Yes. A PCI 3dfx Voodoo2 can work alongside a 2 MB PCI Matrox Millennium, provided the PC has a free working PCI slot and suitable drivers. Keep the Matrox as the primary display adapter; the Voodoo2 is a secondary 3D accelerator, not a replacement for the card that drives the desktop.
What each card does
| Task | Matrox Millennium PCI | Voodoo2 PCI |
|---|---|---|
| Boot and ordinary display | Yes | No; it needs a primary display adapter |
| DOS/VGA and Windows desktop | Yes | No |
| Supported 3D games | Not its main role | Yes, when the game and driver support it |
3dfx designed the Voodoo2 to work with an existing 2D graphics board. Its manual describes compatibility with 2D cards and a pass-through arrangement for sharing a display (Voodoo2 manual). The archived 3dfx Voodoo2 FAQ likewise says a primary adapter is required: the Voodoo2 cannot provide the usual boot screen or Windows desktop by itself.
Check which Matrox you have
This answer is about the original Matrox Millennium PCI, including its 2 MB configuration—not the later Millennium II, its AGP version, or the Matrox Mystique. The basic two-card arrangement is similar across these families, but board connectors, BIOS behavior, and driver packages can differ. The original Matrox Millennium manual covers PCI installation and Windows 95 drivers.
Also identify the exact Voodoo2 board before choosing software. Diamond Monster 3D II, Creative, Orchid, Canopus, and other Voodoo2-based cards can vary in memory, clock, connectors, and vendor driver packages. The Voodoo2’s 8 MB versus 12 MB memory configuration does not change its basic compatibility with the Matrox; on 12 MB boards, the FAQ describes 4 MB of frame-buffer memory and 8 MB of texture memory.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Connect one monitor with the pass-through cable
For a conventional single-monitor setup, use the Voodoo2’s VGA pass-through connectors like this:
Matrox Millennium VGA output
│
▼
Voodoo2 VGA input
Voodoo2 VGA output
│
▼
Monitor
The pass-through cable carries the Matrox’s VGA signal through the Voodoo2 when a game is not using the accelerator. It is an analog video path, not a data connection; the Voodoo2 still needs to be installed in the PCI bus to communicate with the PC.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
The pass-through cable is the simplest period-style setup, but it is not mandatory. A monitor with separate inputs, or two monitors, can let you connect the cards separately if your display and software setup support that arrangement. A direct Matrox-to-monitor connection is also useful for isolating a faulty cable or Voodoo2 pass-through circuit.
Install the cards and drivers
Hardware
- Shut down the PC and disconnect AC power.
- Install the Matrox Millennium in a working PCI slot and leave it as the primary display adapter.
- Install the Voodoo2 in another free PCI slot. The Voodoo2 uses PCI; its documentation mentions 66 MHz PCI capability, but that does not mean your motherboard must have a 66 MHz slot. Ordinary PCI systems commonly run the bus at 33 MHz.
- Connect Matrox VGA output to Voodoo2 VGA input, then connect Voodoo2 VGA output to the monitor.
- Power on and verify that POST and the normal desktop appear.
The Matrox manual advises using a genuine PCI slot and the system documentation to identify slots. If the PC will not initialize both cards, try another slot for the Voodoo2 while leaving the Matrox in its known-working position.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Windows 95/98 software
- Install and verify the Matrox driver first.
- Boot Windows with the Voodoo2 installed and let Windows detect the card.
- Install a Voodoo2 driver appropriate to the exact board and operating system, then reboot.
- Check Device Manager for the Voodoo2 and any warning or unknown-device entry.
- Test a known Voodoo2-compatible game or 3dfx demo; device detection alone does not prove that a game is using hardware acceleration.
Windows 95 OSR2 and Windows 98/98 Second Edition are the least complicated period targets for Voodoo2 gaming. Driver and game support is narrower on Windows NT 4.0; Linux support followed separate reference or community-driver paths rather than the mainstream Windows consumer model. There is no single driver package guaranteed for every Voodoo2 board and operating system.
