3D printing and electronics enthusiast Jeff Chen I’ve designed and shared some STL models that bring nice coats of armor to 3dfx Voodoo2 cards for the first time. Now the 1990s PCBs of aging graphics cards can wear 2020s clothes and look quite stunning.
Launched in March 1998, the 3dfx Voodoo2 graphics card was so iconic and revolutionary to PC gaming that it still stirs emotions among gamers of a certain age. 3dfx graphics cards are also very popular and cost a hefty ticket among retro-his gamers, so the extra protection offered by Armor isn’t just about handsome points. I’m not sure if Chen is also a fan of the old Nokia Lumia colorways, but 3D printer owners will of course print these out in their own chosen color.
Chen offers printable 3D file downloads from a dedicated page. in printYou can also find background information and nice images about the project here. “I have personally seen a great many of his Voodoo2 cards with either missing components or crushed pins due to rough handling and storage,” Chen wrote. “So here’s an armor set that puts my mind at ease.” He also humbly admits that the armor is very visually appealing. It’s great to see your layout work and the result looks very professional.
For anyone interested in following in Chen’s footsteps and printing one of these armor sets, you’ll also need four sets of M2x6mm hex screws and nuts for mounting, and will work with a standard 30x30mm heatsink without issue.
There are some caveats provided by Chen. First, he states that the 3D printer files will produce armor compatible with most, if not all, of his Voodoo2 PCB designs. Next, it is worth emphasizing that he with a large bed needs a 3D printer. For example, the Ender 3 Pro (which built the example you see) was big enough to do the job.
Chen has plans for more 3dfx armor sets, including designs aimed at installing SLI cards.
