This message from the real Tony Tomasi was forward to me from a legitimate source:
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Thanks,
That was not me, and I've asked Anand to provide me with a valid identity on his BBS so I can post a response. Unfortunately my name (all sorts of combinations and permutations of it) as well as my email address has already been registered on his BBS, but not by me.
For your information - here is the response I asked him to post for me.
Thanks,
Tony Tamasi
3Dfx
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I'm not sure who this Tony Tamasi is, but it certainly isn't a Tony Tamasi that works at 3Dfx. As far as I know I'm the only one (ok, I AM the only one) - and I certainly didn't post that. In fact, I tried to register and it appears that my name and email is a popular one on this BBS. :)
This post should not be considered official or from 3Dfx in any way. In fact, the contents of that message are completely unsubstantiated, and in most cases just plain wrong.
We support 32-bit rendering in the Voodoo3 pipeline, but we write 16-bits of color data to the frame buffer using a proprietary technique.
We have no plans to offer any other products other than those that have been announced - the Voodoo3 2000, 3000 and 3500. There is no plan for a Voodoo3 3500+ at this time.
While strips and fans have been supported in the triangle setup engine of all 3Dfx products since Voodoo2, (and in all of our drivers) we are not measuring 72 fps at 1600x1200 in Quake2. Just doing some back of the envelope calculations, that type of frame rate would require approximately 600+ Mtexels/sec of fill rate, while Voodoo3 3500 delivers 366 Mtexels/sec of fill rate. The Quake2 frame rate at 1600x1200 is limited almost exlusively by fill rate, and the path the driver takes in talking to the hardware is not going to deliver a doubling of frame rate. Currently Voodoo3 3500 delivers approximately 36 fps at 1600x1200 in Quake2 timedemos.
As far as to Voodoo3 being a masterpiece or not, well, I'll leave that for you guys to decide, but we certainly think it's pretty good. At Quake2 at 1600x1200 at 36 fps certainly isn't too shabby!
Respectfully,
Tony Tamasi
Director of Product Marketing
3Dfx Interactive, Inc.
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Chip
coolhistory.com
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