Modder manages to fit legendary 3dfx Voodoo 4 GPU inside a laptop

[Redaktion]

The original 3dfx Voodoo 4 4500 board launched in 2000 was replaced with a custom-made MXM board mounted inside a 2013 Dell Precision M4800 mobile workstation. Modder "sdz" added double the original VRAM for a total of 64 MB, but only 32 MB can be used in laptop mode due to power constraints.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Modder-manages-to-fit-legendary-3dfx-Voodoo-4-GPU-inside-a-laptop.844670.0.html

[niculaeramdac]

he article seems poorly written and makes false assumptions, which is a bit sad considering this is a legendary passion project that actually works.

64MB does work and has always worked.
Overclocking also works now.
Also the statement "due to power constraints" has no base in any actual information, there is sufficient power.

"First, the modder ordered a custom MXM PCB that is roughly three times smaller (7x8 cm) than the original desktop PCB" ???
This is a 100% custom built board starting from a blank sheet, after countless hours of sourcing, reverse engineering, previous knowledge, debug and retrofitting - there is no MXM voodoo shop.

Vogons has a dedicated project page where you can find everything. (Links are not allowed)
Keyword: Voodoo 4 M4800

[niculaeramdac]

*The article - excuse the typo.

[Bogdan Solca]

he article seems poorly written and makes false assumptions, which is a bit sad considering this is a legendary passion project that actually works.

64MB does work and has always worked.
Overclocking also works now.
Also the statement "due to power constraints" has no base in any actual information, there is sufficient power.

"First, the modder ordered a custom MXM PCB that is roughly three times smaller (7x8 cm) than the original desktop PCB" ???
This is a 100% custom built board starting from a blank sheet, after countless hours of sourcing, reverse engineering, previous knowledge, debug and retrofitting - there is no MXM voodoo shop.

Vogons has a dedicated project page where you can find everything. (Links are not allowed)
Keyword: Voodoo 4 M4800

The modder added more info regarding OC stability after I published this article. At the time of publishing, OC was not working. I will modify the article to reflect that. Also, the modder did not build the PCB himself. He sent his design to some company that can build-to-order boards. Not sure you even bothered to read through the entire project thread,

[George]

While that is WAY COOL, legendary or not in 2024 a 3dfx chip might as well be an IBM VGA card.

As it is about as useful as one.


Sorry.

[niculaeramdac]

he article seems poorly written and makes false assumptions, which is a bit sad considering this is a legendary passion project that actually works.

64MB does work and has always worked.
Overclocking also works now.
Also the statement "due to power constraints" has no base in any actual information, there is sufficient power.

"First, the modder ordered a custom MXM PCB that is roughly three times smaller (7x8 cm) than the original desktop PCB" ???
This is a 100% custom built board starting from a blank sheet, after countless hours of sourcing, reverse engineering, previous knowledge, debug and retrofitting - there is no MXM voodoo shop.

Vogons has a dedicated project page where you can find everything. (Links are not allowed)
Keyword: Voodoo 4 M4800

The modder added more info regarding OC stability after I published this article. At the time of publishing, OC was not working. I will modify the article to reflect that. Also, the modder did not build the PCB himself. He sent his design to some company that can build-to-order boards. Not sure you even bothered to read through the entire project thread,

The modder did not build the pcb themselves the same way nvidia does not laminate copper sheets in house in order to make gpus. This is kind of how electronics manufacturing works.

I read the entire article because that's how I could quote it on the mistakes.

This is a project to be enjoyed not to fight upon. People who understand, understand.

I wanted to make sure that it is factually correct because the work involved deserves a correct article.

All the best.

[Bogdan Solca]

This is a project to be enjoyed not to fight upon. People who understand, understand.

Agreed. I updated the article with the latest developments.