Setting up a 3dfx video card?

[trueman]

Hello,

I am currently fixing an old 233mhz Pentium for my dad to use. It has a Creative labs 3dfx vid card which is showing in device manager as not installed properly. I am currently downloading some drivers for it.
The card has both a male and a female serial plug on the back and I seem to remember when I had a computer like this one years ago, something about using a small lead from the standard 2d vid card female 9 pin plug to the male 9 pin plug on the 3d card. If so what type of lead do I need? Is it anything special or just the shortest possible serial lead I can find?

[Cruez]

The additional port is where you could connect another 3dfx card to increase your video frame rates.... just plug the monitor in the normal port after you install the correct drivers.

[Eladijaz]

Originally posted by Cruez
The additional port is where you could connect another 3dfx card to increase your video frame rates.... just plug the monitor in the normal port after you install the correct drivers.

Hi there,
Actually, trueman, you are correct. The cable is a pass through from the 2D card to the 3D card so that you can just plug your monitor into the 3D card and leave it there. You need to get the shortest monitor extension lead (female one end and male the other) that you can find - the shorter the lead, the better the image quality usually. The 3dfx card would have had one of these originally. You do need a 2D card as well, of course.
If your dad does not need 3D then I would suggest simply removing it, or not worrying about it. The 2D card will still output the normal 2D picture (ie. You can plug the monitor into it) regardless.
The final option is to swap the monitor cable across from the 2D card to the 3D card and back whenever you want to use the 3D card.
Cheers,
Elad.

[trueman]

Eladijaz,

I got a short cable for 10 bucks and set it up and it works fine.
Is the 3d card only used for gaming? Does it help with anything else such as displaying pictures etc. If not I may as well pull it out as my dad won't be playing games on it.

[Eladijaz]

Hi there,
It is only used for 3D tasks. For most people, this would be gaming. Unless your dad is an animator, gamer or an engineer, he would have no use for it. The 2D card would be doing all of the work.
Regards,
Elad.

[Eladijaz]

By removing the extra card and extra cable you will probably be increasing the image quality too BTW.

[trueman]

Originally posted by Eladijaz
By removing the extra card and extra cable you will probably be increasing the image quality too BTW.

If thats the case I will take the 3d card out before I send the computer off to my dad.

Thanks.

[Eladijaz]

That is what I would do, in an older system it's just something more that might go wrong. Not sure what you can use that lil' number for tho'. I have one here that I can't seem to find a use for. If it had 2D as well I could chuck it in a 'pre-loved' system but ...
Cheers,
Elad.