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Technology Stocks : 3DFX

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To: Eric Howard who wrote (7974)10/7/1998 5:19:00 PM
From: Chip Anderson  Read Replies (1) of 16960
 
Eric, I'm not sure _I've_ read my posts for that long!

The points you bring up are good ones, but unrelated to what Tom should be providing - an objective review of the hardware out there. Tom's benchmarks and charts show that Voodoo2 SLI still provides the fastest 3D gaming experience available today at resolutions up to 1024x768. Framerate and low ping are the two most important factors to hardcore gamers, resolution is a distant third. Tom does a disservice to the hardcore community (and those just joining it) by implying that TNT provides a satisfying experience at those lower framerates.

Concerning your 4 groups, they are certainly one valid way of slicing up the marketplace. Another is to focus on the categories of "use." Then you come up with something similar to:

1.) Hardcore gamers - play Quake/Quake2/Unreal more than once a day. Play multiplayer more than single-player.
2.) Casual gamers/Computer Geeks - play single-player 3D games 2+ times a week. Likes to demo Unreal to friends. Plays online infrequently.
3.) Average Computer User - uses whatever video card came with the computer. Plays games that came with the machine.
4.) Business User - doesn't play 3D games (while the boss is watching)

Voodoo2 is squarely aimed at 1 & 2. Banshee is primarily aimed at 3 & 4 via the OEM channel. Banshee's appeal to 1 & 2 is a secondary priority, which is unfortunate because of the lack of OEM announcements so far.

I think TNT is in a tough spot as it is trying to be all things to all people but it will never be able to run Glide games. I agree that it is mildly faster than Banshee but doesn't come close to V2SLI.

When I look at your 4 groups, I immediately ask the question "Why are the upgrading/buying a new system?" That has much more bearing on which card to get IMHO, thus my categories.

Chip
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