http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24934&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24937&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24940&g2_serialNumber=1

8232DB systems with Tyan dual slot 1 motherboard, 933 mhz CPU's, 256 MB of Corsair ram, GF2MX with 32 MB as primary graphics device, Sony CD-Rom drive, Super Floppy IDE drive, IDE main drive (missing) with removable cradle.

Dual 8132 boards with "big" power board =)

The Systems also have "Soft Reality Inc" pass thorugh graphics board with S.R. dongle key.

Machines power up, have not had a chance to load and OS and test the boards yet.

More pics when I get home!

Here is some information on the 8232 machines and Soft Reality Inc.-

http://www.quantum3d.com/press/PDF/archive/Q3D%20-%20SoftReality%20COFT%20FORD%20IITSEC%202001%20Final.pdf

Do these have 2 AAlchemy boards in them?

wrote on 05.09.07 at 14:03:19:

Do these have 2 AAlchemy boards in them?

Yes- Two 8132 boards with internal bridge connecting them for single 3D output.

I'm affraid to ask but: How many AAlchemy 8xxx boards do you have in total?

Well, just with these 2 systems there is four.

Is it yours ?

If so can you post some more pictures including the warning stickers?

wrote on 05.09.07 at 17:12:43:

Is it yours ? If so can you post some more pictures including the warning stickers?

1) Yes, they are mine, the postman delivered them yesterday.

2) I will post more pictures when I get off work in 6 hours.

AWESOMENESS! 8)

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24949&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24952&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24961&g2_serialNumber=2

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24955&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24964&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24967&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24970&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24973&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24976&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24979&g2_serialNumber=1

*dribble* :o :-X

Do I have to say more?

Impressive!!! Nice catch Gary!!!  :-X

Oscar

I wonder how the image quality would be when you put all 4 in the same machine ;D

wrote on 05.09.07 at 23:18:14:

I wonder how the image quality would be when you put all 4 in the same machine ;D

I see fire coming out the power supply!

wrote on 05.09.07 at 23:19:09:

I see fire coming out the power supply!

Perhaps it would be wise to turn the machine of then? :P ;D

We have dual board function!!!

No problems with OpenGVS demos, Quake3 will not run with Wicked3d driver, trying the native AA5 driver now.

Update #2 Doesn't seem to like anything aside from OpenGVS in dual board mode, driver issue I guess  ;D

Correction- My opengl32 file was broke, I'll retest later.

Update #3 Both board sets work perfect!

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24981&g2_serialNumber=1

For some reason, I feel I'm going to regret this picture.

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24983&g2_serialNumber=1

wrote on 06.09.07 at 01:08:30:

image For some reason, I feel I'm going to regret this picture.

You have too much money, give me some! ;D

wrote on 06.09.07 at 11:33:05:

You have too much money, give me some! ;D

Hah, I wish! Some of these purchases have been on credit card.

Actually, one of the systems is going to get sold off once I'm done evaluating the pair and so will some of the boards once they are tested... can't afford nor desire so much of the same.

I have a pile of stuff to sell/trade in the next few weeks, just a matter of going thorugh and seeing what has to go.

There is a Voodoo volts board, a Barracuda, 5500 with dual VGA, a 200sbi with one chipset, an X-24, 5500 AGPx4, a Graphite box, a Quicksilver II box and a pile of pre-production boards.

wrote on 06.09.07 at 11:39:38:

There is a Voodoo volts board, a Barracuda, 5500 with dual VGA, a 200sbi with one chipset, an X-24, 5500 AGPx4, a Graphite box, a Quicksilver II box and a pile of pre-production boards.

i take it all ::)

wrote on 06.09.07 at 12:00:58:

i take it all ::)

Don't be greedy, I see some stuff I'm interested in too ;D

LOL! The 8232DB AAlchemy even comes with "original dust"... ;D

...are you gonna' clean it up @Gary? ???

(I hope so - dust is BAAAD!) :P

Let us know (with screenshots) if you get all four boards to work as a unit! 8)

...and screenies of any games that...possibly...might...work. ;)

I'll be cleaning one up, the other I'm not so worried about.

Four board operation is possible but not supported by the drivers nor the power supply =)

I think he meant hooking up the two systems via the network connectors. ;) I know, it's "just" for multiscreen but maybe you have the chance to try this.

wrote on 06.09.07 at 12:15:32:

Don't be greedy, I see some stuff I'm interested in too ;D

So am I ;D

@ gary:

AWESOME systems, the pic with all the Boards together just makes me dizzy :o ;D

Well I'll be buggered- So far the only "non-sim" software I have been able to run with the dual board set is....

GLQuake with the Wicked3d driver! How funny is that?

Did some back to back testing with the single board setup, the single board runs everything, the dual board just GLQuake with the Wicked driver.

Hmm...then how can we be sure it's actually using BOTH boards for GLQuake... ???

...it might only be using one - maybe that's why it runs? ???

Such picky hardware! :-/

wrote on 08.09.07 at 06:57:20:

Hmm...then how can we be sure it's actually using BOTH boards for GLQuake... ???

LED's at the top of both boards are flashing indicating that they are working while rendering.

wrote on 08.09.07 at 06:57:20:

Such picky hardware! :-/

Well it is designed for different applications then what we run ;-)

Like...NOT games! :D

OMG LOL! ;D

wrote on 08.09.07 at 03:01:12:

Did some back to back testing with the single board setup, the single board runs everything, the dual board just GLQuake with the Wicked driver.

