G400 & W2K

[LrngToFly]

My bet is that the rewrite is more than just about DirectX 7.

I would think Matrox is rewriting the driver to conform to the new WDM (Windows Driver Model). Win95 drivers (that also work in Win98) are called "VxD" style and WinNT4 drivers of course have a different specification. WDM drivers work in both Windows 2000 and Windows 98 (but not Win95 or WinNT4.)

So, we'll probably get a single set of drivers (and hopefully a single OpenGL implementation too) that works under both Win2K and Win98/WinMillenium etc.

Can someone who does have access to the beta Win2K driver tell us if there's the beginnings of an OpenGL implementation? I'd hate to have to go through the OpenGL hell (in other words, a LONG wait for decent speed) all over again when Win2K comes out.

With any luck a Win2K/WDM OpenGL implementation will have a codebase much in common w/ either the Win9x VxD or NT4 style drivers- so it won't require a _complete_ rewrite from scratch.

[This message has been edited by LrngToFly (edited 09-29-1999).]

[Firefox]

Workeble? well.... I actually am able to run my newly G400 from W2K - with the NT4 driver - actually a little better than NT4, but still, I bought the thing because I want to use good and crisp 2nd monitor functions and TV out's....


Guess I'll have to stash my hi performance dualboard in my server and run single CPU on 98 for the next decade... :-(

I can agree on the fact that W2K isn't supported yet... it stupid putting it mildly, but the fact that NT4 also dosn't have actuallt decent drivers pisses me off just nicely.

[miloche]

Here's a post I ran across in the private cpp newsgroup.

I sent a message to them since I am in the Registerd Developers Program and
I couldn't get access. This is the response I received.
Hey *******,
Please understand that these drivers are only for game developers
working on D3D titles and are using G400 that we have sent. Please wait
for public drivers later this week,

Complete heresay I know, but hey, maybe soon.




[This message has been edited by miloche (edited 09-30-1999).]

[tish beta2]

moiliche, I got the exact same sentence from matrox dev rel team...


But really it's only wise for Matrox not to put out the drivers before W2K is in it's final form.

Fine, but this is just your opinion. YuppieScum just proved you wrong on this subject.

Yup, this exact discussion has taken place many times, also here at these forums. I was in a great (aka hefty) discussion with Ragman (aka Rags) and he even said win2k wasn't a consumer OS, and it wasn't ment for gaming etc etc... This was later proven wrong. Just think logically and check out the reality, and there you have it

What you say about DX7 being beta, beta versions of win2k etc etc: All you said there is opinions you cannot prove. I have an oposite opinion about that which I can prove. I have played D3D games and OGL games in these builds: 2040, 2045, 2053, 2072 and now 2128, which is the RC2. How did I manage that when that "beta" DX7 changes all the time? and how did I manage that using the same damn win2k graphics driver?

Simple.

I used a Nvidia TNT. The Canopus Spectra 2k5, to be precise.

I see how you catch the logic in writing new drivers for every build of DX7. But this is not nesessary. One unmodified driver (like the win2k driver for my spectra) could do nice and well in the builds of win2k from the first beta all the way to RC2.

The only reason there isn't any win2k beta drivers for the G400 is that Matrox Driver Development is not skilled enough and don't have enough developers.

The API you talk about I presume is the new stuff in DX7. Yes, that new stuff has been "beta" until now, but we don't need that to make drivers working in win2k. Nvidia just proved it.

Damn if nvidia had done the same thing as Matrox, not to put out any workable drivers for win2k, I wouldn't have much to say, would I?


CitrixSCU, I don't understand why it don't work for you... good luck with Alpha 2.

LrngToFly (Really?! ), I betcha those TurboGL drivers also work with Win2K <- my happy thought

Damn, imagine playing quake3 1024x32@50 fps in win2k while lightwave renderers on my second CPU... And no restart if I wanto play another game! whaaahooo!

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If you're a young Mafia gangster out on your first date, I bet it's really embarrassing if someone tries to kill you.

[tish beta2]

maybe, just maybe