How HP is the HPV VidCard, really?

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I haven't found specs on this card but I've found some very odd references about it here and there, is it worth the trouble? :?:

A bare card came with a 7100 gift and I nabbed one on eBay with all for VRAM slots filled. I've tested both and the only difference so far is that it puts out 24 bit at 640 x 480, but no other resolutions are to be found. I'd like to try this card in the Radius 81/110 to see its slot manager settings, but putting the 7100 through its paces (and using it as a test bed for the 8100/110 before sending it off seemed like a good idea at the time . . .

OS8 came on the machine, I'll try a clean install of 8.1 next.

Ideas? :-/

 

[ClassicHasClass]

Not especially, but it's not vampire video, so it leaves your RAM intact (and doesn't require that wacky connector), and it is PDS. That said, a fast NuBus card such as a 8*24*GC with the ATI accelerator, or upper-end Radius cards, can beat it. I think it's "HP" as compared to motherboard video.

The HPV cards' primary advantage are upgradeability and bigger colour depth and dimension than many NuBus cards, and obviously video in for the A/V cards.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Yeah, I was thinking it was kind of crummy from what I'd read.

One question though:

Does anyone know if it counts as MoBo Video for running MacPortrait? :?:

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I looked at another thread again and found this link:

PowerMac 6100 Graphics . . .

. . . which lead me to discover that the card I want for my 81/110 is the 8100 HPV Card part #661-1027 2 to 4 MB VRAM configs. :approve:

Unfortunately, the 7100 shipped with part #661-1748 and what I've got would be the 7100 Card in 1 & 2 MB VRAM Configs. :disapprove:

I'll rummage through the stuff again. In one big lot I got some 512 MB VRAM SIMMs and an Aluminum HPV Adapter Cage, presumably for a NewerTech G3 Card . . .

. . . maybe I'll find the 8100 HPV Card somewhere around here too . . . :-/

 

[Charlieman]

The HPV cards are not accelerated for specific QuickDraw operations but are able to move data around quickly owing to the PDS design.

So the performance will depend on what you expect. If you are performing complex operations in Photoshop, the HPV will not speed them up. But you'll be able to scroll around the screen quickly and use overlapping windows. It just had to be good enough to work with the PowerMac analogue AV kit.

 

[Bunsen]

at 640 x 480, but no other resolutions are to be found

Needs drivers. A fresh install of 8.1 with the card installed should take care of that

Regarding speed, it occurs to me that the Processor the card is Direct to in this case is the G3 upgrade, not the 601. I would expect that to help some.

 

[ClassicHasClass]

On my 7100 + G3, no, not really. :/

This is not to say it's pokey, but it's not a super fast card. If I had a Thunder-class card, I'd use that instead. It's about even with my PrecisionColor 24XK, and slower than my 8*24*GC.

 

[trag]

It depends on what you're doing.

Kaye (over on MacGurus) and I did a bunch of tests of the HPV card and the Thunder IV GX (equivalent to Thunder 24GT) and the Villagetronic MacPicasso 340 (not to be confused with the inferior 320), and found that the latter two NuBus cards beat out the HPV card in many tests, but that the HPV is far superior in others. Also, the Thunder card and the MacPicasso each had their strengths but were very similar.

However, for throwing frames up on the screen, such as in Marathon (first person shooter) you simply cannot beat the HPV card. No NuBus card will even come close.

Of course, PCI video cards in later machines will put them all to shame...

Most of our tests were performed on 120 MHz NuBus PPC machines, either the 9150 or the Power Computing Power 120.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Mostly I just want ersatz "mobo video" that doesn't take up one of three NuBus Slot assignments in my Radius 81/110.

If it's really just a VRAM Card that'll be about perfect, does anyone know if it "disables" the Vampire Video on the MoBo?

I'm hoping to use it with MacPortrait, but I have a feeling that it's not going to work.

I'm hooking up as many Macs as I can to the 21" CRT Trio WorkStation's (custom, in development) KVVVM switch setup, so each needs to drive all three monitors (1 of which is in Portrait Orientation) if at all possible! [] ]'>

 

[trag]

Nope, the HPV card does not disable the motherboard video. x100 machines which shipped with either an HPV card or an AV card supported two monitors out of the box. If you added a NuBus video card, then you were already up to three.

Of course the motherboard video had kind of limited (depth X resolution) but it could be a good monitor on which to put your palettes.