Voodoo3 isn't without its faults. With no full implementation of AGP 2X texturing, when games (or indeed complex outdoor scenes) using larger textures start to be released, the Voodoo3 2000 will endure a performance hit. Currently though, the proprietary DME transfer that 3dfx uses allows for up to 2.29GB/second local memory transfer capabilities for shifting textures on the 2000. Ample enough? It depends on which game developer you ask…

As with all past and present Voodoo architecture, the Voodoo3 2000 is limited to 256x256 texture sizes, which is starting to get a little out of date. Another sore point (which Nvidia has pointed out by advertising the number '32') is the number '32'. Although the Voodoo3 spec sheets and adverts claim that the chip has a 32-bit color graphics pipeline, this does not mean that it supports 32-bit color 'externally'. It does render at 32-bit color internally (if that makes it any sexier for you then so be it) but 16-bit color is the ceiling for any 3D game running on a Voodoo3- period (unless of course you play and view games 'internally'). The 32-bits internally, then gets interpolated by the RAMDAC and is rendered at 16-bit externally (get it?). In all fairness, the final result is that the Voodoo3 will bump up to a color depth (due to the 16-bit z-buffered output) somewhere closer to the region of 22-bits. Thus, the end result is an image quality, which is slightly improved over Voodoo2 SLI (the banding is lessened considerably) and on par with the Voodoo Banshee.

Either way, 3dfx has let the competition (Nvidia, S3, PowerVR etc…) play catch up. S3's Savage 4 will almost match the 16-bit performance of the Voodoo3 2000 in terms of raw speed but it will also have texture compression features and 32-bit color support- not to mention weigh in at some $30 less at a suggested retail price of $99. Nvidia's lower-spec TNT2 boards have yet to make their way into our test machines but judging by how the higher spec boards are evidently on par with the higher-spec Voodoo3s (in some cases faster). We'd go as far to say that the Voodoo3 2000 won't be 'unchallenged' in terms of price vs. performance. Again, almost all of the next generation boards retailing at the $100-$129.99 price range will sport a 3D feature set that's superior to that of the Voodoo3s (32-bit color support, texture compression etc…). This fact may well hamper any OEM sales ambitions that 3dfx might have. Thus, whether or not we'll be seeing the 2000 in system integrators line-ups remains to be seen. The Voodoo3 2000's OEM 'check list' isn't as comprehensive as some OEMs have already expressed when considering what the competition IS able to do/support.