What to expect in games
The Matrox continues to handle ordinary DOS output and the Windows desktop. A game must support an API and driver path available for the Voodoo2—most notably 3dfx Glide, or a supported Direct3D or OpenGL path—to use its 3D rendering. A standard VGA, Mode X, or unsupported 3D title will keep using the Matrox for display and may render in software instead.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
In the usual pass-through setup, the display signal is routed through the Voodoo2 even when the Matrox is showing the desktop. An imperfect cable or pass-through connector can soften the image, create ghosting or color shifts, or cause intermittent or blank output. A dual-input monitor can avoid that analog path, at the cost of switching inputs yourself.
The archived FAQ gives period guidance of up to 800×600 for one Voodoo2 and up to 1024×768 for Voodoo2 SLI. Treat these as historical capability figures, not guarantees for every game, refresh rate, driver, or monitor. SLI is a separate configuration requiring two compatible Voodoo2 cards and two PCI slots; it is not needed for the Matrox-plus-one-Voodoo2 setup.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBest Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Troubleshoot by symptom
The PC will not boot or show POST
- Power off, reseat the Voodoo2, and try a different PCI slot; keep the Matrox in its known-working slot.
- Confirm the BIOS is selecting the Matrox as the primary display adapter, if that option is available.
- If needed, boot with only the Matrox to confirm the machine is stable, then add the Voodoo2 again.
- Disable unused motherboard devices in BIOS if PCI resource allocation appears to be a problem. Shared IRQs, slot-specific initialization, or conflicts with other PCI cards can vary by system.
Windows boots but does not detect the Voodoo2
- Check Device Manager for an unknown PCI device or a Voodoo2 entry with an error.
- Reseat the card or move it to another slot, then check detection again.
- Install the Matrox driver first, then clean up stale Voodoo2/Glide entries and reinstall the correct board-specific Voodoo2 driver if necessary. The archived FAQ recommends checking Device Manager and removing stale entries when the Voodoo2 device or control-panel entry disappears.
- If the card still is not detected, test it in another known-compatible PC if possible; a failed card is distinct from a driver or slot problem.
The desktop goes blank after connecting the cable
Verify the direction: Matrox output to Voodoo2 input, then Voodoo2 output to monitor. Connecting the monitor to the Voodoo2 input, or using an unsuitable cable, can leave the screen blank. Test Matrox directly to the monitor, then test the complete pass-through chain with a different VGA cable.
The desktop works but a game does not accelerate
- Confirm that the game supports Voodoo2 through Glide or a supported Direct3D/OpenGL driver path.
- Check the game’s 3D-renderer setting, any required patch, and whether it needs a specific Glide executable.
- Use a known Glide title or demo to separate a game-specific problem from a card or driver problem. Windowed modes and wrappers can also bypass the expected hardware path.
Games crash or show corrupted graphics
Check the driver version, card temperature and clock settings, pass-through cable, PCI BIOS settings, and the condition of the Voodoo2’s memory. An aging power supply or a game-specific Glide fault can also be involved. The presence of the Matrox does not by itself establish that it caused a 3D fault: the Matrox is the primary display card while the Voodoo2 handles supported 3D rendering.
When the pairing makes sense
A Millennium-plus-Voodoo2 build is a sensible choice for a PCI-era Windows 95/98 gaming PC when you want Matrox 2D output alongside Glide acceleration. The basic pairing is supported by the Voodoo2’s intended design, but a particular vintage PC can still require slot, BIOS, cable, or driver troubleshooting. Historical accounts also document the broader practice of pairing Matrox 2D cards with a separate 3dfx accelerator (DOS Days).
Before building around the cards, test each one independently if possible, confirm that the board has another usable PCI slot, and inspect the VGA connectors and cable. The original question about this exact combination is preserved in a period hardware discussion; a later Millennium II discussion is useful historical context, but the model distinction matters when selecting drivers and checking connectors.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
