High frame rate or high resolution - which?

[Waxer]

I have a 15" NEC monitor, and I run at 800x600 and 16-bit color. I typically get 35-45 FPS (I don't pay too much attention, and it never slows down enough to notice).

I casually tried 1024x768, but my frame rate dropped to 12-25ish, if I remember correctly, so I went back to 8x6 without paying a lot of attention.

My question is: is there some not-obvious benefit to the higher res that I'm missing, that I should reconsider? It seems to me, on the surface, that running at higher res on my monitor just makes the 3D objects look smaller to my eye at the same range, and with a slower framerate.

What am I missing here, that people are running at higher res like?

And while I'm here, what do the "Use Z Buffer" and "Disable Triple Buffering" settings on the video setup window do?

Thanks!
Waxer

[LJK_KämpferAs]

First, a question for you  

when you went to 1024x768, was your desktop default res set to 8x6 or 10x7?

I currently use a 17" monitor with both desktop and in game running @ 1280x1024x32 bit. i have noticed that when running at different desktop and in game res's that there can be a drop of frame rate (in other games as well) in game.

------------------
Oberstleutnant LJK_KämpferAs
Kommandeur von II Gruppe
ExecutivOffizier von LuftJägerKorps
www.LuftJagerKorps.com

[Waxer]

I had left the desktop in 8x6. Good point! I will try out your implied suggestion. Thanks!

[LJK_KämpferAs]

please let me kown the out come, it may only be slight, the difference in fps, but it all helps  

------------------
Oberstleutnant LJK_KämpferAs
Kommandeur von II Gruppe
ExecutivOffizier von LuftJägerKorps
www.LuftJagerKorps.com

[Waxer]

I did a brief and interesting test. Gonna experiment some more. Here's what I found:

With both desktop and AH set to 1024x768 and 32 bit, I got 25-35 FPS in the MA. What was interesting was that at first, in the tower, FPS was at 22, and gradually got better during the takeoff. The field I took off from was pretty busy.

Then I set both desktop and AH to 1024x768 and 16-bit. My FPS dropped to 15-25, which was a surprise. The field was a bit busier than the above. I'm going to fly some full missions and see if 32 bit runs faster.

Any idea why 32 bit would so outperform 16 bit?

[LJK_KämpferAs]

Don't know, run a couple of offline tests so that you can remove network lag, making a more pure test bed.

I'll try some tests myself.

------------------
Oberstleutnant LJK_KämpferAs
Kommandeur von II Gruppe
ExecutivOffizier von LuftJägerKorps
www.LuftJagerKorps.com