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STB Black Magic Voodoo2 (12MB)
Time to say goodbye?
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(Review by MS)
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Voodoo2 has been a synonym for ultimate gaming performance since its introduction early in 1998. However, like in any other domain of today's computer technology, time does not stand still and approximately 10 months of undisputed reign in the video realm make look this type of 3D graphics accelerator almost as ancient as the pyramids of Gizeh. Despite the fact that the 25 ns extended data output (EDO) memory chips used in the latest versions are capable of keeping up with 100 MHz SDRAM performance, the technology is outdated. Yet, myths are hard to kill and Voodoo2 cards are still going strong, particularly because of their option to be run in scan line interleaving (SLI) mode which splits the load of compiling the overall display onto two separate cards, connected via a through pass data cable. Or course, SLI requires the physical presence of 2 Voodoo2 cards which may burn quite a hole into the valet, not to mention the occupation of 2 valuable PCI slots. On the other hand, SLI mode extends the capabilities of the Voodoo2 from a maximum of 800 x 600 pixels resolution in a single configuration to 1024 x 768 pixels.
During the past two months, several manufacturers of high end graphics adapters have blown the trumpets of Jericho on the seemingly undefeatable fortress Voodoo2. Boasting 16 MB of either high end SDRAM capable of running at 125 MHz or even SGRAM to ensure faster clearing of the frame buffers, these cards have been nick-named Voodoo2 killers, however, unambiguous proof for equivalent or better performance of any of these cards has not yet been provided.
Several computer chains as, for example CompUSA had two days only sales on the STB Black Magic Voodoo2 (12 MB version) which was reason enough to acquire one of these 3D accelerators and put it under heavy scrutiny. That is, the question was whether an advanced version of the Voodoo2 can still outperform the newer 2D/3D standalone cards, whether it is equivalent or whether the time has come to think Voodoo3 or anything else that might come up or is already out there.
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