Info History of 3Dfx Graphics cards Vol. 1

[yjfy]

History of 3Dfx Graphics cards Vol. 1
yjfy
In Mar 1994, Gary Tarolli ,Scott Sellers and Ross Smith, he created a little company called 3Dfx Interactive.On COMDEX on November 6, 1995, 3Dfx announced Voodoo Graphics.On December 15, 2000, 3dfx was acquired by Nvidia.
The 3Dfx Voodoo series of graphics cards once occupied the dominance of 3D graphics cards for five years. The glorious years of 3Dfx have to be m
1.Voodoo Graphicsemorable...
Voodoo graphics chip consists of a texture processor chip (FBI) and a pixel processor chip (TMU).Voodoo Graphics has included level-of-detail (LOD) MIP mapping, bi-linear and advanced filtering and SVGA resolution support. In addition, the chipset delivers realistic imagery through sub-pixel correction, alpha blending, and anti-aliasing.
Voodoo Graphics also supports special effects for even greater game impact. These include per-pixel effects such as fog, translucency, and transparency, texture compositing, a variety of lighting techniques, texture morphing, animated textures, and reflection mapping.
On October 3, 1996, Orchid Technology took the lead in selling Voodoo video card, followed by Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. The outstanding 3 D performance of Voodoo graphics card made it occupy 85% of the market in 1997. After more than 20 years, Voodoo graphics cards are still so attractive.
Technical specification of Voodoo Graphics (SST-1) :
Video memory capacity:4/6/8/10/12MB (2/4MB Frame Buffer, 2/4/6/8MB texture buffer.)
Bus type:EDO RAM
Bus interface: PCI
Core clock：50 MHz
Memory clock：50 MHz
Triangle processing speed/s:1M
Pixels/s:45-50M
Textels/s:45-50M
RAMDAC:110 MHz
Maximum resolution:4MB 640x480，6MB 800x600
Fab (nm)：500 nm
1.1 3Dfx


1.1.1 Obsidian Green version Chip Evaluation board
Obsidian SB50-2200 green graphics card is a chip evaluation board. It is the earliest and least Voodoo graphics card known by 3Dfx. PCB date 9615 weeks,There are only 4 cards in the world, which belong to the top 4 graphics card collectors. Obsidian SB50-2200 green graphics card PCB# 600-0002-04, PCB# 600-0002-01/02/03 version did not appear.It may be that none of these 3 versions work, and it is deemed that the core secrets of 3Dfx have been completely destroyed. PCB# 600-0002-04 version is basically available before it can be retained.



The beautiful 3Dfx Logo laser sticker on the card can easily be mistaken for the DEMO version. The 3Dfx logo and characters on the chip on the card are all sprayed silver paint, which is very three-dimensional, which is different from the usual white printing later.
Pixel Processor TMU chip number 500-0002-01 is packaged in a 208-pin PQFP, chip date 9612 weeks, The official version of the chip is 500-0004-02.




Texture Processors FBI chip number 500-0001-02 is packaged in a 240-pin PQFP, chip date 9609 weeks, 240 pins. The official version of the chip is 500-0003-03.



FAB No. 600-0002-04,quite early.FAB No.600-0001-01 is 3Dfx first product "Game Control Interface".


From tdfx.de

 

[yjfy]

2.8 ELSA
Winner 2000AVI/3D-2 is based on Voodoo Rush's reference design.




2.9 A-TREND
This ATC-2475 graphics card was disassembled from the same batch of brand machines, which indirectly proves how poor Voodoo Rush's 3D compatibility is.

 

[yjfy]

3. Voodoo2
November 3, 1997 -- – 3Dfx Interactive, Inc. announced Voodoo 2 Graphics.
Voodoo2 is an expandable architecture with a base configuration of a 192-bit memory architecture and 2.2 Gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth, delivering over 50 BOPS (Billions of Operations per Second). This configuration delivers an incredible 3 million triangles per second and 90 million dual-textured, bilinear-filtered, per-pixel MIP-mapped, alpha-blended, Z-buffered pixels per second, over three times the performance of the current Voodoo Graphics. Voodoo 2 contains a full floating-point hardware triangle setup unit for maximum triangle throughput on Pentium, Pentium Pro and Pentium II powered systems. Voodoo 2 is also an AGP-capable technology designed to utilize the higher bandwidth available through AGP and will support 3D games with resolutions up to 1024 X 768.

