does anybody REALLY play games like this???

[vegandago]

Everyone talks about playing games in 1600x1200 with like AA on and everything... who the hell really plays a game that way? I have a high end system equipped with a 9700pro and I rarely ever go above 1024x768... Hell, I'm usually content with 800x600 and just crank up the visual settings... am i crazy or something?

"There is no dark or light side, only power and those too weak to seek it."

 

[NE_Corridor]

I have a 15 inch LCD. 1024 X 768 for me as well

Call me Caine.

 

[elzt]

I set the resolution to 1280x1024 for my 17"LCD monitor which looks perfect.

 

[Twitch]

I've always thought 1024 X 768 was just fine for FPS games. In a lot of games, when you go to 1600X1200, your menu text gets reeeaaaaly small.

For RTS games, I usually go 1280x1024. It seems like the better resolution is more noticeable in top-down games, and the performance hit is not as large (or as important.)

I still don't know why you would need 4XFSAA in 1600X1200. Seems like the resolution itself would eliminate most of the noticeable jaggies.


<-----Insert witty sig line here.

 

[Gorgias]

I usually play as high a resolution as I can. Right now I only have a Gf3 but once I get my hands on a Radeo 9800 pro I will definitely turn on all the bells and whistles. I have the computer and the screen for max resolution (2048*1536), why not use it?

 

[Auburn9698]

Nah, you're not crazy. I play 1024x768 on a 17" most of the time, too.

War Eagle

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

I don't play at that Res. but that's ONLY because on my 17" 16x12, the text looks like a legal notice in a contract (small print). I play Morrowing @ 12x10,my friend with a 19" monitor plays @ 16x12 and it's just beautiful; and you know what, I'm gonna get me a BIG monitor when I get my 9600, cause if you can, might as well crank it to the max! Why NOT? 8x6 @ 400FPS doesn't look better than 16x12 @120FPS (with or without AA/AF).

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <font color=red>RED</font color=red> <font color=green>GREEN</font color=green> :tongue: GA to SK

 

[CaptainNemo]

I have a 21" monitor and I run most games at 1024x768 with 2xAA + 4x Ansi on a R9000 Pro. If I ever get something better (R9700 etc.), I doubt that I will run at above 1280x960. The problem with ultra high resolutions at the moment is that they emphasise the geometry/edges of low-poly models (i.e. most game models). When poly counts increase, people will notice more of an improvement when they switch up.

(use 16x12 if you can, but it is a risky thing to do if a sudden slowdown gets you killed...)

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by captainNemo on 03/14/03 04:28 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[dhlucke]

I would if I could.

<font color=red>
<A HREF="http://kevan.org/brain.cgi?dhlucke" target="_new">The French are being described as cheese-eating surrender monkeys.</A></font color=red>

 

[Ghostdog]

I play at 1024x768 because the refresh rate goes down too much if I set the resolution higher.

<font color=red>I´m starting to feel like a real computer consultant.</font color=red>

 

[unchcow]

nah i never go above 1024x768 really. i run a 9700 pro. it handles antialiasing nicely and images llok pretty good. it usually presents a nice combo cause at that rez the frame rates are great...anything higher you start to get a little jerkiness once in a while.

 

[Spitfire_x86]

I use 1024 x 768 in my 15" CRT

Submit your opinion <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=28537#28537" target="_new"> Should Tom Fire Omid? </A>

 

[Willamette_sucks]

Most high quality newer games are programmed so that at higher reses, things dont get really small (half-life crosshair anyone?)
i have a 19" monitor (system = xp2700 on asus a7n8x w 2x256 XMS3200 currently using ti4400) i play all my current games at max detail 1600x1200 (ut2k3 gets slow on some maps at these settings), and if i could i would also use AA and Aniso. I will be upgrading to a 9800 pro upon release and i cant wait to actually use aa/aniso in some newer games!
ill probly play ut2k3 at 1600x1200 max detail with 16x performance aniso and 2xAA. later games well see, 8x performance aniso is basically free and i HATE blurry textures!!! i need aniso especially, 1600x1200 is pretty high so AA isnt that important to me but aniso is, and if possible some AA would be nice.

so i guess the answer is YES.

