Rumor has it that 3dfx has a new trick up their sleeve, and it has something to do with this:

[Wingznut]

SSTH3_SLI_AA_CONFIGURATION (NEW)
FX_GL_16BPP_ZPRECISION
FX_GL_32BPP_ZPRECISION
FX_GL_COMPRESS_LEGACY_TEXTURES
FX_GL_GUARDBAND_ENABLED (NEW)
FX_GL_GBLEFT
FX_GL_GBTOP
FX_GL_GBRIGHT
FX_GL_GBBOTTOM
FX_GL_GLOW_COLOR (NEW)
FX_GL_GLOW_WORM (NEW)
FX_GL_HSR (NEW)
FX_GL_MIN_VERTEX_STRIDE (NEW)
FX_GL_OBJECT_KEY (NEW)
FX_GL_SUPER (NEW)
FX_GL_ZCULL_ENABLE (NEW)
FX_GL_ZCULL_FAR (NEW)
FX_GL_ZCULL_NEAR (NEW)
GL_3DFX_multisample
GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1
GL_ARB_multitexture
GL_ARB_texture_compression
GL_DISABLE_GUARDBAND (NEW)
GL_DISABLE_OG_VARRAY (NEW)
GL_DISABLE_OG_DRAWVERTEXES (NEW)
GL_DISABLE_OG_CACHE (NEW)
GL_ERROR_LOG (NEW)
GL_FORCE_FULLSCREEN (NEW)
GL_FORCE_HW
GL_FORCE_K3D
GL_FORCE_KNI
GL_FORCE_MMX
GL_FORCE_SW
GL_EXT_abgr
GL_EXT_bgra
GL_EXT_blend_subtract
GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint
GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array
GL_EXT_packed_pixels
GL_EXT_paletted_texture
GL_EXT_point_parameters
GL_EXT_stencil_wrap
GL_EXT_shared_texture_palette
GL_EXT_texture_env_add
GL_EXT_texture_env_combine
GL_EXT_vertex_array
GL_IGNORE_API_ERRORS (NEW)
GL_OVERRIDE_DISPATCH (NEW)
GL_S3_s3tc
GL_SAMPLEBUFFERS
GL_SHOW_WINDOW_STYLES (NEW)
GL_SGI_compiled_vertex_array
GL_SGI_cull_vertex
GL_SGI_index_array_formats
GL_SGI_index_func
GL_SGI_index_material
GL_SGI_index_texture
GL_SGIS_multitexture
GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp
GL_WIN_swap_hint
GR_TEXFMT_ARGB_8888 (NEW)
SST_SINGLEBUFFER (NEW)
WGL_3DFX_gamma_control
WGL_3DFX_multisample
WGL_ARB_extensions_string
WGL_ARB_pixel_format
WGL_EXT_extensions_string
WGL_EXT_swap_control

 

[Kwad Guy]

The clarity of the posting is unwhelming !

Kwad

 

[MaxFPS]

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/noncgi/Forum1/HTML/001476.html

 

[Wingznut]

Can anybody read into these, and give a guess what's up? I've heard that 3dfx had some new process (of some sort) for the V5-6000, and now they are applying it to the V5-5500.

I've heard things like:

"anyone with the 1.04 drivers for Win9x/ME can find traces/evidence."

"rest assured there is *strong* evidence of what this so called "surprise" is sitting right in the opengl driver. You cannot activate it as the means are not provided and it's incomplete.. but it's there. "

"Looking at it from an engineer's standpoint, it's quite the undertaking- but very clever.. and very cool."

I've heard ramblings of 3dfx eliminating overdraw (I believe that's the correct term... I think 3dfx is calling it Hidden Surface Removal) Any evidence here?

 

[Wingznut]

Yeah Max, I saw that forum thread. There's also a couple going over at 3dfxgamers.

 

[Czar]

Its called Hidden surface removal... a software hack on the voodoo

HA

 

[JayPatel]

HSR was something that even the NV15 was rumoured to have, well according to RIVA3D before the GTs was officially unveiled it was rumoured to have it. could be true fo r 3dfx as well. afterall nvidia did add FSAA to its current product line even though it was never announced with any features. it would be interesting to see, or maybe 3dfx is taking the unified driver approach like nvidia and maybe hinting at a future product feature set.....rampage maybe????

