Great for compatability
Written: Nov 17 '99 (Updated Aug 08 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great card, easy to use software controls
Cons: Needed some registry tweaks and a fan on the heatsink
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| kurt_h's Full Review: Creative Labs 3D Blaster Banshee |
When I was doing a make-over of my dual pentium II system, I wanted a better graphics card than my old #9 Imagine card. And I wanted to run the BeOS. And some games. So I needed a card that is supported by two OS's and does a good job with games. I was not building an ultimate DOOM machine or anything else for first person shooters: I like Age of Empires I+II and that sort of game. So a quick check of the hardware compatability lists brought up the 3D Blaster Banshee. I know its gotten great reviews in PC WORLD and PC COMPUTING so I decided that slightly older technology would do for me.
After installing drivers, software and such, I still got random crashes on the WinNT side. So I went to the handy-dandy control panel and moved the Turbo setting down to its minimum. Still got crashes. Time for some serious research: I hit the net hard and got a couple of pieces of advice for Registry settings (no luck alone) and one piece to mount a 486 fan on the Banshee's heatsink. BINGO! Works like a charm, now. Fast enough to do my gaming, supported by both OS's and even gets updated on the Creative site a couple of weeks after the generic drivers come out from 3dfx.
You can find this card in close out sales at some stores looking to get it off their shelves. If you want a good graphics card that is supported by a couple of operating systems and does a fair to middling job on games, go for this one.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 65
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Epinions.com ID:
kurt_h
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Location: Sterling, VA
Reviews written: 967
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About Me:
A reader of SF and fantasy, and an enjoyer of liquid refreshment now and again.
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