No problem. Just make sure QLQuake is loaded and functioning with both boards before you ship me the extra unit 8)

I'll help you pay those pesky credid cards off ;D

Sheeze I was only kiddin'

I hate to be responsible for killin' a thread :-[



How is are they working?

Have you been able to link them together on a SwapLock ring?

lol Gamma ::)

I hope to see an update on your site soon Gary, man i loved going there and finding new things to read every couple weeks, i feel so greedy

wrote on 12.09.07 at 04:20:19:

How is are they working?

Court was this week, little time at the moment for tinkering I'm afraid.

I need to get a page up for the new merc system and add some other items that were picked up here and there before working on a 8232 page too.

I have a question on the naming of AAlchemy.

First number (4 with V3 and 8 with VSA) indicates the number of chips?

Second number indicates the number of boards in the machine? (1 - 4)

Third + Fourth number indicate the amount of memory. But is this per chip or in total?

jip

number of chip
how many cards
memory per chip



8232
8Chips x 2board with 32MB per chip

8164
8 Chips one baord with 64MB per chip

like Voodoo Graphics and Voodoo2
8440 for a SBi (first nuber is Framebuffer OF ALL CHIPSETS) next 3 is MB per TMU

wrote on 12.09.07 at 14:01:21:

like Voodoo Graphics and Voodoo2 8440 for a SBi (first nuber is Framebuffer OF ALL CHIPSETS) next 3 is MB per TMU

I guess that would make the Mercury System a 32440 :o

One 8232DB system is up and running, passed 3 hour ram testing, Win2k updating now =)

Both systems up and functioning- One had some bad ram, the other would not boot of the cd-rom till I flashed the bios to the latest build.

Good news is both systems work, the bad news is one of the power supplies seems fussy and will not power up the AA5 board till it has been running for a while.

UGH! I hope it's not a case of...

"Send away PSU for repair"

...yet again!

I remember you said that getting the last PSU repaired for one of those things cost a fortune!

...if you can, check the capacitors in the PSU...could be bad caps...

...if not then it's the transformer...and it'll be send away time!

GROAN!

Not overly worried about it, the second unit will be for sale as it sits and the new owner can work on tuning up the power supply.

Might be something simple, I may even pop the cover off and take a look about.

Cleaned things up a bit-

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26399&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26405&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26402&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26408&g2_serialNumber=1

I don't like dust.

wrote on 13.09.07 at 02:29:47:

Good news is both systems work, the bad news is one of the power supplies seems fussy and will not power up the AA5 board till it has been running for a while.

sounds only like some capacitors ;) nothing spectacular

normally if someone has this problem with power supplies that won't power up till they are warm, you can use a hair dryer ;) (i'm not joking !) but in case of this hardware masterpiece it's a bit too Tim Taylor like  ;D

oh man i need a computer with these broken capacitors, just to heat it up like some old tubes before running :D

The sistem look's like a new one !
How did u manage to clean so good the components ???

;)

Quote:

oh man i need a computer with these broken capacitors, just to heat it up like some old tubes before running

Broken caps are EVIL!

They can - and DO EXPLODE!!! (I've seen it!)

However, you can get mainboards that have built in audio with a Pre-amp section that uses Valves.

ASUS (bless them) did a DUAL valve Stereo Pre-Amp on one of their boards...

I'd LOVE to own one of them!

wrote on 16.09.07 at 18:02:07:

The sistem look's like a new one ! How did u manage to clean so good the components ??? ;)

Compressed air and a very soft 1" natural bristle paintbrush works wonders.

A few more pics tonight, I reinstalled the boards last night.

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26483&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26485&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26487&g2_serialNumber=1

Youtube video showing system running and properties-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gS0QrNHUtE

very nice  ;D

OMG! That PCI Devices list ;D

VSA-100 out the wazoo! 8)

But D@MN that thing is LOUD! :o

Wheeee - superfastmercuryquantum3ddemos...LOL! ;D

That's a noisy Monster.. ;D.
I did'n see so many VSA chip in a system before...just amazing !!!!!

This is SICKO! :o *drool*

I can imagine how loud they are - I work as IT-specialist so from time to time we have 19"-servers to install, too, they are also very loud, but they don't have that brutal graphics power as those babies have, it's rather CPU- and memory-power. ;)

Running OpenGVS demos-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjurke9x7KA

Do you need that hardware lock (Dongle) on the printer port for the AA to run?

runs very fast

when i run the mercury w/o v-sync it runs also fast but its looks bad,
maybe my crt monitor?

wrote on 29.09.07 at 02:59:20:

Do you need that hardware lock (Dongle) on the printer port for the AA to run?

No- The dongle would be for some form of proprietary software from Soft Reality.

wrote on 29.09.07 at 06:20:05:

funs very fast when i run the mercury w(o v-sync it runs also fast but its looks bad, maybe my crt monitor?

Maybe, I was just testing this with an old 800 x 600 LCD. The quicktime video converted to FLV movie really doesn't do it justice.

Perhaps one day I'll upload a large version of the demo running.

I'd rather see a hires video of it running whichever OGL game you can get to work.

Also preferably a TIMEDEMO if it's Quake (will give us performance comparison)