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3D Chipsets

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 OLD are generally superseded by RECENT and NEW chipsets and therefore not recommended.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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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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