Mediator 1200tx graphics cards

[Pixelshift]

I'm thinking about building a A1200 tower using the mediator card. I'm wondering about graphics card compatibility. Can I just throw in any old radeon 9200, voodoo3/4/5 card as long as it's PCI? I have found a powercolor radeon 9200se 128mb card on ebay, but it would be nice to know if it will work before I buy.

[Kin Hell]

Originally Posted by Pixelshift

I'm thinking about building a A1200 tower using the mediator card. I'm wondering about graphics card compatibility. Can I just throw in any old radeon 9200, voodoo3/4/5 card as long as it's PCI? I have found a powercolor radeon 9200se 128mb card on ebay, but it would be nice to know if it will work before I buy.

Having had several Mediators in different Amiga Models in years gone by, I personally favour the Voodoo Cards.

One thing to look out for on the Radeon's is the Voltage. IIRC, earlier Mediator boards were the 5V variety & the latter ones are 3V. (more energy efficient)

Have a read here buddy.

https://mediators.github.io/

[Daedalus]

Yep, the TX Mediators support 3.3V PCI as well as 5V PCI, so it should work. Voodoos have the advantage of Warp3D support, but the output is VGA only and 16MB is a limiting amount of video RAM if you're using very high resolutions. The Radeons don't have Warp3D support, but have DVI out, more video RAM, and are generally cheaper.

[Kin Hell]

Originally Posted by Daedalus

Yep, the TX Mediators support 3.3V PCI as well as 5V PCI, so it should work. Voodoos have the advantage of Warp3D support, but the output is VGA only and 16MB is a limiting amount of video RAM if you're using very high resolutions. The Radeons don't have Warp3D support, but have DVI out, more video RAM, and are generally cheaper.

Indeed, but VooDoo 5500 PCI will give you 64Mb, though you will pay a higher price.

Also, don't be misguided by the Video RAM configuring as Fast Ram. It's not as straight forward as it sounds.

Output also has to be considered, as not many use-able monitors with VGA are around these days.

[trixster]

Zorro ram is also very slow when used as Amiga ‘fast’ ram

[Daedalus]

True, the higher up Voodoos do provide more RAM, but I wasn't talking about using the video RAM as fast RAM (even though that's possible) for the very reason it's much slower than CPU-local RAM. My A1200 has a Voodoo 3-3000 in it, and while it's awesome, it runs short of video RAM once I've a couple of screens open and then switching screens is slower than the instantaneous reaction you get when all screens are in video RAM, because the screens not in use get swapped out to fast RAM. Mind you, I'm running a 1920x1200 24-bit screen, so it only takes a couple of screens to use up 15MB (1MB is reserved for PCI-bus DMA purposes).

[torsti76]

Also, paying the insane prices for Voodoos >3 just for the RAM isn't worth it. Although having the possibility to open many screens might be nice, in the Mediator Voodoo 4 and 5 run in a mode that emulates Voodoo3 behaviour, thus there's almost no speed gain.

And if you really want to expand Fast RAM through the Mediator, as far as I understand Elbox' documentation you can use a cheap Radeon for RAM and a Voodoo3 for graphics output at the same time.

[fitzsteve]

With the Voodoo 5 unless it's changed in recent patches you only get use of one GPU and 32mb Ram. Unless you have a Blizzard PPC I would suggest a Radeon graphics card, the extra Ram can be used as Fast Ram which is useful. For 68k applications Warp3D is next to useless.

If you have a Blizzard PPC then go for a Voodoo and enjoy Warp3D ports such as Quake 2, Wipeout, ShogoMad, etc.

Voodoo 3 is fine, don't waste money on a 4 or 5 as theres no extra performance to be gained.

Good luck with your project.

[Nobby_UK]

http://www.elbox.com/mediator_driver_guide.html

I've run Voodoo 3 and a S3Virage/Trio in the past

[-Acid-]

I've had a Voodoo 3 3000 in mine and also a Radeon 9200SE I think it is. Both work fine with P96.

[Pixelshift]

Thanks a lot for the input guys!

[-Acid-]

I checked and it's a Radeon 9200SE that works not 9800SE.