3D Chipsets

Oct 1, 2000

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3D Chipsets
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Use this table to choose the 3-D chipset that is right for you. Whether you're a gamer, video or graphics professional, this table will help you sort out the confusing world of video chipsets.

3D Chipsets

As with standard 2D video adapters, there are several manufacturers of popular 3D video chipsets and many more manufacturers of video adapters that use them. Table 1 lists the major 3D chipset manufacturers, the various chipsets they make, and the video adapters that use them.

NOTE

Chipsets marked (3D only) in this table are used on boards that must be connected to and used with an existing 2D or 2D/3D graphics board in your computer. Chipsets marked (2D/3D) are used on boards that provide both features and thus can be used to replace existing boards in your computer.

In each manufacturer's section, the following symbols will be used to provide a ranking within that manufacturer's chipsets only: NEW--RECENT--OLD. Generally, NEW chipsets provide the fastest 3D performance and advanced 3D rendering features. RECENT chipsets, although lacking some of the speed or features of NEW chipsets, are also worthwhile, especially for those on a budget. OLD are generally superseded by RECENT and NEW chipsets and therefore not recommended. Be sure to use this information in conjunction with application-specific and game-specific tests to help you choose the best card/chipset solution for your needs.

Table 1 3D Video Chipset Manufacturers

Manufacturer	Chipset	Available Boards
3Dfx Interactive	Voodoo Graphics (3D only OLD)	A-Trend Helios 3D Canopus Pure 3D Deltron Flash 3D Diamond Monster 3D Guillemot MAXIGamer 3Dfx Orchid Righteous 3D Quantum 3D Obsidian series Skywell Magic 3D
3Dfx Interactive	Voodoo Rush (2D/3D OLD)	California Graphics Emotion 3D Deltron Flash AT3D Rush Hercules Stingray 128/3D Intergraph Intense 3D Jazz Adrenaline Rush Viewtop Rush 3D
3Dfx Interactive	Voodoo Banshee (2D/3D OLD)	Gigabyte GA-630 A-Trend Helios 3d-Banshee Edition Creative Labs 3D Blaster Banshee Diamond Monster Fusion ELSA Victory II Guillemot Maxi Gamer Phoenix Melco Buffalo WGP-FX Metabyte Wicked 3D Vengeance Pace 3D Edge Quantum 3D Raven Sky Well Magic Twinpower (Banshee) ASUS AGP-V3200
3Dfx Interactive	Voodoo2 (3D only OLD)¹	Aopen PA2000 Voodoo2 A-Trend Helios 3D Voodoo2 Bestdata Arcade Fx Ii 3d Canopus Pure 3D Ii Creative 3D Blaster Diamond Monster 3D II Gainward Dragon 3000 Guillemot Gamer 3D2 PCI Metabyte Wicked 3D Microconversions Game Wizard Miro Hiscore DLL Quantum3d Obsidian2 S-Series Quantum3d Obsidian2 X-Series Single Board SLI Skywell Magic 3D II STB Blackmagic 3D STB Voodoo2 1000 Techworks Power 3D II Village Tronics 3D Overdrive 2
3Dfx Interactive²	Voodoo3 (2D/3D RECENT)	3Dfx Voodoo3 2000 AGP 3Dfx Voodoo3 2000 PCI 3Dfx Voodoo3 3000 AGP 3Dfx Voodoo3 3500 AGP
3Dfx Interactive²	VSA-100 (2D/3D NEW)	3Dfx Voodoo4 4500 AGP 3Dfx Voodoo4 4500 PCI 3Dfx Voodoo5 6000 AGP 3Dfx Voodoo5 5500 AGP 3Dfx Voodoo5 5000 PCI
3D labs	Permedia (2D/3D OLD)	Densan 3D MaxiGrafx
Gainward AccuX P2003D labs	Permedia 2(2D/3D RECENT)	Creative Graphics Blaster Exxtreme Diamond FireGL 1000Pro Abit V3D AccelGraphics AccelSTAR II Alta Technology PMC/Video-3D Appian Graphics Jeronimo Pro Biostar Pluto 3D Boxx Technologies Permedia 2 Britek Electronics AGP Mars-2 Britek Electronics 3D Mars-2 Densan PD200/8A Elitegroup 3DVision-PAGP ELSA WINNER 2000/Office ELSA GLoria Synergy First International Computer Extremis Gainward Power 3D II Giga-Byte GA-600 GVC GA-311 Hercules Dynamite 3D/GL I-O Data Device GA-PII8/PCI Iwill 3D Adventure II Joytech Apollo 3000 Leadtech WinFast 3D L2300 Lung Hwa/EONtronics DPB21 Permedia 2 Lung Hwa/EONtronics DAB31 Permedia 2 MaxVision 3DmaxP2 Melco WHP-PS4/PS8 Micro-Labs Ultimate 3D Micro-Star Int'l MS-4413 Omnicomp Graphics Divine3D Prolink Microsystems MVGA-3DP2A Software Integrators Saturn GL Soyo Computer SY-3DAGPA-Trend
3D labs	Permedia 3 (2D/3D NEW)	Permedia3 Create! Ati Rage I (2D/3D OLD) ATI 3D Xpression ASUS 3DP PCI-V264GT
ATi	RAGE II+ (2D/3D OLD)	3D XPRESSION+ All-in-Wonder ATi 3D Charger * (may use Rage II/II+ or Rage IIC depending on version)
ATi	Rage IIC (2D/3D OLD)	Gainward CARDEXPERT RAGE II C Ati 3D Charger (some versions)
ATi	3D RAGE II+DVD (2D/3D OLD)	3D PRO TURBO PC2TV
ATi	Rage Pro (2D/3D RECENT)	ATI All-in-Wonder Pro ATI XPERT LCD ATI XPERT@Play 98 ATI XPERT 98 ATI XPERT@Play ATI XPERT@Work ATI XPERT XL ATI 3D Charger
ATi	Rage 128 (2D/3D NEW)	ATI All-in-Wonder 128 ATI RAGE FURY ATI RAGE MAGNUM ATI XPERT 128 ATI XPERT 99
ATi	Rage 128 Pro (2D/3D NEW)	ATI All-in-Wonder 128 Pro Rage Fury Maxx Rage Fury Pro XPERT 2000 Pro
Intel	740 (2D/3D RECENT)	ABIT Intel740 Acorp A-740 AOpen Inc. PA740 ASUSTeK Computer V2740 A-Trend Technology Co. ATC-2740A Biostar Group ORION740 Chaintech Computer i7000 DataExpert DIT5740 DFI AGP7410 Diamond Multimedia StealthII G460 EONTronics Picasso 740 Elitegroup Computer Systems 3D Vision Full Yes Industrial Intel740 Gainward Co., Ltd. CardExpert Gigabyte Technology GA-612 Guillemot International Maxi Gamer2D/3D AGP Hercules Computer Technology Terminator 2x/i Intel Corporation Intel Express 3D Jet-Way Information J-740-3D Leadtek Research Inc. WinFast 3D S-900 Lucky Star Technology i740AGP Machspeed Raptor 740/AGP NewTech ColorMax740 Palit Daytona AGP740 Power Color C.P. Technology Co., Ltd. C740AGP Prolink MVGA i740A Protac AG240D/VC240 Real 3D StarFighter Shuttle Computer Hot-158 Sparkle SP-740A SuperPower Computer Electronics Co. SP-740AT Tekram Technology AGP6000 Teleshine GI-740 Tops CCC Intel740 WinTech AGP-740A
Matrox	MGA-200 (2D/3D RECENT) MGA-400 (2D/3D NEW)	Matrox Millennium G200 Matrox Millennium G400 series
NVIDIA	RIVA 128(2D/3D OLD)	ASUS 3D Explorer Canopus Total 3D 128V Diamond Viper330 Elsa Erazor Victory STB Velocity 128
NVIDIA	RIVA 128ZX (OLD)	STB Lightspeed 128ZX Yuan AGP-300SZ
NVIDIA	RIVA TNT2 (2D/3D RECENT)	Aopen PA3010-A Aopen PA3010-N ASUSTeK AGP-V3800 series Canopus Spectra 5400 series Creative 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 Creative 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 Ultra Diamond Viper V770 Diamond Viper V770Ultra ELSA Erazor III ELSA Synergy II Guillemot Maxi Gamer Xentor Guillemot Maxi Xentor 32 Ultra Hercules Dynamite TNT2 Hercules Dynamite TNT2 Ultra Leadtek Winfast 3D S320 II series Micro-Star MS8802 Micro-Star MS8806 Yuan AGP-520T
NVIDIA	RIVA TNT (2D/3D RECENT)	ASUS AGP V3400 Creative Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT Diamond Viper 550 ELSA Erazor II Hercules Dynamite TNT Leadtek Winfast 3D S320 Prolink PixelView TNT Prolink Prographics Riva TNT
NVIDIA	VANTA (2D/3D RECENT)	Guillemot Maxi Gamer Phoenix 2 GigaByte GA-620 Leadtek WinFast S320 V-series Micro-Star MS-8807 Prolink PixelView TNTLite Yuan AGP-320V Yuan TUN-320V
NVIDIA	GeForce 256 & 256DDR (2D/3D NEW)	Asus AGP V6600 GeForce 256 Asus AGP V6800 Pure/Deluxe Creative Labs 3D Blaster Annihilator Creative Labs 3D Blaster Annihilator Pro ELSA Erazor X2 ELSA Erazor X Guillemot 3D Prophet Guillemot 3D Prophet DDR-DVI LeadTek WinFast GeForce 256
Rendition³	(Vérité) v2000(2D/3D RECENT)	Diamond Stealth S220 DSystems Gladiator Hercules Thriller 3D Jazz Outlaw 3D QDI Vision 1 InnoVISION Warrior 3D Kasan Blitz2200 Data Expert DVT5200
Rendition³	v1000(2D/3D OLD)	Creative 3D Blaster PCI Intergraph 3D 100 IO Magic Video 3D Miro miroCRYSTAL VRX Sierra Screamin' 3D
Rendition³	Max 2 Tech 3D	Canopus Total3D
S3	ViRGE (2D/3D OLD)	Gainward Cardex Genesis SV DataExpert Expertcolor DSV3325P Diamond Stealth 3D 2000 Pro Elsa Victory 3D Expert EVP ViRGE Genoa Phantom 3D Hercules Terminator 64/3D Number Nine 9FX Reality 332 Orchid Fahrenheit Video3D ASUS 3DP-V375DX STB Powergraph 64 3D
S3	Savage3D (2D/3D OLD)	A-Trend ATG3900 AOPEN NAVIGATOR PA70 Cardexprt ST3D Colormax Savage 3D DataExpert Savant 3D DSV5 390 Hercules Terminator BEAST Galaxie Group Venus Savage 3D Gainward Cardex GX3 Sigma Savage 3D Kasan G-Mania Savage 3D
S3	Savage4 (2D/3D RECENT)	Creative Technology 3D Blaster Savage 4 Diamond SpeedStar A200 Diamond Stealth III S540 series ELSA Winner II
S3	Savage 2000 (2D/3D NEW)	Diamond Viper II
SiS	6326⁴	ASUS AGP-V1326 Aopen PG80/DVD Aopen PA50D Aopen PG80 Acorp Intl SiS 6326 DataExpert DSI5326 APAC Multimedia SI600A Full Yes FYI--SiS 6326 Trumpdale PerformX SiS 6326 AGP Shuttle HOT-155 AGP Sertek DCS W821 Koutech Systems KW-750D Palette Multimedia SiS 6326 AGP Computer Solutions PA50 Genoa Hornet III DVD Genoa Hornet III AGP
VideoLogic/NEC	PowerVR PCX2(3D only RECENT)	Matrox m3D VideoLogic 3Dx VideoLogic 5D VideoLogic 5D Sonic
VideoLogic/NEC	PowerVR 250 (2D/3D NEW)	VideoLogic Neon 250

