Post by gdonovan on 19.12.11 at 11:42:59
I'm considering doing some benchmarking with the Rampage board, anyone care to assist me with fabricating a dongle or even a stand alone device that will flip the video signal?
Gary
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3dfx Section >> Tech Talk >> Rampage dongle http://www.falconfly.de/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1324291379 Message started by gdonovan on 19.12.11 at 11:42:59 |
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Title: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.12.11 at 11:42:59 I'm considering doing some benchmarking with the Rampage board, anyone care to assist me with fabricating a dongle or even a stand alone device that will flip the video signal? Gary |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 19.12.11 at 15:55:15 gdonovan wrote on 19.12.11 at 11:42:59:
So, that is what the dongle really does; it flips the image horizontally on the screen, left to right, right to left, right? If not, what exactly do you mean for flip the video signal? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 19.12.11 at 16:23:20
From Gary's own trivia section on his site;
Quote:
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by exxe on 19.12.11 at 17:08:58
take a v1/v2 loop cable and flip the 3 colors lanes
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 19.12.11 at 17:36:30 exxe wrote on 19.12.11 at 17:08:58:
He can try. But I think that all those resistiors and sot23 placed on the PCB's dongle are there for a reason. Probably swap color channels is not enough; maybe change signal impedance is also needed. A screenshot without the dongle could be a start to know how the colors are swapped, BGR GBR .... |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.12.11 at 21:56:48 exxe wrote on 19.12.11 at 17:08:58:
Interesting idea, and nothing to lose by trying. Simple thing to do would be to try cable with a ATI or NV board first and see if it matches Rampages output. In DOS the Rampage output looks white and black instead of black and white. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 19.12.11 at 23:11:03
Rampage Lite Dongle :
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 20.12.11 at 01:28:54 trevormacro wrote on 19.12.11 at 23:11:03:
Yes, everyone has seen the that one. The extra circuits might be for cleaning up image quality, will have to research further. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 20.12.11 at 01:37:43
@gdonovan :
Can you take pictures in Win98SE desktop please? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 20.12.11 at 12:08:40 trevormacro wrote on 20.12.11 at 01:37:43:
I will in a day or two when I get the test platform up and running. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 20.12.11 at 18:17:55
@gdonovan :
To make that Dongle you need to reverse engineer it and build a schematic--which you can't do easily from only looking at a picture of it. I read on another forum " This is an accessory that works as a filter to correct I/O video signal since there are some defects in the silicon layer" , so the dongle fixes more than just RGB color pins or whatever problems you guys thought it corrected. Furthermore, I found: " Monitor link requires an interface circuit named Dongle for level and impedance adjustment." So the transistors and resistors seen on the dongle board are used for correcting voltage level output and/or matching impedance output to the monitor (monitors are typically terminated with 75ohm to ground with VGA). If you can find a schematic for the dongle board, you can easily reproduce it. If you can't find a schematic you will need to find one of those dongle boards and reverse engineer the schematic by hand (maybe ask NightBird on 3dfxzone.it/enboard)-- and then the trick will be finding the right transistors as I doubt they used general purpose transistors. Then you can definitely build your own. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 20.12.11 at 22:19:40 trevormacro wrote on 20.12.11 at 18:17:55:
I don't think this dongle is made for filtering purpose, therefore the dongle is optically too simple. Also this statement with the "impedance adjustment" seems wrong to me! The card would not create a clear picture if there are such problems. The only thing we know is that the colors are inverted, nothing more. Here a quote from Gary's Rampage FAQ: Quote:
I think Sirta got a few things wrong when he did his "review" of the card and its dongle. In my opinion a simple inverter for the color lines would do the job. This is nothing special an can be done very quick. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.12.11 at 11:55:56
Looks like I might have a dongle in the works, if I have spare time tonight I'll dust off a suitable platform and do some screenshots.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 21.12.11 at 21:50:55
Great news Gary !
::) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.12.11 at 01:48:04 m14radu wrote on 21.12.11 at 21:50:55:
The dice are clicking, I feel it in my bones. Stuff is happening, woot! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.12.11 at 02:41:04 :D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.12.11 at 03:10:24 Hank, ya'll awake? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 22.12.11 at 06:40:03
Very nice !!!
:o :o :o Thanks Gary !!! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 22.12.11 at 09:36:26
I agree with Radu, very nice pictures 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Narmounet on 22.12.11 at 10:10:50
That's Christmas ! \O/
I'm curious to finally see how much powerful was the Rampage even with prealpha drivers ! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.12.11 at 11:41:32 elfuego wrote on 22.12.11 at 11:31:42:
The problem will be sorted out soon enough I think. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by exxe on 23.12.11 at 13:53:42
ahh its that way
i first understand its whats should green is blue, what should blue is red or someting buts its a 35mm negative |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 24.12.11 at 10:45:15
This was passed along to me by the original dongle maker ;-)
--------------------------------------------------------- It has to be analog inversion. 0.7V = 0V 0.6V = .1V 0.5V = 0.2V ... ... 0V = 0.7V |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Jean-Pierre Subtil on 25.12.11 at 20:19:26
Amazing pics. :o
Thank's for posting them. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 27.12.11 at 22:07:23
Great news Gary, keep em coming.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 28.12.11 at 04:06:11 Tim wrote on 27.12.11 at 22:07:23:
Forwarded a diagram to former dongle maker to find out if it will work, just waiting to hear back. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 08.01.12 at 16:15:39 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 09.01.12 at 02:25:27
Soon.... woo-ha!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 09.01.12 at 03:23:41
Good work Loeschzwerg ;)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 09.01.12 at 10:27:53
Good job Loeschzwerg, Gary. Keep it coming, this should be awesome.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Quaker763 on 10.01.12 at 11:12:04
I'm Itching to see the Rampage in action. Do you have a lineup of programs/games that you are going to test it with (Quake 3 is on my Obvious list lol)
I CANT WAIT :D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 11.01.12 at 20:17:41
@All :
I just have this very rare adaptor very interesting for Rampage card I think. When the dongle will be ready ... Albatron ATOP AGP8x to PCIexpress16x adaptor will be compatible with 3dfx Rampage AGP 4x Card ? Pictures : nb. I think AGP8x slot is compatible with AGP4x card @1,5V but I am not sure. The chip under the heatsink : |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 12.01.12 at 00:30:56
@Loeschzwerg :
Now, very well. As you guys found out the real purpose of the adapter (actually inverter), you can build it quite easily. All what Loeschzwerg has to do is do the math and use the correct parts, not some random ones. Nicely done, though. Do you have anyone with the dongle? High-res pic of it can make all the difference in the world. What exactly is meant with "normal RGB pass through" which is apparently all right? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 12.01.12 at 07:38:36
The Rampage should work with this ATOP adapter since it is a native AGP4x part. Maybe the jumper settings have to be changed.
With "normal RGB pass through" I did connect the color lines directly from input to VGA output, just to see if shielding is a problem. Yesterday I did test a lot with an improved shielding for the dongle, but without success. I think the problem now are wrong/slow transistor parts. At the moment I'm drawing a circuit that can be printed on PCB (which I will do by myself btw). Of course I will use SMD parts, this will help to prevent irradiation and it is also easier to do reworks on a clean circuit. Do you guys know fast SMD transistors I could use? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 12.01.12 at 13:16:32
@Loeschzwerg :
About direct connecting input to output, does it mean color signals does not need to be inverted? Only sync? The problem will be both speed AND characteristics of transistors, shielding won't be much to bother with clock like VGA uses. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 12.01.12 at 13:38:24
No, H/V-Sync do not need to be inverted, only RGB-Lines need to.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 12.01.12 at 16:11:21
@Loeschzwerg :
OK, now you lost me. On the pics with direct connection is positive image, while it should be negative if RGB lines need inversion. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 12.01.12 at 17:09:03
The inversion is shown in the first picture. Here all RGB lines are connected to the PCB. When I did wrote "normal RGB pass through" I did connect the RGB lines from the TFT and from the VGA card directly, so no connection to PCB except the H/V-Sync.
The RGB needs to be negative and this what my circuit does. But it seems there are problems with the frequency and the TFT is not able to generate the image properly. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 12.01.12 at 17:52:43
I think the circuit needs more integration as well.
Loeschzwerg wrote on 12.01.12 at 17:09:03:
Don't you have a CRT monitor to inquire further this issue? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 12.01.12 at 20:04:07 Loeschzwerg wrote on 12.01.12 at 07:38:36:
According to this website : http://forums.techarena.in/monitor-video-cards/1121946.htm Rampage card is AGP4x 2.0 (1,5 volts). AGP8x slot run @0.8 volts and Rampage card run @1,5 volts. Is it compatible ? Do you think Rampage Drivers will work with ATOP adaptor ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 13.01.12 at 07:52:15
@goriath: What do you exactly mean with integration? More layer to prevent interferences?
Sadly I don't have any CRT at home anymore, but I this should be no problem to test :) @trevormacro: The AGP3.0 spec should be compatible downwards to AGP4x, so the adapter should work in theory. What I don't know for sure is how the Nvidia HIS bridge behaves here. But you could test the adapter with an Voodoo 4500 ;) If it works you are good to go. Or use an other native AGP4x card, like a Geforce 3/4. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 17.01.12 at 16:46:27
@Loeschzwerg :
I found two graphics card :) - ATI Radeon 7000 VE Family AGP8x - Nvidia Riva TNT2 Model 64 Pro AGP4x If I put these 2 cards in my ATOP adaptor to test it if they run properly, is it dangerous ? Imagine my ATOP adaptor can have only 0,8 Volts on AGP8x slot, can it burn my TNT2 card (1,5 Volts) ? or just doesn't boot ? Do you think AGP8x slot support 1,5 Volts too ? I will test them tonight on my asus Maximus 4 Extreme MB. Look this website : http://www.directron.com/15agpguide.html |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by ps47 on 17.01.12 at 16:55:50 trevormacro wrote on 11.01.12 at 20:17:41:
AFAIK, the compatibility is extremely limited-only a handful of geforce cards actually work. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 17.01.12 at 17:28:13 ps47 wrote on 17.01.12 at 16:55:50:
If my ATI radeon 7000 and my Nvidia TNT2 are compatible with this adaptor I think Rampage too. Can you answer all my questions on my previous reply please ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by ps47 on 17.01.12 at 18:17:27
as long as the card physically fits into the slot,it should work-or,in this case,not explode.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 17.01.12 at 18:33:54 ps47 wrote on 17.01.12 at 18:17:27:
Thank you and for Rampage Drivers we will see if with others cards drivers work too. But we need C++ programer like SFFT to build Windows 2000/XP drivers for Rampage. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gwb on 17.01.12 at 20:41:23
Any update on the dongle Loeschzwerg?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.01.12 at 07:20:28
@trevormacro: You mainly answered your questions by yourself.
From your Link: Quote:
As ps47 alreday wrote, at least it will not kill the card. @gwb: Yes, yesterday I printed the new SMD design on a PCB. Today I will etch it :) The first design will be tested with a CRT today and after that send to Gary. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 18.01.12 at 09:58:51
I test AGP4x card on ATOP and no Boot :-(, don't work.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.01.12 at 12:08:49 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 18.01.12 at 12:10:11 Loeschzwerg wrote on 18.01.12 at 12:08:49:
I try all jumper Settings and nothing why ? No boot |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.01.12 at 12:15:04
Both cards with all settings not boot? Does the mainboard reply with a beep-code or do you just have no image?
Try to boot with an additional PCI card to see if Windows detects the cards. The primary graphics card should also be set to PCI-E. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 18.01.12 at 12:33:47
I try all settings with ATI Radeon 7000 VE Family and TNT2 AGP4x card.
I have just no image. No beep-code. I have debug led on my motherboard and stop with this error 94 : PCI bus enumeration error. VGA cable connected on adaptor. Video : http://youtu.be/2nkjP_BWJh0 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by ps47 on 18.01.12 at 15:22:49
as I said,the compatibility is very limited-if I remember correctly,only geforce4/5/6 cards work,and not all models.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 19.01.12 at 08:45:53 trevormacro wrote on 18.01.12 at 12:33:47:
So the board does not boot any further?! Please also test an AGP8x card to see if the adapter actualy is working. I know this HIS bridge is designed by Nvidia for Nvidia cards, but this is a strange behavior. Seems like it's not designed very well :-/ Info about my work on the dongle: First design -> Works better with CRT displays. Will see if I can get my old CRT from my brother (did test it very short at work). Second design (SMD) -> PCB is etched, will drill the holes for HD-SUB 15 today. A little rework needs to be done. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 19.01.12 at 18:14:33 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 19.01.12 at 19:12:05
@Loeschzwerg :
Nice progress ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 22.01.12 at 12:46:02 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 23.01.12 at 22:00:29
Nearly there mate! ;)
Keep the good work going. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 24.01.12 at 07:43:04
Naturally :)
Used transistors are: PNP -> SMBT2222A NPN -> SMBT2907A These should be fast enough, but the characteristics seem to be wrong. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gwb on 26.01.12 at 20:42:04
Good job, the picture looks great. Keep up the good work
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 26.01.12 at 22:21:36
Time for proper testing ;-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 26.01.12 at 23:05:48 gdonovan wrote on 26.01.12 at 22:21:36:
Yes, in Windows 95, 98, 2000 or XP ? With what applications ? 3dmark2001se ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 27.01.12 at 10:52:37 trevormacro wrote on 26.01.12 at 23:05:48:
I'll test using the OS the drivers support, getting drivers for all those operating systems would be a miracle. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 27.01.12 at 13:43:10
@gdonovan :
Did you find C++ programer to compile/optimize Rampage source drivers for all OS system ? Perhaps we can creat topic on 3dfxzone.it/enboard and ask SFFT to help us. Is it a good idea ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 28.01.12 at 00:49:38
I'm working with some ex-3dfx people for drivers.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 28.01.12 at 01:19:39 gdonovan wrote on 28.01.12 at 00:49:38:
Good idea ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by vik on 28.01.12 at 21:50:09
original driver .. run 3dmark ???
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Thandor on 29.01.12 at 12:47:19
Great work! I'm interested in the benchmark results :).
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 29.01.12 at 12:55:02
Who designed and built the original dongle? Was that 3dfx? The date on the pcb seems quite late. If it was built at 3dfx there must be more info to be found.
Who owns it now again? Is it Sirta? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 29.01.12 at 14:03:44
Did more tests and also a small video:
[url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmayyx1C6DU']Rampage Dongle Test[/url] And two pictures: -> Original image from my old notebook -> Inverted image on external TFT I have a theory about the stripes that are strongly visible when the image is negative. The original image has a black frame as you can see here: The picture itself is inverted all the way correct, cause every pixel has a value. But the black frame isn't inverted right, only the parts where the picture is drawn is right. What I marked red isn't inverted because the color is "blank" and has no value what the Dongle could convert. This is at least what I think and it makes sense to me. Luckily this is no big problem, the 3dfx Rampage inverts the whole image to 100%, so the Dongle does always have the information/values it needs. You can also see this when you look at my video. Here I inverted the image by software (Powerstrip -> invertes and writes the image directly in the DAC) so that the Dongle does what it should at least do. @Tim: Hank did design and build it. Heh did state that my design is correct. All I don't know are the used transistors. Sirta sold his card with everything else. I know the person who owns the board and the dongle, but I don't want to name the person in public. Don't know if the person would want it. But the person is known by the 3dfx Community ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by vik on 29.01.12 at 19:28:37
thx , the movie :D
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 31.01.12 at 20:29:34 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gwb on 31.01.12 at 21:01:52
Wow, fantastic looking dongle. Great work!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 31.01.12 at 21:40:46
Dominik,
Very good work! ps. Now is time for Gary! :) Best regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 31.01.12 at 23:11:56
Great job, looks very good. Can't wait for Gary to get it and to start testing.
Just wondering if the actual soldering is to blame for the small problems in the image. From what I know, especially with SMD soldering it's to have the cleanest solder joints. Shame that you didn't have your smaller tip as it would have improved the joints tremendously, they are a bit blobby and dull. :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 01.02.12 at 07:49:49
Yep, it was the best I could do with my equipment at home.
About the image problems: Yesterday I looked again at the pictures Gary posted. If you look closely you will see the same "stripes" like when the image is inverted with my dongle to negative. I'm optimistic that my dongle will work nearly like the original. Now also the Quote from this engineer makes sense: Quote:
So the image the Rampage generates without dongle never was perfect in any way?! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 01.02.12 at 18:01:13
Interesting, seems like it. Good job regardless. 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 02.02.12 at 19:59:02 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 02.02.12 at 22:10:07 Loeschzwerg wrote on 02.02.12 at 19:59:02:
Lets get ready to rrrrrrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmble! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 02.02.12 at 22:35:41
Agreed! Very exciting.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 03.02.12 at 18:17:51
great work !
:) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by elfuego on 07.02.12 at 22:25:03 gdonovan wrote on 02.02.12 at 22:10:07:
Awwww cmon already! Start that bloody rumble, I've started vising this forum again every night in anticipation of this! Go go go !!! :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 08.02.12 at 11:33:30 elfuego wrote on 07.02.12 at 22:25:03:
Not here yet. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 08.02.12 at 14:04:53
I don't know how long it takes for a parcel from Germany to the US :(
The status information says it went to Frankfurt on 04.02.2012 for delivery to the US. Normally it should arrive this week. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 08.02.12 at 22:18:17
It arrives when it arrives, we have waited this long and a few more days will not matter.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 09.02.12 at 22:51:52
Dongle! Dongle!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 09.02.12 at 23:18:06 gdonovan wrote on 09.02.12 at 22:51:52:
You received it ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 10.02.12 at 01:09:07 Will be a few days, I'm in the middle of another project. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 10.02.12 at 09:21:59
Ahh, it arrived well :) Now it just needs to work with the Rampage.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 10.02.12 at 10:07:09
Go Gary! 8-)
Best regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 10.02.12 at 10:44:33
Go Go Gary :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 10.02.12 at 11:12:56
Very happy it arrived. :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 10.02.12 at 11:27:33
Little information about it:
Those "fat" areas on the circuits show the corrections I had to do with a marker (Edding Laundry Marker). Some toner parts weren't transfered 100% correct. This was the best I could do with my old electric iron xD |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 13.02.12 at 09:25:59
Any news yet? :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 13.02.12 at 11:19:39 Tim wrote on 13.02.12 at 09:25:59:
Not yet, been tied up with another project all weekend. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 13.02.12 at 23:22:00 gdonovan wrote on 13.02.12 at 11:19:39:
That's understandable, life can be tricky that way. Any news on platform, games to be used. And hows the driver getting along? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 14.02.12 at 00:54:15
Dongle works but bad/dim output with my LCD, I'm going to see if I can rustle up a CRT.
Gary |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 14.02.12 at 01:27:57 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 14.02.12 at 03:59:42 gdonovan wrote on 14.02.12 at 01:27:57:
Outstanding! Soon we'll hear the Rampage roar! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 14.02.12 at 17:58:38
Excellent, great news!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 15.02.12 at 01:55:05
Wouldn't it have been better to add variable resistors? :-/
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 15.02.12 at 07:59:52
This is what I did later on my first design. I corrected the output voltage and used the measured value for the later SMD design => 3.0k ohm. This way the dongle worked fine with my VIA eH1. The Rampage may have a different voltage output on PIN 9 of the VGA connector which then causes a too dark image.
It would have been easier to have had the Rampage for a short test period ;D A variable transistor would have made the dongle a bit larger and after all you always need to measure the output voltage. If the voltage is too high it is possible that the card gets damaged and I also noticed that the colors distort when the voltage is too high. If you are skilled within soldering it is no problem to change these three resistors. Replacing the 3.0k (3001) against a 2.8k or even 2.6k should do the job. EDIT: But what I could also do: I have enough parts left to build a second SMD dongle and modify it with variable resistors. What do you guys think? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 15.02.12 at 11:36:51 Loeschzwerg wrote on 15.02.12 at 07:59:52:
I can do the job, just lots on my plate :P |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gwb on 16.02.12 at 05:23:23
Good to hear the dongle arrived in safe hands!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 16.02.12 at 23:21:42
Up and running under win9x! Still no opengl function though, I'm working on it...
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 16.02.12 at 23:45:39 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 16.02.12 at 23:53:20 More Everest info. Everest info. Before I reset it to 16 bit. V-control. Dongle underside- Dominick can you give me a better "pin out" of the pins you want me to test? The ones marked in blue were hard to make out, this is a better picture I hope. Gary |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 17.02.12 at 07:29:08
Wow, wouldn't have thought that Everest identifies the card :o That's great! Can it read the clock speeds?
Btw. the image looks great, it was far more worse when I tested the dongle. Have you also tried a higher resolution? 640x480 and 800x600 do work since they need lower frequencies. If you look closely you can see that the image is not perfect, this is because of the bad shielding. It gets worse the higher the resolution. The color depth doesn't seem to have an impact there. Will see if I can get the 2-Layer design ready, it shouldn't cost too much (25-30€). You need to measure the output ;) You posted a picture of the input ;D Measure pin 1, 2 and 3 against ground. The voltage should be something around 0,5 to 0,7v. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 17.02.12 at 10:55:19
Very very nice. Good job. Is D3D functioning? Why is OpenGL not functioning at the moment?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 17.02.12 at 11:25:10 Loeschzwerg wrote on 17.02.12 at 07:29:08:
There was no information of clock speeds. Quote:
Yes, I was in Quake II and swapped over to 1024 x 768 but the picture was very dark. Quote:
Sorry, I was VERY tired last night. 4 hours of sleep will do that. I'll check tonight again. Perhaps there will be more good news in my mailbox when I get home.. Gary |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 17.02.12 at 12:01:58 Quote:
Ahh, no problem. Take your time, the Rampage isn't running away ;) A dark and distorted image over 800x600 is what I've also noticed during my tests. I don't think that we will be able to fix this on the actual design. That's why I want to go to a new 2-Layer design with enough ground-area. But after all you've got something to test with and maybe it will help also on driver-research. Hm... I wonder how good the original dongle works? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 03:28:26
I'm told by someone at NV that it is a good sign the board functions in 2D as some of the 3D functions use those parts.
" I can't believe it is actually working. Well 2D driver anyway. That means the blt engine is functional. And some chips used texturing engine to do blt, so that might be a really positive sign that 3D will work." |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.02.12 at 10:14:48
That's an interesting statement.
For all who don't know what BLT means, it's "Block Level Transfer". A GDI (Graphics Device Interface) function for Windows is for example "BitBlt". It copys, inverts and draws bitmaps into other bitmaps. So yes, this is an essential part of a GPU :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 12:24:36
Just going over my notes today and saw this-
"11/30/00 DAC output ‘dongle’ fitted. Rampage running D3D applications. And soon after that the D3D DX8 demos were running and Quake3 debugging in a window (which we’ve also seen pictures of)." Running D3D applications? Well now, I have some testing to do this morning... |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.02.12 at 12:52:52
I found out why and where Everest does get it's informations from. It is all written in the drivers-inf file. I was very blind that I didn't recognize this earlier ^^ It's the same like within the ATi and Nvidia drivers.
Quote:
Looking at the "main" driver I can see that no OpenGL part is implemented. The library is separated and it seems that the drivers have been written till the last minute of 3dfx. @Gary: Use the 3dfxogl.dll from the "rampage-opengl.exe" (exctract this file), rename it to opengl32.dll and put it to the folder of the game where the .exe-file is. This way you might be able to start Quake2 or 3 in opengl mode :) Ohh, and when it comes to DirectX, this might be interesting to read ;) Quote:
So yes, the Rampage should be able to render DX8 software :) Btw. I edited the names of those Software Engineers out. I don't want that they get spammed ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 13:01:29 Loeschzwerg wrote on 18.02.12 at 12:52:52:
Yup. Quote:
The source I have doesn't have it either but there is some glide3 info which is odd. Quote:
First thing I tried with no success, even tried dumping it in the windows system file. I have a dump of Q3 that I'll retrive and post in a bit. Quote:
We will know in a few hours... |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 13:04:47
This morning I'm going back to the LCD and taking voltage readings. The CRT isn't required as I was having a software conflict that was driving the signal output out of range of the monitor (120hz!)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 14:10:42
By the way- I find it ironic and suitable that in able to do proper testing without stressing the boards I'm using a Voodoo Graphics cable to link the Rampage to the dongle.
The cable from my Diamond Monster3D purchased in 1997 which I still own. Salute! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 15:44:28
Quake III dump-
Q3 1.32 win-x86 Oct 7 2002 ----- FS_Startup ----- Current search path: C:\quake3\baseq3\pak8.pk3 (9 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak7.pk3 (4 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak6.pk3 (64 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak5.pk3 (7 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak4.pk3 (272 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak3.pk3 (4 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak2.pk3 (148 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak1.pk3 (26 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak0.pk3 (3539 files) C:\quake3/baseq3 ---------------------- 4073 files in pk3 files execing default.cfg execing q3config.cfg couldn't exec autoexec.cfg Hunk_Clear: reset the hunk ok ...detecting CPU, found AMD w/ 3DNow! ------- Input Initialization ------- No window for DirectInput mouse init, delaying Joystick is not active. ------------------------------------ ----- Client Initialization ----- ----- Initializing Renderer ---- ------------------------------- ----- Client Initialization Complete ----- ----- R_Init ----- Initializing OpenGL subsystem ...initializing QGL ...calling LoadLibrary( 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\opengl32.dll' ): succeeded ...setting mode 6: 1024 768 FS ...using colorsbits of 32 ...calling CDS: ok ...registered window class ...created window@0,0 (1024x768) Initializing OpenGL driver ...getting DC: succeeded ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 32, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...failed to find an appropriate PIXELFORMAT ...restoring display settings ...WARNING: could not set the given mode (6) ...setting mode 6: 1024 768 FS ...using colorsbits of 16 ...calling CDS: ok ...created window@0,0 (1024x768) Initializing OpenGL driver ...getting DC: succeeded ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...failed to find an appropriate PIXELFORMAT ...restoring display settings ...WARNING: could not set the given mode (3) ...shutting down QGL ...unloading OpenGL DLL ...assuming '3dfxvgl' is a standalone driver ...initializing QGL ...calling LoadLibrary( 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\3dfxvgl.dll' ): failed ...shutting down QGL ----- CL_Shutdown ----- RE_Shutdown( 1 ) ----------------------- GLW_StartOpenGL() - could not load OpenGL subsystem |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 15:50:36
Mark2001SE is a no go, crashes.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 16:02:25
Just to be safe I ran a driver cleaner program to nuke any 3dfx VSA-100 files that might be lingering about.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.02.12 at 16:11:10 gdonovan wrote on 18.02.12 at 15:44:28:
Is the "3dfxgl.dll" in the System directory as well as the renaming of it into "OpenGL32.dll"? In the internal Engineering-Log they wrote "Quake 3 debugging in a window". Modify the quake ini-file so it runs quake in window-mode and use a low resolution (640x480). As we have seen on screenshots 3D Mark 2000 was running. Try also Half Life in D3D or OpenGL. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 16:22:40 Loeschzwerg wrote on 18.02.12 at 16:11:10:
Banging away on some stuff now... |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 16:53:24
So far all I have done is rename the 3dfxogl.dll file to opengl32.dll and tried placing it in the game directory and/or the windows system with the same results, nothing yet.
No open GVS results yet, just a screen shoot of the detected driver properties. Still banging away on stuff, I'll try to focus on D3D, I'll have to install some games as most of the programs on the machine are OpenGL based. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 17:00:27
Half-Life has no problem loading up and getting into the configuration screens but then locks up at LOADING when you start a new game.
Set to Direct3d at 640x480 I'm going to try a simple D3D test I have for the Voodoo cards and see if it works. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 17:13:46
Q3 1.32 win-x86 Oct 7 2002
----- FS_Startup ----- Current search path: C:\quake3\baseq3\pak8.pk3 (9 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak7.pk3 (4 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak6.pk3 (64 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak5.pk3 (7 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak4.pk3 (272 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak3.pk3 (4 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak2.pk3 (148 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak1.pk3 (26 files) C:\quake3\baseq3\pak0.pk3 (3539 files) C:\quake3/baseq3 ---------------------- 4073 files in pk3 files execing default.cfg execing q3config.cfg couldn't exec autoexec.cfg Hunk_Clear: reset the hunk ok ...detecting CPU, found AMD w/ 3DNow! ------- Input Initialization ------- No window for DirectInput mouse init, delaying Joystick is not active. ------------------------------------ ----- Client Initialization ----- ----- Initializing Renderer ---- ------------------------------- ----- Client Initialization Complete ----- ----- R_Init ----- Initializing OpenGL subsystem ...initializing QGL ...calling LoadLibrary( 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\opengl32.dll' ): succeeded ...setting mode 6: 1024 768 W ...registered window class ...created window@3,22 (1030x793) Initializing OpenGL driver ...getting DC: succeeded ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 32, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...failed to find an appropriate PIXELFORMAT ...WARNING: could not set the given mode (6) ...setting mode 6: 1024 768 FS ...using colorsbits of 16 ...calling CDS: ok ...created window@0,0 (1024x768) Initializing OpenGL driver ...getting DC: succeeded ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 24, 0 ) ...-1 PFDs found ...GLW_ChoosePFD failed ...failed to find an appropriate PIXELFORMAT ...restoring display settings ...WARNING: could not set the given mode (3) ...shutting down QGL ...unloading OpenGL DLL ...assuming '3dfxvgl' is a standalone driver ...initializing QGL ...WARNING: missing Glide installation, assuming no 3Dfx available ...shutting down QGL ----- CL_Shutdown ----- RE_Shutdown( 1 ) ----------------------- GLW_StartOpenGL() - could not load OpenGL subsystem And a Quake II screenshot- |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 17:29:28 Nicer OpenGVS data screenshot. Now that it is up and running I'm using printscreen function for some screenshots when possible. The D3D tunnel test (which starts in a window) doesn't function. I'm installing NFL Blitz now since it will run in Glide or Direct3D mode. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 17:58:55
Dongle voltage testing- .040 volts on the outer two traces, .041 on the center trace.
New videos up in a bit, testing over for the day. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 18:31:06 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 18:42:19
Done testing for the day, even tried the old X-29 plane demo with no luck.
The only thing that ran somewhat was the Quantum3D OpenGVS demo and even then was reliable only in wire frame mode. Gary |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 18.02.12 at 19:07:00
Question. The opengl32.dll you're using is actually 3dfxogl.dll right? Have you tried using an opengl dll from another brand (ati/nnvidia/etc) ?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.02.12 at 19:09:06 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 19:12:49 NitroX infinity wrote on 18.02.12 at 19:07:00:
Yes, the file i'm using is from Rashlys site, 3dfxogl.dll, 2.69 megs, version 0.0.1 No have not tried one from another brand, that does give me an idea though. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 19:14:18 Loeschzwerg wrote on 18.02.12 at 19:09:06:
Measured from the grounds on the output side to the three traces indicated while sitting at a desktop with nothing going on, good Fluke digital meter. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 23:06:52
Is there any application that can measure the clockspeed of a GPU?
