FiringSquad Review the FartCry 1.3 patch

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Pretty detailed.

<A HREF="http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/far_cry_1.3/default.asp" target="_new">http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/far_cry_1.3/default.asp</A>

The most revealing, err... amazing thing IMO is the performance impact of HDR. The performance at 20x15 too.


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

 

[HardWareBoss]

Thanks for the link. Nice pics.

 

[miahallen]

Haven't heard of that game, is it a parody on FarCry? LOL

GreatApe, do you <b>ever</b> get enough sleep?

 

[eden]

Actually this whole week's been pretty calm in the forum without him posting a lot. It's weird seeing 3/4rth of a page with NEW content only, compared to twice that when he's around.

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<font color=blue>Ede</font color=blue>

 

[pauldh]

I'll read that in-depth review when I have time tonight. Yeah, HDR looks pretty neat, but it looks to be too much for the 6800 series to handle. I can't imagine reducing things to 1024 no AA/AF just to have HDR on. When the cards come out that can play 1280 or 1600 with AA/AF and HDR on, then it will be more practical to use instead of just a fun feature to test/marvel at. Anyway, thx for the link.


ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[HardWareBoss]

Yup real slow without GGA.

 

[eden]

IMO HDR is exaggerated in FarCry anyways (damn, wrote FartCry at first, damn you purple primate!), and it was never fully finalized (still in Beta IIRC), so I'll wager it's nowhere near a normal HDR scene performance for normal gaming. Remember HL2's early demos used it to show some of HL2's engine capabilities, and there never was any frame rate issue there.

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<font color=blue>Ede</font color=blue>

 

[pauldh]

Looking at the Farcry screen captures, I agree... too exagerated. I'd still like a chance to play the game using it and make up my mind then.

I wasn't aware HL2 demos used it. :redface: I'll have to look into that.

ABIT IS7, P4 2.6C, 1GB Corsair XMS 4000 Pro Series, Radeon 9800 Pro, Santa Cruz, TruePower 430watt

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Remember FartCry has the ability to adjust HDR, and at level 3 you get some nice glare effect without it being TOO much, at least to my eye. However when you look at the performance figures you see that HDR3 is about as crippling as HDR7 (it's like 10% faster (or still about 40% of the non-HDR speed) so why bother with the subtle effect if it kills the cards just as much?

Funny thing is ATI's HDR was quite effective before, so I'd like to see a comparison of how the R9800 and X800series and equivalent HDR effects have performance impacts. I just wonder if it's nV architecture that kills it more (perhaps FP24 vs FP32?). Well hopefully someone will take the time to check it out.


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

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Here's the TechReport's little blurb on HDR in HL2 as part of their DX9 performance comparo.

<A HREF="http://www.techreport.com/etc/2003q3/hl2bench/index.x?pg=1" target="_new">http://www.techreport.com/etc/2003q3/hl2bench/index.x?pg=1</A>

Also remember that rthdribl uses HDR, and there the ATIs seem to have leaps and bounds advantages whether it's the R3xx over the FX or the R4xx over the NV4x. It's very stange that is. And it'll be interesting to see how HL2 differs in that respect.


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

 

[priyajeet]

thats pretty old dude. Seems Valve jumped the gun in HDR a while back. FarCry - dunno when it started building.

:tongue: <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/priyajeet/fing.jpg" target="_new"><i><font color=red>Very funny, Scotty.</font color=red><font color=blue> Now beam down my clothes.</font color=blue></i></A> :tongue:

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

I know it's old, however it demonstrates the point Eden was making, that was my point. I haven't seen much in the way of actual screenie exposure of the HDR effect in HL2.

You got 'em post 'em, I'd love to see a better example than just that linked demo and screenie, cause they don't impress much.


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