High res with AA off or lower res with AA on??

Rick67

Senior member
Oct 11, 2001
475
0
0
Should I run games at 1600x1200 with anti-aliasing off or at 1024x768 with anti-aliasing on?

My monitor only suports a 60Hz refresh rate at 1600x1200 and 100Hz at 1024x768.

I'm thinking about getting a 19" monitor that can do 85Hz at 1600x1200 and this is the reason I'm asking.

If I get this monitor then I can bump up my games to 1600x1200. Of course, I'll have to turn AA off at that high of a res.

What should I do, get the new montior and bump up my res or keep the 17" monitor and run games at 1024x768 with AA on?

What's everyone else doing regarding this issue?

Thanks,
 

Rand

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,071
1
81
It really comes down to personal preferenvece and the individual game and there are still a large number of games that don't display properly at 1600x1200.

IMHO, I'd go with 1280x960 w/ 2X FSAA over 1024x768 w/4X FSAA, or 1600x1200 w/out FSAA. But it's going to depend a lot on the individual game also.
Different games are going to benefit from different display parameters.
 

sash1

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
8,896
1
0
As Rand said, it depends on the game. UT looks great w/o AA, meanwhile, others look like crap without it. Higher resolutions eliminate those darned "jaggies" (not completely tho, but the difference between a higher and a lower resolution is obvious).

This decision is totally game dependent, you shouldn't just say you are going to run all your games at 1600x1200, because some games still may not look great at this setting.

I prefer higher resolutions over lower+AA, but thats just IMO.

~Aunix

Edit - I can't spell :)
 

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
2,998
126
Given the choice it's high resolution all the way for me.

You'll definitely enjoy your gaming better if you get a 1600 x 1200 x 85 Hz capable monitor. There's just no going back after you see games running at that setting.