Perhaps I should try loading 3dfx tools... hmmmm. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 18.02.12 at 23:12:08
As far as I know, there is not a program that can properly read the speeds unless it's in the database of that program.
I've been cataloging (spelling?) my secondary videocard collection and have gotten very strange results in GPU-Z. For instance S3 cards were reported to have core clockspeeds of over 18000 MHz!!! I think reading the bios file with a hex editor would be the most reliable thing. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.02.12 at 23:32:33 NitroX infinity wrote on 18.02.12 at 23:12:08:
I'll have to take a crack at that in the morning. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by sigtau on 19.02.12 at 03:05:12
Will a minigl driver work with the Rampage? When I was messing around with an AAlchemy system a few years back, I didn't have very good luck using the Q3D 3dfxogl.dll file to run games. However, the Metabyte minigl worked perfectly on most OpenGL games I tried.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.02.12 at 03:16:00 sigtau wrote on 19.02.12 at 03:05:12:
Rampage isn't based on VSA, chances are very slim it will work. Like trying to use an NV board with an ATI driver if you will. Tried Wizmark with no luck, was able to load 3dfx tools but provides NO information! Max Payne actually starts and runs but the screen is distorted, like in the OpenGVS demo. The screen is "banded" like running a V6K with bad chip. Edit- Tried opengl32 from wicked3d, application looks for glide which of course none are present. Edit2- For the heck of it, i'm going to reinstall Direct X 9 and see what happens. Edit3- Dumped the BIOS and checked it out with editor, no information about clocks or other info present. Edit4- 3D Mark 99 MAXX is a no go as well. Edit5- AGP mode 1x made no difference. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 19.02.12 at 08:57:31
Nice to see that you manage to run the beast :)
I would suggest to contact the guys from Nexthardware, who manage to run this card. Maybe Glide or Sirta can help :) http://www.forumzone.it/showthread.php?t=8740 Good work Gary ! 8-) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.02.12 at 12:59:38 m14radu wrote on 19.02.12 at 08:57:31:
No help from that direction, they claim all software has been deleted or lost. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 19.02.12 at 14:36:46 gdonovan wrote on 19.02.12 at 12:59:38:
That news sucks |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 19.02.12 at 15:37:09
Bad news...
What about asking Hank ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.02.12 at 15:42:36
Anyone remember off the top of thier head how the clockspeed is set in the bios of a VSA-100 board?
I'll use a bin editor to troll through the Rampage bios and look for the data needed to calculate the chip speed. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 19.02.12 at 16:05:04 gdonovan wrote on 19.02.12 at 12:59:38:
Did they ever post any D3D screenshots? Looks like they ran it just in software mode? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.02.12 at 16:09:43 m14radu wrote on 19.02.12 at 15:37:09:
Not his area of expertise, he is a hardware guy. I need software guys now. Dirty joke in there somewhere. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 19.02.12 at 17:22:03
Amigamerlin ?
Look here: "the problem is the current set of driver still unstable for instance it is impossible to complete a full 3dmark2000 that's why Amigamerlin, one of the few who is still developing 3dfx drivers for winxp and so on, is working and it in order to have a set of drivers to use for the final full review due for mid August " http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33700326 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.02.12 at 18:22:46 m14radu wrote on 19.02.12 at 17:22:03:
I already contacted them, the Rampage drivers were lost or deleted. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 19.02.12 at 18:27:15
Man... why does everybody delete such things... Put them online or give them to the community (Falconfly, Rashly...) so it won't get lost. This sucks :-/
But good news from my side ;) Ladies and Gentleman, I can proudly present you the REV A2 dongle design! Will get in contact with the PCB manufacturer tomorrow. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 19.02.12 at 18:44:15 gdonovan wrote on 19.02.12 at 18:22:46:
Lost or deleted where? At Amigamerlins or 3dfx? REV A2 dongle design looks great mate. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Narmounet on 19.02.12 at 18:57:57
How hell people can have lost these drivers :-[ ?
No body know at nVidia an ex-3dfx software guy ? :-[ |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by vik on 19.02.12 at 20:22:23
sft, or nuangel,,can you help driver ?!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 19.02.12 at 22:00:29 gdonovan wrote on 19.02.12 at 15:42:36:
But it looks like the Rampage bios doesn't share the same register locations of the other 3dfx cards: |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 19.02.12 at 22:03:06 Loeschzwerg wrote on 19.02.12 at 18:27:15:
Well done ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by exxe on 20.02.12 at 09:40:08 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 20.02.12 at 18:36:07
Ordering is out to the PCB manufacturer :D
Ordered 4 boards with printing on it. Total cost are 60€, that's very good :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 20.02.12 at 19:31:49
Good Work !
Did you think of the possibility to build an AGP2PCI adapter ? :D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 20.02.12 at 20:02:55 m14radu wrote on 20.02.12 at 19:31:49:
I am in touch ;) Wait and see. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by sigtau on 20.02.12 at 22:01:11 gdonovan wrote on 19.02.12 at 18:22:46:
I assume the only drivers you have to work with right now are these, correct? http://www.rashly3dfx.com/files/drivers/rampagedrivers.zip I didn't see them in the archive here on falconfly.....maybe I didn't dig deep enough. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 20.02.12 at 22:18:29 sigtau wrote on 20.02.12 at 22:01:11:
Yes they are the ones from Rashlys site and yes if you dig about Falconflys archive they are here too. I'm pursuing several lines of inquiry on drivers at once including compiling source code. Problem is what do you change? I'm in talks with someone in regards to the programming manual for Rampage. We shall see what I can come up with. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 01:42:19
Cool! Found a copy of the Rampage patent and verified it with Gary Tarolli!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 21.02.12 at 07:29:12 m14radu wrote on 20.02.12 at 19:31:49:
The design is ready and will be manufactured after the dongle is ready :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 12:01:11 gdonovan wrote on 21.02.12 at 01:42:19:
FTP isn't working this morning, I'll have to try and upload it this afternoon after work. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 12:18:27
Something odd I wanted to point out in regards to the opengl file included in the rampage drivers.
Under properties in the comment section this is listed- -nologo /Zel /Zp8 /Gy -cbstring /W3 /QIfdiv- /QIf /QI0f /GB /Gi- /Gm- /GX- /GR- /GF -Z7 -Od /Oy- -I../../../include -I../../../include/GL/internal -I../../../lib/GL/include -I../../../lib/GL/raster -In:ToolsplatformSDK/include -In:Toolswin95ddk/inc16 -I../../../include/GL/wgl -I../../../lib/GL/wgl -DOGL_DRIVER=sst2 -DOGL_LIBNAME=3dfxogl -DICD_STATISTICS -DCMDFIFO -DUSE_CENTRAL_SERVICES -D__GL_ICD -D__GL_PROJSCALED_TEXCOORDS -D__GL_CODEGEN -D__GL_DEVICE_DEPENDENT_ACTUAL_NUMBER_OF_TEXTURE_UNITS=10 -D__GL_DEVICE_DEPENDENT_EXPOSED_NUMBER_OF_TEXTURE_UNITS=8 -D__GL_COSMO_BUILD -DOPENGL -DFPO=0 -UNDEBUG -DDEBUG -DDBG=1 -DGL_API_LOGGING -D_X86_=1 -Di386=1 -DCONDITION_HANDLING=1 -DNT_UP=1 -DNT_INST=0 -DWIN32=100 -D_WIN32_IE=0x0400 -DWIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN=1 -DDEVL=1 -D_LANGUAGE_C -D_WINDOWS -D_GDI32_ -D__GL_PC_RAST -D__WGL_USE_DIRECTDRAW -DENABLE_ESCAPE=1 Thoughts? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 21.02.12 at 13:22:29
Looks like a command line for a shortcut or something like that. Maybe for Quake 3?
For example: "quake3.exe -nologo /Zel..." Simply try it :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 13:53:07 Loeschzwerg wrote on 21.02.12 at 13:22:29:
Thats what I thought when I saw the "-nologo" section, that is a hell of a command line modifier though! I'll try it tonight, nothing ventured nothing gained I always say. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 21.02.12 at 15:01:32 Quote:
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 15:03:29 NitroX infinity wrote on 21.02.12 at 15:01:32:
SST2 = Rampage |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 21.02.12 at 15:37:32
But it says SST2 not SS2.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 15:48:37 NitroX infinity wrote on 21.02.12 at 15:37:32:
I missed a letter (fixed) FYI- SST1 = Voodoo Graphics |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 21.02.12 at 16:20:02
Uhm, isn't SST2 Voodoo2?
SST1 = VG SST96 = VR SST2 = V2 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 16:28:15 NitroX infinity wrote on 21.02.12 at 16:20:02:
Good question- All the Rampage "stuff" that I have show SST-2 for Rampage, very odd. Now I'm confused. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 21.02.12 at 22:01:46
Here some notes:
SST-1 / Voodoo1 SST-2 / Voodoo 2 SST-96 / Voodoo Rush SST = Scott Sellers - Ross Smith - Gary Tarolli (The last names of 3Dfx's founding) - Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 22:15:25 osckhar wrote on 21.02.12 at 22:01:46:
Documents state- "Rampage SST-2" |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 21.02.12 at 22:31:16
I think I know why. Wasn't Rampage supposed to be the successor to Voodoo Graphics? Maybe they just never got around to renaming it?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 23:10:24 Loeschzwerg wrote on 21.02.12 at 13:22:29:
I'm thinking it is for the assembly program. Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 looks like the tool required to assemble the driver package. Looks like I'll have to learn something new again darn it. Of course assembling the driver is one thing, making changes a bit more daunting. # Microsoft Developer Studio Project File - Name="SST2_W2K" - Package Owner=<4> # Microsoft Developer Studio Generated Build File, Format Version 6.00 # ** DO NOT EDIT ** # TARGTYPE "Win32 (x86) Application" 0x0101 CFG=SST2_W2K - Win32 Release !MESSAGE This is not a valid makefile. To build this project using NMAKE, !MESSAGE use the Export Makefile command and run !MESSAGE !MESSAGE NMAKE /f "SST2_W2K.mak". !MESSAGE !MESSAGE You can specify a configuration when running NMAKE !MESSAGE by defining the macro CFG on the command line. For example: !MESSAGE !MESSAGE NMAKE /f "SST2_W2K.mak" CFG="SST2_W2K - Win32 Release" !MESSAGE !MESSAGE Possible choices for configuration are: !MESSAGE !MESSAGE "SST2_W2K - Win32 Release" (based on "Win32 (x86) Application") !MESSAGE "SST2_W2K - Win32 Debug" (based on "Win32 (x86) Application") !MESSAGE |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by exxe on 21.02.12 at 23:16:49 NitroX infinity wrote on 21.02.12 at 22:31:16:
first rumors came autumn 98, just after banshee lunch infact all 3dfx chip to the vsa-101 still based on the voodoo graphics and have just some added features rampage was the 1st complete new design edit: last few words: expected release mid 99 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.02.12 at 23:26:12 exxe wrote on 21.02.12 at 23:16:49:
Actually, one of the reasons that Rampage was delayed was because engineers were deverted to Banshee. An "intergrated" solution was required to make OEM buyers happy. This further delayed Rampage along with feature creep. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.02.12 at 01:52:04 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by oldskool on 22.02.12 at 10:51:45
Great work guys, keep it up :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 22.02.12 at 11:02:38 gdonovan wrote on 21.02.12 at 23:10:24:
Great research Gary :) Did you just open the .dll file with VB6.0? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.02.12 at 11:09:10 oldskool wrote on 22.02.12 at 10:51:45:
Fixed some formatting errors this morning, verified fixed with my netbook! Frontpage can be very exasperating. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Quaker763 on 23.02.12 at 11:12:00
Just a thought, could the drivers have been built with a (I'm not sure if they had one when 2000 was around) Windows Driver development kit? Im not a software engineer, but it just seems wrong that they'd build it in Visual studio :-? :-?. Just my 2c. Good luck
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 23.02.12 at 11:27:16 Quaker763 wrote on 23.02.12 at 11:12:00:
I have been digging around trying to find a better answer to that question, someone more comfortable with software might be able to answer. I think the program is just used for compiling and the version is right.. but were working in the dark here unless I can find a few more people to bring on board. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 28.02.12 at 14:38:39
Anything progress to report on? Found anyone that's willing to help out?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 28.02.12 at 21:54:49 Tim wrote on 28.02.12 at 14:38:39:
Nothing yet but drivers will take time. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 29.02.12 at 07:07:33
No update from my side too, but the Rev A2 Dongle PCBs should arrive this week.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Thandor on 11.03.12 at 21:41:57 gdonovan wrote on 22.02.12 at 01:52:04:
Loeschzwerg; can you check your PM? :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 13.03.12 at 15:58:36
Ok, I got a reply from the PCB manufacturer. They had quality problems (the PCB might fail during soldering process) in the production from 5th to 8th calendar week and restarted production in the 9th calendar week :( That's the reason for the delay.
Well, at least they care about their customers and make sure they deliver a best possible quality. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 30.03.12 at 15:35:15 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Narmounet on 30.03.12 at 16:47:03 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 30.03.12 at 18:09:26
Like a Pro.
I can't wait :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 30.03.12 at 19:28:45
You are surprising! 8-)
Excellent work you did. Best regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 30.03.12 at 19:31:58
Good PCB Rampage Dongle Design :)
Almost like original dongle ;) With this second revision, do you think the Rampage output image will be better than first rev. ? When did you send it to Gary? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 30.03.12 at 19:45:33
Thanks all.
With this design the shielding will be far better and this might also improve image quality when using higher resolutions. I've got six PCBs here, so this should be enough to do a few tests. What I will do: 1) populate the board with same components as the second design (Rev A1 which Gary does have) 2) populate the board with neraly the same components but change three resistors to get a brighter image if needed 3) use a different type of transistors. this step will be my joker. Hm... I think 1 week if all goes well and I should be able to send Gary the next dongle, maybe 2 weeks when I don't have enough time to do work or something goes wrong. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 30.03.12 at 20:46:05
Looks splendid!
Take your time, lots of irons in the fire right now ;-) I'm considering doing a new Mercury FAQ on how to test and repair damaged bricks, might do some driver testing this weekend. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 30.03.12 at 22:13:05
Amazing work Loschzwerg !
:D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 31.03.12 at 00:09:59
Great work.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Quaker763 on 31.03.12 at 04:27:01
So the PCB has 'Rampage Dongle' like the original??
Whoa, that's wicked! ;D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gwb on 31.03.12 at 20:14:58
Wow, that's a thick PCB! Nice work!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 01.04.12 at 14:42:20
Thanks everyone :)
Got some time today and soldered all parts within 1 1/4 hours :P I'm getting better from day to day. This is the first working prototype of my "Rev A2 Rampage Dongle", have fun with the pictures: --> Front of the dongle --> Back of the dongle --> finished dongle compared to a bare PCB I've also done a quick test. The dongle is now able to show a good image when using a resolution of 1024x768 and even 1280x1024 is possible. With the Rev A1 the image was a complete mess! So shielding has improved very much. Here the pictures: --> 1024x768 --> 1280x1024 Keep in mind, I inverted the image via Powerstrip to negative so the dongle does what it should do when used with the Rampage card. This "software"-test is not that perfect but the only way I can test the function. This first Rev A2 dongle uses the exact same parts as the Rev A1 that Gary has now. In later test I will change a few resistors and use different types of transistors. So far my research for today. @Gary: You might want to update your Rampage page if you want to ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 01.04.12 at 17:17:30
Nice Dongle.