Voodoo2 is the most popular 3D graphics card that pushes 3Dfx to the top. The launch of Voodoo2 made 3dfx's dominance even more unshakable. At that time, the performance of Voodoo2 made it difficult for opponents to match. The Voodoo 2 chip consists of three independent processors, one for polygon processing and two for texture mapping.

Technical specification of Voodoo2 （SST-2）:
Video memory capacity: 6 /8/12(2/4MB Frame Buffer, 4/6/8MB texture buffer.)
Bus type:EDO RAM
Bus interface: PCI
Core clock：90 MHz
Memory clock：90 MHz
Triangle processing speed/s:3M
Pixels/s:90M
Textels/s:180M
RAMDAC:110 MHz
Maximum resolution:800x600
Fab (nm)：350 nm

3. 1 Dfx
Although the essence of the Voodoo2 graphics card is the optimization and upgrade of the Voodoo graphics card and the addition of a TMU chip, because the FBI chip pins are increased from 240 to 256, a special chip evaluation board is still needed.

3.1.1 Voodoo2 chip evaluation board
There is no early Voodoo2 chip evaluation board, but its board type should be close to Voodoo graphics card. Use one Pixel Processor (Texture map unit, code name "BrucE"), chip number 500-0006-03, 208 pins; One Texture Processor (Frame buffer unit, code name "ChucK"), chip number 500-0007-04 , 256 pins. The official chip number is 500-00010-01/500-0009-01.

This PCB is dated 9819Weeks and is an evaluation board for the late Voodoo2 chip. The chip number evaluated is 500-0012-31/500-0011-01. I just don’t know how this new serial number has improved, why there is no mass production and sales.

 

[yjfy]

3.1.2 Voodoo2 reference board 6MB Earlier version
Voodoo2 graphics card released by 3Dfx in November 1997 is this version. The picture was published in "Next Generation"-Jan 1998. The chip date is 9741 weeks, between October 5-11, 1997, which is the day before the release of the Voodoo2 graphic card, an earlier version of 3Dfx used for test verification. There are two more examples of Voodoo2 graphic card SLI connection in the picture. This unique method of SLI also makes Voodoo2 graphic card the most memorable 3D graphic card.


3.1.3 Voodoo2 reference board 6MB Late version
The Voodoo2 graphic card below has a chip date of 9746 weeks and a PCB board date of 9744 weeks. This version is a relatively mature reference design, which is used by Diamond and Creative to make Voodoo2 graphic card. Because the 6MB version of Voodoo2 graphic card has only a 640x480 resolution flaw, Imperial Diamond and Creative have wasted almost three months and had to give up.




From www.thandor.net

 

[yjfy]

3.1.4 PCB#600-0027-01 version
This is the 8 / 12MB version of the Voodoo2 graphics card test verification version, no outflow. Supported the mainstream 800x600 resolution at the time, and the SLI connection supported 1024x768 resolution.

3.1.5 PCB#600-0027-02 version
Diamond and Creative both use this reference board to make Voodoo2 graphics cards. After that, many manufacturers also directly used this design to make Voodoo2 graphics cards. The reference board of the drawing is the Rev 2 version, the PCB date is 9808 weeks, and the chip date is 9803/9806 weeks.




From nest

3.1.6 PCB#600-0027-03 version
The chip date on this reference board is 9816/9821 weeks, and the PCB date is 9828 weeks. This version uses less material, and there may not be any improvement in performance. However, it was adopted more by manufacturers who entered Voodoo2 graphics card manufacturing later. Creative did not use this version, but Diamond did some circuit optimization earlier.




From tdfx.de


3.1.7 PCB#600-0028-01
3Dfx has developed the AGP version of Voodoo2 graphics card as scheduled, PCB DATE 9810weeks. Just Unreleased board.

