The reason why 3Dfx only works full-screen is because the chipset only does 3D. What happens is that your old 2D card handles everything, until you crank up a 3D game. Then you'll hear the little click as the relay switches your monitor over to the Voodoo card.
The Voodoo card doesn't know sh*t about whats in the video RAM of your 2D card - no windows, no desktop, no nuthin'.
The drawback is that you have to run full screen. The upside is an easy, no hassle installation, no compatibility problems and you can keep your old Millennium II 2D card.
I think this was a very wise design decision by 3Dfx. It would have been a bad thing to go the Verit‚ way with a kludgy 2D solution in the chipset, and not even 3Dfx could have done what they did for 3D and beat Matrox at their game at the same time.
This, however is what they aim to do with Banshee. Banshee will add state of the art 2D in the same chipset, thereby eliminating the need for a separate 2D card and opening the door to the OEM deals.
If you belive they will succeed, go long 3Dfx. If not, short the hell out the stock. I'm long...
/Sverre |
