NVIDIA's GeForce 8800 (G80): GPUs Re-architected for DirectX 10
by Anand Lal Shimpi & Derek Wilson on November 8, 2006 6:01 PM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
All of our image quality comparisons are 200 - 400% zooms on the two highlighted areas of the following image:
What really matters are image quality and performance. Does CSAA provide equivalent or better image quality to MSAA methods? We take a look at Half-Life 2 to find out. First up, we compare CSAA and MSAA in modes where only 4 color/z values are stored.
4X 8X 16X
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4X 8X 16X
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We can clearly see that, using only 4 sample points, CSAA is able to achieve greater AA quality. Edges are smoother and thin lines appear less broken. But what happens when we look at an MSAA mode with more sample points than CSAA.
8X 8XQ
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8X 8XQ
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Here we can see that NVIDIA's 8x and 8xQ modes provide similar quality. The higher number of multisamples employed by 8xQ does seem to have a positive impact on thin line antialiasing, as seen with the antenna. Edges look about the same though.
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aweigh - Friday, November 10, 2006 - link
You can just use the program DX Tweaker to enable Triple Buffering in any D3D game and use your VSYNC with negligable performance impact. So you can play with your VSYNC, a high-res and AA as well. :)aweigh - Friday, November 10, 2006 - link
I'm gonna buy an 88 specifically to use 4x4 SuperSampling in games. Why bother with MSAA with a card like that?DerekWilson - Friday, November 10, 2006 - link
Supersampling can make textures blurry -- especially very detailed textures.And the impact will be much greater with the use of longer more detailed pixel shaders (as the shaders must be evaluated at every sub-pixel in supersample).
I think transparency / adaptive AA are enough.
On your previous comment, I don't think we're to the point where we can hit triple buffering, vsync, high levels of AA AND high resolution (2560x1600) without some input lag (triple buffering plus vsync with framerates less than your refresh rate can cause problems).
If you're talking about enabling all these options on a lower resolution lcd panel, then I can definitely see that as a good use of the hardware. And it might be interesting to look at more numbers with these type of options enabled.
Thanks for the suggestion.
aweigh - Saturday, November 11, 2006 - link
I never knew that about SuperSampling. Is it something similar to Quincux blurring? And would using a negative LOD via RivaTuner/nHancer counteract the effect?How about NVIDIA's Digital Sharpness setting in Color Correction? I've found a smidge of sharpening can do wonders to improve overall clarity.
By the way, when you said Adaptive AA, were you referring to ATI cards?
Unam - Friday, November 10, 2006 - link
Derek,Saw your comment regarding the rationale for the test resolution, while I understand your reasoning now, it still begs the question how many of your readers have 30" LCD flat panels?
DerekWilson - Friday, November 10, 2006 - link
There might not be many out there right now, but it's still the right test platform for G80. We did test down to 1600x1200, so people do have information if they need it.But it speaks to who should own an 8800 GTX right now. It doesn't make sense to spend that much money on a part if you aren't going to get anything out of it with your 1280x1024 panel.
Owners of a 2560x1600 panel will want an 8800 GTX. Owners of an 8800 GTX will want a 2560x1600 panel. Smooth framerates with the ability to enable 4xAA in every game that allowed it is reason enough. People without a 2560x1600 panel should probably wait until prices come down on the 8800 GTX or until games that are able to push the 8800 GTX harder to buy the card.
Unam - Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - link
Derek,A follow up to testing resolutions, the FPS numbers we see in your articles, are they maximum, minimum or average?
Unam - Friday, November 10, 2006 - link
Who the heck runs 2560x1600? At 4XAA? Come on guys, real world benchmarks please!DerekWilson - Friday, November 10, 2006 - link
we did:1600x1200, 1920x1440, and even 1280x1024 in Oblivion
dragonsqrrl - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
....lol, owned.