The Linux 3Dfx HOWTO

Bernd Kreimeier ( )

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Contributors and Contacts
• 1.2 Acknowledgments
• 1.3 Revision History
• 1.4 New versions of this document
• 1.5 Feedback
• 1.6 Distribution Policy

2. Graphics Accelerator Technology

• 2.1 Basics
• 2.2 Hardware configuration
• 2.3 A bit of Voodoo Graphics (tm) architecture

3. Installation

• 3.1 Installing the board
• 3.2 Setting up the Displays
• 3.3 Installing the Glide distribution

4. Answers To Frequently Asked Questions

5. FAQ: Requirements?

• 5.1 What are the system requirements?
• 5.2 Does it work with Linux-Alpha?
• 5.3 Which 3Dfx chipsets are supported?
• 5.4 Is the Voodoo Rush (tm) supported?
• 5.5 Which boards are supported?
• 5.6 How do boards differ?
• 5.7 What about AGP?

6. FAQ: Voodoo Graphics (tm)? 3Dfx?

• 6.1 Who is 3Dfx?
• 6.2 Who is Quantum3D?
• 6.3 What is the Voodoo Graphics (tm)?
• 6.4 What is the Voodoo Rush (tm)?
• 6.5 What is the Voodoo 2 (tm)?
• 6.6 What is VGA pass-though?
• 6.7 What is Texelfx or TMU?
• 6.8 What is a Pixelfx unit?
• 6.9 What is SLI mode?
• 6.10 Is there a single board SLI setup?
• 6.11 How much memory? How many buffers?
• 6.12 Does the Voodoo Graphics (tm) do 24 or 32 bit color?
• 6.13 Does the Voodoo Graphics (tm) store 24 or 32 bit z-buffer per pixel?
• 6.14 What resolutions does the Voodoo Graphics (tm) support?
• 6.15 What texture sizes are supported?
• 6.16 Does the Voodoo Graphics (tm) support paletted textures?
• 6.17 What about overclocking?
• 6.18 Where could I get additional info on Voodoo Graphics (tm)?

7. FAQ: Glide? TexUS?

• 7.1 What is Glide anyway?
• 7.2 What is TexUS?
• 7.3 Is Glide freeware?
• 7.4 Where do I get Glide?
• 7.5 Is the Glide source available?
• 7.6 Is Linux Glide supported?
• 7.7 Where could I post Glide questions?
• 7.8 Where to send bug reports?
• 7.9 Who is maintaining it?
• 7.10 How can I contribute to Linux Glide?
• 7.11 Do I have to use Glide?
• 7.12 Should I program using the Glide API?
• 7.13 What is the Glide current version?
• 7.14 Does it support multiple Texelfx already?
• 7.15 Is Linux Glide identical to DOS/Windows Glide?
• 7.16 Where to I get information on Glide?
• 7.17 Where to get some Glide demos?
• 7.18 What is ATB?

8. FAQ: Glide and XFree86?

• 8.1 Does it run with XFree86?
• 8.2 Does it only run full screen?
• 8.3 What is the problem with AT3D/Voodoo Rush (tm) boards?
• 8.4 What about GLX for XFree86?
• 8.5 Glide and commerical X Servers?
• 8.6 Glide and SVGA?
• 8.7 Glide and GGI?

9. FAQ: OpenGL/Mesa?

• 9.1 What is OpenGL?
• 9.2 Where to get additional information on OpenGL?
• 9.3 Is Glide an OpenGL implementation?
• 9.4 Is there an OpenGL driver from 3Dfx?
• 9.5 Is there a commercial OpenGL for Linux and 3Dfx?
• 9.6 What is Mesa?
• 9.7 Does Mesa work with 3Dfx?
• 9.8 How portable is Mesa with Glide?
• 9.9 Where to get info on Mesa?
• 9.10 Where to get information on Mesa Voodoo?
• 9.11 Does Mesa support multitexturing?
• 9.12 Does Mesa support single pass trilinear mipmapping?
• 9.13 What is the Mesa "Window Hack"?
• 9.14 How about GLUT?

10. FAQ: But Quake?

• 10.1 What about that 3Dfx GL driver for Quake?
• 10.2 Is there a 3Dfx based glQuake for Linux?
• 10.3 Does glQuake run in an XFree86 window?
• 10.4 Known Linux Quake problems?
• 10.5 Know Linux Quake security problems?
• 10.6 Does LinuxQuake use multitexturing?
• 10.7 Where can I get current information on Linux glQuake?

11. FAQ: Troubleshooting?

• 11.1 Has this hardware been tested?
• 11.2 Failed to change I/O privilege?
• 11.3 Does it work without root privilege?
• 11.4 Displayed images looks awful (single screen)?
• 11.5 The last frame is still there (single or dual screen)?
• 11.6 Powersave kicks in (dual screen)?
• 11.7 My machine seem to lock (X11, single screen)?
• 11.8 My machine locks (single or dual screen)?
• 11.9 My machine locks (used with S3 VGA board)?
• 11.10 No address conflict, but locks anyway?
• 11.11 Mesa runs, but does not access the board?
• 11.12 Resetting dual board SLI?
• 11.13 Resetting single board SLI?