SGLDrv explained

leilei · 18th May 2012, 08:35 PM

"SO WHAT IS THIS FILE!", one may have asked in in the past 11 years while looking in their System/ folder.

It's the "PowerVR SGL for Windows" driver module that has been pretty much neglected since Unreal. A brief abridged history lesson - this British company Videologic made this efficient tile rendered chipset that rivaled the Voodoo Graphics in performance and cost. Matrox marketed this as the M3D in 1997. It was also popular with Compaq OEMs. Unreal had to support this in its initial release. It's the direct predecessor of what was used in the Dreamcast.

To get it to function, you'll need KernelEx 4.5.1. I don't know why it does, as it's definitely not NT stuff. If KernelEx existed earlier like 1999 this would have been less of an obscure solution by now.

you'll also need to uncomment the lines in its .int file

oh and most importantly, you'll need a working NEC PowerVR PCX2 video card on your Windows 98 or ME installation.

If you're curious how it looks and runs, here are some videos:

It's functional in 348 (teh DEMO!) and 400. Framerates are 60+ in 320x200 and around 28 in 640x480.

(my recordings)

(elianda)

It's also functional in Game of the Year edition build 426 but the lighting appears to be screwed. Additionally, you need to hex edit the DLL itself to change letters around the appPow function name.

(my recording)

Similarly, Desu Ex has a functional SGLDrv, but it crashes at the load menu

and no, PowerVR KYRO I and II can't use this driver. Neon250 might but seriously who has one of those? lol

Leo(T.C.K.) · 19th May 2012, 12:54 AM

Wow, well it doesn't look much good to be honest, quite the opposite lol, but what can you expect from very early hardware 3D graphics i guess.

Arnox · 19th May 2012, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo(T.C.K.)

Wow, well it doesn't look much good to be honest, quite the opposite lol, but what can you expect from very early hardware 3D graphics i guess.

This. Great informational topic though.

Raynor.Z · 19th May 2012, 03:52 AM

It's a nice topic from a historical viewpoint, but specific GPU and legacy OS requirement probably prevents us to try it out. Does SGLDrv support S3TC textures?

leilei · 19th May 2012, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raynor.Z

Does SGLDrv support S3TC textures?

No, it doesn't even support detail textures either lol. This is a card in which there's only up to 4mb of ram for, supporting only a few texture formats, and not even able to use additive blending.

DarkED · 22nd May 2012, 08:27 AM

Wow. That card definitely did not show much love for UT's textures or lightmaps.

StalwartUK · 22nd May 2012, 04:18 PM

Didn't the Dreamcast use a PowerVR type graphics card?

DarkED · 22nd May 2012, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StalwartUK

Didn't the Dreamcast use a PowerVR type graphics card?

Yep.

medor · 23rd May 2012, 10:09 AM

it looks like a simple tweak

kr0m · 25th May 2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkmedor

it looks like a simple tweak

exactly, looks like a simple command set WinDrv.WindowsClient NoLighting true
or just changed lights on map

leilei · 28th May 2012, 09:29 PM

I doubt there's anything "simple" about additives becoming alphas, if you check out the blood, the compensation wasn't simple.

Do you think this is a hoax?

kr0m · 5th Jun 2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leilei

I doubt there's anything "simple" about additives becoming alphas, if you check out the blood, the compensation wasn't simple.

Do you think this is a hoax?

nope

I wrote only that it looks
give me .dll files wants to try <--
ok nvm win98/win me no thanks :P

18th May 2012, 08:35 PM	#1
leilei YES! YES! YES! Join Date: Jan. 20th, 2008 Posts: 316	SGLDrv explained (Dummied out PowerVR SGL support) "SO WHAT IS THIS FILE!", one may have asked in in the past 11 years while looking in their System/ folder. It's the "PowerVR SGL for Windows" driver module that has been pretty much neglected since Unreal. A brief abridged history lesson - this British company Videologic made this efficient tile rendered chipset that rivaled the Voodoo Graphics in performance and cost. Matrox marketed this as the M3D in 1997. It was also popular with Compaq OEMs. Unreal had to support this in its initial release. It's the direct predecessor of what was used in the Dreamcast. To get it to function, you'll need KernelEx 4.5.1. I don't know why it does, as it's definitely not NT stuff. If KernelEx existed earlier like 1999 this would have been less of an obscure solution by now. you'll also need to uncomment the lines in its .int file oh and most importantly, *you'll need a working NEC PowerVR PCX2* video card** on your Windows 98 or ME installation. If you're curious how it looks and runs, here are some videos: It's functional in 348 (teh DEMO!) and 400. Framerates are 60+ in 320x200 and around 28 in 640x480. (my recordings) (elianda) It's also functional in Game of the Year edition build 426 but the lighting appears to be screwed. Additionally, you need to hex edit the DLL itself to change letters around the appPow function name. (my recording) Similarly, Desu Ex has a functional SGLDrv, but it crashes at the load menu and no, PowerVR KYRO I and II can't use this driver. Neon250 might but seriously who has one of those? lol __________________ o^_^o Last edited by leilei; 18th May 2012 at 08:57 PM.

19th May 2012, 03:52 AM	#4
Raynor.Z Ad Nocendum Potentes Sumus Join Date: Feb. 1st, 2006 Posts: 1,346	It's a nice topic from a historical viewpoint, but specific GPU and legacy OS requirement probably prevents us to try it out. Does SGLDrv support S3TC textures? __________________ Unreal Tournament Tweak Guide \| Unreal Tournament Social Group \| Albums For those willing to build a mountain of bodies and climb to the top. In environments that stun. Against A.I. that kills. For those willing to stake their lives in the pursuit of victory... we salute you.

22nd May 2012, 08:27 AM	#6
DarkED The Great Oppression Join Date: Mar. 19th, 2006 Location: Right behind you. Posts: 2,761	Wow. That card definitely did not show much love for UT's textures or lightmaps. __________________ Nites - Nites Studios

22nd May 2012, 04:18 PM	#7
StalwartUK Registered User Join Date: Feb. 12th, 2008 Location: England Posts: 151	Didn't the Dreamcast use a PowerVR type graphics card? __________________ StalwartUK My YouTube Channel

23rd May 2012, 10:09 AM	#9
medor Registered User Join Date: Mar. 15th, 2009 Posts: 321	it looks like a simple tweak __________________ Files for UT99 utfiles All new releases and updates are listed here All news Most popular is UnrealTournament-V3 With over 6800 visits to date.It is an optimized UT99 to download.

19th May 2012, 12:54 AM	#2
Leo(T.C.K.) Registered User Join Date: May. 14th, 2006 Posts: 3,707	Wow, well it doesn't look much good to be honest, quite the opposite lol, but what can you expect from very early hardware 3D graphics i guess.

28th May 2012, 09:29 PM	#11
leilei YES! YES! YES! Join Date: Jan. 20th, 2008 Posts: 316	I doubt there's anything "simple" about additives becoming alphas, if you check out the blood, the compensation wasn't simple. Do you think this is a hoax? __________________ o^_^o

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode