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Hardware and Software
 WWW ConsortiumMicrosoftNetscapeIntelCreative LabsDiamond Multimedia
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STB Systems, Inc.ATI Technologies Inc.S3
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Video Card Stuff
You want more on Video Cards? Here it is;
Memory; You need either VRAM, WRAM or SGRAM, all 3 are good fast video memory.
Processor speed; This is the speed of the on-board RAMDAC processor. At least 175 MHz, 220 MHz is great.
Try to find a Video Card that has a separate chip for 2D and 3D functions. Very few cards run both types of applications well with one chip. The exception is the $199 (retail) STB Velocity 128/3D with 4MB RAM. 8MB version is available too. This card is the only one that I know of with one 2D/3D chip that does it's job well. The Hercules Stingray 128/3D, with 6MB of RAM is also a fine card at $249 (retail) with separate 3D chip set.
Keep this in mind, 3D is the main reason for upgrading your graphics board. You can't buy a card today that dosen't include 3D. However, VERY FEW, if any, deliver impressive results. Here's the big test. How does it look to you? Run all the benchmarks you want, the end result is how does the video look. Your eyes and ears are the final test, and you should form your opinions based on your highly accurate senses.
Below are last months benchmarks to compliment this article.
AGP; What is AGP? AGP stands for Accelerated Graphics Port, an Intel design that will change the face of video cards forever. Untill AGP, you were limited to data transfer rates of 33 MB per second on a PCI motherboard. Now, with the introduction of Intel's 440 LX chipset (available for Pentium II CPU's) you can have Ultra DMA for your hard drives and AGP for your video card. The big deal is that AGP transfers data at an amazing 528 MB per second, plus AGP can use the system's memory for 3D graphics. This bottleneck has been around for a long time and the fix is overdue. I wonder if the AGP was designed by Intel to sell the Pentium II CPU's? Ha, Ha, that's a good one. Will AGP spread to other chipset designs? Ask Intel where their sales are weak. Could AGP have been designed earlier, for say PCI motherboards? Does the sun shine? By the way, some of the new 3D games due out soon will need about 18 MB to 20 MB of storage for 3D textures, to look their best. So the use of system ram to help support the video card was required.
Memory; The card should have 4 MB and able to support 4 more later. 3D graphics (x,y and z axis) require 3 times more memory than 2D cards and large monitors require more too. So if you plan on heavy 3D CAD or rendering, or have a 20 inch monitor in 1024x768, 24-bit mode then start with 8 MB. If you can afford a 20 inch screen, you can afford 4 more megs.
3D Stuff; Direct 3D (part of Microsoft's DirectX 5.0) and Open GL are the interface standards to go for. Buy one that supports both, because Windows 95 supports both, that's why.
Drivers; Seems like I get some of these every year, or when DirectX is updated. So go with a name brand card, the upgrade drivers will be easy to find and easy to get.
Cost; From $100 to $1000, some of the best are from $200 to $400.
Recommendations; There are 2 ways to go, get good 2D now or get 3D now. No card runs both well. The best 3D cards seem to be the Diamond Viper 3D and the STB Velocity 128. The best 2D cards are the ATI brand like the Xpert @ Work or Number Nine 3D. These cards will run all 2D and 3D applications, just not as well as the other. My choices are underlined, just in time for Christmas!
2-D Benchmark Tests; ZD Labs, 11-15-97
Larger is better, 1,024x768 mode
16bit 24bit 32bit
AccelGraphics AccelStar 17.2 106 N/A
ATI All-In-Wonder Pro 16.2 107 16.4
ATI Xpert@Play 16.5 105 16.4
ATI Xpert @Work 16.9 108 16.5
BioStar Venus 3D 15.7 N/A N/A
Canopus Total3D 128 16.6 N/A
Diamond Fire GL 1000 17.3 106 N/A
Diamond Stealth II S220 16.5 N/A N/A
Diamond Viper V330 16.5 N/A N/A
ELSA GLoria Synergy 17.2 N/A N/A
ELSA Winner 2000/Office 17.3 105 N/A
Hercules Dynamite 3D/GL 17.1 106 15.9
Hercules Stingray128/3D 16.8 17 N/A
Intergraph Intense3DVodo 15.8 16 N/A
Jazz Adrenaline Rush3D 15.4 19 N/A
Leadtek WinFast 3D L23 16.4 17 N/A
Matrox Millennium II 17.1 108 N/A
Metabyte Gia 3D DX 17.1 17 16.2
No. Nine Revolution 3D 17.4 114 N/A
STB Nitro 3D 15.9 N/A 15.1
STB Velocity 128 16.7 18 N/A
VideoLogic Apocalypse5 16.9 18 16.3
AGP CARDS
16bit 24bit 32bit
AccelGraphics AccelStar 21.5 120 N/A
ASUS 3DexPlorer 3000 21 112 N/A
ATI All-In-Wonder Pro 22 137 N/A
ATI Xpert @Play 21.7 137 N/A
ATI Xpert @Work 22.1 137 N/A
Diamond Fire GL 1000 22.2 131 N/A
Diamond Viper V330 21.6 112 N/A
Matrox Millennium II 22.1 137 21
No. Nine Revolution3D 22.5 144 N/A
STB Velocity 128 21.3 111 N/A
3-D Benchmark Tests; (Pentium 233)
640x480 800x600
AccelGraphics Accel Star II 218 194
ATI All-In-Wonder Pro 224 221
ATI Xpert @Play 220 220
ATI Xpert @Work 224 220
BioStar Venus 3D Rush 216 158
Canopus Total3D 128V 272 252
Diamond Fire GL 1000 Pro 206 179
Diamond Stealth II S220 256 198
Diamond Viper V330 278 260
ELSA GLoria Synergy 204 166
ELSA Winner 2000/Office 218 186
Hercules Dynamite 3D/GL 223 201
Hercules Stingray 128/3D 224 170
Intergraph Intense 3D Voodoo 224 185
Jazz Adrenaline Rush 3D 215 156
Leadtek WinFast 3D L2300 208 182
Number Nine Revolution 3D 178 120
STB Velocity 128 270 252
AGP Cards (Pentium II/266 test-bed)
640x480 800x600
AccelGraphics AccelStar II 341 302
ASUS 3DexPlorer 3000 478 435
ATI All-In-Wonder 367 337
ATI Xpert @Play 353 303
ATI Xpert @Work 368 341
Diamond Fire GL 1000 Pro 375 311
Diamond Viper V330 493 447
Number Nine Revolution 3D 213 141
STB Velocity 128 474 434