Nice Output Image. Good work Loeschzwerg ;) Congratulations... |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.04.12 at 23:43:41
Excellent! Looks superb!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 02.04.12 at 19:21:05
Here a little test, the Rev A2 in combination with the Rev A0 design :D
The Rev A0 inverts the image to negative and the Rev A2 back to normal. The image get a little bit blurry (because of the Rev A0 dongle) but the colors are bright and 1024x768 is possible :) Here a picture and a video: http://youtu.be/mnCb3_5ncc4 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 03.04.12 at 19:22:29
Superb. Great soldering too. Good to hear it's doing much better. Looking forward to the other resistor results.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Kyrandia on 26.04.12 at 02:53:32
Great job guys!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 27.04.12 at 10:35:05 Kyrandia wrote on 26.04.12 at 02:53:32:
Just wish I had more time! I'm in the middle of building a new garage that I am to have up by June first along with finishing up a late model transmission upgrade for my 1974 Plymouth. The garage project is sucking up my spare time like a vacuum cleaner. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 27.04.12 at 12:58:49
Yes, me too. But I will post an update soon.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 27.04.12 at 18:28:30
Hei Loschzwerg, very professional work mate !
You really deserve the name "Voodoo Doctor " :) thanks for your great work ! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Voodoo_Freak on 27.04.12 at 23:10:04
@gdonovan:
As long as your garage project consumes not your whole money everything is fine...3Dfx fans know how to wait ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 30.04.12 at 11:45:07 Voodoo_Freak wrote on 27.04.12 at 23:10:04:
Well for the moment everything is on track =) I drove the '74 with the new transmission this weekend and I love it! Car now cruises on the highway with 1500 less RPM. A hard project but very rewarding results. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 30.04.12 at 12:15:59
Hehe, I bet more rewarding than fighting with the Rampage drivers ^^
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.05.12 at 22:33:09 Loeschzwerg wrote on 30.04.12 at 12:15:59:
Have not had much spare time to pursue them just at the moment, I'm on a tight deadline with the garage build. It *must* be done by the first week of June due to my employer going away on vacation. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by AzzKickr on 04.06.12 at 12:38:33
Just subscribing to an amazing thread. Keep it alive guys !
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 13.06.12 at 17:27:21 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 13.06.12 at 17:51:57 Loeschzwerg wrote on 13.06.12 at 17:27:21:
What differences on screen we can have with this new resistor? Keep the good work man :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 13.06.12 at 18:07:05
The lower resistor will boost the brightness and the different transistor type theoretically give a better voltage range (from 0V to 0,7v (1,1v)) which will result in a better color range (Black/White cycle). At least in theory on the paper ;D
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 14.06.12 at 17:13:13 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 14.06.12 at 17:45:42
Amazing work! :D
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 14.06.12 at 17:53:43
Splendid!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 14.06.12 at 18:38:03
VERY nice PCB work there! 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 14.06.12 at 19:00:20
As it's meant to be ;)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 14.06.12 at 19:38:46
Thanks :)
--> First Rev A2 with standard transistors and 3k resistor --> Second Rev A2 with special transistors and 2.7k resistors The image is brighter, but sadly I can't get the effect with my camera. You can see it a little bit on the "forward" and "backward" buttons of the picture viewer. So the 2.7k does a good job here :) I will change the first A2 and add 2.7k resistors so I can compare the transistors better. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by rottentreats on 15.06.12 at 16:01:22
Keep up the good work! Amazing things you do. 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 11.07.12 at 19:07:51
Today I found time to do some further tests.
I changed the three 3.0k resistors of first Rev A2 to 2.7k and got a nice boost of ~140mV. The image is now much brighter and looks good so far. 1024x768 is good, 1280x1024 is ok but more blurry (shielding problem). During voltage measuring of the second Rev A2 with experimental transistors I noticed partly very high voltage (image distorts after longer use, cause the voltage rises?!), so I'm going to change the resistors from 2.7k to 3.0k. After all I think the first A2 with 2.7k is the one that will get to Gary soon :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 15.07.12 at 17:10:46 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 23.09.12 at 18:25:12 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 23.09.12 at 18:51:09 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 24.09.12 at 09:36:47 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 24.09.12 at 09:45:37
Can't tell if Oscar does have one. It was an exchange for an AGP.5 adapter.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 26.09.12 at 00:40:30 Loeschzwerg wrote on 24.09.12 at 09:45:37:
Ah okay, understood. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by vik on 01.01.13 at 14:23:54
happy new year!
there is new news rampage project ? .... driver? ::) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 02.01.13 at 16:24:19
Hi and happy new year for all 3dfx fans.
@Garydonovan: Did you find a man who can work on the drivers to optimize them? Nightbird baught the Rampage card + dongle of Sirta many years ago and now nothing from her (no tests, no drivers, ...) Where is Patiente? If she doesn't want to test her card she can sell it no? Perhaps you can contact her to ask please. Regards, Trevor |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 05.01.13 at 08:41:00
Michael, do you want to buy another Rampage ?
Did you manage to find the drivers and run your 2 cards already ? Please post some screenshots :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 05.01.13 at 14:00:18 m14radu wrote on 05.01.13 at 08:41:00:
I don't have the 3dfx rampage card :( I would like to have one like all 3dfx fans :) I already have the rampage source drivers and it's very hard to have them, take a look: Regards, Trevor |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 05.01.13 at 16:14:39
Do you have then 2 daytona ?
32mb or 64 mb version ? make some pictures please ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 05.01.13 at 17:12:33 m14radu wrote on 05.01.13 at 16:14:39:
I have two daytonas 32mb yes :) Pictures later I will creat a topic. Here is the topic of gdonovan for the Rampage. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.06.13 at 11:37:06 Back to work! Had about a 1/2 hour free last night from my labors and set the machine back up. Image quality is still a bit funky but usable. I'll try to compare both Sunday and take some readings. Have a new driver to try out, baby steps.. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 01.06.13 at 12:24:20
Great to see some updates here Gary.
Looking forward to the new driver tests. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.06.13 at 12:50:23 G1nX wrote on 01.06.13 at 12:24:20:
Been VERY busy on home and work related projects, no fun at all. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 01.06.13 at 19:13:37
I see, there still some room for improvement. Looks like I will have to take a very close look at some data sheets... Maybe Nightbird could do some pics how the original dongle behaves here.
New driver sounds great :) Maybe a short Quake3 session possible now?! 8-) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.06.13 at 20:41:21 Loeschzwerg wrote on 01.06.13 at 19:13:37:
I have contacted her asking for assitance, not optimistic on the driver as it looks like the one I have might have been further along... still working on that but have more help now. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 03.06.13 at 12:16:34 Loeschzwerg wrote on 01.06.13 at 19:13:37:
1) I have attached two new pictures with just the dongle swapped with the camera in the same position. There is some "smearing" of the text that looks odd. I'm waiting to hear back from Patience if this is normal. 2) Currently I'm stuck in driver hell, I can't get out of 16 color mode for some reason. Any attempt to go to either 256 color or 16 bit color causes the machine to lock up when the hourglass shows right before the desktop. I'm thinking about loading a new hard drive to eliminate any error in the OS. I had it clearly working before and now I'm at a loss why I can't get into 16 bit. Here is how you load driver (my notes) 1) Start in VGA mode, pick driver, have disk, reboot. 2) Boot into safe mode, go to adapter refresh and change from unknown to adapter default (if you don't do this is sets the refresh at 120 hz) reboot. At this point you should be at Windows desktop, 640 x 480 16 color. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by val_parthen on 04.06.13 at 20:31:30
Sorry if this has already been addressed; I haven't been following the thread.
What are the dates on the files for your driver? I assume the rampage drivers that I have are super common; dated 12/12/2000 (mostly). I think they're also super minimal -- I don't know if they actually work for 3D acceleration or only just to get a display out. I believe NuAngel posted them initially, years ago, but my memory might be a bit faulty at this point. If drivers were worked on after that, it'd almost have to be by someone working as a hobby or by the community working after the source, I imagine. Edit:// Nevermind. Looks like the driver set you have from Rashly is the same as the set that I have. :sad trombone: |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 04.06.13 at 21:24:08
@trevormacro: did you already sent the driver you have for Rampage to Gary ?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 04.06.13 at 21:33:57 m14radu wrote on 04.06.13 at 21:24:08:
It's a sources drivers. Need to be compiled for work with the card. Not the same date as gary's sources. I didn't sent my sources for gary. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 04.06.13 at 21:43:45
Please send him the source driver you have.
What are you waiting for ? :D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Quaker763 on 05.06.13 at 11:35:00
Would it be possible to get the driver source sent to myself also, or uploaded to the archive? I'd be pretty interested (being a programmer) to look at the sources and possibly even compile it. It shouldn't be too difficult to compile actually, but may take some time.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 08.06.13 at 21:59:41 So today I setup another system- Just an old Compaq slot one board (EX/LX 66mhz bus), power supply and case with a P2-333 and 256 mb of ram. Something stone simple with no suprises. Loaded both Windows 98SE and NT4 and then loaded up the drivers for Win9x. I can get the system to go to 256/16bit or 32 bit color if I shut off the hardware acceleration in the advanced tab but the desktop shows some distortion. I'm baffled as to what I did before to run 16-bit color without issue but will keep tinkering about. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 09.06.13 at 13:40:53
Did you try with the drivers from Michael ? 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 09.06.13 at 13:52:17 m14radu wrote on 09.06.13 at 13:40:53:
No since the ones I have are dated later and I did have these working at one time. Its puzzling whats going on. I did have v-control and powerstrip running on the other machine at one time in an effort to get the refresh rate to something reasonable, I'm thinking that may be where the issue lies. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 11.06.13 at 00:04:09
Back in action! WOOT!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 11.06.13 at 00:47:55 Half-Life in Direct 3D Back to the original machine as it has a LOT more BIOS options for tweaking the video board settings. Using Intergraph 21" CRT for display at 60 hz refresh, 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768 all in 16 bit color (with 32 bit an indicated option but left alone for now. Passes DirectX diag's and runs simple 3D tests. Know any simple D3D tests I can run? Runs the Righteous Orchid 3D Voodoo graphic Direct3D test "tunnel" at insane speeds. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 11.06.13 at 00:56:42
Amazing Gary!!!
Finally you handled to get it working!!!! Yeaaahhhhhhh!!!! :D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 11.06.13 at 01:02:47 osckhar wrote on 11.06.13 at 00:56:42:
Output is still very dark, have to see if I can get some voltage readings for our friend Loeschzwerg to work his magic. This should make you feel warm and fuzzy- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FJyERsqisc It should look better in a bit, I used the Youtube editor to crank in some brightness and contrast. You are looking at Q3D OpenGVS running in Direct3D. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 11.06.13 at 01:47:08
Gary, this is awesome 8-)
60hz is also what I recommend using the dongle. More refresh rate boosts the needed bandwith a lot and I don't think the used transistors can handle it => distortion About the color, looks like green and blue need some tweaking. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 11.06.13 at 02:54:57 Loeschzwerg wrote on 11.06.13 at 01:47:08:
The color looks ok, getting a good shot with everything so dark is tough. I have the brightness and contrast cranked to 100% on the monitor just to get the brightness up that much. The output is so dark you almost can't make out fonts when booting up. It was better with the LCD but still dim and the CRT displays a much better picture. To get the picture with the camera decent I have to kill all the lights in the shop so there is no glare and if you are in a dark area of the game its really hard to make much out. Question- How about a amplifier module that goes in between the dongle and monitor to boost the brightness and contrast? Or is it better to just keep refining the dongle? hmmm.. perhaps I could post some color test patterns... |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 11.06.13 at 07:37:25
Great news Gary !
Outstanding, you did it ! :D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 11.06.13 at 11:53:53 m14radu wrote on 11.06.13 at 07:37:25:
Forgot to mention- Running under Win98 and had Unreal running as well. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 11.06.13 at 20:33:22
If you have time - can you take a vid of the Unreal flyby... ;)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 12.06.13 at 02:10:37 Unreal engine seems to work just fine, I tried several other D3D games with no luck (like incoming and moto racer) They don't detect a D3D board so refuse to run. Unreal flyby- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLnI2vnl2q4 I have downloaded demo's of Wheel of Time and Deus Ex and will try them later. The only other thing of note is for some reason, my Bartons 3000+ motherboard keeps kicking the bus speed back to 133 mhz instead of running at 166. I'll look more into it in a few days with a different video board to avoid any new issues. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 12.06.13 at 02:39:40 Wheel of Time demo screenshot. Unreal Tournament below- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp8IblnMb14&feature=youtu.be For some reason my Epox board won't run the barton at its rated 333 mhz bus, I wonder if a few slightly bulging caps have anything to do with it? I set the speed, exit out of the BIOS and it comes up with an error message and resets to 266. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 12.06.13 at 10:26:18
@Gary,
It is time to recap the capacitors on your Epox kt333 board. I had similar probem and reemplacing blown capacitor all comes back to normal. About rampage- did you try if with the 3dfxogl.dll library inside rampage package dated 12/12/00 can handle some OpenGL game? Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 12.06.13 at 11:27:32 osckhar wrote on 12.06.13 at 10:26:18:
1) Where did you pickup your caps Oscar? 2) Yes I did try that with no luck (no opengl found), I'm sure there are some parameters that have to be set to get it running I think looking at some notes. Next step is trying a D3D glide/opengl wrapper, I tried one years ago that was very good and need to remember which one it was. P.S. Anyone know how to fool Windows into reporting that the graphics card is DX compliant? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 12.06.13 at 11:41:31
@Gary,
Ebay- You must go for LOW ESR. Chec it here http://stores.ebay.com/PC-MotherBoard-Capacitors-Store?_trksid=p2047675.l2563. Yeahhh, keep us informed about such wrapper. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 12.06.13 at 11:43:59
Try setting the brightness:
The DAC dongle inverts the signal and voltage. Set the brightness to a negative level (at least in theory). I've got another idea to boost the image. Open the UT console by pressing tab/tilde, type preferences and hit enter. A menu named Advanced Options should open. Head to the section Rendering and then Direct3D Support. There is an option that is called UseGammaCorrection. By default this is set to True, you should set it to False. The contrast is bad, so this might help. Quote:
Try using the 3D Analyzer: http://www.3dfxzone.it/dir/tools/3d_analyze/download/ Quote:
Did you try renaming 3dfxogl.dll to opengl32.dll? This should work for some games e.g. Quake3 engine based. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 12.06.13 at 12:01:51 Loeschzwerg wrote on 12.06.13 at 11:43:59:
First thing I did, only made a minor difference. Quote:
Will try that tonight. Quote:
Yup, same results. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 12.06.13 at 12:14:44
Ok.
I will send you some test-patterns to see how the voltage output is. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 12.06.13 at 21:27:33
On mainboard re-capping...
