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Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 20:57:07 -0700
From: John Moore <jmoore5@uswest.net>
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Subject: Re: Thriller/Rendition a Washout for High-End GPL Systems?
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Wow, an unfortunate situation indeed. However my experience with two thrillers
in two different systems has been nothing short of astounding. I was getting the
figures you quoted in a 200mmx@225 with a 4meg card. In my current system, a
celeron 300a overclocked to 450 and a thriller 8meg pci it runs high 20s on the
back of the grid and 36 before 2nd gear. All graphics and all ai cars,
anti-aliasing off and detail @50%.
Also, 2d and general performance and looks in all other uses is great, no
complaints.
I am definitely not techno brainiac but I recall hearing that the agp version
does not perform as well as the pci version, perhaps a trade is possible. It may
not be worth it however as again from what Iv'e heard the Banshee is a great
card once you get the drivers correctly configured to fix those pesky texture
problems.
JM > mr lucky, which is damn fortunate

Jack wrote:

> Yesterday, I received a Thriller 3D 8MB AGP card. With anxious anticipation,
> I dropped it in my PC, replacing the Banshee that had frustrated me with its
> intermittent texture problems. Man, was I surprised!
>
> First thing I noticed was my desktop. The Banshee offered 100Hz at 1024 x
> 768. The Thriller? Could do no better than 90Hz. In addition, as much as I
> adjusted both the horizontal and vertical moir settings on my monitor, I
> just couldn't quite get rid of all the moir effects that Thriller was
> producing in collaboration with my 19" Hitachi 751. The Banshee 2D screen
> had been superb and quick. I'm in front of my PC all day, so these aspects
> of the Thriller weren't thrilling me. But superb GPL performance awaited, so
> I moved on.
>
> After downloading the latest Thriller drivers from Hercules, I was finally
> able to run GPL at a Banshee-matching 1024 x 768. (The out-of-the-box
> drivers had only offered 800 x 600.) I then quickly discovered that, even in
> Training mode, the Thriller couldn't hit 36fps with the graphics settings
> that I usually use for online racing. With less than 2 hours left until race
> time, I had to get going. Opted for the 800 x 600 quick fix.
>
> Another disturbing thing I noticed regarded vertical scan frequency in GPL.
> My Banshee had provided 100Hz at 1024 x 768. With the Thriller the frequency
> dropped to 75Hz at a *lower* 800x 600 resolution. My money says that in a
> Pro Long or GP length event, my eyes will *feel* that difference! And to add
> insult to injury, when I left GPL, my 1024 desktop was restored at 75Hz, not
> the 90Hz I was in when I started GPL. With the Banshee my desktop had always
> been restored to 100Hz.
>
> Puzzled by all this I decided to do a little testing this morning. Here the
> results:
>
> Track: Watkins Glen
> Mode: Training
> Graphics Settings: At Maximum (except as noted)
> Sound Settings: At Maximum
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Hercules Thriller 3D 8 MB AGP
>
> Resolution: 800 x 600
>
> With Anti-Aliasing:
>
> FPS
>
> 24-28     Esses
>
> 28-30     Average Elsewhere
>
> 31         Maximum
>
> Without Anti-Aliasing:
>
> FPS
>
> 25-31     Esses
>
> 29-30     Average Elsewhere
>
> 34         Maximum
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Creative Labs 3D Blaster Banshee 16MB AGP
>
> Resolution: 1024 x 768
>
> Without Anti-Aliasing (not available):
>
> FPS
>
> 35-36     Esses
>
> 35-36     Average Elsewhere
>
> 36         Maximum
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> Test Platform:
> PII-450-128MB
>
> These results seem to speak for themselves. The Banshee basically pegs the
> frame counter all the way around the Glen. The Thriller runs around 28-30
> fps typically, dropping noticeably in a few spots on the track. Amazingly,
> the Banshee was tested at 1024 x 768 and the Rendition-based Thriller at 800
> x 600!
>
> Having owned all four of the GPL-friendly boards (Banshee, Voodoo2, TNT, and
> now Rendition), I'd have to say that my unequivocal recommendation, among
> currently available boards, is Banshee, at least for higher end systems.
> Let's just hope the intermittent texture problems get resolved by future
> drivers!
>
> Hope this helps a few of you trying to make a video board decision for GPL!
>
> P.S. I have a 1-day-old Thriller for sale for $70 + shipping (that's my cost
> less BuyComp.com's restocking fee) for anybody that wants it!



