Finally 3dfx takes the same path as Nvida beta drivers each 2 weeks !!!

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jmcoreymv

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,264
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God some of you guys are just being d!ck to be that way. For once Hardware posts a positive 3dfx thread and you still rip on him for being negative, get a life.
 

Mikewarrior2

Diamond Member
Oct 20, 1999
7,132
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What's wrong with Beta Drivers? I've enjoyed beta nvidia drivers.

If I go with Rampage for my next card(and I may, now that the win2k drivers are fixed for 3dfx stuff :D), i'm sure i'll enjoy playing around with beta 3dfx drivers.

Yes, people have to deal with beta drivers, but that is a given when you install/download them. If you're afraid of beta, then install the WHQL drivers.



Mike
 

Rigoletto

Banned
Aug 6, 2000
1,207
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I'm not sure what a 3dfx zombie is. I think it's just a fatuous flame goad.
I have a V3 2000 and as far as I'm concerned it's great. It's mainly the price that stops me buying a 5500. I've got great 2D, fast 3D in 800x600 and no driver tantrums. If you play too many games maybe you HARDWARE are the zombie...
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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Hardware, why? Are you saying they like to prove you wrong often? Is that a 3dfx zombie?
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
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Is now the same with the nvidia leaked and the 3dfx released beta drivers!

Hardware, 3dfx's driver release strategy is completely different to nVidia's. 3dfx will typically release WQHL drivers around once every 1-2 months. In the meantime they will update their beta drivers and those that wan't to try them have the option of doing so. When the beta drivers have had all their bugs fixed they become WHQL.

This is nothing like nVidia, who are basically just constantly releasing beta drivers. When have nVidia ever had WHQL drivers? Or even official drivers for that matter? I doubt they ever have.
 

Zucchini

Banned
Dec 10, 1999
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but aren't we forgetting that 3dfx actually makes cards.. so they need official release drivers

nvidia just supplies chips right? Its up to the companies like creative and guillmot to release official drivers or something:p bah
 

Napalm

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 1999
2,050
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jmcoreymv

Get a clue. Hardware is one of the worst NVidiots polluting this board (not to mention that the boy is mental midget as evidenced by his continued trouble with correct linkage).

He has never posted anything positive about 3dfx (or any other manufacturer's product for that matter). This thread is quite passive aggressive - the message is that when 3dfx starts behaving like NVidia, then they are doing something well. I happen to think that the model of linking unfinished drivers so that 14 year old moron's can hose their systems is irresponsible. A responsible manufacturer updates drivers promptly to correct issues as they arise (unfortunately, I can't think of a single example of such a company) - they do not release unfinished crap every 2 weeks...


Napalm
 

Napalm

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 1999
2,050
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damned double posts - I guess that we are all mental midgets sometimes... ;)


Napalm
 

Soccerman

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,378
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heh..

actually, hardware this quick spurt of driver releases is doubtful to continue.

Before they had begun integrating Gigapixel technology into their drivers, they really had nothing to add, because they were as close to what 3dfx wanted them to be as is probably possible.

before you flame me for saying that they sucked (I agree the Win2K ones DID need improvement, and I think 3dfx saw that too), I'm talking basic Windows 9x just for now. in Anandtech's normal low resolution tests, where the video card does not really factor in for framerates, the V5 continually scores poorly.

there are 2 probable reasons.

A) Benskywalker has mentioned that the V4/5 series does not take advantage of the dual/quad pumping of the AGP bus like that V3 does (I don't know if this is true).

and B), 3dfx's drivers are focused for maximum performance at higher resolutions, as a side effect, they are slower in low res, and they don't vary as much in the low resolutions, thus adding to Dave's reasoning that the V5 is a good Quake 3 card.

either way, I can't wait to see Firingsquad release SOME benches on these last 2 releases of drivers..
 

Hardware

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,580
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ARGH now for all again !!!!!!!!!


Why are 3dfx releasing Beta drivers?
Because our customers have been asking us to do so.
As a company 3dfx are committed to providing the best levels of support we can. We extensively test each of our official drivers before releasing them to the public. This includes covering different CPU's, motherboards, applications and games. When combined with different OS's this becomes a significant task and takes a long time. This has frustrated a numbers of our end users who what 'action now'. So for those people who are prepared to take the risk we will provide drivers earlier in the cycle.

We also benefit, even with the extensive testing we do, we cannot possibly cover all the varied hardware and software combinations that exist. By monitoring your comments we can be made aware of potential release problems earlier.

Why has 3dfx not released beta drivers in the past?
Simple, we have been constrained by our contractual obligations to other organizations.

When can we expect the next Beta



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our plan is to release beta drivers every two to three weeks.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





When we are happy with the quality of the driver we will take it through the complete QA process and make it available as an official release on our web site.
 

jmcoreymv

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,264
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Thank you Napalm, I was well aware of that fact. Basically that means that Hardware is not allowed to post positive 3dfx stuff now? Jeez some people cant be pleased.
 

