3.0 PS...kind of a let down in FarCry

413xram

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May 5, 2004
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Before I get flamed. Lets get one thing out. I have a BFG 6800u with water block 470 MHz in my rig right now, and I love it. I can't but feel a little let down that with (when?) the new 1.2 patch (Far Cry) that the eye candy is not there. The 1.2 update was supposed to INCLUDE the eye candy plus speed up the frame rates! What gives?? I must admit it kind puts a damper on my expectations. Does any other 6800 series owner feel the same way?
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
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SM3 is not about eye candy but a better way to code and run shaders.
Indirectly you may get eye candy out of it due to saved cycles.
 

413xram

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May 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: Genx87
SM3 is not about eye candy but a better way to code and run shaders.
Indirectly you may get eye candy out of it due to saved cycles.


I understand that, but I was under the idea that the eye candy in the screen shots was included in the 1.2 patch. Do not get me wrong, I still think the game is awesome.... but....
 

Keysplayr

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Jan 16, 2003
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To the OP: If you haven't seen this already, here is a link to a very nice review with good detailed side by side screenshots. I am not saying what I thought of the review. I will leave you to make your own decisions.

Link
 
Jun 14, 2003
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looks like nvidias marketing strategy has worked

they showed ps 1.1 vs ps 3 at a demo of far cry so it looked so much better, but in reallity what SM 3 can do SM 2 can do only slower
 

Keysplayr

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Jan 16, 2003
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Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
looks like nvidias marketing strategy has worked

they showed ps 1.1 vs ps 3 at a demo of far cry so it looked so much better, but in reallity what SM 3 can do SM 2 can do only slower

Yes, its not that it improves image quality, although there is a slight difference in lighting saturation as it is more subdued in 3.0, but reduces the time it takes to do the same amount of instructions or pixel shading.
 

oldfart

Lifer
Dec 2, 1999
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Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
To the OP: If you haven't seen this already, here is a link to a very nice review with good detailed side by side screenshots. I am not saying what I thought of the review. I will leave you to make your own decisions.

Link
Not a bad article. The 1.2 parch seems to have fixed the rendering problems for nV3x owners which is good. Other than that, IQ is the same across the board. The performance on the nV3x is pretty bad compared to the R3xx though. Was it that slow before the patch? Nice performance increase on the nV4x cards in benches that use more SM3 effects..

It still seems you need a X800P/6800 GT or above to get decent frame rates judging by some of the benches. The 6800 vanilla is a little faster than a 98000XT, but is way behind the higher end cards.
 

Keysplayr

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Jan 16, 2003
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Yes, the patch enabled the 59xx series to render the effects the best that they are able for that architecture. They are still very slow. Most of the artifacting was fixed except for a few situations.
So a new 6800GT/X800pro is needed for better results I would agree.
 

Keysplayr

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Jan 16, 2003
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Originally posted by: Apophis
Originally posted by: Rollo
No because the HDR is coming in v 1.3, which they've said is coming soon.


The 1.2 patch isn't even out yet, and it's been like 4 months since the last one

Sorta like waiting for a new driver revision isn't it.. It will come soon enough. In a way its good. You can play FarCry as it is now without HDR, and then hav ethe chance to play it again with HDR to appreciate any/all differences. Might be cool.
 

nRollo

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Jan 11, 2002
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Originally posted by: Apophis
Originally posted by: Rollo
No because the HDR is coming in v 1.3, which they've said is coming soon.


The 1.2 patch isn't even out yet, and it's been like 4 months since the last one


I have the 1.2 patch, so it must be about done. I don't have any "unknown" info on the 1.3 patch, I was just trying to say I'm not dissappointed the 1.2 patch doesn't have HDr as CryTek says the 1.3 patch will be done soon.
It?s going to be officially supported in 1.3. Which will be coming out hopefully soon. [laughs]
 

Shad0hawK

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May 26, 2003
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Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
looks like nvidias marketing strategy has worked

they showed ps 1.1 vs ps 3 at a demo of far cry so it looked so much better, but in reallity what SM 3 can do SM 2 can do only slower

actually, i would think of it more as cryteks marketing, after all it was Cervat Yerli who spoke of a "mod" that would "convert" sm2 to sm3 in far cry. with all that replaced shadowing. oh nvidia had thier hand in the cookie jar too to be sure, but what gave real weight to the belief that the sm3 "mod" would make farcry look like the launch presentation was Cervat Yerli saying it Would, not nvidia saying so.
 

