S3

S3 Graphics, Ltd is a graphics hardware manufacturer founded in January 1989. Their proprietary API's were S3D for DOS and MeTaL for Windows.

*S3 chip sets were very popular among low-end graphic hardware manufacturers. Sometimes standard S3 drivers won't work on such cards. Use FCC ID to confirm the graphic card's origin.

S3 Vision

S3 Vision968

High performance GUI accelerators during 1994 and 1995. The family includes the 864, 868, 964 and 968 chips. The 9xx series uses VRAM memory instead of fast-page DRAM, enhancing memory performance and improving high-resolution GUI performance. The x68 chips include motion video acceleration features including color space conversion and video scaling.

S3 Trio

S3 Trio64

An evolution of previous accelerators. The name refers to the integration of 3 components into one ASIC: RAMDAC, graphics core and clock generator. Higher integration reduces overall product cost.

Trio64 variants are popular for DOS gaming due to their high compatibility and good speed.

S3 ViRGE

ViRGE DX 4MB

The ViRGE is the first S3 chip with 3D acceleration support and launched in 1996. Aside from the 3D hardware, it is quite similar to the Trio64V+. These cards typically come equipped with 2-4MB RAM. S3 created the S3D API to program directly for the ViRGE accelerators although they also support Direct3D 3+.

There are several variants. The original ViRGE (marked 325), the ViRGE VX, ViRGE DX, ViRGE GX, ViRGE GX/2 and Trio3D. VX is slower at 3D but uses VRAM memory to somewhat improve high-resolution GUI performance. DX and GX are the second generation and GX supports SGRAM. GX/2 and Trio3D are typically AGP products and perhaps the third generation.

All ViRGE chips posses a fairly complete 3D feature set and can output quality 3D visuals. The original 325 chip and the VX have inadequate performance outside of S3D games. The DX and GX have approximately double the 3D performance and can run some Direct3D adequately if the driver is compatible with the game. Later chips are somewhat faster still.

S3D games often only recognize the original ViRGE 325 chip but there is a third party utility to fix the game executable.

The similarity to Trio64V+ provides high compatibility for DOS games.

S3 Trio 3D/2X

This is based upon the ViRGE architecture.

S3 Trio 3D/2X

S3D accelerated games

• Demolition Derby
• Descent 2
• Mechwarrior 2
• Terminal Velocity
• Tomb Raider

Related links

• Vintage3D - has a section dedicated to the examination of performance and image quality of ViRGE cards.