Although the Voodoo2 chipset is a 3D-only product with cards that must be connected to a 2D video card to operate, it remains a popular choice because of SLI (Scan Line Interleaving). By connecting two identical Voodoo2-chipset PCI cards from the same vendor with a special SLI ribbon cable, each card can be used to render alternate lines (card 1 renders lines 1, 3, 5, and so on and card 2 renders lines 2, 4, 6, and so on). This almost doubles fill rates and makes the combination of two Voodoo2 cards a worthy rival for newer 3D chipsets.
3Dfx acquired video board maker STB in 1999 and began to sell video cards under the 3Dfx name. 3Dfx still supplies Voodoo2 and Voodoo Banshee chipsets to other video card makers.
Rendition is now owned by PC and memory-maker Micron Technologies, which has renamed the previous Rendition Vérité 2100/2200 chipsets the v2000 (a.k.a. v2x00). These chipsets are similar, except for the lack of video-capture features and slower speed in the 2100. A more advanced 2D/3D chipset, known as the V4400, is under development. The previously announced Redline chipset was never released, but the V4400 will be an improved version of this technology.
The SiS 6326 has relatively weak 3D performance but is a popular choice for built-in video on motherboards using an SiS chipset.

About the Author

Scott Mueller has sold more than two million copies of his best-seller Upgrading and Repairing PCs since it became an instant classic in 1988. Scott's industry-defining hardware book has been translated into 11 languages and has received accolades from PC technicians, enthusiasts and students worldwide. Scott is president of Mueller Technical Research, an international research and corporate training firm. Since 1982, MTR has specialized in the industry's longest running, most in-depth, accurate and effective corporate PC hardware and technical training seminars, maintaining a client list that includes Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. and foreign governments, major software and hardware corporations, as well as PC enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. His seminars have been presented to thousands of PC support professionals throughout the world. Scott has developed and presented training courses in all areas of PC hardware and software. He is an expert in PC hardware, operating systems, and data-recovery techniques. For more information about a custom PC hardware or data recovery training seminar for your organization, contact Lynn at

Mueller Technical Research
21 Spring Lane
Barrington Hills, IL 60010-9009
(847) 854-6794
(847) 854-6795 Fax
Email: scottmueller@compuserve.com
Web: www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com

If you have questions about PC hardware, suggestions for the next version of the book, or any comments in general, send them to Scott via email at scottmueller@compuserve.com. When he is not working on PC-related books or teaching seminars, Scott can usually be found in the garage working on performance projects. This year a Harley Road King with a Twin-Cam 95ci Stage III engine continues as the main project (it's amazing how something with only two wheels can consume so much time and money ), along with a modified 5.7L '94 Impala SS and a 5.9L Grand Cherokee (hotrod SUV).

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