V3's going to be discontinued?!?! Need your opinion's quick!!

[ssjgokou1]

I heard many rumors about how the v3's are going to be discontinued because of the v4's. I figure that it *will* happen because 3dfx figures that if someone wants to get something with 32bit colors, large textures, they will probably buy a v5, or a geforce GTS, but if they want a budget card, they will buy a v3, TNT, or Geforce SDR. For only $49.99 after all the rebates they are giving out for the v3's right now. So by eliminating the v3's, the only budget card from 3dfx (which can run glide, ect...)will be the v4, for $179.99-$199.99. But if they keep the v3's, then no one will ever want a v4, because the v5 is $50 around the corner, but for budget, the v3 2k is only $50, and will probably run glide games the same as the v4's will. The v3's might go down even more right after the v4's come out, then will soon be discontinued.

Tell me what you think.

 

[NFS4]

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDD move on 3dfx's part. Very bad. If the Voodoo 4 4500 is gonna be $160, they need to keep the Voodoo 3's at the low, low end to satisfy the bottom feeders

Besides, the V3 is still a potent chip and I was still using one on my Athlon system up until about a month and a half ago...

 

[Muerto]

WTF are they thinking?!?!? Or maybe they're not thinking, that could explain it. If they discontinue the V3's anyone on a budget with the slightest bit of sense will go buy a GF2 MX (infact most people will probably do that anyway).

Obviously 3dfx wants people to buy their newer more expensive products but they're not going to do that if they don't perform, which the V4 doesn't.

If they do get rid of the V3's then they better make some major price cuts to the V4 line. Either that or start declaring bankruptcy right now. Otherwise they're just delaying the inevitable.

 

[IceStorm]

They could just mean RETAIL V3's. I'd bet that "white box specials" will be around a while longer.

The V4/V5 were six months late. Don't expect them to stay 3dfx's performance parts for a year. Rampage should displace them in December (unless they really screw up again).

There's also a known component shortage for the V5. I wouldn't think they would shoot themselves in the foot at this stage in the game (well, at least with respect to the V3).

Just my $0.02

 

[Michael]

Will the V3's be discontinued? Eventually they will be, but right now 3dfx plans on having V3's for the low-end and the VSA-100 based products for the buyers above that.

Just like NVIDIA still sells the TNT2 even though they have released other chips since then.

Michael

 

[OneEng]

For beginners in the gaming market, the V3 was a fantastic chip (especially the Velocity 100) at a low price. When it was released, the V3 2000 was $135.00 and it was considered a high end card at that time. I can't understand a V4 4500 at a $160.00 price point. Then again, I can't understand ANY video card high or low end at $300.00 + !!!!!

I know there have been alot of Voodoo and 3dfx bashers around these parts, but the price to performance of the V3 has been remarkable. I will be very sad to see it go. I guess all I can do now is hope that the V4 falls in price quickly.

As an aside, It is quite amusing to rule deathmatch with a budget video card (V3 2000) and low end processor (K6-III 450). That combination works rather well in UT and Q3. It looks as if the Duron is to replace the K6 line as the budget processor, the big question I have is what will replace the V3 line???

 

[ltk007]

Aren't TNT2 getting really cheap now. I would rather get one of them than a V3. Plus the Viper II is pretty good for its low price.

 

[Pocatello]

The only reason for 3dfx to discontinue its voodoo 3 lines is when it's not profitable anymore.

 

[Jonny]

Stupid move 3dfx.

I agree with NFS4 and Muerto.

ltk007, V3's will be put in value systems, not top gamer systems. Therefore, they will be used by families, and kids. A TNT2 would not be a better choice due to driver problems and incompatiblity. V3's work with almost every game I have ever used, the first time. Thats really nice, especially if you hate giving people tech support 24 hours a day.

However, for a gamer like us, I agree with you, however, we will soon move on to bigger and better things. *cof* NV11

 

[Wizkid]

I agree with Jonny. The V3's are nice for putting in systems that you build for people without a lot of computer knowledge. They work with virtually every game and don't need much configuring. However, if they get replaced with the V4 for $160, then I will start putting in GeForce MX's or ATI cards

 

[ssjgokou1]

what is the Geforce MX? Is it a budget Geforce GTS? About 3dfx, yes you guys are right, and I am mad, but you got to understand that if someone was presented a v4 and a v3 ($170/$40) no one would over pay so much ($130) if they could buy a Geforce SDR, and a v3 for the same price as *just* the v4, especially if they play Glide and stuff. (I personally can play w/out 32bit color, but then I could use the Geforce SDR for 32bit color, and the v3 for OC'ing ) So 3dfx gots' to do something to sell thier posponed v4's

 

[Soccerman]

you know, I don't think the Geforce MX will really replace the V3. the V3 was a solid all around card, becuase it supported ALL games, cost sooo little, and of course, had good performance for the money. The geforce MX has good performance (except the RAM will bottleneck it down to Geforce SDR levels), and every other card that works good hasn't gotten down to that price point.

it's good that 3dfx moved on, they don't need the card. especially when they sell them at a loss for a WHILE now..

the V4 might come down in price (it better, for the performance it offers), but it will have to hit $150 levels to become a hit like the V3.