I dyed my body green, branded an "n" on my chest, and stood on a box in the middle of Time Square for 3 days shouting, "ATI is the Anti-Christ!" to boost sales after nVidia had a losing quarter.

 

[icy_oblivion]

I play everything at 800*600 but would play at 1600*1200 if my card supported it. But a radeon 7500 doesn't really give the needed power for new games. Especially since it is the PCI version, hehe.

<b>Just because I like AMD or Intel more at a time because of one product compared to another, does not make me a fan boy, it makes me a person who is able to make a descision for myself.</b>

 

[LtBlue14]

i'd play at those settings if, as ghostdog said, my monitor could refresh 85hz at 16x12, instead of 60hz
instead i play on 12x9 @ 85hz

<A HREF="http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=guide&dId=120&dPage=1" target="_new">WinXP tweak guide</A>
<A HREF="http://www.tweaktown.com/document.php?dType=guide&dId=145&dPage=1" target="_new">WinXP tweak guide 2</A>

 

[knowan]

I'm using a 7 year old 14" monitor. My monitor is not able to go above 1024x768. Even at 1024x768 it refreshes at 60 mH.

At work I have a lovely 21" perfect flat monitor. Unfortunately it is paired with an old 8 meg ATI Rage video card.

--------------
Knowan likes you. Knowan is your friend. Knowan thinks you're great.

 

[dhlucke]

14"?? You could get a decent 17" for a $150 or less even. 14"? That's amazing. Most laptops have bigger screens. I haven't used a 14" in years and years.

<font color=red>
<A HREF="http://kevan.org/brain.cgi?dhlucke" target="_new">The French are being described as cheese-eating surrender monkeys.</A></font color=red>

 

[Willamette_sucks]

check out your sunday paper man, ive seen 17"s for 70-80 bux at best buy or comp usa.

Long live ATI.

 

[Spitfire_x86]

In fact, 14" CRT's are not equal to 14" laptop display. It's only 13.2"

Submit your opinion <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=28537#28537" target="_new"> Should Tom Fire Omid? </A>

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

You guys are forgeting that some 17" ain't worth the money. However most will be better than a 14" anything (gotta be at least 2-3 years old), however, people I implore you, invest WISELY size matters somewhat but you wanna go with quality as well. Anywhoo, just saying $40 may be a big difference to some, however the quality of the picture may be equally large.

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <font color=red>RED</font color=red> <font color=green>GREEN</font color=green> :tongue: GA to SK

 

[knowan]

My monitor is the last thing I have to upgrade from my old computer. Last October I finally replaced my Pentium 200 with a brand new Athlon 1800+. That wiped me out and it'll be another few months before I'm ready to make a big purchase again.

Besides, my 14" still works. I'll make do until I can afford a better one. I want to get a nice one, a 19" or 21" flatscreen CRT with a decent refresh rate. It'll take me a while to save up the $350 to $400.

I also have a 15" monitor, but it is even older (something like 10 years old) and my 14" has a better refresh rate.

I figure that if I save up and get a really good monitor now, maybe it'll last me another 7 years. If I get a cheep one now it may only last me 3 years. Since monitors are the one thing about computers that rarely come down in price, it'll be worth the investment.

Old PC
Pentium 200 MMX
48 megs EDO Ram (2x8 megs, 2x16 megs)
5 Gig Quantum Fireball HD.
Soundblaster 16 ISA
22.8 USR ISA modem upgraded to 33.6.
2 meg Cirrus Logic PCI 2D video card.
4 meg Voodoo 2 PCI 3D vid card.
36x Aopen CD ROM
4x4x16 HP 8200i CDR
Koss generic 2 piece speakers.

New PC
Athlon 1800+
256 Megs PC 2700 Cas 2 Samsung RAM
80 Gig IBM HD
onboard sound
56.6 USR PCI modem, unused since I got a cable modem.
Radeon 9000 AGP vid card
Samsung combo 12X DVD, 36x12x40 CDR
Koss generic 2 piece speakers.

Next on the agenda is decent speakers and a new monitor. Then comes the new vid card and more RAM. Finally I'll replace the CPU with the last generation of the Barton core, then officially consider it unupgradable, scrap everything except the monitor and speakers, and start all over again.