1) Best caps are Rubycon, Nichicon, Chemicon 2) Use a low wattage (12-15W) soldering iron 3) Use LEADED solder (unleaded sucks A$$) 4) You will need solder braid and a needle to de-solder the via's 5) You WILL need an anti-static strap and mat...unless you like a dead board 6) Remember to remove the CMOS battery... 7) Your chances of success vary from board to board... GOOD LUCK! ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 13.06.13 at 03:25:49 Old screen shots. New screen shots using "print screen" keys in game, Now I'm baffled again. Looking back at some old screen shots I clearly had some access to 3dfx tools, now I don't no matter what nor will 3dmark99max load and give any information. Something with the different driver I'll have to explore further. Changing gamma in Unreal or UT had no effect- Slide the slider to the left it gets dark, slight to the right maximum brightness. I tried setting gamma correction to false with no effect. Even tried changing gamma values directly but I guess 1.0000 is as high as the engine allows. Tried the following games: Nglide wrapper- works (assume any glide title below run with this wrapper) Turok- No device detected till wrapper was installed and then detects 3dfx, starts to load and fails. Tomb Raider demo- Works (but looks like blocky poo, 320 x 240 I think) Tomb Raider II- Only detects software mode, D3D greyed out. NFL Blitz- Fails glide or D3D mode Decent 3- No D3D detected, glide launch fails with opengl error. MDK- When launching D3D version, warning "no device detected" pops up. Software test runs stupid fast though. 3D Analyzer: only works to fool game into thinking there is a TnL engine, still needs opengl to operate. GLQuake and Quake III were no go with wrapper, but I tried. Did timedemo 1 in Unreal, screen to dark/blurred to make out any numbers. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 13.06.13 at 10:58:34
Gary, could you post a screenshot of AIDA32, Everest Home Edition, GPU-Z or any other hardware id program?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 13.06.13 at 11:40:07 NitroX infinity wrote on 13.06.13 at 10:58:34:
GPU-z crashes out, Everest just reports what is in the inf file I think. Everest screenshot here from last year- http://www.thedodgegarage.com/3dfx/rampage_2012.htm |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 13.06.13 at 11:47:51
You could use 3DAnalyzer to fool games that detect no D3D renderer. Maybe by changing the vendor Id.
The screenshosts of the frame-buffer pretty much look like software rendering. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 13.06.13 at 11:57:11 Loeschzwerg wrote on 13.06.13 at 11:47:51:
1) I'll have to fool about with that, I didn't have any luck last night. 2) I thought that too, but some of the games and demos I tired don't have a software engine (Like the Quantum3D OpenGVS or Half Life or the D3D tunnel test) Unreal clearly shows Direct3D is the rendering engine being used. Just rough drivers would be my guess. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 14.06.13 at 01:28:59 Loeschzwerg wrote on 13.06.13 at 11:47:51:
Didn't have much luck with that, still had no luck launching an application with it. Baffling results tonight. Tried playing with two sets of drivers with no notable difference between the two. In either case 3dfx tools refused to load and 3dmark refused to launch. I have no clue how the hell I got 3dfx tools to work before or how I manged to launch several D3D applications (even though they looked like poo) Max Payne, ran before and won't run now (no 3d device detected) I'm feeling like I'm missing something simple. Has to be a registry function.. I even tried installing a V4-4800 with the proper drivers, making sure applications worked and then shut down, pulled the card without pulling drivers and reinstalled Rampage along with the Rampage drivers. Nope, still no 3dfx tools. Still the "no device detected" message. Time to walk away for a few days... This weekend I'll pop in another harddrive and to a clean reload and see what happens. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 14.06.13 at 11:08:21
You can check if V-Control is runnig. The fsaa can be set with this too ;)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 14.06.13 at 11:15:30 m14radu wrote on 14.06.13 at 11:08:21:
V-control can't, reports it is an unsupported device. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 14.06.13 at 13:42:53
@Gary,
You can create one using the format from V4 4500 on the device.ini and modify it with ID VENDOR showed on V-Control for rampage card. It will have same features as a V4 on V-Control. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 14.06.13 at 16:55:12
Great ideea Oscar !
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 15.06.13 at 02:08:06
I got it back!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 15.06.13 at 03:26:21 Been out if for hours, but were making progress! I'm really not sure how the heck I ended up with a Voodoo 3 tab, some artifact of the Voodoo 3 files used for some of the Rampage drivers (like the splash screen which has a V3 notation) I did some mixing of a few sets of Rampage drivers too. V_control doesn't display any further information even after hacking the ini file. Just states "3dfx Rampage AGP" even tried modifiying one of the ini files (changed it to rampage.ini) and there was no change. Here is NFL Blitz running- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXdGzDEjpM0&feature=youtu.be Unreal seems to run fine but now UT runs but with some rendering errors and Deus Ex and Wheel of Time fail after a few seconds as does Half Life. MDK runs with rendering errors, NFL Blitz runs for a few minutes before tossing its cookies. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 15.06.13 at 03:36:30
I don't trust the reported chip speed or indicated 16mb ram, we know the boards have 32 mb.
Gamma correction tools work though!! Now I need to get things stable, going to have to figure out a whole bunch of tweaking settings to keep stuff from crashing. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 15.06.13 at 13:07:16
Looking great Gary.
Did you try the ForceAA feature ? Does it work? Looking forward to more updates. Best regards, G1nX |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 15.06.13 at 13:52:02 G1nX wrote on 15.06.13 at 13:07:16:
I have not tried it yet, just getting the beast to run this far has been chore enough without opening a fresh can of worms. You are looking at several nights worth of effort with driver swapping, inf file hacking, BIOS poking, card swapping, several versions of directx installing/de-installing, bootlogging to find out what is crashing on start up, pulling hardware that may or may not be conflicting all the while staring at monitors that looks like faded ass when in DOS and smeared with grease when in windows at 1024 x 768 (the only way to get at some control tabs/panels) (And please, no slight is intended nor implied toward Loeschzwerg who has his work cut out for him with no direct access to the hardware nor hi-res photos of the original and I have had very little feedback from the current original dongle owner as to picture quality) Loeschzwerg has done a fantastic job and things would not have progressed to this point without his help, the dongle has been the least of my problems! Were both doing our best with the tools at hand, things will progress one step at a time. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 15.06.13 at 14:18:16
What I don't understand is this-
When I have the hardware acceleration slider to "off" in the windows advanced panel, why do some applications run and others do not? Is the OS translating some calls to a software driver? I'm assuming some functions of Direct Draw continue to work (since that is still available in the DX testing and information panel) but functions of DirectX are disabled? I'm considering digging a second system out of storage, I think I have an ABIT BH6 BX based system what should work. The idea is to remove any possible conflicts with a dead stable platform and the BH6 has plenty of BIOS options I did not have with the other slot one system I tried using. I'm so close to have full rendering for more than a minute or two I can taste it, driving me nuts! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 16.06.13 at 22:20:24 In case you wanted to know what things looked like without the dongle, a simple solution is to not use it when I need a DOS window. In the case doing a hardware dump with v_control. Is Koolsmoky still tinkering with the program? Here is the hardware dump that I got. Adding the proper ID string to the SYSTEM.INI file lets the program "properly" ID the board but no options are present even with a modified 4500/rampage INI file. [Device 5] device_name = \\.\Display1 device_key = System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\DISPLAY\0002 bus = 1 dev = 0 func = 0 vendor = 121a device = 10 subvendor = 121a subsystem = 3 revision = 1 command = 3 status = 230 class = 3 sub_class = 0 prog_interface = 0 agp_capability = 206002 agp_status = 1f000237 agp_command = 1f000301 pci_command = 3 pci_status = 230 base_address_0 = e0000000 base_address_1 = d0000008 base_address_2 = 9001 base_address_3 = 0 base_address_4 = 0 base_address_5 = 0 Had one crash too many I think, Win98 install is hosed. I can't get back onto a desktop with any hardware acceleration active. Time to call it a day and relax. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 17.06.13 at 01:57:48
Anyone here ever use Visual Studio 6.0?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 17.06.13 at 05:51:49
C++ :) i used but long time ago....
What do you want to know? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 17.06.13 at 08:55:34 m14radu wrote on 17.06.13 at 05:51:49:
Nmake in Visual Studio 6 is used to compile the Rampage source code. I'm baffled by something (unrelated to the above) why are the control panels showing more information now? Not that I trust it but it does show the correct BIOS revision where the earlier tests did not. The tests done a few months ago use Rashlys drivers but I don't see anything diffferent between those and what I am tinkering with at the moment. I am using a modified inf file now but the information on the control panel popped up before that. I have to tinker with the inf still to get rid of the annoying bug where on first install the referesh is locked at 120+ hz. At the monent the "fix" is to boot into safe mode and chande the refresh from unknown to adapter default and then reboot. Something to do with the voodoo4 driver still being installed? Some registry setting perhaps? Stuff like this bugs me, has to be a reason. Hardware has not changed and I'm still using the same OS install (till something got buggered yesterday) puzzling.. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 17.06.13 at 11:47:51
@Gary,
Possibly some info is got from voodoox.inf- Did you try to use the inf from Rashly driver and check what info you get on 3Dfx Tool? - Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 17.06.13 at 12:28:17
Good news- This morning I did a fresh install of Win98SE!
For those following, this order. 1) Setup a new drive with two drive letters, only the OS is on the C:, Everything else on D: including the win98 files so I can blow off the C: partition at any time and start over. 2) Installed Win98 running the setup file off d: from a boot disk 3) Once to a desktop I changed from VGA adapter to new adapter using modifed inf which worked great, did not have to boot to safe mode once. 4) Installed DirectX 8.1 off some game CD No other drivers or patches were installed!! No chip drivers, no sound drivers, nothing! The only "?" in device manager is the onboard sound which I don't care about right now. USB disabled in BIOS. I was able to run the DirectX diag (spinning cube with DX logo) in both DX7 and DX8 modes with no problem! I could not do this before, it would hang on the first test after a few moments. Tunnel test and wizmark both have graphic errors but I'll tinker around more after work. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 17.06.13 at 12:35:22
Excellent new!!! :) Now times to check if your system is enough stable for testing D3D games without BSOD.
- Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.06.13 at 00:51:54
New video coming tonight..
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.06.13 at 03:06:45 Ok some notes tonight. 1) The first shot is clealy a blue screen of death, always at the same address no matter what application is running direct x. Aside from the DX test demos, Direct3D applications run from a few seconds to a minute before blue screening. I reinstalled the sound driver, made no difference. I do have a microsoft DX app running in the control panel that lets me tweak some things, no difference there either. 2) Next is a desktop shot showing what is on the Voodoo 3 tab- gamma controls work fine but clearly the only information shown which is correct is the BIOS revision. 3) Last is a V_control screen using the V-control tool using the V-4500 properties ini, clearly off in the weeds. Direct Draw and Direct X testing below- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gxf6CUa1wI&feature=youtu.be Fans on high for friends at VoodooAlert! Been thinking about why Unreal engine games run when hardware slider is all the way to the left. I thnk Microsoft will default/redirect rendering to either Direct Draw or some sort of software rendering done by the OS which I have seen mentioned on some MS docs. I have run Half Life in Direct 3D and software modes and they clearly look different than "Direct 3D with slider all the way to the left" if you know what I mean. Have a good one, I'm off to bed. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.06.13 at 08:53:21 gdonovan wrote on 18.06.13 at 03:06:45:
Slider to the left means no 3D hardware acceleration at all, so all work is done by the CPU. The slider step by step deactivates the hardware acceleration from D3D to DirectDraw (2D acceleration) to completely off. The first thing you will notice when 3D acceleration is deactivated, the texture filtering is bad as hell... no bilinear filtering is applied. More or less, the "Software rendering" mode within the UT engine is doing the same, it doesn't make use of any Direct3D/OpenGL/Gilde API hardware acceleration. If the gamma control tab works correctly you should be able to boost the brightness a little more. This is what worked fine for me when using my S3 5400e. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.06.13 at 11:10:16 Quote:
Ah, here lies my confusion. The "tunnel test" is a directx only application (no software mode) and unreal shows that it is in Direct X mode. How is this possible? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.06.13 at 11:13:10 Loeschzwerg wrote on 18.06.13 at 08:53:21:
Yes gamma control does work, the games look better/brighter (till they BSOD) chuckle. I'll try to take some comparitive screenshots in Half Life tonight.. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.06.13 at 11:44:44 gdonovan wrote on 18.06.13 at 11:10:16:
Using DirectX as API and making use of hardware acceleration are two different pair of boots :) Slider to the left just means the GPU won't accelerate anything, but DirectX itself is still available to the "CPU", at least to some point of functionset. That's why the DirectDraw-Test is still available, but the Direct3D not. Unreal shows DirectX cause it still detects the API itself (which is still available, just the acceleration has been deactivated). |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.06.13 at 12:03:38 Quote:
Actually I think when it is all the way to the left, directdraw is grayed out. Will double check tonight.. I'll add it to my work list.. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 18.06.13 at 12:18:37 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.06.13 at 01:43:54 Loeschzwerg wrote on 18.06.13 at 12:18:37:
1) You are correct, Direct Draw is still there. Pictures above, some curious results. First was in software mode, then in direct3d with (hardware acceleration) slider to the right, then direct3d with slider to the left. You can see clear differences in the rendering. I had about a second to get the screenshot in full direct3d before it locked up, took about 3 tries to get it. Fooled about with some other D3D titles with not much luck, going back to the Rashly drivers made no difference. Both can run the DX 7 and 8 test in the DX control panel but thats about it. I bet the code is pretty messy and tweaked to just pretty much run them. (proof of concept/starting point perhaps) Fooled around with Quake 3 too, going to dink around with some command line parameters and see if I can make anything happen. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 19.06.13 at 07:51:12 gdonovan wrote on 19.06.13 at 01:43:54:
[quote='gdonovan','index.php?page=Thread&postID=344620#post344620']First was in software mode, then in direct3d with (hardware acceleration) slider to the right, then direct3d with slider to the left. You can see clear differences in the rendering.[/quote] Very interesting pics, but I wouldn't give too much on them. My assumption: The CPU is much slower when it comes to 3D rendering than GPUs. This means the developers had to cut down the image quality (Software Mode) so Half Life can run smooth using the CPU. We are speaking of the year 1998, fast CPUs were very expensive back then and ~200-300MHz mostly common. This would describe the difference between the ingame software mode and the DX software mode. Can you post the Quake3 error message that gives the engine? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 19.06.13 at 08:00:37
Is it bad that I like the sharpness of the textures in software mode? :D
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 19.06.13 at 08:08:13
Point sampling vs Bilinear filtering 8-)
It does look sharper indeed, but also very pixelated and when the image is in motion the whole scene is very bumpy. The sharpness comes back with trilinear and anisotropic filtering. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.06.13 at 10:29:32 Quote:
Ha, I thought they were dull pictures (aside from the rendering details) but that is what I was looking for- A simple area with a minimum of textures and polygons but with some contrasting items. Loeschzwerg wrote on 19.06.13 at 07:51:12:
Same as last year "failed to find appropriate pixel format" and shuts down. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 19.06.13 at 18:28:38
Did you try using another opengl32.dll file from Mesafx or Metabyte ? :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.06.13 at 22:27:47 m14radu wrote on 19.06.13 at 18:28:38:
Already have even though I know its pointless. Rampage was a break 3d wise from the voodoo graphics->VSA-101 architecture and was designed as a native DX8 part. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 19.06.13 at 22:34:29
While waiting for some driver work, I have some other tricks to play with the OS and platforms while waiting. I'm thinking the Rampage or the drivers may play better with a different chipset, nothing to lose by trying.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 20.06.13 at 02:55:15
Well that is a pickle- nGlide only supports DX9.
Anyone know a Glide wrapper that supports DX7? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 20.06.13 at 08:30:29
Don't know a Glide Wrapper that uses DX7.
