea to set your graphics driver to basic VGA before installing a new 2D card.

  5. Adding ATI

    Open the case, rip out the graphics card, and slap in the All-In-Wonder. ATI's driver installation is relatively painless, though you may have to select "Show all devices" rather than "Show compatible devices" to get the board to appear in the driver-selection window. Have no fear, it's not hard.

    Continue once you have everything up and running with the resolution and color-depth of your choice. The Wonder will now be responsible for all 2D functions, including DirectX acceleration.

    The All-In-Wonder crams a lot of goodies into a single PCI slot.
  6. TV-In

    Now is a good time to check out the TV-tuner features of the All-In-Wonder. You'll be amazed at how cool TV on the PC can be (or you can use your camcorder as a surveillance camera with a monitor window on-screen).

    The All-In-Wonder's TV-tuner features give your PC the power to replace your television.
  7. TV-Out

    Hook up the breakout cables to the All-In-Wonder, and use a composite or S-video cable to hook it up to the biggest TV you can find. Thirty-foot extension cables and an IR keyboard come in handy here. Hook up your home entertainment center speakers to your computer while you're at it. Then turn off all the lights, crank up the volume, and start Quake. Yow!

    Use an S-video cable to hook the All-In-Wonder up to the biggest TV you can find.
  8. Shared Slot Sneak

    The Apocalypse 3Dx is a tiny board, and since the PowerVR communicates over the PCI bus with your 2D card, it has no back-panel connections. If you unscrew the back panel from the 3Dx, you may be able to fit it into a shared PCI/ISA slot that already has the ISA half occupied. Talk about maximizing use of space!

    Thanks to its incredibly small size and low profile, the Apocalypse 3Dx can reside in a partially occupied shared ISA/PCI slot.
  9. Feel The Power

    Install the PowerVR drivers, and make sure things are working with a quick lap or two in Ultim@te Race. If the game moves in fits and starts, Plug-and-Play may have assigned the board a shared IRQ. Go into the System Control Panel and tweak until you get the 3Dx an IRQ of its own. Also make sure you can see PowerVR games through the TV-out of the All-In-Wonder--one very nice side-effect of sharing the 2D card's frame buffer.

  10. 3Dfx Looping

    Power down and slap the 3Dfx card into your machine. Unplug the monitor from the ATI and plug it into the 3Dfx, then hook the ATI to the 3Dfx board with the provided short-patch cable. Now boot up, install the drivers, and make sure things are working by playing a quick round of GLQuake. Since the Voodoo chip doesn't share a frame buffer with your 2D card, the TV-out features of the All-In-Wonder are sadly bypassed, but the results on your PC monitor should be stunning.

    This patch cable lets the 3Dfx take over the screen when it's ready to work its magic.
  11. Direct3D Insanity

    Now all three boards should be living somewhat happily in one machine. But it's a fine balance. Games written specifically for one board should work without any trouble, finding their desired hardware automatically, but Direct3D titles are a lot more complicated.

    PowerVR has created a utility that docks into your taskbar and gives you the ability to toggle between 3Dfx, PowerVR, and your 2D/3D card with just a click. This utility then adjusts the Windows Registry to reflect your current preference, and the next time a Direct3D app starts, it will run where you want it to.

  12. Play Ball!

    OK, now you have The Ultimate Gaming System. So stop reading this, and get out there and start playing!