An the fun part is that my old PC is still in use. I gave it to my kids (5 and 3 years old) so that they could play their preschool games on it. It lasted me 7 years (5 since the last upgrade) and it's still in use today. It took me so long to replace it becasue every time I would save up a bit of money, some emergency would come along and suck my bank account dry. First it was mariage, then moving to another province, then a dental emergency.

And if you think that's bad, my dad is still using a 486dx100 computer. He even has it hooked up to a cable modem, though I'm not sure why. I've offered to build him a new one many times, but he keeps saying that his is "good enough".

--------------
Knowan likes you. Knowan is your friend. Knowan thinks you're great.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

One thing you MAY want to consider, which is a little bit contrary to my last post, would be TO buy a cheap monitor, depending on your satisfaction with your current monitor, now I say this with this caveat: JUST for now, plan to make it your DUAL monitor monitor. Here in Alberta you can get an 'adequate' .25 19" Daytek/Daewoo flat for about $220CDN.
However if the 14" works for you and you only ever plan to run 1 monitor (and you don't have the crazy upgraditis most of us have here) then waiting for 'just the right monitor' is a good Idea, however remember that monitor technology is finally 'refreshing' at graphics card rates, and LCD $s are dropping like stones, and CRTs are getting better and a 'little' cheaper every year.
As for speakers I picked up a pair of HOT WHEELS (the male version of the 'Barbie computer' speakers (made by patriot [a Canadian co that's now Bnkrpt]) from Wal Mart for $7.99 on sale from $19.99. Since I use mainly headphones when gaming on my 'play' rig's audigy, they work well for all the basic apps, letting me know that windows has just screwed something up again.
The funny thing about 'good enough' is that with all the work @ work recently, and skiing being so attractive, and a thesis due in 4 weeks, I have spent more time on this PII366 laptop in the last 4 weeks than on my 'play' rig or my 'multimedia-work rig' In fact probably a 5/1 ratio, because it's jsut good enough to surf & stuff, and I can type this while watching HNIC, Go Leafs, Go Bruins!
Don't get me wrong I love my big-rigs and I love playing games like Morrowing, UT2K3, etc. all of which would be wallpaper on this thig. But man it's that ease of use of the limited time.

Anywhoo, sounds like you got a good plan, If you only buy ONE monitor be sure to check out the follwing: Phillips, Sony, Viewsonic, Hitachi. Or at least that's my experience.

I will be getting a new monitor to match my 17" and those are the 19 & 21" makers I'm looking at. I'd love to get a 24" widescreen Sony but it costs almost a much as a Daytek Plasma.

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <font color=red>RED</font color=red> <font color=green>GREEN</font color=green> :tongue: GA to SK

 

[Willamette_sucks]

in the US, MAG and a couple other brands have 19" monitors for 150 at best buy and comp usa quite often.
i have a 19" mag that i paid 150 for, ill admit its not the best monitor ever, ive had it for a year and im starting to see some trailing or something (dunno what to call it, like at points of heavy contrast ex. a dark line going down the screen it will have a few repeating images, much lighter of course.)

ill probly have it repaired/tuned up once, and then in a year or something buy another monitor.
i want a 21/22" viewsonic that can do 20xx by 17xx (whatever that insanly high res is) at 75hz (or 85, i forget).
it costs 600.

Long live ATI.

 

[davepermen]

i have 18.1" flatscreen and prefer to run at 1280x1024 and always have highest runable settings on this, or 1024x768. always quality over performance. 30fps is enough for me most the time. on my radeon9700pro, i most the time have more than 30, but anyways

"take a look around" - limp bizkit

www.google.com

 

[baldurga]

If you only buy ONE monitor be sure to check out the follwing: Phillips, Sony, Viewsonic, Hitachi

I would like to know your opinion (as well as others) about Samsumg, because I'm planning to buy a 955DF (19' up 1600x1200 but really will work at 1280x1024)

Currently I run at 800x600 because my monitor run at only 60Hz at 1024x768, and I take care of my eyes

Also, I'm not sure my GF3 Ti 500 will be able to run ok at 1280x1024 on Morrowind, Dangeoun Siege and Neverwinter Nights ... I have an ATI 8500 250/250 core/memory as a second option but still not sure if it will be better ...


Still looking for a <b>good online retailer</b> in Spain :frown: