The christmas dilema of graphic cards.

[hugo2020 0]

6--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (nolips71 @ Dec. 14 2002,166)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i have a gainward ti4600 and it works fine bloody brilliant<span id='postcolor'>

I got a gainward ti4200, what antialiashing value have you activated?? With 4x it is on Battlefield sometimes a bit slow here,

1.) OFP is filtering always bilinear, is there a way to force the

    trilinear filtering for better looking?

[RED 0]

I have a Ti4600 with 4xAA enabled, it does get a bit chopper on large battlefields on 4x speed mode.

RED

[nolips71 0]

yer it does on everyones comp i think even with 768ddr

[S_Z 0]

I’m also thinking about getting my old card (geforce 2gts) replaced by a new one. I was planing to get a 9700(not the Pro) card until I saw the thread about ATIs carts in the  troubleshooting forum.

Now I’m not sure what to do, OFP is my favorite game (and has been for a long time) so it doesn’t feel good to buy a card that have issues with OFP. Why cant ATI make some good drivers… The 9700 is faster than a geforce 4600 but the price of the two is pretty much the same. I really don’t know what to do either.

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (S_Z @ Dec. 14 2002,18:24)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I’m also thinking about getting my old card (geforce 2gts) replaced by a new one. I was planing to get a 9700(not the Pro) card until I saw the thread about ATIs carts in the  troubleshooting forum.

Now I’m not sure what to do, OFP is my favorite game (and has been for a long time) so it doesn’t feel good to buy a card that have issues with OFP. Why cant ATI make some good drivers… The 9700 is faster than a geforce 4600 but the price of the two is pretty much the same. I really don’t know what to do either. <span id='postcolor'>

So we have the same task to fullfill! The Radeon 9700 is a lot faster than the 4600 at higher resolution and with AA! I use an ATI card since a long time with OFP and it always worked pretty okay! Anyhow, me too I dont know what to do!

[STS_SolidSnake 0]

i know im going a little offtopic but what does Dilemma means?

And id choose the new Geforce FX cuz it has the best drivers

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i know im going a little offtopic but what does Dilemma means?<span id='postcolor'>

I shouldnt be replaying to this since english is my third language but basicly a hard choise, whit no obvious answer/solution

[Col. Kurtz 0]

Here is another biased opinion from me.

Dont bother getting a Geforce 4 of any kind, you would be better served to get a Radeon 9500pro for the same price as a Ti4200/Ti4400. Also remember that the Radeon 9500pro is fully Dx 9.0 compatable while the Gf 4 cards are not Dx 9 compatable. And I would advise against rushing out to buy a Geforce FX when it comes out. If ready to wait, wait until both the Gf FX and the ATI R350 are out so you can see what the better of the two cards are.

[hugo2020 0]

I cannot see the need of Directx 9 now, app´s and games requiring dx9 are expected 2003/2004. That was written in a PC magazine.

One good think of the Radeon 9500pro/9700pro Series might be, that they have nicer antialiashing support than gf4.

[Col. Kurtz 0]

The Radeon 9500pro/9700/pro and far superior than the Gf4. What now needs to be decided is if he wants to get a Radeon now, or wait and see what the future holds.

[S_Z 0]

I would not hesitate on buying a Radeon 9700 if it didn’t have these issues with OFP but since OFP is the game I play most I don’t want a graphic card that doesn’t work well with it.

[RED 0]

Just wait for the NV30 it will be the best out, the poll supports this.

Or you could wait for the after christmas sales when prices will drop alot.

RED

[Col. Kurtz 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (RED @ Dec. 15 2002,21:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Just wait for the NV30 it will be the best out, the poll supports this.<span id='postcolor'>

Just becuase lots of people voted to wait for the NV 30 dosnt mean its going to be a good card......

As I said before, I would not buy the Geforce FX until the R350 is released so you can compare the two. It would be unfortunite if you rushed out and brought the FX, only for ATI to release a better card shortly after (and in my biased opinion, is what ATI are going to do)

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (hugo2020 @ Dec. 15 2002,10:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I cannot see the need of Directx 9 now, app´s and games requiring dx9 are expected 2003/2004. That was written in a PC magazine.

One good think of the Radeon 9500pro/9700pro Series might be, that they have nicer antialiashing support than gf4.<span id='postcolor'>

Stalker is one of the games which can use directx 9.0

I also think that a few games in the future may require 8.1 OR HIGHER and if you got 9.0 you can enable some additional options.

During the last presentation of the FX a few journalists noticed that the card was so heavy so the developers had to stabilise it with a cord.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

What is the point of using Directx 9.0 technology when there is hardly any Directx 8.1 usage around?

What is the point of buying an NVIDIA FX/Radeon 9500 if the technology they have is not used by any games/programs. I mean, even the GeForce 3 has some technology that is only just now appearing on the software market.

I don't see the need to upgrade until AGP 16x comes out - possibly wait until AGP 32x even

[hugo2020 0]

there is a need, the radeon 9500pro/9700pro can activate much antialiasing, so there arent any stairs and edges in the ofp graphics, hopefully with the normal game speed :/

[bn880 5]

I don't know, I think I would try out the ATI. It will probably save you some money.

