Why would you want to mod a geforce3 into Quadro DCC?

[Kraid2xd]

I'm just wondering as to what would be the benefits/disadvantages of doing such a mod to say, a geforce3 ti200....

 

[Rand]

Support for a few extra features that are disabled by default on GF cards, occasionaly very slightly superior rendering quality... but this is only under very specific instances.
Significantly better performance in CAD/3D Modelling/Mechanical engineering applications etc etc.

The disadvantage, is that some of the features that the Quadro enables support for can reduce performance in a small handful of games, and there may be compatibility issues with an equally small number of games that mis-detect the card as a GF and improperly utilize it's features.

Basically, if your doing any 3D design work then the mod is most definitely worth it.... if your not, then there is no real benefit at all and a few slight disadvantages.


If you want me to be more specific about the features enabled by the Quadro and the relative impact of those I can, but the above is the basic gist of it.

 

[Kraid2xd]

hmmm... the rendering quality improvement is tempting... but I'd rather not take the risks/face the disadvantages... BUT, since the nvidia detonator drivers are all integrated for the entire geforce line, are there hacks out there that can enable features that are reserved for quadro cards without actaully having to physically alter the card itself?

 

[Rand]

<< hmmm... the rendering quality improvement is tempting... >>



That's only in VERY specific instances however, and the difference is quite minimal to begin with... the few areas in which there would be any discernable difference are not things that the average home user would ever utilize anyway.



<< are there hacks out there that can enable features that are reserved for quadro cards without actaully having to physically alter the card itself? >>



There is the SoftQuadro program, which will effectively give you most of the benefits and disadvantages of the Quadro without physically modifying your card.
Besides that you can enable a few specific features without making the broad change from GeForce to Quadro.....
You can enable support for anti-aliased lines via NVMax and a few other such proggies, in some instances you may take a small performancce hit from that.
I believe there is a reg hak that can force the GeForce to use OpenGL ICD to use rendering paths more specifically optimized for the Quadro... but that can cause severe compatibility issues unless you enable the majority of the Quadro features.