[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] Diamond SpeedSTAR

mek4_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Mark Kern) (12/04/90)

I've read some great things about the Diamond SpeedStar 
SVGA graphics card.  PCweek called it the fastest they have tested to
date.  Is this true?  If you have one, could you please send benchmarks?
Specifically, is the SpeedStar faster than the new Orchid Prodesigner II?
How does the Diamond acheive it's speed. I hear they use the Tseng chip
set with a new bios...

Mark E. Kern

ray@ole.UUCP (Ray Berry) (12/07/90)

mek4_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Mark Kern) writes:



>Specifically, is the SpeedStar faster than the new Orchid Prodesigner II?
>How does the Diamond acheive it's speed. I hear they use the Tseng chip
>set with a new bios...

	The Diamond board uses the Tseng 4000 chip as does the Prodesigner
II.  I've seen claims that the Diamond is 13-15% faster on *some* types of
operations- but I doubt the difference is significant.  The Prodesigner II
supports the new "ergonomic" 72 Hz refresh rate; the Speedstar does not.
(However, there is a new "Speedstar+" coming RSN that *does* support it)..
	OTHO, Speedstars are good boards, overall.  And can be cheap.  An
outfit called "FMG" advertised Speedstars w/1 Mbyte of ram in the December
Computer Shopper for $209..

-- 
Ray Berry  kb7ht  uucp: ...sumax!ole!ray CIS: 73407,3152 /* "inquire within" */

sxb@gibbon.inel.gov (Steve Bryan) (04/25/91)

In response to my query about fast video cards, there seems to be quite a
number of positive comments about the Diamond SpeedSTAR.  My question is,
who is a distributor of these cards (other than buying a machine from
Gateway), and can someone post the BBS number for the customer support
of this card?

Thanks,
-Steve
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and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

jmerrill@jarthur.claremont.edu (Jason Merrill) (04/26/91)

>>>>> On 24 Apr 91 21:58:41 GMT, sxb@gibbon.inel.gov (Steve Bryan) said:

> In response to my query about fast video cards, there seems to be quite a
> number of positive comments about the Diamond SpeedSTAR.  My question is,
> who is a distributor of these cards (other than buying a machine from
> Gateway), and can someone post the BBS number for the customer support
> of this card?

I don't know where you can get them other than from computer manufacturers,
but the BBS number is (408) 730-1100.

Jason Merrill
jmerrill@jarthur.claremont.edu

scotte@applix.com (Scott Evernden) (04/27/91)

In article <JMERRILL.91Apr25195453@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> jmerrill@jarthur.claremont.edu (Jason Merrill) writes:
>>>>>> On 24 Apr 91 21:58:41 GMT, sxb@gibbon.inel.gov (Steve Bryan) said:
>
>> In response to my query about fast video cards, there seems to be quite a
>> number of positive comments about the Diamond SpeedSTAR.  My question is,
>> who is a distributor of these cards (other than buying a machine from
>
>I don't know where you can get them other than from computer manufacturers,
>but the BBS number is (408) 730-1100.

What's the problem finding a SpeedStar?

Quick check in recent Computer Shopper reveals, for example,
MicroLine Computer (415-770-1900) sells 1M SpeedStars for $230.

I've dealt with these folks without incident;  ask for Ben...

-scott

daly@ecs.umass.edu (Bryon Daly, ECE dept, UMass, Amherst) (04/28/91)

In article <1188@applix.com>, scotte@applix.com (Scott Evernden) writes:
> In article <JMERRILL.91Apr25195453@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> jmerrill@jarthur.claremont.edu (Jason Merrill) writes:
>>>>>>> On 24 Apr 91 21:58:41 GMT, sxb@gibbon.inel.gov (Steve Bryan) said:
>>
>>> In response to my query about fast video cards, there seems to be quite a
>>> number of positive comments about the Diamond SpeedSTAR.  My question is,
>>> who is a distributor of these cards (other than buying a machine from
>>
>>I don't know where you can get them other than from computer manufacturers,
>>but the BBS number is (408) 730-1100.
> 
> What's the problem finding a SpeedStar?
> 
> Quick check in recent Computer Shopper reveals, for example,
> MicroLine Computer (415-770-1900) sells 1M SpeedStars for $230.
> 
> I've dealt with these folks without incident;  ask for Ben...
> 
> -scott

You may want to hold off on the purchase a little bit and wait for their
new stuff:

Diamond recently announced that they have two new products, based on Edsun's
Continous Edge Graphics chip, and ?'s Hi-Color chip, scheduled for release
in Mid-May. (With driver support for the standard software, I believe).
They haven't stated pricing yet.  It seems like they will be willing to upgrade
existing owners of their SpeedStar, so I'm gonna be at the head of that line.
I can't wait!  Their announcement in in one of the sig groups in their BBS, if
you want the specific details (which I can't remember anymore).
       
-Bryon 
daly@ecs.umass.edu