Hi friends!

The motherboard of my 3dfx gaming pc only have three PCI slots, and one AGP. The PCI are filled with my recently adquired Voodoo1, a S3 Virge for 2D and a PCI to USB card (Because the motherboard haven't got any USB ports).

I want to connect the pc on LAN, so I removed the S3 and plugged a Realtek network card instead. For 2D graphics I plugged a SiS 6326 AGP card (This is a shit of a card, but I want it only for 2D, so...).
With this configuration I ran 3dmark99 for testing and I get surprised when I saw 200 less points than before with the other config.
I also tested Quake 3 timedemo, and I got 16fps (I get 20 fps with the other config).

So, the Voodoo became noticeable slower with this configuration! :o
I also noticed that the graphics in Quake3 are much darker than before.

Then, I reverted to original configuration, with the Virge, and the performance is restored!

What's going on? Isn't supposed that the Voodoo is totally independient when on 3D mode? Why I get a reduction of performance and darker graphics?  :-?

Regards!

Which motherboard do you have? Did you install the chipset drivers and is the AGP-port working properly?

The motherboard is a Superpower A586B, Socket 7 with AMD K6-2, Aladdin V chipset, 100 MHz FSB.

I haven't installed any motherboard drivers but Aladdin V AGP controller appears in Windows device manager.

AGP port seems to be working ok. I've even been using it with Voodoo 3 AGP with no problems.

Try changing the slot where Voodoo is installed, it might have some resources shared with the AGP slot.

I tought about it but I can't put the Voodoo in other slot because the PCI are in front of and very near to the processor's heatsink in my motherboard, and the card is too long.

I can only put the Voodoo in the slot nearer to the ISAs. In this slot, the card just passes behind the heatsink.

Well, I think these photos explain it better:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=F5054C7071DF92B9!711&authkey=!AGjDyBtetC7anMQ&v=3&ithint=photo%2c.jpg

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=F5054C7071DF92B9!710&authkey=!ABruQbh0-Pcer9Q&v=3&ithint=photo%2c.jpg

I have tested again with the AGP card, but I removed the network card (To discard it) and reinstalled the motherboard AGP drivers. No luck... The same performance loss.
I think it is very strange, because the AGP port should be fully independient from the PCI.

Well, I think I will give up and use the S3 Virge. But I am so courious about why an AGP card can disrupt the Voodoo PCI performance...

does 3dmark99 let you break out the tests?

which test is it specifically slowing down on?

my first guess is the AGP card actually uses up more CPU or memory resources.. but you shoudl be able to tell by looking at the indivdiual test results