Barrage of Boards: 3d Update by John Reynolds
	But I know I can't weasel out of at least offering some suggestions of my own, so let's at least clear the field a bit before really digging in. Savage4, gone! PowerVR 250, gone! Why? The S3 chip, though extremely affordable, plainly just lacks where it counts: performance. As for the PowerVR 250, architectural differences could very well get the short shrift from developers unless Videologic is able to do what it failed to in the past, which is to make these differences transparent to programmers. (Ed. Note: gamers whose primary application might want to consider the Savage4 as a primary video board for use in shooters and action games.) These rejections leave only the V3, the TnT2, and the G400 standing, and it's somewhat interesting how these products can be viewed when considered together. On one side there's the fast but feature-lacking V3, with great 2d and 3d quality. On the other side of the span sits Matrox's G400, the most feature-rich board available that's not exactly a performance slouch either. And then there's the keystone, the TnT2, the chip that sits in the middle of this bridge. With the V3 you know exactly what you're getting. . .no worries about whether or not the very features you paid extra for will become either viable or common during your board's lifespan. . .it's blazingly fast, it's compatible, and it's cheap. Click to continue		With the TnT2 you're paying a bit extra, but you get a fast board that could very well outlast a V3 thanks to its 32-bit rendering and growing developer support. Last, the G400 has wormed its way, quite unexpectedly, into this gamer's heart, especially if Matrox can improve on its solid D3D drivers by releasing a really strong OpenGL ICD. The chip is fast, it offers 32-bit output at a much smaller penalty than the competition, sports environmental bump-mapping, DualHead technology, and the best 2d available. Yet it requires a fast CPU to shine (we're talking 400mhz+ minimum!), it's somewhat expensive, AMD support is an unknown, and Matrox doesn't have my full confidence in releasing a quality ICD after last year's G200, but if these hurdles are overcome then the G400 could very well be the board to own for the majority of '99. Now that you've heard from COMBATSIM.COM™, hit the magazine racks and websites and do some research as to which board will best fill your individual needs and wants before laying down your hard-earned money. That, above all else, is the best advice I can give. Join a discussion forum on this article by clicking   HERE.
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