I think us V3'ers will just have to sit it out for a new low cost card (possibly the Geforce 1 if it ever comes down in price..), but even then, the compatability wasn't quite there. 3dfx cards RULE in compatability.

 

[ssjgokou1]

I see what you are saying, but I don't think that anyone *will* buy the v4 if they know that 3dfx discontinued the $40 v3's inspite, just so that they can sell their newer cards, I don't think that the v4 will ever (nor the gf SDR for that matter) drop to below $50 level for a while.

I don't know, but I don't think they are losing money, they are just giving away a $30 rebate which is for 2 mon promotion, unlike the v2's which have had their $30 rebate for a whole year (check the site, I belive it started 10/30/99-8/29/00 something like that. I mean if you look at it, the v3's are still $100, but places like OD which pricematch, and all those rebates that are flying all over the place equals a huge price drop. What about those OEM's you can't get a rebate for them, so 3dfx makes money off those.

 

[MadRat]

ATI, S3, Hi Val, and S&F sold alot of $40 video cards... look at the boat they are in now.

 

[techwanabe]

I haven't yet seen any specs for the Voodoo 4 card. I presently have a Voodoo 3 3000, but imagine the V4 is basically a warmed over V3? I don't have the cash or need yet to upgrade to the latest and greatest cards, but even the V5 looks a bit lackluster compared to the GF2 cards like CL Anialator.

Anyway, just for curiosity, what does the V4 offer over the V3 3k?

 

[ssjgokou1]

32bit color, 2kx2k textures, better rasturizer, better engine, a fan, some t-buffer effects.. That's about all.

Say, how much did you pay for your v3 3k? They run for $45 now if you pricematch with OD, I want to do this, but I already own a few voodoo's, I don't know if I should just get one because of the great price, since it will sit around, because I don't have any open computers that could use it, I will be basically stuck with a great cheap card!

Somehow I am more attracted to the expensive ($150+) cards, because I know that good technology can't be good if it's cheap, like the v3's, but they are cheap because of all the rebates, otherwise they are like $120 everywhere retail.

 

[Soccerman]

ssjgokou1

Well, thing is, people will get the V4 if it reduced in price, no questions there. I mean, if 3dfx takes the V3 away, and the V4 is reduced in price, it will be just as hot as the V3 was. so why worry?

V3 is being sold as a loss to 3dfx FYI.

 

[Michael]

Actually, V3's are sold at a profit. 3dfx made about 25% margins last quarter. They entered into some very poor deals with OEMs and got hurt badly when the memory prices really jumped last year.

3dfx is losing money, but that's from SG&A and R&D spending, not from the raw profitability of the V3. If they were selling more V3's, they would be profitable overall.

Michael

 

[sov05]

a V4 is a basicly a 32-bit enhanced v3, but it'll cost $150, even if 3dfx can lower it to $120 ish, people will still be able to get GF MX for the same money. If they are the same price, people choose the faster performing of the 2.

However, if they had kept the V3, it'd be whether u wanted a V3 for $50 or GF MX for $120, and a lot of people who only do lite gaming might choose v3. Some people will just go for the lowest name-brand video card, and that would be 3dfx. They lost all the costomers who wanted a decent card at a great price.


BAAAAAAAAAAAD choice 3dfx

 

[Soccerman]

actually the V4 has more then just 32 bit added on. the performance per chip is increased mhz-mhz compared to the Voodoo 3 chip. so you do get a small increase in performance, as well as 32 bit colour, 2048X2048 textures, and of course FXTC (for all you Quakers!). Don't even bother with FSAA with that card though.. I wonder how it'll overclock... hmm...

 

[NFS4]

<< I wonder how it'll overclock... hmm... >>


The Voodoo 5 5500 seems to top out at around 175MHz from the reviews I have seen. I'd expect the Voodoo 4 4500 to overclock just a tad better since it doesn't have the constraints of two chips running at an overclocked speed.

 

[Soccerman]

yeah that's what I was talking about NFS4.. the V4. the V5 5500 as we all know can go up to a max of around 170 to 175, a difference of 4 to 9 mhz (which translate's into 4 to 9 x 2(pipes) x 2(chips) mpixels/mtexels which means 16 to 36 extra Mpixels/Mtexels.

 

[Wolfie]

The whole reason my friend bought a Voodoo3 3000 was because of the price. If 3dfx stops making the voodoo3 then they will be in a big world of hurt. And I would start buying stock in NVIDIA.

Wolf

 

[Soccerman]

you know, I'm seriously convinced that 3dfx has been selling the Voodoo3 at a loss.

they won't be in any hurt, the Voodoo 4/5 series will support them fairly well, because it has good performance, and has the 3dfx brand name.

I wouldn't doubt the Voodoo 4 will go down to replace the Voodoo 3.

 

[Michael]

If you look at their financial statements (they're a public company), you'll see that they are not selling the V3 at a loss. They had some contracts with some OEMs that were at a loss, but those contracts are ended. Their gross margin (profit on card sales) was about 25% last quarter. They lost money because their other expenses were more than the profit they generated on the V3 sales.

Michael