 

[yjfy]

3.1.8 V2 1000
3Dfx originally did not intend to enter the Voodoo2 graphics card market, but when it acquired STB Systems on December 14, 1998 to prepare for the sole production and sale of Voodoo3 graphics cards, it may be possible to see STB's ready-made BlackMagic 3D production lines and semi-finished products. While Voodoo2 graphics cards still have a market, they will continue Produced BlackMagic 3D, but changed its name to V2 1000.

3.1.8.1 STB BlackMagic 3D
STB has strong R & D capabilities as an old-fashioned graphics card manufacturer. The Voodoo2 graphics card with a changed design uses electrolytic capacitors.

3.1.8.1.1 Engineering sample
The production date of the BlackMagic 3D Engineering sample is April 8, 1998. The practice of labeling "NOT FOR RESALE" on engineering samples is adopted by 3Dfx.



From Torch

3.1.8.1.2 Official product


3.1.8.2 3Dfx V2 1000
3Dfx approved the design of STB BlackMagic 3D. Only upgrading the original double-sided 24 tablets of 0.5MB video memory to single-sided 12 tablets of 1MB video memory produced V2 1000, and even the reserved space of the rear video memory was not cleared.

 

[yjfy]

3.2. Creative Labs
December 1, 1997 Creative Labs announced 3D Blaster Voodoo2. January 20, 1998 Creative Labs first vendor to release Voodoo 2 on public.
Creative graphic cards have a six-digit product version number, the first two digits are the version and the last four digits are the production date (week). The following describes these 3D Blaster Voodoo2 graphic cards based on the Creative product version number.

3.2.1 3D Blaster Voodoo2 00974? version
The promotional image on this Creative 3D Blaster Voodoo2 box is the 6MB version. In fact, it is an engineering sample made directly using the 3Dfx Voodoo2 reference board 6MB later version.



3.2.2 3D Blaster Voodoo2 00975? version
Creative Labs 3D Blaster Voodoo2 engineering samples made based on 3Dfx's 600-0027-02 reference board, no physical picture was found.

3.2.3 3D Blaster Voodoo2 019804 version
Creative Labs 3D Blaster Voodoo2 graphics card announced the date is January 20, 1998 (9804 weeks). On February 20, 1998 (9808 weeks), the 12MB version of Voodoo2 graphics card was released first.

3.2.3.1 Review sample
This 3D Blaster Voodoo2 was first sold, and part of it was recycled due to a bug in the chip. The chip date is very early 9803/9801 weeks, which is earlier than the chip on the 3Dfx reference board, and the PCB board date is 9808 weeks; this card does not indicate the product version number and product model, and the product serial number is different from other retail cards.
3D Blaster Voodoo2 Review sample




3.2.3.2 12MB
The product version number "019804" in the lower left corner of the front of the graphics card indicates the "01" version, and the finalization date is "9804" week. The PCB board date of this 3D Blaster Voodoo2 is 9807 weeks, which is the earliest production date of the official product PCB board, and the chip date is 9803/9804 weeks.
3D Blaster Voodoo2

 

[yjfy]

3.2.3.3 8MB
The above two early versions have the label 600-0027-02 on the back, which means that the design comes from the 600-0027-02 reference board of 3Dfx. The common version cancels this mark.
3D Blaster Voodoo2




3.2.4 3D Blaster Voodoo2 029827 version
The second version of the Creative does not see any obvious changes, but only the codes FM1 to FM13 are printed, I do not know what they represent.




From www.tdfx.de

 

[yjfy]

3.3 Diamond Multimedia
Diamond Multimedia has established a good relationship with 3Dfx since the Voodoo era. In the Voodoo2 era, Diamond always got the 3Dfx reference board before Creative, but it was Creative half a second slower in marketing. Perhaps the imperial alliance of that period was too much for perfection.
Each version of Monster 3D II has a Part No., which I will discuss separately based on Part No. below.

3.3.1 Monster 3D II 22150105-003 version
Diamond obtained the 3Dfx Voodoo2 reference board 6MB later version and developed its own version. The picture below is the earliest engineering sample of monster 3D II.


