DXTC in v3´s

Started by Fantasma, 29 December 2003, 01:26:09

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Fantasma

The files 3dfx16vs.drv and 3dfx32vs.dll in the version 4.13.01.0028 which are in mikepedo´s 1.1 driver and x3dfx 1.07.00 drivers supports the dx texture compresion although it results in white textures. Why don´t develop this?
AMD 1800+ xp voodoo3 2000 16Mb 320Mb SDRAM Win 98SE

koolsmoky

That's becuase the Voodoo3 hardware doesn't support native DXTn formats. Even if the drivers are able to convert DXTn to other compressed formats that the V3 can handle, it would only be useful for games that pre-load all compressed textures because doing so during game play would be too slow.

KoolSmoky
 

Fantasma

Yes, but you gain compatibility with lots of games and it´s an advance ;)
Also, now I think the most important thing is the compatibility but it´s only an opinion :)
AMD 1800+ xp voodoo3 2000 16Mb 320Mb SDRAM Win 98SE

dborca

QuoteOriginally posted by koolsmoky

That's becuase the Voodoo3 hardware doesn't support native DXTn formats. Even if the drivers are able to convert DXTn to other compressed formats that the V3 can handle, it would only be useful for games that pre-load all compressed textures because doing so during game play would be too slow.

KoolSmoky

Yep! :D and [:(]
Regards,
Daniel Borca

amp_man

Well, what's the sense of compatability if it will result in 1 frame per 3 seconds? Some things are best left alone, and I think this is one of them. Drivers aren't developed to allow compatability when it will result in a completely useless gaming experience, at least that's my opinion. Sorry mate, but I think the team's time is best spent elsewhere.
When the sun goes down, the music turns up...

Windows XP Pro|Athlon XP 1800+|Voodoo 5 5500 AGP|MSI K7T266-A|768MB DDR 2700 RAM|SonicEdge 5.1 Sound Card

Nightbird

Of course a Voodoo3 user doesn't think probably the same and this is normal that this user hopes something, no ?
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dborca

QuoteOriginally posted by Nightbird

Of course a Voodoo3 user doesn't think probably the same and this is normal that this user hopes something, no ?
While amp_man has a point, I shall favor Nightbird on this. Back in those days when I had a Voodoo3 only, I would have thought the same. :D Unfortunately, our team is very small (me & big K) and time is a limiting factor. Perhaps a bit of SW rescaling won't hurt anyone. [:p] That is, on condition that the "patch" won't slowdown the driver.
Regards,
Daniel Borca

Nightbird

I have always my Voodoo 3 :D
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Fantasma

QuoteOriginally posted by dborca

QuoteOriginally posted by Nightbird

Of course a Voodoo3 user doesn't think probably the same and this is normal that this user hopes something, no ?
While amp_man has a point, I shall favor Nightbird on this. Back in those days when I had a Voodoo3 only, I would have thought the same. :D Unfortunately, our team is very small (me & big K) and time is a limiting factor. Perhaps a bit of SW rescaling won't hurt anyone. [:p] That is, on condition that the "patch" won't slowdown the driver.
Yes, it´s what I mean:D
AMD 1800+ xp voodoo3 2000 16Mb 320Mb SDRAM Win 98SE

Gemail

Is it then possible to disable texture compression in 4.13.01.0028 core? There are still enough "goodies" in those driver releases but the white textures are a big pain in the ass. Is there a reg. key to be add or changed to disable DXTn?
 

ps47

if you have white textures with a voodoo3,that means the textures are either too large,or compressed (this is caused by the game,not by the driver core-texture compression and other VSA-100 features are automatically disabled for voodoo3).voodoo3 cant display such textures,so it will result in some textures being white.the texture resolution problem can be fixed by running under opengl and using mesafx sw rescaling,but that is not always possible.sw rescaling under D3D should be possible,but I'm not sure if SFFT wants to do it.the problem with texture compression can be fixed as well,but this requires a patch for the problematic game (such as the doom3 voodoo2 patch,or the not released call of duty voodoo2 patch) that will convert the compressed textures to some format the voodoo3 can handle..

Gemail

So if it is not a driver's core issue, why when I run 3DMark 2001 SE build 330 on my system (Duron 1100@1200Mhz, 256Mb DDR, KT 266A MB and, of course, Voodoo 3 3500TV PAL) with Amigamerlin 2.9 driver (core 4.12.01.0666) all the textures are displayed in corect colour (by the way, I get 2020 3DMarks - is that a good score?) and I get no info about texture compression in the "Display and CPU Settings" section, but when I install Mikepedo 1.1 driver (core 4.13.01.0028) on the same system and I run the same 3DMark 2001 SE buid 330 allmoust all textures are displayed white only and in the "Display and CPU Settings" section clearely states "texture compression" (and runnig the benchmarck I get less than 1700 3DMarks!) ??? I concluded that the 4.13.01.0028 core (Mikepedo 1.1 and other drivers) enables by default the texture compression, allthough it is a feature not supported by the Avenger chip of the Voodoo 3. Because the 4.12.01.0666 core (Amigamerlin 2.9 and others) is also usable both for Voodoo 3 and Voodoo 4/5 and yet does not enables the unsupported texture compression when in use with Voodoo 3, it must be a way to do the same thing with the drivers based on the new core (maybe a registry key?).
Please, there are many guys here that are driver writers, please give me an answer :)
 

ps47

well..it may be a bug in 3dmark,maybe the beta core is not identified properly.3dmark behaviour is not important,its just a tool for benchmarking,not a game.I had no problems with white textures when using SFFT driver on my voodoo3.but I will load 3dmark and see myself..

ps47

ok,ran 3dmark 2001se on both amigasport and SFFT for voodoo3,and indeed,there are (very) few white textures in the car chase (high),but the rest of the tests went fine (1965 points,wooo).so I would say if you have BIG problems with the white textures,its a bug in the mikepedo driver..

SuperFurryFurryThing

It sounds like the Mikepedo core thinks that your V3 is a V4 or five and so is reporting DXTn texture format caps, are you sure that this core isn't V4/5 only.

SFFT