Note: This node is very specialized and applies only to the few of you out there attempting to make your 3Dfx Voodoo series card work with Windows XP.


When I first bought my Voodoo5 5500, I never thought any single piece of hardware could cause so much distress. In fact, the card worked like a dream right up until 3Dfx got bought out by one of its rival companies, Nvidia. This is when the trouble began.

Shortly after the takeover of 3Dfx, I decided it would be a good idea to upgrade my computer to the newly released Windows XP. As always, I clicked through the installation windows, ignoring messages warning me of my hardware not passing 'XP compatibility checks' and 'unsigned drivers.' I wasn't too worried; I had received almost the exact same messages as I installed Windows 2000 Professional. Before long, XP was running itself, and downloading the 'latest drivers' for my hardware. Assuming the computer knew what it was doing, I watched as it downloaded and updated all my driver files automatically, including the Voodoo drivers. Note: Never use the drivers automatically downloaded from Windows Update. Instead, download a set of user-created drivers. The drivers I use are the 'Amigamerlin 2.5' set, available from voodoofiles.com.

Since XP was released after 3Dfx made its last stand, there are no 'official' drivers for the OS. However, there are many drivers that have been submitted by Voodoo users, and a few of them are actually well built and reliable. Personally, I use my card almost exclusively for games, and thus have learned a few tips which might help others in the same predicament.


Tips for program compatibility with a Voodoo card in Windows XP


1. Check out http://www.ntcompatible.com/. This database is devoted purely to program compatibility with Windows 2000 and XP. Check to make sure the program you're trying to run doesn't have any consistent problem with XP.

2. Go to http://pub43.ezboard.com/fx3dfxfrm2. This is the x3Dfx community support page, where almost any Voodoo-related support issue has already been discussed. Much tweaking support can be found here.

3. If you're sure the reason your application cannot run is because it requires Hardware T&L (Texture and Lighting, a feature not supported by Voodoo cards), then the program '3DAnalyzer' might help. It does not actually reproduce the effects of Hardware T&L, but it will allow games that require it to run anyway.

4. The best resource for Voodoo drivers on the web is at http://www.voodoofiles.com. The site provides all 3Dfx-produced drivers, as well as more recent XP-compatible user-created drivers.

5. Important: When you've downloaded a set a drivers and are ready to install them, be sure to first uninstall '3Dfx tools' using the Add/Remove programs menu, and then install the new drivers along with the specific '3Dfx tools' for those drivers.

6. Be sure to go through the 3Dfx tools menu and adjust your settings for compatibility. For example, some games require 'Triple Buffering' to be turned off, or else a screen flicker will result (for example, Max Payne). Additionally, whenever possible, set the Rendering Color-Depth to 'Force 32bpp rendering,' as many games require 32-bit color but for some reason cannot seem to convey this to the video hardware (for example, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind).

Good Luck!