From www.3Dfx.cz

This version was not released in the market but was distributed in small quantities. The picture below is from the graphics card of "Diamond Monster 3D II-More Than a Worthy Successor" (Thomas Pabst). The text says "After the literally cool Diamond Monster Party (at freezing 4 degrees centigrade) in Paris on January 29, 1998, I was lucky enough to be one of the few that returned home with a Monster 3D II in my hand luggage."


From www.tomshardware.com

3.3.2 Monster 3D II 22150105-004 version
3Dfx then released the 8 / 12MB version. In order to hurry, Diamond cloned directly to the 004 version.
"Monster 3D II USER'S GUIDE" is attached with the FCC certification of Monster 3D II, and has passed the Monster 3D II certification submitted by Diamond on February 13, 1998 with Part No. 22150105-004.

 

[yjfy]

3.3.3 Monster 3D II 22150105-005 version
February 2, 1998 Diamond announced Monster 3D II .The Monster 3D II was the first Voodoo2 board ever technically reviewed. The technical review was passed on March 9 before the release of Monster 3D II.

3.3.3.1 Monster 3D II Engineering sample
"Monster 3D II USER'S GUIDE" also contains pictures of engineering samples of Monster 3D II REV 1.


3.3.3.2 Monster 3D II Qualification Sample
The PCI interfaces of the above two Monster 3D II engineering samples are not all gold fingers, but the PCI interface of the Monster 3D II graphics card in the official announcement of the Emperor League is Full PCI connection finger. The Voodoo2 chip date on the card is 9803/9804 weeks.


From 3dfx.ch

3.3.3.3 Monster 3D II Review sample
The Monster 3D II full gold finger version PCB date is 9808, and the chip date is 9804, which is a Review sample.




3.3.3.4 Monster 3D II 8Mb
The first version of the Diamond is 8MB. This version is not significantly different from the 3Dfx reference board, except that there are two pairs of rectangular marks on the back of the card. The earlier 9808/9809 week versions were compared with the 3Dfx reference board and later Monster 3D II versions, with one R99 resistor less.

 

[yjfy]

3.3.3.5 Monster 3D II 12Mb
Diamond released a 12MB version later.




3.3.3.6 Monster 3D II SLI secondary card
Diamond also sold a unique SLI dedicated secondary card for two Voodoo2 card SLI.



From LOOP123

3.3.4 22150105-006 version
This version is less, but there is no major change from the previous version. The only visible difference is the choice of the two rows of resistors on the left of the “Rev” logo. It seems to be a jumper that can support overclocking to 110MHz. The annotation of "XJXJ2" has also been cancelled.

 

[yjfy]

3.3.5 22150105-008 version Engineering sample
This version is an Engineering sample that adjusts the circuits near the SLI interface. Maybe the upgrade is limited and it is not officially mass-produced. The PCB date is 9818 weeks. It can be seen that after the sale, Diamond has been tirelessly optimizing. Diamond and Creative are really going at two extremes.




3.3.6 22150105-007 verison
This version lacks information and can only be speculated and placed behind version 008. According to version 008, it is speculated that version 007 is a simple adjustment to the circuit on the left of the version number on the back of the card. However, this adjustment had little effect. Only one R12 resistor was retained in the 008 version, and it was abandoned in the 009 version.

3.3.7 22150105-009 version
This version is the least, it is based on the absorption of the 008 version of the correction to enhance the low-pass filter circuit, I do not know how much effect on image quality improvement. But Diamond 's continuous enterprising spirit in pursuit of product performance improvement is particularly respectable.

 

[yjfy]

3.4. Quantum3d
Quantum3d Obsidain2 200SBi- Two Voodoo2's in SLI mode on one PCB.




3.5 IO Data Equipment
IO Data Equipment GA-VD2/PCI-1,The longest and fullest Voodoo2 graphics card.

 

[yjfy]

3.6 Canopus
Canopus PURE 3D II is the smallest Voodoo2 graphics card with video output and a cooling fan.




3.7 Micro Conversions
Micro Conversions Game Wizard is version for Apple computers using DB15 video output.

 

[yjfy]

3.8 Procomp
The design of Procomp G111 that can expand 8MB of video memory to 12MB is very challenging.




3.9 Triplex
PCB#600-0027-02B of Mohock 3D II seems to be a reference board specially designed by 3Dfx for single-sided video memory version. The logo of the chip is changed from "3Dfx" to "3dfx", the chip date is 0005 week/0007 week, and the PCB date is 0010 week. On this date, Voodoo5 will be available for sale.

