Hmn I've experienced something strange..

My retro system is running on an Asus V8200 Deluxe GeForce 3 Ti 500 pared with two genuine 3dfx Voodoo2 1000 boards from the same batch in SLI with TennMax's Stealth V2 Cooler mod.

Previously I ran the same configuration but with two STB BlackMagic V2 boards. As you probably already know these are the same boards since 3dfx bought STB. Or aren't they?! The STB boards boast a 12 Meg double sided memory layout. On the 3dfx boards you'll find the same amount of memory but there it's placed only on one side of the PCB, so the memory chips must have double capacity. When looking to the revision numbers on the different boards you'll see 3dfx uses STB rev C boards with 9909 chips where the BlackMagic's are rev A with a mixture of 89xx and 99xx chips. Those BlackMagic's had the TennMax's Stealth's on them running at 110 MHz core without a single artifact and the Stealth's didn't even get warm!!

Recently on eBay I bought myself those genuine 3dfx Voodoo2 1000 boards still wrapped new in box because I thought those boards should even be more overclockable due to the later revisions. Nothing could me more wrong.. I've moved the Stealth's from the BlackMagic's to the 3dfx boards with the later rev, removed the thermal pads, and reworked it with Arctic Silver Adhesive so they will stay on them forever. When I tried to test them with Unreal the game crashed even before it could render an image! I discovered that the overclock slider was still on 110 MHz so I put it back to 90. Now the card runs at stock speed without showing artifacts. But even on stock speed they run hot.. very hot I must say.. I can't even touch them without burning my hands!!

I've got three rev C boards which are all enduring those high temperatures. Coincidence? I think not, but why bother to make another revision if your previous runs just fine.. even more than fine! Since I've used Arctic Silver Adhesive the Stealth's won't come of anymore (without molesting the boards) so I'll need to purchase another set of them..

Could anyone explain the need/purpose of this rev C? Should it be a better board? What are the advantages? Anyone experienced the same issues? Pease let me know! I'm eager to hear about it!!

Thx in advance,

Steven


Picás:
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