Voodoo3

The 3dfx Voodoo3 was a line of graphics processing units released by 3dfx Interactive in 1999. It succeeded the Voodoo2 and represented a significant advancement in 3D graphics technology for its time. The Voodoo3 was available in several configurations, including the Voodoo3 1000, 2000, and 3000, differing primarily in clock speeds. It featured a single-chip architecture, integrating both 2D and 3D rendering capabilities, unlike its predecessors which required a separate 2D card. This unification simplified system configurations and reduced cost for consumers.

Key features of the Voodoo3 included a 128-bit 3D graphics core, support for resolutions up to 2048x1536, and hardware texture cache. It was also one of the first consumer graphics cards to support AGP 2x. The Voodoo3 was particularly praised for its 3D performance in contemporary games, often outperforming competing cards from Nvidia and ATI. Its driver support was also a strong point, with 3dfx known for optimizing its drivers for popular titles.

Despite its initial success, the Voodoo3 ultimately faced challenges. 3dfx's financial difficulties and the increasing competition in the graphics card market led to its eventual decline. The Voodoo3 was among the last high-profile products released by 3dfx before the company was acquired by Nvidia in 2000. Nevertheless, the Voodoo3 is remembered fondly by PC gaming enthusiasts for its contributions to the evolution of 3D graphics.