Trending Now - 3DFX Voodoo Graphics Revived Using FPGA Technology

WHO:

Francisco Ayala Le Brun, developer of the 3DFX Voodoo 1 implementation for FPGAs.

3DFX, a graphics company that was eventually acquired by Nvidia.

WHAT:

The 3DFX Voodoo 1 has been implemented in SpinalHDL for FPGAs.

The Voodoo was a dedicated 3D graphics chipset popular among gamers in the early mass-market GPU era.

The Voodoo card was a 3D-processing-only PCI card that connected to the feature connector of an SVGA card.

The Voodoo supported the Glide API, enhancing the 3D experience in compatible games.

WHERE:

The implementation details can be found in a GitHub repository.

WHEN:

The original 3DFX Voodoo was popular in the mid-1990s.

The current year is 2026.

WHY:

The revival of the 3DFX Voodoo is aimed at retrocomputing enthusiasts who may not want to purchase original mid-1990s hardware.

HOW:

The architecture of the Voodoo consists of dedicated hardware functions for various graphics tasks, as opposed to the programmable parts of modern GPUs.

The implementation on an FPGA encountered bugs and timing problems, which were addressed in the write-up.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 09:23 UTC)

In a significant development for retrocomputing enthusiasts, Francisco Ayala Le Brun has successfully implemented the 3DFX Voodoo 1 in SpinalHDL for FPGAs, reviving the dedicated 3D graphics chipset that was popular among gamers in the mid-1990s. This Voodoo card, which connected to an SVGA card and supported the Glide API, is now detailed in a GitHub repository, providing a modern alternative for those who may not want to purchase original hardware. While the implementation faced some bugs and timing issues, these challenges have been addressed in the accompanying write-up, showcasing the dedication to preserving this piece of gaming history.