This article provides information about the S3 Chrome 500 Series Graphics Driver version 8.16.12.0099, specifically designed for 32-bit Windows Vista operating systems. This driver update brings several key features and bug fixes to enhance the performance and stability of S3 Graphics Chrome 500 series graphics cards.
Overview of the S3 Chrome 500 Series
The S3 Chrome 500 Series was a line of graphics processing units (GPUs) developed by S3 Graphics, targeting mainstream desktop computers. These cards aimed to deliver a balance of performance and features for everyday computing, multimedia playback, and gaming. While not at the cutting edge of performance compared to high-end GPUs from other manufacturers, the Chrome 500 series offered a cost-effective solution for users seeking improved graphics capabilities over integrated graphics solutions.
Key Features of the S3 Chrome 500 Series
The S3 Chrome 500 Series graphics cards came equipped with several features designed to improve the user experience, including:
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Microsoft DirectX 10.1 Support: The S3 Chrome 500 Series supported DirectX 10.1, a version of Microsoft’s API that enhances 3D rendering. This support allows for more realistic visuals in games and applications through improved anti-aliasing algorithms, refined image and texture processing, higher precision formats, and programmable lighting effects. DirectX 10.1 offered advancements over previous versions, contributing to a more visually appealing and immersive experience.
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ChromotionHD 2.0 Video Technology: This technology enabled high-definition video playback, specifically targeting Blu-ray content. The S3 Chrome 500 Series supported a variety of HD video standards, including H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VC-1, WMV-HD, and AVS. This support ensured smooth and high-quality playback of HD content, crucial for enjoying Blu-ray movies and other high-resolution videos. The ChromotionHD 2.0 feature was designed to offload video decoding from the CPU to the GPU, freeing up system resources and improving overall performance.
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OpenGL 3.0 Support: Drivers released on or after December 1, 2008, for the S3 Chrome 500 series include support for OpenGL 3.0 extensions. OpenGL is another graphics API widely used in various applications, including CAD software and some games. OpenGL 3.0 brought improvements in rendering capabilities and performance, allowing developers to create more visually complex and efficient applications.
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MultiChrome Technology: A notable feature exclusive to the Windows Vista 32-bit platform for the S3 Chrome 500 Series was MultiChrome technology. This technology allowed two identical S3 Graphics boards to work in tandem, boosting rendering performance, particularly in gaming scenarios. This was an early attempt at multi-GPU scaling, similar in concept to NVIDIA’s SLI or AMD’s CrossFire, but specifically tailored for the S3 Chrome 500 series. This feature was specifically aimed at enhancing gaming experiences.
Supported Games and Benchmarks with MultiChrome
The MultiChrome technology of the S3 Chrome 500 Series aimed to provide a performance boost in various games and benchmarks. The following is a list of titles that were officially supported and tested to benefit from this technology:
- 3DMark 2005
- 3DMark 2006
- Call of Duty World at War
- Unreal Tournament 3
- Age of Empire 3
- Age of Empires III: Asian Dynasties
- Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs
- Battlefield 2
- Bioshock (DX9)
- Black & White 2
- Blacksite Area 51
- Caesar IV
- Call of Duty 2
- Call of Duty 4
- Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords
- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
- Company of Heroes (DX9)
- Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts (DX9)
- Crysis (DX9)
- Doom 3
- Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
- Ghost Recon Advanced War Fighter 2
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Hellgate: London (DX9)
- Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (DX9)
- Medal of Honor: Airborne
- Portal
- Prey
- rFactor
- Rush for Berlin
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R
- Supreme Commander Forged Alliance
- Team Fortress 2
What’s New in Driver Version 8.16.12.0099
This particular driver release (8.16.12.0099) for the S3 Chrome 500 Series is a Microsoft Certified WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) driver. This certification indicates that the driver has undergone rigorous testing by Microsoft and meets certain standards for stability and compatibility with Windows Vista.
The primary purpose of this driver release is to address specific bugs that were identified in previous versions.
Resolved Issues:
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Popup Messages During Installation: A known issue involved popup messages appearing during driver installation via the INF file. These messages included "The new settings will now be applied" or "S3 Graphics ScreenToys Utility Manager has stopped working." The driver update resolves this issue, specifically when the driver is installed using the INF file. Notably, this issue did not occur when installing the driver using the Setup.exe executable.
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OpenGL Version Reporting Discrepancy: Another issue addressed in this release pertains to the reported OpenGL version. Some applications, such as GPU Caps Viewer, were incorrectly displaying the OpenGL version as 2.1, while other tools like OGL Extensions Viewer showed version 3.0.17. The underlying supported OpenGL version was, in fact, 3.1. This driver update aims to correct this reporting discrepancy and ensure accurate identification of the supported OpenGL version.
Download Links
You can download the S3 Chrome 500 Series Graphics Driver 8.16.12.0099 for Windows Vista 32-bit from the following sources:
Alternative Download Links:
Due to the age of the S3 Chrome 500 series and its drivers, finding readily available download links can be challenging. Here are some alternative sources where you might find the driver, but please exercise caution and verify the authenticity of the files before installing them:
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DriverGuide: (DriverGuide is a driver database. Search for S3 Graphics Chrome 500 Series and filter by Windows Vista 32-bit).
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Softpedia: (Softpedia hosts older drivers. Search for S3 Graphics Chrome 500 Series and filter by Windows Vista 32-bit).
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DriversCollection: (This is a driver archive. Search for S3 Graphics Chrome 500 Series and filter by Windows Vista 32-bit).
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Driver Booster: (Driver Booster by IObit is a driver updater tool that may locate this driver, although a paid version might be necessary).
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Archive.org (Wayback Machine): It’s possible that older S3 Graphics driver pages have been archived. Search the Wayback Machine for "S3 Graphics drivers" and navigate to the relevant sections.
Important Considerations
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Operating System Compatibility: This driver is specifically designed for 32-bit versions of Windows Vista. Installing it on other operating systems (e.g., Windows XP, Windows 7, 64-bit Vista) could lead to compatibility issues and system instability.
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Driver Installation: It is recommended to uninstall any previous versions of the S3 Chrome 500 Series graphics driver before installing this update. This can be done through the Windows Device Manager or the "Programs and Features" control panel.
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INF vs. Setup.exe Installation: As mentioned in the resolved issues, the bug fixes specifically address problems encountered during installation using the INF file. If you experience issues, try using the Setup.exe executable for installation.
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Legacy Hardware: Keep in mind that the S3 Chrome 500 Series is considered legacy hardware. While this driver update addresses some known issues, it may not provide significant performance improvements or compatibility with newer games and applications.
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Authenticity: Always download drivers from reputable sources to avoid malware or corrupted files. Verify the file size and checksum (if available) to ensure the integrity of the downloaded file.
The S3 Chrome 500 Series graphics card, while not a powerhouse, offered a reasonable solution for its time. This driver release, specifically version 8.16.12.0099, aimed to address specific issues and improve the overall experience for users of the S3 Chrome 500 Series on Windows Vista 32-bit.
Disclaimer: Installing drivers from unofficial or unverified sources carries inherent risks. It is recommended to exercise caution and only download drivers from trusted websites. The author is not responsible for any damages or issues that may arise from installing drivers from third-party sources. The S3 Chrome 500 Series is a legacy product, and support may be limited.