But in case of OpenGL, maybe GLDirect works?! http://www.chip.de/downloads/GLDirect-5.0.2_29890418.html |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 20.06.13 at 11:32:11
Anyone have an early copy of GLView?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 20.06.13 at 12:37:08 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 20.06.13 at 23:55:29 Loeschzwerg wrote on 20.06.13 at 12:37:08:
No dice, no Win9x support. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 21.06.13 at 00:41:09
Is Win2K an option?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.06.13 at 01:34:43 NitroX infinity wrote on 21.06.13 at 00:41:09:
Not at the moment. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.06.13 at 04:56:55
1) No luck finding an early version of GLview, went through a stack of old game amd maximum pc cd's with no luck at all.
2) Rampage does NOT play well on BX chipsets. I had no luck getting it to work properly at all. Tried both a Abit and Tyan BX board with the same poor results. Even "disabling" the USB ports in the BIOS doesn't really disable them (they still show up in the device manager) and you get garbled picture like when I had it enabled on the AMD board. What a waste of 4 hours! I leave you with pretty pictures, today was not a total loss. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 21.06.13 at 07:48:06
Version 2.05 then :)
http://www.falconfly.de/downloads/glview…_nt-xp-v205.zip Quake 1 running accelerated or software? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.06.13 at 11:39:27 Loeschzwerg wrote on 21.06.13 at 07:48:06:
1) 2) GLQuake, see first screen shot, not software. Dark as heck, working on that. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 21.06.13 at 11:46:32
As an alternative to GLview you can also try GLInfo. It's more basic but has various OS support. You can download it from here:
http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/be_misc.html Hope this helps. Cheers, G1nX |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 21.06.13 at 12:01:50 gdonovan wrote on 21.06.13 at 11:39:27:
Copy paste fail ^^ http://www.falconfly.de/downloads/glview_win9x_nt-xp-v205.zip There is a tool called IDGAMMA or IDGAMMA95 that can set the gamma, saturation and so on. Directly via console is also possible: gamma .1 (.2, .3, .4, ...) Or via exe option: ..\glquake.exe -gamma .1 (.2, .3, .4,... 1) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.06.13 at 12:13:19 G1nX wrote on 21.06.13 at 11:46:32:
Thanks, got it! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 21.06.13 at 12:15:09
Question- anyone know if with the original 3Dfx dongle the image quality is better?
I cant help here too much since my card only works with HW acceleration on OFF and any game launched is very dark. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.06.13 at 12:15:27 Quote:
I was actually just going into the cfg file and working on it there, me and the quake cfg file go wayyyyyyy..... back. I'll grab some other tools too. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.06.13 at 12:17:54 osckhar wrote on 21.06.13 at 12:15:09:
Still waiting for an answer on that. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 21.06.13 at 16:14:46
Just tried a Epox KT-266A board, thought I fried Rampage! VGA even in DOS was garbled so bad it looked like a Tartan plaid.
Everything ok back in the KT-333 board, go figure! Everything in the BIOS settings looks the same too, arg. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.06.13 at 04:35:29 Fooled around with Quake III Arena demo, the first two shots were with a config file with a lot of things simplified or removed working under the assuption that if the card was rendering less that it would go longer before crashing out. The next three shots were with pretty much everything at default settings. Card might go for a few seconds to as long as a minute. Tried another BX board, no go there either. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.06.13 at 14:26:12
Question- I tried two of the OpenGL tools with no luck but noted that one of the tools let you check individual OpenGL driver features.
Is there such a tool for DirectX? Perhaps if we could figure out what feature is causing the board to hang it would be easier to fix the drivers. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.06.13 at 14:56:43 I may deinstall DX8 and install DX7, in my search for DX utilites I found a list of release dates for DX versions and DX8 was not released till Nov 12th 2000 and 3dfx was to close a month later. Odds are they were using DX7, but I could be wrong. The DX tools do state DX7 is the Direct3D driver version for Rampage so its worth a shot. The DX8 control panel test states the board will render in DX7 or DX8 modes... Nothing to lose by trying. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 22.06.13 at 17:12:23 gdonovan wrote on 22.06.13 at 14:26:12:
See in the link bellow a few useful DX tools for various flavors Windows: http://www.mdgx.com/dx.htm#DX8 Search for the download link for the following two: http://www.mdgx.com/files/dxtest.php http://www.boostware.com/hardware/video/directcontrol.html I hope this helps. Good luck, G1nX |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.06.13 at 19:46:24 G1nX wrote on 22.06.13 at 17:12:23:
This is almost exactly what I was looking for! Not quite a feature by feature test but darn close! I'll post some test results and video soon, illuminating. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 22.06.13 at 19:57:38 gdonovan wrote on 22.06.13 at 19:46:24:
I'm glad to hear that. Looking forward to the test results. Cheers, G1nX |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.06.13 at 20:26:17 1) Swapping to DX7 helped nor hurt anything. Instead of a spinning cube with "DirectX" on the side you get a colored cube spining around. 2) First picture shows ASROCK BX motherboard results, yuk! <snip> Deleted polygon test result, they were in error due to CPU speed impacting the results. I found this out when changing CPU's on the 4500 platform and the results jumped, sorry about that. I'll have to retest in the future on the same platform. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 22.06.13 at 20:53:27
New youtube video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NomMCmGdHFk&feature=youtu.be 3dfx Rampage running a number of old school Direct3D tests- Rampage on the left and 3dfx V4-4500 @ 183 mhz on the right (LCD has Dell on the bottom) for comparison. Included in testing is a BSOD, a lock up and my daughters pink keyboard I swiped for testing. DirectX had been rolled back to DX7 but drivers are still unstable with crash at always the same address "OD" Sorry for the video quality, I stitched 10 video together and I'm not that pleased with the results, lots of compression. The final video running is some German? PC game magazine benchmark with Rampage running RGB emulation mode. Prior to that video you can see it trying to run with massive rendering errors (4:10 mark). |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by subhumangarbage on 22.06.13 at 22:57:59 gdonovan wrote on 22.06.13 at 20:26:17:
Many thanks for making this possible. It is incredible how much fillrate a single Rampage chip card boasts in comparison to VSA100. Could you please run a timedemo benchmark on Quake3? (If it is possible of course, I forgot to read the last part of your other post) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 23.06.13 at 04:04:50 Quote:
Still not possible but gets a little closer each time.. Motherboard news! The KT-226A board just stopped working, I was going to use it for the 4500 platform and took it back out of the box and it had gone to the great recycle bin in the sky... won't get past the BIOS screen no matter what and sometimes doesn't even make it that far. In better news I dusted off a VA6 Slot One board (VIA Apollppro 133 chipset) and it works VERY well with Rampage. Several of the DX test programs will run for much longer period of time before crashing or not crashing at all. I was even able to run Unreal in accelerated mode and aside from some textures flickering here and there it ran well before locking up after a pass. Before it would be a big mess and freeze after a few seconds. I need to do a clean reinstall of Windows as this unit was used just for testing Intel chipped V5-6000's. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 23.06.13 at 09:54:12
Excellent Gary!
Motherboard- An engineer who worked in Rampage project told me that the design was developed on Intel's Accelerated Graphics port (AGP). This BUS was the fastest at the time would allow a PCB connection interface to the Central Processing Unit (CPU). Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 23.06.13 at 10:45:18 osckhar wrote on 23.06.13 at 09:54:12:
That is a standard AGP slot, it was developed by intel and was adopted by everyone. The ideal solution would be to find out what brand (abit, intel, gigabyte, micron) and what chipset (BX, LX, Irongate, apollopro) and model was used by the 3dfx software engineers who were developing the drivers for Rampage. If we use the same motherboard they were it would maximize our odds of having a stable platform. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 23.06.13 at 11:11:37
It was nice to see some comparison numbers between Rampage and V4 4500 even if they were influenced by the CPU.
Regarding motherboard I'm sure 3dfx engineers didn't use a nForce2 chipset board but Sirta used one when he tested Q3A on a Rampage. See references here: http://www.forumzone.it/showthread.php?t=8572&page=10 http://www.nexthardware.com/forum/schede-video-e-acceleratori/33578-rampage-here-6.html Could be worth a try if you haven't done so already. From what I could gather it wasn't perfectly stable either but OpenGL and Direct3d worked. Cheers, G1nX |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 23.06.13 at 12:02:53
Great progress Gary :)
A nForce2 based board is really worth a try, those were the best socket a board in that time and very very stable. Nvidia did a great job with that chipset series. About the AsRock BX test... this looks like memory problems and might be related by the VGA bios. 0.30c is still very early.. Quote:
They got it stable, otherwise the card wouldn't run that well, but memory problem is still present if you ask me. This would describe some of the errors we've seen from your reports. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 23.06.13 at 12:15:26 Loeschzwerg wrote on 23.06.13 at 12:02:53:
I think the memory itself is fine but the board doesn't play well with certain motherboards due to how resources are allocated. The BIOS of the Video board is not very polished, hence not playing well with certain motherboards. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 24.06.13 at 00:38:34
Had a few minutes to fool about today and did some DirectX version swapping... Mostly the reason I dived into this was the DXdiag test had stopped working (would freeze the computer up on launch)
I had gone from DX7 (spinning colored cube) to DX8 (spinning cube with DX logo) and the machine would no longer start the DX8 test, curious. Cleary one crash had messed things up. So I uninstalled all traces of DirectX and went right to DX 8.0, same thing. Odd. Installed DX 8.1, still no go. So for the first time I installed DX9b. Test 1 (DX7 interface) failed but instead of a crash I got an error message about not being able to open a DC? Test 2 (DX8 cube with new green X logo) ran just fine and then Test 3 (DX9 cube with green X logo) also ran fine. Most odd indeed, passed a DX9 rendering test. The VA6 platform has been the best yet- I'm running it with a P3-800 in a slocket adapter with 3 sticks of 128mb PC-133 ram, Win98SE with no patches or chipset drivers and a phat 400 watt Antec power supply. I'm at an impasse at the moment, nothing to do till the drivers show some improvement or a new platform comes in. I have a Abit KT7A (KT-133A chipset) with an Athlon XP 1700+ and a 950 mhz Thunderbird. Worth a shot and a member on another forum is letting me have it for the cost of shipping. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 24.06.13 at 08:19:23 gdonovan wrote on 24.06.13 at 00:38:34:
Software fallback. This is just a basic check if the DX9 dll's are working or not. Same when it comes to the DX8 cube, since the D3D driver only shows DX7 compliance. Strange the DX7 cube doesn't work anymore... this is the thing to worry about, here the rampage should kick in for hardware acceleration. Did you do a clean installation when swapping to the VIA Apollo System? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 24.06.13 at 11:12:19 Quote:
Yes. Question- If running a DirectX test, why would it fall back to software? Would that not be an automatic test failure? Running 8.1 here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gxf6CUa1wI One reason I have a 4500 running next to Rampage is so I can compare the screen images to make sure that it is actually running in hardware mode, its clearly running in hardware mode unless the 4500 is running software too. Both the DX7 and DX8 tests look identical. Several of the DX tests that Gino provided a link to have RGB and Ramp emulation modes as well and you can clearly tell the difference in quality and framerate. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Thandor on 24.06.13 at 12:15:14
As for the motherboards; the famous picture with the Rampage and the clamp uses an Intel Seattle SE440BX-2 motherboard (or something very, very similar). I'm not sure what results the 3dfx-engineers had using this motherboard but perhaps it has special BIOS features which are usable for the Rampage? I have no hands-on experience with this motherboard so I can't tell about BIOS settings.
Rampage: SE440BX-2: |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 24.06.13 at 13:26:24 Thandor wrote on 24.06.13 at 12:15:14:
I agree that it looks like an intel Seattle board in the clamp test. You can also see another mb in the background. But the BIOS could be the standard intel or one used by OEMs like Compaq, Gateway that had it in their systems at the time. A better picture in this listing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intel-Desktop-Board-AA-720940-213-SE440BX-2-Slot-1-Motherboard-/300715569164?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopMotherboards_CPUs_CA&hash=item46040b700c Cheers, G1nX |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 25.06.13 at 00:51:33 Quick picture of Half Life in Direct3D Control panel for DX7, DX8 and DX9, passed all tests (due to a clue Hank gave me on the phone) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 25.06.13 at 00:54:11
Quake III Arena-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L5hXXaX28I&feature=youtu.be Bless you Hank for being so chatty tonight, you gave me a vital clue. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 25.06.13 at 01:09:39
Enjoy this short sucessfull video of DX7, DX8.1 and DX9 diag being run on Rampage!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmTSRdE-Gb4&feature=youtu.be |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 25.06.13 at 01:24:21 Quote:
1) Hank confirmed this on my phone, some memory manegment features of Rampage were not enabled in drivers so they could focus on debugging the core. The ram is still being utilized, but not sure how much. 2) Speaking of the core, the first batch of Rampage chips needed surgical "rewiring" with an electron beam on the underside! 3) AGP functions had been disabled, this version of Rampage is pretty much a PCI device in an AGP slot. (this was my big clue) 4) Rampage was at least a year out from retail- Other chip revisions to fix issues, drivers and debugging needed to happen first. So, based on what Hank had told me about the aspects of AGP, I disabled AGP Texture Acceleration in the DX control panel and all my tests were functional! From that point, I went into the BIOS and tried rolling the AGP apature size from where I had it at 32 mb to 64 and then down to 4mb at which point things really started rocking! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 25.06.13 at 02:47:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auAqCV0vK9s
Gibbs and blood are shut off which seems to help, didn't make through the full run this time. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 25.06.13 at 07:41:46
Those are very good news :) So the texture acceleration caused the problems, mainly due to the deactivated memory management features I assume.
With activated texture acceleration Direct3D optimizes the texture swaping from system memory to the video memory. This is one of the big advantages of AGP over PCI, beside the bus speed. What configurations did you use to run Q3A? I'm still a bit confused about the DirectX/Diag stuff. Of course the drivers and the card can't do D3D9 features, but they make use of the libraries. Basic direct3d commands are still present. The layer model of Direct3D: Win32 application -> calls Direct3D API (not the hardware layer) -> Direct3D accesses the HAL (vga driver) -> driver accesses hardware Do you/Hank think it might be possible to activate advanced memory management? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 25.06.13 at 10:35:48
Amazing Gary once more! Excellent info.
DirectX Diagnostic Tool - Display - DDI 7 - So, driver has at least DX7 compatibility. Possibly will be near impossible to add features without rampage register set & programming guide but I think to fix the BSOD would be possible and try to own a stable driver. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 25.06.13 at 10:48:42 osckhar wrote on 25.06.13 at 10:35:48:
Yep, we would need the Rampage databook, like it leaked for the VSA100. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 25.06.13 at 11:11:17 Quote:
Nothing fancy, just started picking through the cfg file and shutting down and turning back on features. I figured the more the card has to deal with the higher the chance of a crash. High quality sky doesn't seem to trigger a crash but blood set to 1 sure does. As you can tell by the BSOD it still isn't stable when rendering in hardware, then I have to reset, wait for a reboot, scandisk, run simple rendering test (to make sure driver did not get hosed) and then start again. Quote:
Yes, he indicated it was in the driver if I recall correct. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 28.06.13 at 01:29:20
Tossed in a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 board, thought it would free up some CPU cycles (onboard sound before)
Didn't seem to hurt anything, didn't really seem to help either. Tried some settings in the Q3 config file, guns on/off, effects, hunkmegs, no dice on making it more stable tonight. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 28.06.13 at 11:16:45
Possible the Rampage chip itself isn't stable for several reasons.
