Very Computer

I hear that the Diamond Stealth 64 Video VRAM (S3-968) is actually
Linux-friendly and is a very nice video card.  Other than the limited
motion video playback acceleration, what other advantages, if any,
does this card (or any other Linux compatible S3-968 card) offer
over an AT mach64 based card?  There is a computer show nearby
this weekend so I'm planning to buy soon.  I know that 2MB VRAM
mach64 cards sell there for around $225 but I have yet to find
an S3-968 based board.

Thanks for your help,
Andy

--
Andrew Krenz  KE6BIP

http://eci2.ucsb.edu/~krenz/

   If your primary operating system is OS2 warp, then get the ATI.
   There is direct support for the Mach64 chipset within the OS
   itself.  Diamond is notoriously known for not being OS/2 friendly.
   For Linux, get the Diamond.  Most versions of Linux do not have
   support for the Mach64 chipset.  I couldn' t get X-windows
   installed because there were no drivers for my ATI Graphics Pro
   Turbo.  It was a little while ago when Diamond reversed its
   position agains Linux, and now most versions of Linux will support
   Diamond cards.  For DOS/Windows, it's a toss-up.  For Solaris X86
   or Nextstep for Intel, I would recommend the ATI.  For NT, I am
   clueless.

XFree86 3.1.1 supports the Mach 64.  Unfortunately, the default driver
limits the clock to 80 MHz, which isn't enough to run 1280x1024 at a
reasonable frequency.  My board supports 135 MHz, so I upped it (don't
remember the source file).

ATI has apparently been very cooperative with the XFree86 project.
Their Windows driver is also very solid (except for the notorious
Quicktime problem, and since I don't actually play Myst, it doesn't
bother me).

--

There is one and has been for a while. I ordered my system with Linux
installed with this card and it worked pretty well. Had I not pulled a dumb
mistake and wiped the partion by mistake I'd have sent you the config for it.
As it is now, I use the Accelerated X drivers and have had no problems with
them at all. They are worth the $99 they cost in my book.

: ATI has apparently been very cooperative with the XFree86 project.
: Their Windows driver is also very solid (except for the notorious
: Quicktime problem, and since I don't actually play Myst, it doesn't
: bother me).

This I hadn't heard about. Please elaborate. IT sounds like you're saying I
can't play Myst on my system. If not I'll live I suppose but I was thinking of
buying it and won't till I find out the scoop on this.

        I am currently using an ATI graphics eXpression 2MB DRAM PCI which
works pretty well using the XFree86 3.1.1 Mach64 server, but it's not
perfect.  Are you finding any problems with the server itself?  I get
garbage on the screen when switching between VCs and X-Windows.

Mike.

--
====================================================================

Northstar Technologies                        Compuserve: 76620,2534
Newmarket, Ontario, CANADA

So far I've only had one problem with it, and that's getting
refresh rates set properly under OS/2.  Diamond's "GO95" refresh
rate DOS utility refuses to run in a DOS box under OS/2, making
it pretty pointless to run "SVGA ON."  Otherwise it's blazingly
fast.  In my 'puter (ASUS P54TP4/75MHz) I get a Wintach score
of 240 in 800x600x24bit, and AVI's never slow down, no matter
how big you scale them.  Linux also runs flawlessly (XFree86
3.1.1).

Andrew

--
Andrew Krenz  KE6BIP

http://eci2.ucsb.edu/~krenz/

I have nothing good or bad to say about the ATI because I do
not have one.  I do have a Stealth 64 Video VRAM and I am very
happy with it.

Quote:>Thanks to everyone who replied.  I wound up buying the Stealth
>64 Video VRAM.  Picked it up at the computer show this weekend
>for $242.  It apparently is the "cheaper" version because it
>only has a 175MHz RAMDAC.  This is quite fine by me because
>even with the cheaper part it could still easily blow up my
>15" CTX monitor.  

Quote:>So far I've only had one problem with it, and that's getting
>refresh rates set properly under OS/2.  Diamond's "GO95" refresh
>rate DOS utility refuses to run in a DOS box under OS/2, making
>it pretty pointless to run "SVGA ON."  Otherwise it's blazingly

Myst runs without a hitch on my machine (2 Meg VLB Xpression).

So, one more time:

In system.ini, find the [Macx] header and insert
DeviceBitmaps=off

Check your driver disk readme file to ensure you get the right syntax.

ciao,

--
Michael J. Scott                       R.R.I.,  U of Western Ontario

###############  Illegitimus non tatum carborundum.   ##############

: I have nothing good or bad to say about the ATI because I do
: not have one.  I do have a Stealth 64 Video VRAM and I am very
: happy with it.

: >Thanks to everyone who replied.  I wound up buying the Stealth
: >64 Video VRAM.  Picked it up at the computer show this weekend
: >for $242.  It apparently is the "cheaper" version because it
: >only has a 175MHz RAMDAC.  This is quite fine by me because
: >even with the cheaper part it could still easily blow up my
: >15" CTX monitor.  

: I got a 2 MB PCI, 220 MHz RAMDAC version for $275 6 weeks ago.

: >So far I've only had one problem with it, and that's getting
: >refresh rates set properly under OS/2.  Diamond's "GO95" refresh
: >rate DOS utility refuses to run in a DOS box under OS/2, making
: >it pretty pointless to run "SVGA ON."  Otherwise it's blazingly

: You should have gotten a similar disk for OS/2.  I cannot verify
: that as I made my OS/2 partition disappear this past weekend. :)
: Check on ftp.diamondmm.com for the latest software.

You do get an OS/2 disk for the Stealth 64.  However, it uses the GO95
utility to set the monitor refresh rate and corresponding resolutions.
And if you are using OS/2, you must use the one of the pre-defined
monitors.  I have the 64 with a MAG DXF 17" and have been unable to get
adequate resolution.

: --

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