Acanthus

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Aug 28, 2001
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By the time farcry has all the eye candy implemented itll be in bargain bins. I think its best to wait for 1.3 to buy the game :p
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: Rollo
No because the HDR is coming in v 1.3, which they've said is coming soon.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't HDR lighting part of the current DX9 spec? As in it will run just fine on an R300-based card? What benefit would PS3 add to this type of situation?
 

Ackmed

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Oct 1, 2003
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No, the way they do HDR with 32bit blending, the Radeons cant do it. So onl 6800 cards will have HDR in patch 1.3. HL2 with have HDR, which will work on the Radeons, because they arent doing only 32bit.

Also, AA wont work with Farcry and HDR, which is kinda disappointing.
 

Pete

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Oct 10, 1999
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I don't HDR is in any spec. The HDR we saw in HL2 and maybe other demos is a collection of hacks, and Valve says it works with both 9800s (FP24) and (more recently) 5900s (FX16 [not FP, FX; aka, INT]). The HDR Crytek is touting uses NV40's FP16 blending ability, which I don't think is part of DX9/SM3, but is a nice extra for devs.

Ackmed, NV40 allows for FP16 blending, *not* FP32 blending.

As for 1.3 being done "soon," well, Crytek says SM3 was added in a matter of weeks by only two devs, but it sure took a lot longer than that to get just the bug-fix 1.2 out. I'm not sure adding HDR and other goodies in 1.3 will be any faster, so I'd imagine 1.3 is a ways away. Still, it'll be a nice bonus for 6800 owners when it arrives.
 

SickBeast

Lifer
Jul 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: Acanthus
By the time farcry has all the eye candy implemented itll be in bargain bins. I think its best to wait for 1.3 to buy the game :p

Not only that, but by the time it's in the bargain bin, your computer will actually be able to run it in all it's glory at 1600x1200 w/ 6XAA/16XAF without dipping below 60FPS.

I can't stand how my machine constantly dips below 30FPS at 1280x1024 w/ pretty minimal detail settings. I'm not using AA/AF either. That's on a 9700PRO/Mobile Barton 2500mhz.
 

Shad0hawK

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May 26, 2003
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Originally posted by: Pete
I don't HDR is in any spec. The HDR we saw in HL2 and maybe other demos is a collection of hacks, and Valve says it works with both 9800s (FP24) and (more recently) 5900s (FX16 [not FP, FX; aka, INT]). The HDR Crytek is touting uses NV40's FP16 blending ability, which I don't think is part of DX9/SM3, but is a nice extra for devs.

Ackmed, NV40 allows for FP16 blending, *not* FP32 blending.

As for 1.3 being done "soon," well, Crytek says SM3 was added in a matter of weeks by only two devs, but it sure took a lot longer than that to get just the bug-fix 1.2 out. I'm not sure adding HDR and other goodies in 1.3 will be any faster, so I'd imagine 1.3 is a ways away. Still, it'll be a nice bonus for 6800 owners when it arrives.


actually that is incorrect, the 1.3 patch will in fact use fp32 blending for image quality purposes, according to Cervat Yerli from the interview at firingsquad.com

?Cervat Yerli: It?s more about the FP16 versus FP32 format. We?re using it [FP32] for HDR, which is not supported by ATI. That is to deliver very high image quality. But, I have to tell you HDR isn?t officially going to be part of the 1.2 patch.

FiringSquad: Do you plan on adding high dynamic range lighting (HDR) in the future?

Cevat Yerli: Yes definitely. It?s going to be officially supported in 1.3. Which will be coming out hopefully soon."

and the 6800 does allow fp32 blending, even the 5900 series does.