🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <34F41AC7.41C67EA6@nospam.dera.gov.uk>, mlsnow <mlsnow@nospam.dera.gov.uk> wrote:
>At present I have a Diamond Stealth 64DRAM with 2Mb (they seem to call
>it a series 2000 now?)

I had a DS 64 Video (2MB DRAM, s3 868 based) for quite a while and got to 
compare it against a number of cards along the way including: Millenium, STB 
LS128, STB Velocity 128, Diamond Viper 330 and the DS Stealth II you query 
about.

>I'm not sure whether to keep it and add a
>voodoo 2 card or upgrade to a Stealth II and get a voodoo 2 card when
>the price comes down.

Well, dollars-wise, it's clear.  But it depends on how highly you value 
outright performance vs $.

>My question is:  Is the 2D performance of the Stealth II better than
>the 2D performance of my old Stealth or would it be a waste to upgrade?

I'd say a waste on that account.  In DOS, the same performance in 640x480 
(assuming you have univbe installed with your current DS).  In Win, I can't 
say I saw a difference.  Though the DS64 was slow in the CPR demo, quite a bit 
slower than the framerate readout in the game.

>I play games like Red Alert, Total Anihilation, Quake, Quake2,
>Jedi Knight etc.

I'm not a first-person shooter type.  I did try the JK demo, and did bench 
Quake.  Since the S2 is supported in those, sure it's a ton faster and 
prettier.  For D3D titles, it would suffice I'd say.  Apparently, it is very 
easy to boost its performance by oc'ing.  I didn't try that.

>Does the Stealth II accelerate DirectDraw better than the old stealth?

I don't think so.  

>I'm not to worried about the 3D performance because either option
>obviously gives me better 3D than now - but what about 2D speed
>and performance.

Well, the DS2 did bench a lot higher in Wintune, but I can't honestly say I 
noticed a diff, except in the Cart Precision Racing demo.

But if you are looking for a D3D (and occasional Rredline title) accelerator, 
to tide you over until Voodoo2 prices drop, I'd say go for it.  OTOH, I'd just 
spend the $250 for a Voodoo2 now.