Jump to content
The Dark Mod Forums

Render Quality Tests


delatroy

Recommended Posts

I've got an Nvidia GTX670 and I'm wondering what affect the Nvidia application settings via the Control Panel has on TDM render quality. In TDM everything is maxed - 16x AA and TA with the resolution set to my monitor's native 1440x900. I then did a few tests using the following settings on TheDarkMod.exe in the Nvidia Control Panel as follows:

  1. Default - nothing changed - everything left on "global setting"
  2. Only one setting changed - forced 32 CSAA - presumably this overrides the 16x setting in game
  3. All application settings overridden and set to their max

I took a screenshot from a saved game on each setting and zoomed in 200% so you can see better what's going on (zoom out to 50% in your browser to see the images to original scale). Look to the far right of the image to see the biggest differences. Results are shown here:

37db.gif

 

It's subjective but my feeling is that either the default setting or 32CSAA gives the best results while everything maxed looking the most rough. If you keep your eye on the lower edge of the black step, you can see jagged black and white edges on the maxed settings. Perhaps the forced AA and TA isn't actually working for some reason even though we've told it to max.

 

The 32CSAA setting appears to smoothen everything overall while losing detail which you may or may not prefer on the whole. I may need to play with default and 32CSAA to get a feel for them before deciding which I prefer.

Edited by delatroy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The panel maxed looks like it's doing some texture transcoding, or perhaps just different AF. The CSAA is just destroying the texture resolution, I think it's getting really confused by the alpha channel use. If you have an overlay attached to the TDM window, it might also have some influence.

 

Either way, that texure isnt exactly good quality -- it is very rough between the stones. It's an interesting texture, but the normalmap has not been blended very well around the rocks, and the mortar is far too flat. In the past I have tried to fix it a few times, but never found a nice middle ground which respects the original enough, while looking better.

 

At the end of the day, CSAA should not be causing the texture to look this way. The texture needs work, more than anything else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's another test where I only changed the in-game AA and TA settings:

 

dp0.gif

 

I also had a play with some video commands. The only one that I found worth experimenting with was tdm_lod_bias which I set at -0.5.

Edited by delatroy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recent Status Updates

    • nbohr1more

      TDM 15th Anniversary Contest is now active! Please declare your participation: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22413-the-dark-mod-15th-anniversary-contest-entry-thread/
       
      · 0 replies
    • JackFarmer

      @TheUnbeholden
      You cannot receive PMs. Could you please be so kind and check your mailbox if it is full (or maybe you switched off the function)?
      · 1 reply
    • OrbWeaver

      I like the new frob highlight but it would nice if it was less "flickery" while moving over objects (especially barred metal doors).
      · 4 replies
    • nbohr1more

      Please vote in the 15th Anniversary Contest Theme Poll
       
      · 0 replies
    • Ansome

      Well then, it's been about a week since I released my first FM and I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised by its reception. I had expected half as much interest in my short little FM as I received and even less when it came to positive feedback, but I am glad that the aspects of my mission that I put the most heart into were often the most appreciated. It was also delightful to read plenty of honest criticism and helpful feedback, as I've already been given plenty of useful pointers on improving my brushwork, level design, and gameplay difficulty.
      I've gotten back into the groove of chipping away at my reading and game list, as well as the endless FM catalogue here, but I may very well try my hand at the 15th anniversary contest should it materialize. That is assuming my eyes are ready for a few more months of Dark Radiant's bright interface while burning the midnight oil, of course!
      · 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...