3DFX Voodoo5 5500 works on PCI-Express !!

[jix-reggio]

Details on the '66mhz boost' offered by Pci-express bridging.

Tested with SFFT 1.9 on my configuration running on Win7.
The Opteron CPU clocked @2800 mhz and the V5 5500 pci-express clocked I/O @66 mhz and core @180 mhz
leads to a 4133 points 3Dmark2001 score with the following parameters : 1024*768 / 16 bits color / Double Buffer.

Look at the '66Mhz boost' on Triangles, Vertex shaders and Point Sprite tests.

[m14radu]

nice score man

I have to setup my sistem again to continue the SFFT driver tests. The voodoo5 is now out of the PC, for cooling improving.

[jix-reggio]

Test whether a V5 5500 PCI operates at 66 MHz.
Rather than read the technical information provided by hardware software like Aida, Everest, SIV, etc ... which sometimes lacks of clarity, I propose to perform a practical test, the benchmark 3DM2001 SE.
The relevant informations are part of tests that evaluate the theoretical performance of the card, and are listed here:
High polygon count  1Light and 8Light (triangles)
Vertex shaders
Point sprite
Such information estimate the ability of the GPU to generate basic forms which will constitute the skeleton of the image. On a Voodoo, which subcontracting the 'Transform and Lightning' (T & L) to the CPU, this flow of Triangles, Vertex and Point Sprite depends greatly on the speed of exchanges between GPU and CPU, so it will be a good indicator of the PCI bus frequency which is by default 33 Mhz (PC Voodoo) or 66 MHz (Voodoo Mac).
By cons, applying textures on basic forms, which essentially uses local resources of the card, depends on the frequency of the GPU and the video RAM (166 MHz default), so this will be a good indicator for overclocking the GPU.
I emphasize that these are basic explanations, but it would be interesting for hardware or software specialists explain more precisely how the 3dfx Voodoo5 perform a 3D rendering and discuss this topic, for example to improve the drivers.
Some information in French avaiable here: http://www.erenumerique.fr/vertex_shaders_et_pixel_shaders-art-70-2.html

According to my tests, here are some ranges of values I found to interpret the bench, depending on CPU power:
            


If this can help.

[jix-reggio]

Finally running @66 mhz on Pci-Express 1X
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLLcuuSeKC8

[m14radu]

Good Work !!!

How did you manage to run the card @66Mhz ?

Is the benachmark running on 32bits ?

[jix-reggio]

I will give more informations soon.
The most important was to get this :

[m14radu]

More details please

[jix-reggio]

Sorry I am too busy, but I will share infos within 15 days.
Budget solution to get 66 mhz I/O speed on V5500 Pci PC.
On Pci-express lane.
Would be wonderfull that Sfft write optimized drivers for Pci-express version ...

[m14radu]

Hey, no problem jix-reggio.

Take your time.
I  will try to find some time too for more tests !
Especialy the new SFFT control pannel must be tested.
Did you manage to try it ?

BTW:What do you mean exactly with the driver optimizations for the PCI-E ?
SFFT will need more details here

[jix-reggio]

It's coming soon ... (In May)

[Nightbird]

Ehm, that's getting more and more "mysterious".  
But i like the idea of a "Budget solution".
Of course, the perfect idea would be to get an adapter agp/pci, this way nobody (with a V5 agp) would be left on the side.

[jix-reggio]

Hello Nightbird
Budget solution: with these chips you cannot be wrong :
http://www.pericom.com/pdf/databriefs/PI7C9X111SL_db.pdf
http://www.pericom.com/pdf/databriefs/PI7C9X112SL_db.pdf

I am currenly working on a mysterious board, that's right.
Hope to show something this month.


Edit :
These chips are made by PERICOM and allows 66Mhz Voodoo5 running.
PLX Tech. PEX8112 chip did not allow 66Mhz running for the different
users reporting in the previous pages of this topic, but maybe it is possible.

[Nightbird]

Ehm, i knew the PLX 8111/8112

[jix-reggio]

Sorry you must be mistaken, Pericom and PLX tech.
are 2 different companies and the chip indicated
is completely different from PEX811x series.

It can run @66mhz and find easily an adapter
on your retailer as the Intel 1U IPC server.

[Nightbird]

I know that Pericom and PLX are 2 different companies.
But i see bridges between the Pci Express lane and the PCI bus (both support forward and reverse bridging and it seems to me that the PLX 811x was also able to run up 66 mhz)
But until you spoke about Pericom, i only knew the PLX chip.

edit : PLX Technology -> PEX 811x