Anyway, keep it up! :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 28.06.13 at 12:16:04 Loeschzwerg wrote on 28.06.13 at 11:16:45:
Possible, but I think its in the driver. Same crash, always the same address, doesn't matter which motherboard. Sometimes it will run in 3D for minutes, other times just a few seconds. Be nice to get hold of Patience and duplicate the results. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 28.06.13 at 12:31:55 gdonovan wrote on 28.06.13 at 12:16:04:
Would be great if Patience would join the research team, this could help a lot. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 28.06.13 at 12:48:03 Loeschzwerg wrote on 28.06.13 at 12:31:55:
You dream, this girl is a ghost. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 28.06.13 at 14:07:31
I agree with Gary and problem can be on the driver and how SW engineers handled the driver code for focusing on the rampage chip.
For sure with Patience help all would be much better since test driver or even improve the dongle with his original. Next week I will have here some ddr memory spare. If finally I get fixed my card (not vertical line). It will be send an old SW engineer who worked on rampage driver team and he will try at least to do el driver more estable since without Rampage register and programming guide is impossible to add features. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 28.06.13 at 14:32:54 trevormacro wrote on 28.06.13 at 12:48:03:
She will have her reasons ::) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 30.06.13 at 14:32:56
Just a quick note- This morning I loaded up a machine with Win95*A*
Win95A has no AGP "support" out of the box, you have to patch it with the USB suppliment so it should act just like a 66 mhz PCI slot. So far there has been no problems even after loading in the modified Rampage driver inf. I have DX7 loaded at the moment and getting ready to upgrade to the last Win95 DX (8.0A) UT crashed out in a menu screen but Thief runs just jim dandy as well as a few other DX demos I have tried in the past, will keep you posted. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 30.06.13 at 15:40:50
Anyone know how to get a screenshot in Thief? (1998) without 3rd party software, there must be a command for it..
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by NitroX infinity on 30.06.13 at 15:47:39
http://www.tweakguides.com/TDS_8.html
No screenshot key in Thief apparently, only Windows print screen which you'll have to paste. If the card runs better "without" AGP support, does that imply the card's bios is to blame? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 30.06.13 at 16:22:52 NitroX infinity wrote on 30.06.13 at 15:47:39:
Hank did indicate that the BIOS had changes done to it to simplify debugging including disabling a lot of AGP features. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 30.06.13 at 19:18:59 Some notes from this mornings blast from the past, been a real long time since I heard the Windows 95 start up sound! Win95A will run Rampage without too much problem but there are more cons than pros in my opnion. To run it you will need a copy of Win95A, the Win9x driver, DX7.0 and thats pretty much it unless you wish to run a few more things noted below. Do NOT install the Microsoft USB upgrade patch as that also adds offical AGP support. I wanted the OS to treat the board like it was a PCI device. 1) DirectX 8.0A (last DX that supports Win95) works but I tried a wrapper or two that requires DX8 but even with DX8 they would not run. If running DX8 you also need to install DCOM95. The AGP info (enable/disable) in the DX control panel was clearly grayed out. 2) If installing 3dfx tools you need Internet Explorer 4.01 with service pack or higher! I had IE5.01 on a disk and was good to go but I did not notice any increase in gamma control under D3D when using the 3dfx tool app. 2) Here is System Shock 2 running under Win95A- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHIQ68xNwTE&feature=youtu.be The video runs for SEVERAL minutes and I'm sorry for the poor quality, I did not know the camera was on the low rez setting. Rather than do a run through again as I'm behind on chores already I'll post this up and try to redo some time in the future. The next week is going to be very, very bad for time and odds are this will be the last major update you will see for a week. 3) Rampage REALLY likes Thief engine games, they ran mostly fine aside from a single crash during testing Thief. Thief the Dark Project is really dark though and cranking the gamma only helped a little. Runs the same under Win95 or Win98SE so no advantage to continue testing under Win95. Still blue screens under some applications, the blue screen above is a D3D "draw primitives" test which really seems to make the card cranky. Same "OD" error as in Windows 98SE. Oscar I have a handy CD with all the drivers, demos and applications I have been using for testing, I'll mail it out to you in the next week so that you have all the stuff I'm using so the results can be duplicated. Makes loading up a machine really easy. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 30.06.13 at 20:31:08 Quote:
Excellent since I hope to have my card running by the end of next week. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.07.13 at 00:11:55
Anyone have an old version of FRAPS?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.07.13 at 01:20:54
New SS2 version-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAhWPBqVqac If you give it a few hours, I used the youtube contrast controls to clean things up a bit. Youtube is still processing the video which is 640 x 480 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Thandor on 01.07.13 at 09:33:35
Good job Gary.
Does Hardware T&L work on the Rampage? If so I'm wondering what this does with 3DMark2001 and 3DMark2003 scores :). |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.07.13 at 10:14:14 Thandor wrote on 01.07.13 at 09:33:35:
Won't run either without locking up. No hardware T&L on Rampage, that is what SAGE was for. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 01.07.13 at 11:00:32
Running Final Reality DX5 benchmark-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OzhMd2q6Zk&feature=youtu.be Only had time for one pass, will try again in a few days. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by ultima on 01.07.13 at 11:53:06 gdonovan wrote on 01.07.13 at 10:14:14:
did the Sage chip ever make tape-out, or what ever that is called? ofcourse there is no rampage 300 board anywhere on which the chip could be soldered :( |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 01.07.13 at 12:06:10
Nice new vids Gary 8-) Is 3DMark2000 running to some point? (single tests)
@ultima: Yes, SAGE made it to tape-out but not to debugging... 3dfx was already closed when they arrived (thats what rumors say). Looking at the driver code there are also some lines that mention "SAGE". |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 02.07.13 at 02:52:44 Loeschzwerg wrote on 01.07.13 at 12:06:10:
Won't run, states there isn't enough video ram. Anyone have the unlocked version of 3dmax99? The demo version will not allow you to run individual tests but the unlocked version will. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 02.07.13 at 06:48:00
Ok.
I've got an unlocked version of 3DMark 99 Max, will write you a mail when I'm home from work. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 02.07.13 at 10:56:51 Loeschzwerg wrote on 02.07.13 at 06:48:00:
Cool beans, at least I can run the individual tests and find out what parts of the driver needs the most work. More data points are always good. I suspect a BIOS flash in the future, have to have a discussion with Hank about this. I'm fairly sure the cards ram isn't fully being utilized so 3dfx could focus on the core aspects of the Rampage chip. This might even cure most of the cure a number of crash related issues. FRAPS 1.8 claims to be Opengl, thats awkward as I needed something that will do screenshots in D3D, woops! I'll keep looking.. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Komponent on 02.07.13 at 18:26:40
Still having problems with image quality when using the dongle? If you were willing to deploy a setup more elaborate, I guess you could get as close as possible to perfect inverted output like this:
Get a VGA to composite (or s-Video) converter box, something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Laptop-VGA-to-TV-RCA-Composite-S-video-Converter-Box-/281117529638?pt=AU_CablesConnectors&hash=item4173e91626 You will need a second computer, with a tv-tuner card in it, preferably with BT878 chipset (like a VoodooTV 200). Install DScaler tv viewing software with historical plugins. Connect the converter box with Rampage on the input side (without the dongle) and Composite output on the tv-tuner input. Start DScaler and from the Filters menu choose Colour Inversion. Thankfully Loeschzwerg has done a great, great job with the dongle, but the option above should also work just fine, with the downside that you need a second computer and the VGA t Composite adapter, but at least the inversion is done in software, so the image quality should be better. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 02.07.13 at 19:01:08
I thought about that too giving Gary my "Avermedia HD Video Capture" card (reso from 640x480 to 1080p possible), but the problem is that the image gets captured 1:1.
http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/v/3dfx_collectors/collectors_gdonovan/Rampage/DSCN5888.JPG.html http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/v/3dfx_collectors/collectors_gdonovan/Rampage/DSCN5889.JPG.html http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/v/3dfx_collectors/collectors_gdonovan/Rampage/DSCN5891.JPG.html If you look at those pictures you will notice some lines. Those would be also inverted => lines are present with inverted colors too. What the dongle does is an analog inversion of the colors so the display (either TFT or CRT) can handle it. A capture device copies the analog image/signal and inverts it digital. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Komponent on 02.07.13 at 19:17:43
I do know that and I do understand the difference. If the only problem would be that the colors are inverted on the analog output, then inverting its untampered conversion to digital would be just fine.
Yet, I didn't notice those lines. The only times I had such problems were with faulty VGA cables, when there's a ghosting, shadowing effect on the lines where is text displayed, but I doubt this is the case here. Still believe that software inverting might produce a sharper picture, albeit with possible artifacts, like you pointed out. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 02.07.13 at 19:43:47
Take a look at my first dongle video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmayyx1C6DU I inverted the colors to negative with the dongle => You can see those strange lines/artifacts. Then I inverted the image back using software (Rivatuner) => Lines still present. In the second video I connected two dongles (Rev A0 and Rev A2) => no lines present http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnCb3_5ncc4 The image will indeed get sharper using the capture device. Edit: The blurry image of the current Rev A2 dongle either comes from bad shielding or the transistors are too slow to handle the bandwidth. Bandwidth is calculated this way: [(Pixel x Hz) /2] x 3 [(640x480x60hz) / 2] x 3 => 27.6MHz [(800x600x60hz) / 2] x 3 => 43.2MHz [(640x480x75hz) / 2] x 3 => 34.6MHz [(800x600x75hz) / 2] x 3 => 54.0MHz But the dongle needs to handle 3 steps using 100MHz transistors. Edit 2: So my next step will be about these two possible problems (Bandwidth and Shielding). I also thought about the idea Radu once had, adding variable resistors so the brightness can be tweaked manually. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Narmounet on 02.07.13 at 20:26:09
If I remembrer correctly, HyperSnap is capable doing screenshots in D3D, OpenGL and Glide, and works on Win98 :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 02.07.13 at 22:32:42 Komponent wrote on 02.07.13 at 18:26:40:
Actually I have been thinking of a device to capture video better than a hand held camera, so elaborate doesn't bother me. Hell, I did direct capture of video from a V5-6000 by looping the output through a witchdoctor setup on a second PC!! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 03.07.13 at 10:28:03
And it would be a way to boost brightness :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 07.07.13 at 16:25:40
@gdonovan:
Hi Gary, An Ex 3dfx software engineer give me some demos he created when he worked in the company. He used to write graphics demos to show off the 3dfx capabilities when he worked at 3dfx, about 15 years ago. So , you might be able to run these demos with your rampy perhaps. Donut Demo, Surf Demo, Displacement Map Demo, Light Map Demo, Water Demo, Viewer Demo, High Performance Demo, Skinning Demo and Image Viewer. Do you want them? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 07.07.13 at 18:52:40
hey, I want them too :)
and I think that every 3dfx fan would like them ! can you upload them ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 07.07.13 at 19:21:43 m14radu wrote on 07.07.13 at 18:52:40:
Sure but for now I just have 5 demos: Donut Demo: http://depositfiles.com/files/aept16sh8 Surf Demo: http://depositfiles.com/files/ej66ohb9k Displacement Map Demo: http://depositfiles.com/files/2vjaxt8vt Water Demo: http://depositfiles.com/files/hogqicm0v Viewer Demo: http://depositfiles.com/files/wptwvs4xt nb. demos I don't have yet: Light Map Demo: http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/317544lights.jpg High Performance Demo: http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/452680hiperf.jpg Skinning Demo: http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/712099skin.jpg Image Viewer: http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/492386imgview.jpg nb. demos were for previous generations of Voodoo hardware from 1 to 5 but perhaps they can work with the Rampy. Regards, Trevor. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 07.07.13 at 20:08:59
thanks ! ;)
its possible, to put all of them in only one zip file ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 07.07.13 at 20:23:04 m14radu wrote on 07.07.13 at 20:08:59:
Sure, Five Demos: http://depositfiles.com/files/gno9quie2 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 07.07.13 at 21:07:19 trevormacro wrote on 07.07.13 at 16:25:40:
I grabbed them, will scope them out. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 08.07.13 at 10:53:44
Sorry, these are applications that require glide3
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 08.07.13 at 10:58:09 gdonovan wrote on 08.07.13 at 10:53:44:
According to him, It was interesting to see them running on a modern PC with nGlide: http://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide Perhaps it will work. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 08.07.13 at 11:23:09 trevormacro wrote on 08.07.13 at 10:58:09:
Works fine on a 4500, don't see a reason to try and run them with a wrapper with Rampage. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 09.07.13 at 00:46:52 trevormacro wrote on 08.07.13 at 10:58:09:
nglide requires a DX9 video card and Windows 2000, WinXP or Windows 7. That would explain why it does not work! I finally read the "readme" file. :P On another note a tried the jumpers on the board today with one exception no changes were noted. Jumper P6 will cause a black screen on boot up (no vga) tried twice to make sure. All the rest no changes were noted. The machine would boot up normal, 3dfx tools showed no change in ram size or clockspeed, DX tools still reports 13.5 megs of video ram, all three Directx cube tests run fine and 3DMARK99 indicates 938k of video ram. With the 3DMARK99 pro individual tests I was unable to get any of them to run aside from the CPU test. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 10.07.13 at 03:05:47
For fun tonight, I dusted off a spare HD and installed WinME. Well I tried to install anyways, my disc went bad! Since I have a valid key, I found a replacement copy via the intertubes ;-)
No change. The blue screens of death are slightly different but show a crash at the same address. Quake3 ran a tad longer than usual but I only ran one demo. Oscar needs to get his board up and running so we can compare notes. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 13.07.13 at 11:40:05
Update on motherboard and operating systems.
Abit KT7A socket A (KT-133A) is a no go for proper operation. The board will install no problem and even run the DX diag with no issues but for most other 3D rendering will crash in a few seconds. Also I found the drivers and Rampage perfer Win98SE over WinMe. I was running the Final Reality benchmark on the VA6 platform under Winme and noted it crashed early on. I was able to repete this 3 times at the same location of the test. Swapping the hard drive and going back to Win98SE and it runs far longer into the test. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 14.07.13 at 17:47:13
@Gary: If you find some time you could use my small color test for measuring the dongle output.
http://www29.zippyshare.com/v/41453492/file.html A very very simple color test (red, green, blue and yellow) in 13h VGA mode. Written in assembler. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 16.07.13 at 11:42:46 Loeschzwerg wrote on 14.07.13 at 17:47:13:
I tested it this morning, works fine. No need to use a boot disc, just save to a directory and when starting the machine hit F8 to bring up the Win98 boot menu and choose "command prompt" P.S. I thought you had sent me a picture of the dongle with test points, be darned if I can find one in my e-mail though. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 18.07.13 at 13:27:44
OK, I found the early diagram over on VA, I'll try and do some voltage testing tonight.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 29.07.13 at 18:40:26
http://www30.zippyshare.com/v/10854417/file.html
A small 16bit DOS program written in assembler. It generates RGBY in textmode (640x400). Could be nice to see the color inversion with and without the dongle attached. @gary: If you still need the pin-out let me know. Edit: |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 03.09.13 at 12:00:51
Hi,
Later some hard work checking my Rampy finally I found the problem about rows. With VGA13h SW help I found where the problem comes. It was located on Resistor pack on the back of the card. I had unsolder / resolder it and rows vanished. :) The main problem was related some bank of memory was not set right since the resistor pack was not totally soldered for some pins. Here some pics. Not rows present Driver loaded 800x600 3Dfx Tood enabled 3Dfx HW slider full. It does not need to be set off. 3Dfx AA DX Display: Now I need a fresh Win98Se install and check how it works. :) Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 03.09.13 at 12:13:16
@osckhar:
Very good new my friend. You are the best :) I hope one day I can have one in working condition :( |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 03.09.13 at 13:44:39
Great 8-)
Still don't unterstand why the colors are "shifted"... Brightness looks good. Do you boost the brightness via the TFTs settings? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 04.09.13 at 11:30:46 Loeschzwerg wrote on 03.09.13 at 13:44:39:
Nope, all the configuration is standard (TFT). |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 03.10.13 at 11:16:52
Hi at all,
Here some nice progress with my Rampy #B009 card. ps. Next step 3DMark2000. 8-) Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by ultima on 04.10.13 at 13:29:51
looking good Asckhar, somewhat nice score in 3dmark.
for reference, I'm getting 6100 on a 5500 with my barton core @ 800Mhz. was the rampage chip supposed to be faster then the VSA-100 single, or also dual? and ofcourse drivers are to be considered, I think it is awesome that drivers are stable enough to actually finish 3dmark runs |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 06.10.13 at 07:34:24
Simply Great Osckhar !
