CV64 3D installation

[Amigaz]

Got my first A4000 today!
Bought it for 97 euro, didn't know it was packed with a Cybervision 64 4mb, a multiface card and a Cyberstorm MKII '040 with the SCSI module.

Anyway, I want to use my Cybervision 3D card in this computer and have forgot how to install it/use it with Picasso 96.
Is there any driver I need to install for the card before I install the Picasso 96 RTG software?
I remember I got it working on my A3000 some years ago but I don't remember how I did  :-?

[patrik]

@AMIGAZ:

Use the CV64 instead. It is faster, has _much_ better picture quality than the CV64/3D and has a builtin output-switcher.

The CV64/3D is just hyped for its non-existant 3D capabilities, but is nothing more than a bad and slow low-budget version of the CV64. The thing that annoys me most about the CV64/3Ds though is that they make the picture look bad disregarding what monitor you have - you can throw a an expensive trinitron monitor on it and it still looks like you have a cheap, dark, out of focus shadowmask with a bad colour balance.


/Patrik

[Amigaz]

Will do  :-)

But does it have equal or better performance than CV64 3D?
I bought this A4000 to be able to play Quake II, Freespace, Feeble Files, Nightlong etc.
And does CV64 need any special driver or is everything included when I install Picasso 96?
Damn, I'm a complete novice when it's about big box amiga's and zorro cards, lol....been using my A1200D for too long

The CV64 was connected with the pass thru cable to another card which I don't have a clue what it is, anyone have an idea what it could be? I got a picture on my VGA monitor when I connected it to it, must be some sort of scandoubler.

[patrik]

@AMIGAZ:

The drivers for the card is included with CyberGraphX/Picasso96. I would recommend CyberGraphX over Picasso96 though.

The card connected to the CV64 with the passthrough-cable must as you suspect be a scandoubler/flickerfixer. Very neat solution as the CV64 then switches automatically between its own output and the scandoubler/flickerfixer output.

The CV64 has much better 2D performance than the CV64/3D, but as the name says the CV64/3D has some 3D hardware support which the CV64 lack.

What I meant with the 3D capabilities of the CV64/3D being hyped, I meant that the 3D games available generally does not work with it because they are to complex for its extremely basic feature-set and very limited memory, and if they do work, the result is generally too slow to be usable.

The only game I think works reasonably with this card is the Descent that Hyperion originally released.

If you are intending to play the games listed I would recommend you to get a card with real 3D capabilities, like the CyberVisionPPC or a pci-solution with a Voodoo3-card and preferably a PPC-card.


/Patrik

[Brian]

For clarificasion... Just start the installer for Picasso96, it will detect your card and you just verify that it selected your CV3D card and then continue the installer and it will install the correct drivers for you.

Arguably CGFX is faster than P96 in most areas, P96 is faster in a few... BUT ... P96 is free wheres CGFX is commersial. I ran into strange problems with CGFX on my CV3D card but P96 worked fine, others have the opposit experience. Use what you find fits you the best, I personaly preferr P96.

About what card is best. I have absolutly no problem with picture quality of the CV3D. In tests there's no question about it... the CV64 is a bit faster on 2D and the CV3D is faster on 3D. I personaly preferr the CV3D+Scandoubler to the CV64 in an A4000 as you have the same monitor switching capability with that combinasion. For an A3000 on the other hand the CV64 is a clear winner as the scandoubler is builtin.

In the end... use what you find best... for under a 100'd you've made a steal anyway and you just be glad the seller didnt knew what he was selling cause you could very well have ended up having to pay 3times that for the hardware you got.

[Amigaz]

Used the install disk which came with the CV64 3D card but it's only CybergraphX V3 (stoneage)
Have ordered V4 from my "pal's" at Vesalia.
Only game which have installed without errors and worked so far is Nightlong, was hoping to be able to play Freespace but I only get to the Hyperion intro scene and then it crashes..have to write down the error code and maybe someone here can help me out.
Think I'll throw the CV64 in my A3000 because now I have a Cyberstorm MKII '040 which I can put in it and it works in it which my CS MKII '060 didn't (the card was one of the versions that had the DMA bug).

[patrik]

@AMIGAZ:

If you are having problems with Warp3D applications with the CV64/3D, make sure you run them in a 15-bit screenmode as that seems to be the only depth it can handle.

@Brian:

If you think the picture quality is ok, you should try switching cards, it will give you a laugh :=).

Btw, there is nothing that stops you from using the CV64/3D scandoubler with the CV64 as it has the feature that it can switch between an output connected to its passthrough-connector and its own output automatically. A friend of mine uses that configuration and it works just fine.

The CV64/3D would have been a quite ok card if it had competent 3D hardware that actually worked with most of the Warp3D applications. As it is now you have to be glad if it works at all with an application and if you are in luck and it does work it is in most cases too slow to be used.

Nevertheless it enables you to run a selection of the Warp3D software out there which you ofcourse cant with the CV64 as it has no 3D support in hardware and thus no Warp3D drivers.

I just get a bit irritated because the 3D part in the CV64/3D name automatically seems to make it a good card, when in reality it is the slowest Zorro3 card in existance and its 3D hardware is too bad to be used in almost every case - not to strange though as it was S3's first experimental try at 3D hardware.


/Patrik

[Brian]

I've used CV64 in the past and I use a Voodoo3 3000 in my main A4000 today and I think the CV3D does a fine jobb, no laugh here.

One thing that stops me from using a scandouler the way you describe is that I dont have room for it in my crammed machines.

Anyway... you're entitled to have an oppinions and I'm entitled to not agree with them, lets just leave it at that.

[patrik]

@brian:

Aye, I have a this thing with having to tell people to choose the CV64 instead of the CV64/3D ;=).

If you dont have any space for a videoslot scandoubler, you could try to get hold of one of those scandoublers which clips onto the Lisa/Alice chips.


/Patrik

[Brian]

My A4000T with mediator uses one of those scandoublers as I need the videoslot free for other expansions.

[Amigaz]

I'm glad that at least my system is wsorking but can't wait to get the CybergraphX v4 disc!  :-D
Have uploaded a pic of the state my A4000 is on now (a wreck but working) need to go and buy a good IDE cable today so I can fit the HDD inside and fit the cover on the machine.

Can you guys please tell me where I can get some good icons now for my OS3.9 setup? browsed on aminet yesterday but no appealed to me.

[Amigaz]

^ ^