 

[yjfy]

4.Voodoo Banshee
June 22,1998 - 3DFx Interactive, Inc introduced Voodoo Banshee.Voodoo Banshee is 3Dfx' first combined 2D/3D solution comes with typical 3Dfx-features. It supports the well known and widely used Glide engine, 3Dfx' proprietary 3D engine that is very easy to program and using only pretty little CPU power. This makes Banshee the only 2D/3D chip that can take advantage of all the game titles using Glide. Banshee comes in a PCI as well as AGP version, but the AGP version is only able to take advantage of AGP's faster DMA bandwidth. Banshee is not at all able to use any of the real AGP features like AGP texturing, AGP 1x or 2x.

Voodoo Banshee and Voodoo2’s 3D core are very close, however with two major differences. Banshee has only got one texture unit as opposed to two texture units in Voodoo2. This means a disadvantage for Banshee in games that are using a feature called `multi texturing' .

On the other hand is Banshee running at a higher core clock than Voodoo2, resulting in a higher fill rate, which makes games that don't use `multi-texturing' run faster on Banshee than on a single Voodoo2.

The 3D quality of Voodoo Banshee is identical to Voodoo2, meaning that it doesn't have a more than 16 bit deep Z-buffer and cannot do real 32-bit color rendering either.

Technical specification of Voodoo Banshee:
Video memory capacity:8/16MB
Bus type:SDRAM/SGRAM
Bus interface: PCI/AGP
Core clock：100 MHz
Memory clock：100 MHz
Triangle processing speed/s:4M
Pixels/s:100M
Textels/s:100M
RAMDAC:250 MHz
Maximum resolution:1920x1440
Fab (nm)：350 nm

4.1 3Dfx
4.1.1 Voodoo Banshee Chip Evaluation Board
4.1.1.1 PCB#600-0033-03
This is the middle and late Banshee chip evaluation board, the PCB date is 9824weeks, and the AGP interface.


The chip is 500-0008-04, the date is 9823weeks, and it is packaged in a 0.35 micron BGA.



4.1.1.2 PCB#600-0034-03
This is the Voodoo Banshee chip evaluation board in the middle and late stages of the PCI interface.

From 3dfx.cz


This 3Dfx graphics card was labeled with Maxi Gamer Phoenix graphics card by Guillemot International as an official promotional image. Guillemot International actually uses PCB#600-0034-04 reference board.

 

[yjfy]

4.1.2 Voodoo Banshee Reference board
Voodoo Banshee reference boards have many types, mainly the following four types.

4.1.2.1 PCB#600-0035-03
AGP interface, 16MB SDRAM video memory, PCB date 9834 weeks. The chip is the official version 500-0013-03, and the date is 9835weeks.




4.1.2.2 PCB#600-0043-01
AGP interface, 16MB SGRAM video memory, 9835weeks, chip is 500-0013-04, date is 9849weeks.




4.1.2.3 PCB#600-0044-02
PCI interface, 16MB SGRAM video memory, PCB date 9836 weeks.


4.1.2.4 PCB#600-0045-01
PCI interface, 16MB SDRAM video memory. Seen in Osckhar's collection, his 3Dfx graphics card engineering samples are complete. After all, he took over the 3Dfx museum, starting with the earliest Obsidian green version of the 3Dfx engineering sample graphics cards.

 

[yjfy]

4.2 Creative Labs
Creative Labs first to release 3Dfx Banshee chip graphics card-3D Blaster Banshee, shipped at the end of September 1998 (9840 weeks).

4.2.1 3D Blaster Banshee PCI
The first 3D Blaster Banshee PCI on sale uses the 3Dfx PCB#600-0045-01 reference board, and it is finalized in 9834 weeks.




