New software updates for 3dfx cards under Windows 32bit platforms will be available in the next days for download. These will interest Banshee, Velocity, Voodoo3, Voodoo4 and Voodoo5. 

What is Mesa?

Mesa is a 3-D graphics library with an API which is very similar to that of OpenGL. To the extent that Mesa utilizes the OpenGL command syntax or state machine, it is being used with authorization from Silicon Graphics, Inc.(SGI). However, the author does not possess an OpenGL license from SGI, and makes no claim that Mesa is in any way a compatible replacement for OpenGL or associated with SGI. Those who want a licensed implementation of OpenGL should contact a licensed vendor.

This new graphics library is OpenGL 1.3 compliant and supports 3dfx Voodoo Banshee, Velocity 100/200, Voodoo3, Voodoo4, Voodoo5 boards. Mesa 5.1 works fine with Amigamerlin drivers allowing a better execution of OGL 1.3 based games. For example, Voodoo5 users will find an increase of games compatibility/performance with 32bit of color depth and higher frame rates.

Next, scheduled releases will be OpenGL 1.5 compliant with software TnL emulation for latest OGL games that require this hardware feature to running properly. Moreover these could have both Voodoo2 and Voodoo2 SLI support too.

New versions of Amigamerlin driver are currently in testing step: Amigamerlin 3.0 is an upgrade of previous AM 2.9 release so the target of this are the systems Voodoo3/4/5 cards with Windows 9X/ME OS.

[ Go Back ]