Resolution vs AA.

[Roland Deschain]

This question has been in the back of my mind for a long time, so here it is:
Comparing both performance and quality, which one should one increase: resolution or AA.

For example, for Pandora Tommorrow, I turn on AA (via ATI control panel) and the game doesn't look a whole lot better, but the performance takes a dive. But in FarCry I can max AA and I only lose 5 fps (down from 55-60) and the game does look a little bit better (no edges on the weapons sweet).

Is there a general rule or should we make up our rules from game to game.

 

[Axyon]

Well, increasing AA will do a better job at reducing aliased lines than increasing resolution, because there's no smoothing of edges involved when you up the resolution. It really is a personal preference thing, but balancing resolutions with AA is usually a good idea too - giving you the best of both worlds, while still maintaining a decent frame rate.

 

[ewilson248]

After reading this, I tried using AA myself for the first time ever, in 3Dmark03 my score went from 6000 to 4000, not a good sign. But it was darn pretty I have to say.
I also enabled it in Farcry with better results, the game was playable just fine, I did not notice any slowdown, but I only have Farcry set on medium across the board at 1024x768, I do this because it gives me a consistant 60fps or better. Farcry looked to my eye "smoother" like you say. So going foward I think will leave it on. BTW, what with all those different kinds of AA? my Nvidia control panel has 4 choices, and Farcry had a bunch also, named differently.

 

[Roland Deschain]

Don't know the exact technical explanating, but the higher your AA (newer games like FarCry and Doom 3 give you an ingame option to change your AA, but older games require you to do in via your graphic card setup) the less jagged edges in-game (try finding a thin long line in a game you'll see a lot of edges, turn on AA and the edges will have become less noticable).

I know in Doom 3 it will be no AA, since I'd rather have a high resolution than AA, but I'll experiment and see how far I can push my 9800 Pro.

 

[AzzMan]

Sorry if this is off topic, but what exactly is the difference between AA and AF?

 

[Computer5k]

Sorry if this is off topic, but what exactly is the difference between AA and AF?

AA smooths aliasing and AF make the mipmapping better.

 

[psyno]

I can't stand aliasing artifacts. I almost always choose high AA over high res, if I have to.

 

[filipeg165]

i personally choose 1024x768 with 2xAA and no AF, well, i choose that in ceratin games, cuz my 5600 cant stand that with far cry lol

OMG imagine this on doom 3 and hl2 in my 5600!! lol, max fps = 5

lol better get my 9800pro as soon as possible