Voodoo3

[chadzy]

I'm looking to get a Voodoo3 board (likely the 2000), but unfortunately I have an AGP ATI Rage Pro Turbo integrated with my motherboard, and it can't be disabled. Can the new 3dfx boards be used as an add-on? If not, what is the best option outside of replacing the motherboard?

[nk4]

I am not familiar with this stuff(mobos with integrated parts) But I remember reading somewhere that if you decide to add another card, the new card always takes priority.
I assume the integrated card is AGP?
Perhaps if you get a pci voodoo3 2000 you should be able to use that instead, and not just an adoon. Why not ask your manufacturer, or borrow any 2d card from a friend, to plug it in and see what happens?

[Stevo]

voodoo should work woth it

[AuraEdge]

I might be wrong, but isnt the card yours using depend onwhere you plug ur monitor in?
I dont know too much about PCI video cards

[chadzy]

Yes, the integrated video card is 2x AGP. I didn't know it only depended on where you plug in the monitor. I do know that video drivers are a pain even when there's only one card in the system, let alone two. Thanks for the info!

[Joel Kleppinger]

Well, if it's integrated, then I'd seriously doubt whether there's an AGP slot in your PC. So, regardless, you're left to use a PCI slot. Why don't you just do it the easy way and buy a Voodoo2? Sure it'll be a little slower than the V3 2000 and have a little poorer picture quality, but it's cheaper and you aren't likely to have any hassles. Something to think about.

Joel

[This message has been edited by Joel Kleppinger (edited 05-16-99).]

[nk4]

Joel, I dont think this is a good idea, unless he gets 2 voodoo2's in SLI, which will end up as a more expensive solution.
The latest games, like Kingpin or Quake 3, while playable, are not something you can really enjoy to the full extent with a voodoo2. And as more and more games are "3d accelerator only" and voodoo2 or banshee has become the bare minimum, I expect later this year, a voodoo2 will be very slow. Just like voodoo1 is probably now, for the aforementioned games

[kwai]

there is a pci voodoo3 2000, but the main question is if he can disable his onboard video. try and borrow some cheapy pci video card and try it out. i can't believe they didn't allow a way to disable the onboard functions. what kinda mb is it?

if that don't work, joel's idea sounds like your only option til you upgrade the board. v2s can come as low as $100 right now. even with the v2, it'll be whole nother world for gaming. i used to have a matrox mystique (the old one) and it was like moving from black & white to color. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[spdsk8r]

You should be able to disable it by:

1) in windows control panel -> system -> device maniger -> display adapters -> device usage -> disable in this hardware profile

2) there may be a jumper on the mobo to bypass the video... that's what it was like on my old computer.

3) check the bios for video options.

By the way, is there an AGP slot on the mobo?

[chadzy]

No, there's no AGP slot on the board so whatever I get it will be PCI. I suppose that sort of defeats the purpose of the Voodoo3 in a way, but as cheap as they are now its not really hurting anything to go with the best that I can. There is no way to disable the integrated card. No jumpers, softmenu or anything like that. It is an Intel MU440Ex. Interestingly, the onboard audio can be disabled, but not the video. I know some Voodoo2 boards (one from Diamond I think??) can be used as addons, and I hope that the Voodoo3 could be used like this too. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

[kwai]

sorry, the voodoo3 2000 pci would fit, but its not an add on -- full 3d/2d card.

since you're mentioning how cheap things are, a new mb might only cost you around $70.

if that's out of the question, i say you should still go for the v2.

[seti]

v3 doesn't use agp really anyway so go with pci, disable the other..parasite in control panel, if you even need to do that at all, and be happy!

[BBA]

If the built in video is agp, which the Rage2 Pro is designed to be, then there is a selection in bios for which to initialize first, pci or agp. This setting will determine which is the primary video device. If it does not have this setting, then the default is PCI. If you install a PCI video card, it will default to make it the primary video device.

Win98 will be able to use both in an extended desktop dual monitor config, if you chose to do so.

Any good PCI card will do the trick, I recommend a TNT or V3, stay away from V2 because it will require SLI configuration to outperform either of the others (this means more money for little gain).

If you can not disable the onboard video device from the bios/mb, then you will have to live with the loss of the resources it will uses just by being present.

BBA

[OscuroJedi]

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a Compaq Presario with on the onboard ATI Rage Pro video. I went ahead and purchased a Voodoo3 2000 PCI and disabled the onboard in Windows 98 and my Voodoo3 works just fine. Don't spend $20 less and get a Voodoo2 when the Voodoo3 is so much better. It will take a little more configuration but in the long run it will be worth it.