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Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB (Read 1556 times)
gamma742
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #30 - 05.01.07 at 02:00:47
 
Hmm... Really!

I thought the Primary Image was a 16MB card.

4 MB TMU X 1 = 4
4 MB FBI X 3 = 12
Total Memory =16

I could be wrong Undecided

What configuration do you think it has?
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #31 - 05.01.07 at 02:11:43
 
Quote:
maybe the because it would cost 3Dfx too much money, production wise.


Maybe it simply determined not to be required.

A product with no market so to speak.
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #32 - 05.01.07 at 02:16:32
 
Quote:
Hmm... Really!

I thought the Primary Image was a 16MB card.


Nay, 64MB if I recall.

They were sold in 32, 64 and 128MB configurations.
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #33 - 05.01.07 at 15:06:31
 
Gary

Your PI card is a 64MB card ???

I thought it was a 32MB configured similar to a X-24 only set up as follows:

4 MB TMU X 1 = 4
4 MB FBI X 3 = 12
Total Memory =16

SLIed of course like a X-24 so the above times two equalling 32MB.
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #34 - 18.01.07 at 17:03:46
 
A Voodoo1 for PC with 4Mb for FBI and 4MB for TMU should be easy enough possible to mod from a regular 2Mb+2Mb card for someone who has one Village Tronic
Mac Magic 8MB to study the PCB traces (and to suply the bigger RAM chips if there is no other source) but there is no point for that work, right?
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #35 - 27.01.07 at 07:57:41
 
Quote:
Something else board level might be required that I'm not aware of, if you want the board I'll see if I can dig it out.



I found no Bruce pinout over the internet; if anyone has the Databook for the Voodoo2 please share it. The problem is that higher density memory modules, in this case the 512x16 EDO, 1MB, rather than the orriginal 256x16 EDO 512Kb, have a supplementar adress pin (A9) that has to be connected to the TMU. Sure, it has to be linked with a resistor to the RAM controller, like the other A0 to A9 lines are, but the problem is if the Bruce chip has the right pin. I have a couple of deffective Voodoo2's to be fixed (one most probably only has a bad transistor to be changed, but other one I guess that it has faulty RAM chips so I do not think that I will try to get replacement memory for it). I see no other way that I un-solder one TMU to see if in each section reserved for memory adresses it has not connected pins that could be reserved for the A9 signaling. If would it be in each proper place only one NC pin, this would be the only possibility to connect it. As simply as that in the previous sittuation: if the NC pin is reserved for A9, then it will be possible to have 8Mb Ram for each TMU, if not, the mod will not work. I am sorry, but without the official pinout, reverse searching blindly is the only way that I see...
But because Gary allready has 1Mb memory modules soldered on a Voodoo2 PCB, and he is skilled in hot-air soldering with the heat-gun, the best way would be for the first one who will un-solder a Bruce chip out of a Voodoo2 PCB to send the results of his research to Gary (or maybe gdonovan will do all the job himself), so he will connect with external conductors each A9 adress from the RAM chips to the TMU.
That is, sure, if Bruces even have NC pins on RAM controller adresses zones. I have no time to study the issue soon; all that I say now are only based on a quick, fast, inspection with the multimeter, and might be pure nonsense, expcept for the hard fact that you have to connect the supplementar adress (with it's serial resistor), or else 1Mb memory modules will not work for a Voodoo2.
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #36 - 29.01.07 at 14:24:49
 
Unfortunately, not much activity over this topic as I see... Too bad...
I had no time yet over the weekend to have a look at my Voodoo2's, but is my personal oppinion that there is for sure a pin for the A9 line on the TMUs, because even Voodoo Graphics (Voodoo1) could have been produced with 1Mb RAM chips, as is the case with VillageTronic Mac Magic with 8Mb, and because Voodoo2 was a progress from it, then I see no reason for 3DFX to cut support for 512x16 memory modules with this product.
Just for my satisfaction, I would better work to make a 8Mb/TMU for a Voodoo2 than for a 64Mb/VSA100 mod.
There were a few years ago on the market some models of SiS 6326 graphics cards with 4MB and with 8Mb of EDO RAM, with 1Mb chips mounted, that would be good donnors for this project, and other brands might be out-there too. Sure, we will need 4 of the 4Mb verssion items or 2 of the 8Mb cards for every single Voodoo2 to be modded and they might be hard to get, unfortunately...
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #37 - 30.01.07 at 00:48:57
 
@Komponent

Sorry I think I killed the thread Embarrassed




Quote:
Gary

Your PI card is a 64MB card ???

I thought it was a 32MB configured similar to a X-24 only set up as follows:

4 MB TMU X 1 = 4
4 MB FBI X 3 = 12
Total Memory =16

SLIed of course like a X-24 so the above times two equalling 32MB.



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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #38 - 30.01.07 at 06:31:40
 
heres a comdex release on the v2
A bit of history and inline with what Gary said

http://www.wave-report.com/archives/1998/97340801.htm

Quote:

Maybe it simply determined not to be required.

A product with no market so to speak.


`Voodoo 2 will not be a long term product '

3Dfx

Voodoo 2 came back from metal changes just before COMDEX. Announcements
by card companies with Voodoo products include: Creative, Diamond, Jazz,
and shown on the floor is Orchid. Of course there is Quantum 3D.

3Dfx sees this chip set and implementation being narrowly focused on the
avid gamer and vis-sim market. They expect no OEM wins other than to meet
this niche market. They expect to get the cards using this product to
market using retail, system integrators and companies focusing on BTO.

The ISV response has been very positive with 24 indicating they will do
something special to leverage the chip. It is also interesting that the
card companies are thinking about raising the bar and implementing 8MB
systems and not the minimum 6MB designs.
One of the reasons is that this
would allow for 16 bit systems with double buffer and z on a 800 X 600
display. It is 3Dfx's view that the best target for the gaming experience
is 800 X 600 at 60f/s. They see little advantage to go to 1024 X 768.
Thus, with this as a target the game designer can focus on 15,000 to
30,000 triangles per frame to maintain the 60 f/s rate. At this rate they
can support two textures per triangle and alpha blending, filtering and
fog with no penalty. They see the point that 3Dfx is delivering raw
performance that no other company can. "You can't get it anywhere else."

3Dfx has again done a very effective job of delivering on the promise of
setting the bar in game performance. If you want raw power which game
developers have avidly supported 3Dfx is where the action continues to
be.

It is also interesting that Voodoo 2 is the Sega chip solution that got
displaced by NEC and PowerVR. What 3Dfx has done is to take its loss with
Sega and used it as a lever to raise the bar in the PC space.
Although
Voodoo 2 will not be a long term product
and it, in its most effective
implementation, is a multiple card solution, 3Dfx has reinforced the
brand name identity it has created. That is, come to us for the fastest
and most capable game 3D engine. Good marketing and execution in the face
of adversity. It may also be good financially if they win in the lawsuit
against Sega, NEC and VideoLogic.
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #39 - 30.01.07 at 14:10:34
 
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #40 - 30.01.07 at 14:32:19
 
just 2 more this place has some great info

Quantum 3d simulators

http://www.wave-report.com/archives/1998/97350201.htm

Quantum 3d VSA-100 AAlchemy

http://www.wave-report.com/archives/2001/01030301.htm

sorry about the NVIDIA bit


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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #41 - 24.05.07 at 02:47:30
 
To Komponent:

Some V2 12MB models are one-sided cards ... and they must have 1MB modules of RAM.
I can send (by mail) you scan of this cards if you interested in.
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #42 - 24.05.07 at 05:18:11
 
Quote:
To Komponent:

Some V2 12MB models are one-sided cards ... and they must have 1MB modules of RAM.
I can send (by mail) you scan of this cards if you interested in.


Hey, sure thing; I would very much like to see those pics. Please take both front and back side images of such cards. My e-mail is Komponent "at" gmail.com But better upload the pics and share them to everyone.
Allthough you might have to check by yourself with a multimeter for the pins on the TMUs where the extra adress traces connect from the RAM chips, because there is little one can see at a visual inspection only...
The regular 12Mb Voodoo2's are built on the "piggy-back" way, that is half of the memory modules share the signal traces with the other half, but they are selected in use by dedicated RAS pins. If a Voodoo2 card has 12Mb out of 1Mb modules, then extra 1Mb modules can be soldered ontop of the first ones except for the RAS traces that will have to be connected with external wires to theyr pins on the TMUs.
But I suspect that the most important problem with modding Voodoo1/2 cards is that the configuration is set by hardware strappings, because those cards have no BIOS. It would be a hard job, because the refference technical specs are not available, as I know, so it must be done by trial and error way...
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« Last Edit: 24.05.07 at 05:26:03 by Komponent »  
 
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #43 - 24.05.07 at 11:30:17
 
I'll have a look at my voodoo 2's as well this afternoon, I seem to recall one of them having only ram chips on 1 side, but still being 12MB.

If so, I'll post pics as well. any particular place on the pcb that needs a close up??
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Re: Aopen PA2000 voodoo2 16MB
Reply #44 - 24.05.07 at 11:50:54
 
Quote:
I'll have a look at my voodoo 2's as well this afternoon, I seem to recall one of them having only ram chips on 1 side, but still being 12MB.
If so, I'll post pics as well. any particular place on the pcb that needs a close up??


Yes, please do check for that card if it realy is with 12Mb from 12 chips of RAM of 1Mb each. If this is for real, then take a couple of pics with the whole card and with a close-up of the memory modules. I am sorry, I did not know about those Voodoo2 models.
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