Digobick

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,467
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<< Basically that means that Hardware is not allowed to post positive 3dfx stuff now? Jeez some people cant be pleased. >>

To be honest I don't think any of his posts about 3Dfx are positive, no matter what they say. In this post for example, he's saying that 3Dfx should act more like nVidia if they want to make their customers happy. A biased spin on things, I know, but Hardware has a long ways to go until he proves me otherwise.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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Hardware may post neutral 3dfx news(with a spin to make nvidia always seem better), but he still posts all of his good old negative news too.
 

RoboTECH

Platinum Member
Jun 16, 2000
2,034
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I'm sure Hardware will be fine once his voice changes

Kids tend to be real awkward and unsure of themselves while going thru puberty

it'll be over shortly.

nothing to see here, move along, move along....
 

Doomguy

Platinum Member
May 28, 2000
2,389
1
81
Uh I'm using WHQL 6.34 drivers right now. Zoiah has them.

BFG: You seem to have a slight grudge against NVidia ever since you couldent get your mx to work. You have to realize it was those 3dfx drivers that hosed your system.
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
3,004
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Doomguy:

Uh I'm using WHQL 6.34 drivers right now. Zoiah has them.

Really? Are you sure their WHQL?

BFG: You seem to have a slight grudge against NVidia ever since you couldent get your mx to work.

I don't have a grudge at all. I've just realised that 3dfx aren't as bad as I once thought they were, so I am no longer biased against them. I still like nVidia but I will now freely admit they have faults when the situation warrants it.

You have to realize it was those 3dfx drivers that hosed your system.

Perhaps, but I doubt it since I did a really clean system sweep. But like I said before, I don't blame nVidia or 3dfx about it.

RoboTECH:

I'm sure Hardware will be fine once his voice changes

LOL! :D
You do realise he's supposedly 31 right?
 

holdencommodore

Golden Member
Nov 3, 2000
1,061
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Let's all CHILL!! :)
I had the official release - Detonator 3 (6.31) and it was causing big problems with Windows 98 SE shuting down -it would freeze. I was very secptical at downloading the newer beta 6.48 drivers as I was thinking of all kinds of probelms that would evolve. I eventually did, and they solved the problem - no more Scandisk's on a bad shutdown!!
Nothing to worry about after all!!! :p
 

Weyoun

Senior member
Aug 7, 2000
700
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now is it just me or hasnt nvidia released any drivers since their initial 7.xx release? I'm sure these things are gonna be sweet once they're out of beta stages, just like the 6.xx series, they were basically unusable in their first stage
 

holdencommodore

Golden Member
Nov 3, 2000
1,061
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Would the 7.17 be the latest - I have heard that it does not work well with DirectX 8 (I suppose that is why it is a beta!!!)
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
3,004
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Let's not forget 3dfx have finished WHQL Direct X 8 drivers for the V3/V4/V5. nVidia's 7.xx drivers are nowhere near completed.
 

RoboTECH

Platinum Member
Jun 16, 2000
2,034
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<sigh> some things never change...

&quot;Uh I'm using WHQL 6.34 drivers right now. Zoiah has them&quot;

1) The &quot;official&quot; latest Det3 drivers are 6.31, according to nvidia's own website. The 6.34's are &quot;leaked&quot; <chuckle>

from the GeForceFAQ:

&quot;6.34 - These drivers have been leaked and are available here: <snip linkage>&quot;

2) I'm almost positive that NO nvidia drivers are WHQL-certified. Always wondered why they don't bother doing this. I don't know if they just can't be bothered? But with their &quot;partnership&quot;, I really wonder what is up?

&quot;You seem to have a slight grudge against NVidia ever since you couldent get your mx to work. You have to realize it was those 3dfx drivers that hosed your system&quot;

YES!!!!! Ben's parrot is back!!! Honestly Doom, do you have an independent thought? I mean, do you come up with ANY ideas on your own, or do you just read and regurgitate?

FYI, after having a 5500 in my system, I stuck the GTS in after doing a complete 3dfx driver removal, and the GTS worked fine with 5.32.

Of course, the fact that so many other people have tons of issues with nvidia cards and DON'T use 3dfx cards has NOOOOOOOOTHING to do with anything, right?

BTW, there is a section in the GeForceFAQ about fuxored monitor refresh. Imagine that. :D

BFG: &quot;Let's not forget 3dfx have finished WHQL Direct X 8 drivers for the V3/V4/V5. nVidia's 7.xx drivers are nowhere near completed. &quot;

DAS' RIGHT NIPPLE-CHOPS!!! WH00000000000T!!!!!!

3dfx is on the ball. They had WHQL-certified DX8 drivers ON THE SAME DAY DX8 WAS RELEASED!

BTW, I wonder if one of the reasons nvidia is having &quot;issues&quot; with their DX8 drivers is because DX8 uses PROGRAMMABLE T&amp;L, not the hardcoded kind the GeForce's &quot;use&quot; (in 3dMark2000)?

D'OH!!!