Keep up the research.... I"m still wondering where do you guys keep finds those 3dfx beautys.... :D |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 06.10.13 at 18:33:10
The 3Dfx faeries bring them... :D ::)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 08.10.13 at 11:55:58
3DMark'99 SSHOTS: 8-)
Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 08.10.13 at 12:45:06
WTF, anisotropic filtering is working! That's great. I can see the drivers are doing some progress 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by EMPEROR on 08.10.13 at 12:49:38
Nice work! :o Can you make a video of the 3DMark? 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 08.10.13 at 18:41:17
just Great ! :D
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 09.10.13 at 01:38:00
Since someone is bound to ask sooner or later... ::)
UT99 screenies in GLiDE (or if not possible...OGL, or D3D...whatever) 8-) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 10.10.13 at 11:34:50
Hi,
Does it is familiar guys? 8-) ps. I will try to do some video and test UT GAME in D3D mode. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 10.10.13 at 18:35:55
SWEEEEET!!!111 :D 8-)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by EMPEROR on 10.10.13 at 20:58:41
Btw why does it say Rampage 2000? Does it have the Sage chip onboard?!?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 11.10.13 at 07:34:36
That's just the name the driver .inf gives. No Rampage + Sage card was ever build. It's possible that there excist (or existed...) some PCB drawings of later Rampage cards, but they never were produced. The development was still to early.
"Rampage 2000" also isn't correct, final naming scheme would've been Specter 1000/2000/3000. So it's more a Specter 1000... although this prototype would've never come to the market in that way. Rampage 2000 is just a prototype name if you ask me. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 11.10.13 at 11:14:05
@Loeschzwerg is right. The principal 3Dfx board engineer told about Rampage there were a 2nd Rampage rev. but never saw the light of day.
Here some amazing pics runing 3DMark2000 DX7. Card can't pass all the tests. Many BSODs I got but even so I was very surprised when I saw my Rampy runing them. Enjoy!! Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by G1nX on 11.10.13 at 11:34:35
Very nice results Oscar.
Looking forward to see more tests with your Rampy. Cheers, G1nX |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by EMPEROR on 11.10.13 at 11:39:39
@Loeschzwerg - thank you for the info. I supposed something wasn't right there, but had to ask :)
@osckhar - great shots! And more over - great work! Still want to see the action - aka videos :P |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 12.10.13 at 17:22:51 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 14.10.13 at 11:50:49
Yupe, RAMPAGE deserves to be a new to 3Dfxzone.it :)
Here some SShots UT in OpenGL mode. Quality is bad but games works smooth. Not lock ups. Anyway, it looks in Software mode though. NOTE- PICTURES BELOW ARE NOT IN OPNEGL MODE IF NOT SW MODE. UNREAL TOURNAMENT - OpenGL UNREAL TOURNAMENT - DX - Game locks up very often. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by paulpsomiadis on 14.10.13 at 17:46:00
The DirectX mode is actually rendering in DX, since it's engaging HAL in the Rampage...but that's why there's lockups due to alpha drivers... ::)
The OpenGL are just Software - you are correct (might be wise to edit and remove the OGL setup picture and just put that the screens are SW mode to avoid confusion...) :P |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 15.10.13 at 11:18:57
Right, later some test the SShots are taken in SW mode instead of OpenGL. :o
Unreal Tournament- In D3D mode is impossible to play more than 5sec. Card locks up all the time. Driver needs tune ups! Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by EMPEROR on 15.10.13 at 11:26:40
How come D3D is not working, when you were able to make a complete run on 3DMark?!?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 15.10.13 at 12:20:53 EMPEROR wrote on 15.10.13 at 11:26:40:
I was talking about UT. D3D is unstable. Yes, in 3DMark'99 was to able to pass all the test but in 3DMark2000 in some test card lock up. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 16.10.13 at 10:26:50
3DMark2001SE - DX8.1
Amazing to see the Rampy handling such benchmark and more surprised when I saw DOT3 Bump Mapping and Environment Bump Mapping. First 3Dfx card handling such tests. :D Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by EMPEROR on 16.10.13 at 11:17:50
Well now that's really impressive!!!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 16.10.13 at 12:13:14
I'll have to get together with you Oscar, I think the 3DMark tests won't run for me as they think the card doesn't have enough ram.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 16.10.13 at 19:00:22
great results Oscar !
What was the final score in 3dmark2001 ? :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 17.10.13 at 09:31:32
@Gary- we talk for private.
@Radu- Ramp locks up in some test. At the moment NOT way to end all the tests in same pass. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 21.10.13 at 12:47:29 THE LONGEST JOURNEY - D3D Surprised how nice the game look with Rampage board (sea and sky)and the most important, not lock up. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Tim on 21.10.13 at 15:31:44
Whoa, yes!
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 23.10.13 at 12:20:30
Here some comparative test- yupe, I know it is not fair for Rampage card, but we can see how it performs.
Test done:
Interesting to see Rampage potential. Only debugging the driver for getting a normal value in single Fill rate texturing. It could get more than 1000MTexel fill rate multi texturing (4 pipe x TMU) but here the king is V5-6000! 8-) Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 23.10.13 at 17:06:04
Great results !
Its good to see that you are working on the drivers :) Have you sent them to Gary too ? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 23.10.13 at 20:15:36
At the moment NO ONE is working in the driver! :'(
Yes, Gary already owns this vers. driver. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by ultima on 23.10.13 at 20:58:59
maybe you should ask Geri if he can help, ya never know
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 24.10.13 at 13:24:08 ultima wrote on 23.10.13 at 20:58:59:
I think Geri left 3Dfx projects. :-/ |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 24.10.13 at 17:03:50
I can get in touch with him, let"s see :)
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Geri on 24.10.13 at 17:14:07
i didnt left, just i not specifically develop anything for 3dfx
since there is d3d supported, some day i can vomit a titaniumgl version that have opengl 1.4 support. for that, i need a vnc connection, and somebody, who pressing reset button on demand. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 24.10.13 at 17:16:13
Thanks Geri :D
Osckhar ? ;) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 24.10.13 at 21:36:59
Thanks to both!!!! :)
Quote:
Somebody? Is enough me? :) When we start? :D Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Geri on 25.10.13 at 02:52:09
i have sent privmsg. i think i have picked you up on skype.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 25.10.13 at 11:58:25 Geri wrote on 24.10.13 at 17:14:07:
I could be available for that too, would just need to run a cable to my workshop. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 25.10.13 at 12:54:17
Well Osckhar i would be happy to help but......no rampage :(
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 01.12.13 at 16:36:43 |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 01.12.13 at 17:34:24 Loeschzwerg wrote on 01.12.13 at 16:36:43:
Thanks for your precious work. I will test it and let you know about the results with the Rampage B001. You would like pictures with my sony cybershot or with fraps? to see color lines synced. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 01.12.13 at 17:41:23
Cybershot please. Fraps grabs the image directly from the framebuffer of the GPU, so it grabs the digitally stored image before the DAC output.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 01.12.13 at 17:50:27 Loeschzwerg wrote on 01.12.13 at 17:41:23:
Ok thanks for the information. I will take them with my Sony device. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 02.12.13 at 18:51:18
@Loeschzwerg:
I have some informations to make a good dongle (this information comes from an engineer): You don’t need to know much to do this. Just a good amount of curiosity. To do this scientifically, I would do the following: - Find out what the values of RGB should be o Get a test pattern and display it for a good card (any decent video card) o Measure the output using a scope - Find out what the Rampage is doing o Repeat above, see the difference - Calculate the added boost needed with the correct resistor values To do this in an un-scientific matter: - Make the circuit below (I couldn’t find any schematics, but the bread board method is the best for experimentation) - Use POTs instead of resistors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer) o Before putting the POT, adjust them to be in the same range as the resistors in the bread board picture § This is how you find the value of the resistors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_color_code - Use the bread board with your Rampage and see how the colors look - Use the picture of the good pattern to see which color needs to be adjusted. - Adjust the pot for the color you want until it matches a good test pattern Remember that adjust things slowly and think good what you are trying to do before turning anything. It would be easy to fry the VGA port. What do you think? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 03.12.13 at 07:30:43
More or less I did exactly this ;) My last attempt was using variable resistors / potentoimeters (Dongle no. 4 before I send it to you).
The main problem is that color line red, green and blue aren't sync. Thats why the image is unsharp and the letters shifted. The traces on my Dongle PCB aren't the same lenght... my fault and will be corrected with next revision. But I think that this is causing the delay in the analog signaling. No matter how, it is still hard to do tests without having a working rampage card. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Jean-Pierre Subtil on 03.12.13 at 08:23:33
I would be interresting to add for example 250Ohms trim pots for each signal to get the best looking color, in a test board, then use 0.1% resistor with the right value.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 03.12.13 at 08:50:33
I had every main resistor of every line replaced with potentiometers. Only brightness/color intensity changed, but lines still weren't "sync". So I still think that this is a problem of my PCB design.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Jean-Pierre Subtil on 03.12.13 at 11:30:20
Ok, have you tried to replace all free space by ground connection, or ground layer ? (sorry for my english, i'm not good at it :D ).
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 03.12.13 at 13:45:36 Jean-Pierre Subtil wrote on 03.12.13 at 11:30:20:
That would eventually "clear" signal from noise and I think Dominik did it already at some point in the releasing of the dongle revisions. If color signals aren't perfectly synced as he stated I think we have a different problem here instead. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 03.12.13 at 14:09:18 goriath wrote on 03.12.13 at 13:45:36:
Correct :) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 03.12.13 at 21:47:00 Loeschzwerg wrote on 03.12.13 at 07:30:43:
Here is his answer: Interesting. My answer: - The trace lengths difference has to be a lot for this to happen but I guess it is possible. - I would be good to see the picture of the dongle you have to see the trace lengths. - Also you can try to short out (bypass the board trace) to see the changes on the screen. - Do you see the same problem in lower resolutions? So what is your answer? |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by goriath on 04.12.13 at 00:05:11
My answer, if anybody cares, is that would be easier for Dominik speak directly with the engineer so he can improve dongle performance and fix problems, rather than communicating through intermediaries that aren't addicted to the matter ::)
Would be better for him, for you and Oscar and anybody which Dominik is developing the dongle for. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 04.12.13 at 01:22:53
right, i will ask him.
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 04.12.13 at 08:42:44
Could you help to let me know the mosfet module number and resistor value of your rev A2 dongle please?
All components please (for references and values). |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 09.12.13 at 12:56:48
@Gary and Oscar:
Please change following resistors: R10/R11/R12 => 100 ohm R13/R14/R15 => 3.0k ohm You can also send me the dongle back so I can do it, I've got all values at home. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 09.12.13 at 14:11:15 Loeschzwerg wrote on 09.12.13 at 12:56:48:
Thanks Dominik for the info. I will solder the new smd components and I keep you informed. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 11.12.13 at 09:34:16
@Dominik,
I did some test before to add new resistor values perhaps it can help to get the perfect inverter adapter. ADDED 20/12/2013 VOLTAGE VALUES ARE NOT CORRECT 640X480 - FULL WHITE SCREEN NOT DONGLE: RED 0.397v GREEN 0.399v BLUE 0.404v DONGLE RED 0.638v GREEN 0.637v BLUE 0.637v 640X480 - FULL BLACK SCREEN NOT DONGLE: RED 1.373v GREEN 1.379v BLUE 1.395v DONGLE RED 0.013v GREEN 0.013v BLUE 0.013v 1280X1024 - FULL WHITE SCREEN NOT DONGLE: RED 0.393v GREEN 0.395v BLUE 0.400v DONGLE RED 0.634v GREEN 0.632v BLUE 0.632v 1280X1024 - FULL BLACK SCREEN NOT DONGLE: RED 1.387v GREEN 1.393v BLUE 1.409v DONGLE RED 0.005v GREEN 0.005v BLUE 0.005v Perhaps I am wrong but values voltage with DONGLE in full white screen must be 0.7 and in full black screen 0V. What seems to be good is 3 line colors with dongle has same voltage. Today wieh new resistor I will do same reference test. Regards, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 11.12.13 at 18:10:05
Thanks for the values :)
0.7v is the maximum when it comes to color intensity, a little lower just means the image won't be that bright. But ~70mV isn't that much to worry about. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 12.12.13 at 09:54:34
Dominik,
Added the value resistors and the inverted got an amazing improvement in DOS MODE. I have feeling the letters are still with brightness point. Now is possible to play games using Dongle in Windows. :) Yessssssssssssss!!!! What I noticied still is in desktop the icons has little of ghost, shadow. Today if find time free I will take voltage values. Thanks, Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 12.12.13 at 17:05:26
Perfect :) Please post some pictures if possible.
I know this "ghosting" effect what you mean. We will see what I can get out of the new design combined with a different transistor set. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 20.12.13 at 12:06:25
Yesterday I was checking voltage values dongle. I used a V4 agp for compare values in same test pattern. What I found is in black test pattern Dongle shows a high voltage value compared to V4-4500.
Not sure what you think guys, but If I unsolder the last resistor in output in 3 rails and add 3 pots trimmer until match the voltage uses the V4-4500 agp. Possibly this will not fix the SHIFTS, but colors brightness should be perfect. Anyway, before to buy the 3 pot trimmer I can try the following: The voltage value before last resitor is 0.56V (Not sure since I need to re-test it again), if I add a resistor 110 Ohm instead of 75 Ohm used. I will get a output voltage of 0.005V. Why not try... What do you think? Regards, Oscar. ps. The post above I wrote dated 11/12/2013 values voltage are not corrected. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Loeschzwerg on 20.12.13 at 12:52:07
Don't change the 75 ohm resistors, they are needed for the correct VGA impedance.
On my very first attempts I had: R10/R11/R12 => 100 ohm R13/R14/R15 => 3.0k ohm But I did too measure higher voltage on a black screen. That's why I went for: R10/R11/R12 => 75 ohm R13/R14/R15 => 2.7k ohm The voltages now were ok, but we know the colors weren't that good ;) So I went back for the first setting and those work quite well. I will write a white and a black screen test for DOS (320x240) and send them to you. (beginning next week) |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by osckhar on 20.12.13 at 13:22:39
Thanks for the info.
- Oscar. |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by trevormacro on 03.06.14 at 14:22:00
Hi,
I was absent during a small time. Any news about new dongle version to have a better quality image on screen? Thanks |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by Voodoo_Freak on 10.07.14 at 19:48:59
I am also interested if there is any progress. How about the dongle? Does it finally work?
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by gdonovan on 26.07.14 at 14:07:12 Voodoo_Freak wrote on 10.07.14 at 19:48:59:
Sorry been busy with work and getting ready for my wedding in September! |
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Title: Re: Rampage dongle Post by m14radu on 26.07.14 at 19:02:16
hey, congratulation Gary ! ;)
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