4.2.2 3D Blaster Banshee AGP
The 3D Blaster Banshee AGP, which will be released later, is a self-designed version and the only 3Dfx chip graphics card independently designed by Creative Labs.

4.2.1.1 Engineering sample
The finalization number of this engineering sample is 009829, which is finalized in the 29th week of 1998. The PCB date is 9837 weeks.




4.2.1.2 Official product

 

[yjfy]

4.3 Diamond Multimedia
The initial design of Monster Fusion series graphics cards is based on 3Dfx reference boards, and there are also independent designs. Two versions were finally mass-produced. It went on sale in early November 1998.

4.3.1 Monster Fusion AGP
Partially adjusted based on 3Dfx PCB#600-0043-01 reference board.
4.3.1.1 Engineering sample



4.3.1.2 Qualification Sample
4.3.1.2.1 REV 2


3dfx.cz
4.3.1.2.1 REV 4 BIOS V1.00E

From pc.watch.impress.co.jp

4.3.1.2.1 REV 4
PCB date is 9835 weeks.




4.3.1.3 Official product

 

[yjfy]

4.3.2 Monster Fusion PCI
4.3.2.1 Engineering sample
This is a castrated version of 3Dfx's PCB#600-0034-03 version. But this SGRAM version was finally abandoned, and the self-designed SDRAM version was enabled.


4.3.2.2 Official product

 

[yjfy]

4.4 Quantum3D
Quantum3D Raven graphics cards are common, based on the 3Dfx Banshee reference design.



4.5 ASUS
ASUS Banshee graphics card is VIVO design, video output is cancelled at retail, as is the high-end AGP-V3200/16M.




4.6 IO Data Equipment
GA-VDB16/PCI-1 has a unique design.

 

[yjfy]

4.7 PMC Ltd
Banshee graphics cards have a video output design, but there are very few cards that really have video output. The Pace3D edge graphics card is directly made with the PCB#600-0033-03 evaluation board.




4.8 Village Tronic
MP850 is Apple's Banshee graphics card with bright colors.

 

[MalVeauX]

Phew! Been a minute!

I had a Voodoo II back in the day right after my buddy got a Voodoo I series. We had just gotten Unreal at release too. My PC couldn't run it (120mhz CPU) with the Voodoo II hardly, but my friend's 200mhz could run it a little better. "But can it run Unreal?" Sigh!

It was cool what it did for effects in Diablo II, Quake & Quake II (Quake II on Kali capture the flag was one of my favorites ever on dial up!), etc.

After my Voodoo II I think I had a Riva TNT that I glued a fan to and overclocked for Unreal Tournament lan parties!? HAH!

Yea, back when you could just buy video cards....

Very best,

 

[yjfy]

4.9 STB
4.9.1 Lightspeed 3300 review sample
This PCB marked Pc2A Lightspeed 3300 graphics card is undoubtedly a review sample, the PCB date is 9841 weeks, and the graphics card production date is 9842 weeks. The BIOS version is 1.2, and the official version is 1.5.




4.9.2 Lightspeed 3300
The production date of the Lightspeed 3300 graphics card below is 9906 weeks. After 3Dfx acquired STB, it still sells Lightspeed 3300 graphics cards to fill the transition period before Voodoo3 retail.





STB is an important partner of nVidia. From the first launch of Riva128 chip graphics card to the era of riva TNT graphics card, it has a very close relationship with nVidia. The cooperation with 3Dfx is relatively plain. On February 20, 1998, Creative Labs first released the Voodoo2 chip graphics card. STB’s Voodoo2 chip graphics card was still in the engineering sample stage on April 8. At the end of September 1998 (9840 weeks) Creative Labs Voodoo Banshee chip graphics cards had already been shipped. At 9842 weeks, STB Voodoo Banshee chip graphics card is still a review sample. The acquisition of STB by 3Dfx on December 14, 1998 (9851 weeks) may have the purpose of suppressing nVidia, but it was mainly to create a grand blueprint for the post-Voodoo era.

.End.