 

[Wingznut]

"a software hack..."

Is there such a thing as hardware HSR?

 

[Hardware]

software hsr is slow let wait and see at which speed you gain fps!

 

[Sephiroth_IX]

Hopefully they will implement it on the V5 series to make it as fast as the GeForces (they need it).

Hey Hardware --

1) You know nothing about HSR or how it is implemented, so dont act like you do telling us it is slow.

2) Not every one of your compound/no comma sentences needs an exclamation point.

3) By use of the exclamation point, I somehow think you have a shift key. Make use of it.

 

[Wingznut]

Well, at least software HSR being slow isn't "CONFIRMED!!!"

 

[Hardware]

LOL
well everybody knows (=3dfx zombies) thas emulating a hardware by software is damm fast!

 

[Wingznut]

 

[Sephiroth_IX]

Exactly what are you reffering to? FSAA? NVIDIA used the software method there and their FSAA has been universally critisized as less efficient and not as clean as 3dfx's method.

Dont put your wang where it doesnt belong.

 

[DaveB3D]

Guys.. just ignore Hardware. He is totally clueless. If you respond to him, he'll keep coming back. Totally ignore him and he'll go away.

 

[Dulanic]

HSR can be done on a fast CPU and you will see a gain. However I would guess anything under 700Mhz wont see any improvement with a software HSR. If the CPU has enough spare cycles to do the HSR, then that leave ALOT more bandwith for the video card to work with. You probably wouldnt see a huge improvement until hardware HSR.

 

[ArkAoss]

theres a small graphix company that has some cards coming out that do that hsf, but they call it something else, that kix major butt. I'll look up some articles in my pc gamer archives and post clipings, but they process the graphix in a totally different way, and it requires a smaller chip less ram and less money for the same thru put as a geforce2 gts dx or whatever, no extra processor load either

 

[Hardware]

thats my point pal how fast has the cpu to be to gain fps with software hsr!

 

[Hardware]

wow dave you are truely arrogant i suggest u try to deliver new products for 3dfx to help keep them alife!

 

[DaveB3D]

maybe I am.. at least I don't say stupid stuff like you though.

 

[Wingznut]

Pretty much all website benchmarks are done with a 1ghz processor now, so I think it's safe to say that cpu speed won't be an issue.

 

[JayPatel]

i though nvidia's FSAA is hardware based as well, only the technique used differs between 3dfx's? it even mentions on the Faq that was on nvidias site that it was not a software hack as some state.

 

[Hardware]

the nvidia fsaa is the same level "hardware" as 3dfx
only 3dfx zombies call nvidia fsaa a software fsaa

well its pointless to throw dirt to nvidia!
3dfx should try to survive (its looking bad now as the sellout has begun)

 

[Pete]

Hardware, has 3dfx personally offended your mother or something? Do you really want 3dfx to go out of business? Then you'll be left with less competition to drive down prices and drive up innovation. If that's what you want, you may continue to bleat. Otherwise, think before you speak.

And how can you dis HSR without seeing results? Are you Nostradamus incarnate or something?

Finally, what's a 130KHz monitor?

 

[IBMer]

Actually Nvidia uses a software FSAA in a sense.

It emulates FSAA using the T&L processor on the card.

It wasn't meant for this, so it needs a driver overhead to run.

The 3dfx drivers simply turn FSAA on and off. Nothing more, nothing less.

The FSAA 3dfx has, is limited by hardware. There are the maxium of two samples per chip. The V5 5500 can do 4X FSAA and the V4 4500 can only do 2XFSAA. The V5 6000 was able to do 8XFSAA.

Also you will notice that there is a much bigger hit in performance with NVidia's FSAA as opposed to 3dfx's solution showing that it is leading more towards Software solution and not hardware.

The initial problems with FSAA in D3D was also an indication of this. You will notice that 3dfx has NEVER had a problem with FSAA in any game, showing that it is a completely hardware solution.