Toms Hardware

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Ex-RoNiN @ Dec. 15 2002,15:12)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What is the point of using Directx 9.0 technology when there is hardly any Directx 8.1 usage around?

What is the point of buying an NVIDIA FX/Radeon 9500 if the technology they have is not used by any games/programs. I mean, even the GeForce 3 has some technology that is only just now appearing on the software market.

I don't see the need to upgrade until AGP 16x comes out - possibly wait until AGP 32x even <span id='postcolor'>

This question could also be asked the other way around. Why the hell arent there any top-scale games on the market. OFP initially was quite ahead with its system requirements, but so far I dont know many games that ask for more than 800Mhz and a Geforce 2.

[kevbaz 0]

i personally have just got a radeon 9700pro when used with my old mobo i had quite a few probs, mainly due to the card not that compatible with via chipset mobo's so i got a new mobo aswell i got a

EPoX EP-8RDA+ nForce2â„¢

and i have absolutley no problems now, ofp runs great apart from flashing roads, bf1942 i have the settings all on highest and it runs smooth as a babys butt, and today i downloaded the mp demo of vietcong and omg thoses graphics are great and it never skips a beat in any game.

I personally havent tried the g4 ti600 so i cant comment but all the benchmarks results i found whilst working out what to get showed the 9700pro eating the ti4600 for brekkie, i havent looked into the new gforce fx thingy, but my rad 9700pro kicks ass

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> I dont know many games that ask for more than 800Mhz and a Geforce 2.<span id='postcolor'>Thank god for that

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">bf1942 i have the settings all on highest and it runs smooth as a babys butt, and today i downloaded the mp demo of vietcong and omg thoses graphics are great and it never skips a beat in any game.<span id='postcolor'>

Bf1942 i dont have problems whit but this Vietcong is strange... even if i higher the settings to full it dosnt look that pretty, mabey the game limits the Video options depending on what computer you have? (mine sucks   )

[S_Z 0]

I’m sure the 9700 "kicks ass" but this

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KEVBAZ @ Dec. 15 2002,20:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...and i have absolutley no problems now, ofp runs great apart from flashing roads...<span id='postcolor'>

is exactly what I dont want...Isnt it very annoying?

[RED 0]

The 9700 doesn't support direct X 9.1 which is under development, I will find a link about it.

RED

[bn880 5]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (S_Z @ Dec. 15 2002,15:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I?m sure the 9700 "kicks ass" but this

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KEVBAZ @ Dec. 15 2002,20:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">...and i have absolutley no problems now, ofp runs great apart from flashing roads...<span id='postcolor'>

is exactly what I dont want...Isnt it very annoying? <span id='postcolor'>

That is probably just a W/Z buffer setting. Also 16 bit mode is known to have some problems in OFP.

I don't think you buy flashing roads with the hardware, but ATI drivers are not updated often.

[bn880 5]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (RED @ Dec. 15 2002,16:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The 9700 doesn't support direct X 9.1 which is under development, I will find a link about it.

RED<span id='postcolor'>

http://www.hardwarecentral.com/hardwarecentral/previews/4513/1/

So are you thinking it may support 9.0 but not 9.1? (maybe that's what I missed)

EDIT: that's what I missed

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">?So far the release of graphics chips has centered around their ability to support various

features of DirectX. In the past both leading graphics companies had, at some time or another

the edge over their rival. It is now becoming apparent that, for the first time in quite a while,

DirectX 9.1, expected around Spring 2003, will offer features which will not be supported by

the latest offerings by ATI and nVidia.

The main feature of DirectX which has prompted much of the competition between the two

graphics companies, has been their products' support for versions of Pixel Shader, part of

DirectX's Application Programming Interface.

It was nVidia who first used the release of Pixel Shader 1.1 to their advantage when ATI's

new card, at the time, the RADEON 7200 supported only version 1.0.

The same thing happened to nVidia when DirectX 8.1 was released carrying support for Pixel

Shader 1.4. Its release meant that the GeForce 3 offered support for DirectX 8.0 but not 8.1.

In order to better understand what will happen with DirectX 9 you have to consider that both

the RADEON 9700 Pro and NV30, are called DirectX 9.1 hardware. Their support however,

will extend only as far as Pixel Shader 2.0, while Microsoft's DirectX 9.1 will feature Pixel

Shader 3.0. The upcoming R350 and NV35, from ATI and nVidia respectively, expected to

appear in spring 2003, will most probably not carry Pixel Shader 3.0 support. So when the

bug fixing DirectX 9.1 is released both manufacturers will find their offerings supporting DX

9.1 but not quite.

The logic behind releasing new versions of Pixel Shader before they are fully supported by

hardware is a sound one. It allows programmers time to get accustomed to the new model,

theoretically, increasesing the rate at which that model is utilised. So for all of us that should

result in better looking games.<span id='postcolor'>

[second_draw 0]

The only game (i know) that really uses DX8s muscle is Aquanox. Which is my point exactly as ex-ronin said before. Screw DX9.