Something fishy with Antialiasing and X1900XT?

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A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Ever since I replaced my 7800GTX with a X1900XT, I've felt the AA didn't look as good as it should. Since I only play CS:S and Quake4, I don't have a variaty of games to test it with, but it looks pretty bad in both. I don't know how to describe it other than objects in the distance appear like they don't have any AA applied at all. It doesn't matter what it is, be it edges of buildings, props (telephone\power wires in CS:S, stairs in Q4), or even other players. I found in Quake 4 that it was really bad in certain spots, and the following video shows what I'm talking about:

http://s88012115.onlinehome.us/q4aa.avi

That was taken at 1152x864 with 4x AA and HQ mode on, with Catalyst AI disabled, HQAF enabled, and Adaptive Antialiasing set to quality. Look at the stairs as I move around...don't they look horrible? I've already confirmed with someone else that it doesn't look nearly as bad on a GTX, and I'm tempted to reinstall mine just to test it myself.

So does ANYONE else notice this? Driver bug? "Driver optimizations"?

Before anyone says to: I've already formatted when the Catalyst 6.2s came out.
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
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76
I certainly don't remember it before :( I'd put in the GTX, but I just got my install all nice and comfy :(
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,079
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I shrugged it off in CS:S, attributing to the recent nvidia to ATI switch, but playing Q4 and seeing that just reaffirmed I wasn't imagining things. Considering I have 4x AA enabled, that looks really bad :(
 
Elfear

Elfear

Diamond Member
May 30, 2004
7,163
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Dumb question, but which codec do I need to run that .avi movie? I tried starting it with Quicktime and it said I needed a new codec or something.
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
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It's encoded using xvid 1.1 final

And Joker, it doesn't seem to be a particular spot. Wires, buildings, etc just look really aliased when they are in the distance
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,079
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76
If that were the case, why is it only the stairs that look horrible? I'll agree that 1152x864 is on the low side, but Q4 only supports that+1280x1024 and 1600x1200. One is a 5:4 resolution, and the other isn't a solid 60fps in multiplayer :(
 
A

ArchAngel777

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
5,223
61
91
Originally posted by: xtknight
I think it's just not enough resolution or AA.
Click to expand...

I am not sure I agree with this bud. My 30" inch monitor with a resolution of 1280 X 768 with 4X AA looks fabulous, in all games. I don't see jagged edges or anything like that. Of course I do not have a 1900 card, but I imagine it would be the same. I am using the rotated grid 4X AA option, FYI.

I don't know what to say to the OP in this case... But I know you have an absoutely kick butt video card (wanna trade? :D) so I would definately keep testing. Post some screenshots for us and if I have the game, I will post some too and we can compare.
 
X

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
12,974
0
71
Not sure...but here's what came to mind when I was looking at that.

You were looking at such a slight angle that one line of one step of the staircase could not distinguish itself more than one pixel from another step and thus the double line-like ugly effects. It definitely depends on the angle. Let me see if I can reproduce that with my 7800GT. I'm going to turn on all AA available in Q4 plus SSAA in NVIDIA control panel if it makes any difference for anything but alpha textures.
 
Hacp

Hacp

Lifer
Jun 8, 2005
13,923
2
81
Originally posted by: aggressor
Ever since I replaced my 7800GTX with a X1900XT, I've felt the AA didn't look as good as it should. Since I only play CS:S and Quake4, I don't have a variaty of games to test it with, but it looks pretty bad in both. I don't know how to describe it other than objects in the distance appear like they don't have any AA applied at all. It doesn't matter what it is, be it edges of buildings, props (telephone\power wires in CS:S, stairs in Q4), or even other players. I found in Quake 4 that it was really bad in certain spots, and the following video shows what I'm talking about:

http://s88012115.onlinehome.us/q4aa.avi

That was taken at 1152x864 with 4x AA and HQ mode on, with Catalyst AI disabled, HQAF enabled, and Adaptive Antialiasing set to quality. Look at the stairs as I move around...don't they look horrible? I've already confirmed with someone else that it doesn't look nearly as bad on a GTX, and I'm tempted to reinstall mine just to test it myself.

So does ANYONE else notice this? Driver bug? "Driver optimizations"?

Before anyone says to: I've already formatted when the Catalyst 6.2s came out.
Click to expand...


That just almost made me throw up. Reminds me why I didn't bother keeping the game.
 
Zenoth

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,202
216
106
I have one, single question.

Tell me why you upgraded from such a great GPU, to a not that faster one ?

It looks like you still own your GTX, but, still ... why, just why ? Testing purposes ? Benchmarking ?

Just, ya know ... curious.
 
A

ArchAngel777

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
5,223
61
91
Originally posted by: xtknight
Not sure...but here's what came to mind when I was looking at that.

You were looking at such a slight angle that one line of one step of the staircase could not distinguish itself more than one pixel from another step and thus the double line-like ugly effects. It definitely depends on the angle. Let me see if I can reproduce that with my 7800GT. I'm going to turn on all AA available in Q4 plus SSAA in NVIDIA control panel if it makes any difference for anything but alpha textures.
Click to expand...

Good point... But even on this monitor where the pixels are the size of quarters, I don't see much jaggedness... Ok, so the pixel size is actually smaller (much smaller) than a pinhead... But in that situation, you might be right... Makes me want to break out the screenshots and see for myself.
 
A

ArchAngel777

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
5,223
61
91
Originally posted by: Zenoth
I have one, single question.

Tell me why you upgraded from such a great GPU, to a not that faster one ?

It looks like you still own your GTX, but, still ... why, just why ? Testing purposes ? Benchmarking ?

Just, ya know ... curious.
Click to expand...

Must resist... Must Resist... Ok, bye.
 
P

potato28

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2005
8,964
0
0
Originally posted by: aggressor
Ever since I replaced my 7800GTX with a X1900XT, I've felt the AA didn't look as good as it should. Since I only play CS:S and Quake4, I don't have a variaty of games to test it with, but it looks pretty bad in both. I don't know how to describe it other than objects in the distance appear like they don't have any AA applied at all. It doesn't matter what it is, be it edges of buildings, props (telephone\power wires in CS:S, stairs in Q4), or even other players. I found in Quake 4 that it was really bad in certain spots, and the following video shows what I'm talking about:

http://s88012115.onlinehome.us/q4aa.avi

That was taken at 1152x864 with 4x AA and HQ mode on, with Catalyst AI disabled, HQAF enabled, and Adaptive Antialiasing set to quality. Look at the stairs as I move around...don't they look horrible? I've already confirmed with someone else that it doesn't look nearly as bad on a GTX, and I'm tempted to reinstall mine just to test it myself.

So does ANYONE else notice this? Driver bug? "Driver optimizations"?

Before anyone says to: I've already formatted when the Catalyst 6.2s came out.
Click to expand...

I think I found the problem.
 
Zenoth

Zenoth

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2005
5,202
216
106
Must resist ? Well even though you're not the topic creator can I get your version on the subject my question rises ?
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,079
0
76
How is disabling Catalyst A.I. a problem? Enabling it reduces image quality, not enhance it.

As for why I upgraded...Why not? It's always nice to have the latest, and I got it at a pretty good price. I still have the GTX because I haven't taken it to ebay yet for some reason :( I should get on that!
 
R

ronnn

Diamond Member
May 22, 2003
3,918
0
71
I thought ai at low also enables optimizations for IQ as well as speed?
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,079
0
76
Nope, it just mucks with texture filtering, in a negative way. That's why it's an option and not standard.
 
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