Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: maddafinga on February 25, 2010, 11:14:14 PM

Title: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on February 25, 2010, 11:14:14 PM
Got the new vid card in today, installed it and ran it some offline just to test the waters so to speak.  Turned everything all the way up and never saw it dip below 100 frames per second.  I'm thinking that I should be golden at the 59 fps I'll get withe the vsynch back on.  Is there anything else I should know before I try this thing in the MA tomorrow?  I've got the shadows on and set at 1056 (I think it was) but I don't know if that's optimum or will degrade my performance or what.  Anyone have any tips, hints or advice at all??

Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 25, 2010, 11:29:57 PM
check ya PM's Josh..... I gave you my complete settings & results for my ATI 3870 512meg card in both WinXP pro and in Windows 7....... to give you something to compare to.......

you should have no problem at all maxing everything out completely and can even bump your shadows up to 2048 or maybe even to 4096 in the "ingame video advance options" area......

Go Have Some Fun, Now  :aok
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: 1701E on February 25, 2010, 11:43:13 PM
For shadows you'll need:

4096 = 128MB of video RAM being dedicated to one texture.  Even with 512MB of dedicated video RAM, you could run the video card out of RAM with this setting.

8192 = 512MB of video RAM being dedicated to one texture.  A video card would have to have 1GB of dedicated video RAM to run this setting, and even then it will get close to running out of video RAM.
- Skuzzy

With 896Mb on the GTX 260 I can run 8192MB for the most part, but at times it will turn shadows off, so I run 4096 and have no troubles at all.  I don't know how much VRAM the 5850 has, but if it has enough you should try higher settings, it looks nicer. :)
I've never used ATI (I buy the best performance/price parts, and that was Nvidia at the time) so I don't know enough to help with ATI settings.  All I know is the CCC tool tray or something like that is bad, ATI nerd can clear that up. :P
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Kazaa on February 26, 2010, 12:56:34 AM
I have the same card, you should be able to run the shadows at 4000 with no problem.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: zack1234 on February 26, 2010, 04:10:21 AM
My 4850 gets 75fsp with all settings on, your card will be a lot better.
I am tempted to buy one myself.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on February 26, 2010, 07:42:02 AM
Ok cool, I'll set the shadows at 4k then.  Does having the shadow smoothing on make a difference at all?

It does have 1g of dedicated vram.  It is also an overclocked model of the 5850, with a higher clock speed and core clock, so it should hang a hair better than the base model.  It also came with a very very nice OC utility, but I don't feel any need to mess with it at all. 

I'll mess with shadows over the weekend prolly, I don't think I'll be able to play due to GF ack tonight. 

Thanks for all the help guys!
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 26, 2010, 08:07:50 AM
This is what I sent to maddafinga, to have something to compare to:
Quote
just something to compare with your new Vid Card:

I use an ASUS EAH HD3870 512 Megg DDR4 card

I use 1280 x 1024 screen res and my monitor screen resolution is set to 70 hz in winXP Pr (32 bit ) and in windows 7 Ult. 64 bit my res is set 1280 x 1024 @ 75mhz

in game  I use the hires 1024 texture pkg and have my antialias turned all way up ( maxed out in initial video configure screen at start up clip board ) also have my textures set here to 1024

in game, everything is maxed out completely and shadows is set to 2048 ..all boxes are checked except the smooth shadow........ I see a performace drop when in combat with smooth shadows checked....

my PC is an AMD Athlon 6400+ X2 dual core 3.2 ghz...... I have 4 gigs of PC6400 800 mhz DDR2 ram.....

so , knowing what you built.you should be able to totally max every single setting out completely.......

with no hiccups or problems....  I use the self shadows, I just don't use the smooth shadowing feature....

I can use it but instead of being pegged at 70 FPS in WinXP  or 75 fps in windows 7.... it drops down 15 to 20 FPS when in a decent size furball.......

with itoff... I can have 60 planes around and my FPS stays rock solid.....

hope this helps......

Here I am posting how I suggested madda go about setting his card, and have added to it with Help Links:

1st - click on the Aces High Icon to bring p the clip board, then click the "Video Settings" http://www.hitechcreations.com/ahgs/launch.html

After you are satisfied with the settings (you can always come back here and fiddle some more if you like), press the "OK" button. If all went well, you should see ( be back to  ) A moment after the splash screen appears, the clipboard will move into view.

2nd - Click the Online Arenas and log into the game, go to the clipboard again, at this time click on Options->Graphic Detail and you will see the following:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/ahhelp/graphics.html

3rd - for the basic video settings, on your NEW ATI 5850 1 GIG DDR5 Video Card, you should be able to max every setting out to it's highest setting

then click the Advanced Video Options Button: here you should be able to turn every item on ( check every box ) and you should be able to set a minimal "Shadow Texture Size" of 2084, most likely you probably can even go higher to 4096 with no issues ( just tweak this to your liking )

as I posted in the PM  I sent, I can stay rock steady using 2048 Shadow texture Size as long as I leave off Smooth shadowing, Smooth shadowning I see a performance hit 15 to 20 FPS when in a decent sized furball......

Update: ( madda posted while I was typing this )

Smooth Shadowing smooths out the jagged edges of the "Object Self Shadow"!  the higher the "Shadow Texture Size" used, the smoother it looks ( on my PC )
then if I turn on Smooth Shadow it takes away any jagged edges completely......

so madda, how was your 1st test run with the new card?  if you are using Windows 7 64 bit OS, did you check to see if it increased your options for your Monitor's Refresh Rate?

as I posted.... in Windows XP Pro I have a maxed res of 70 hz, but in Windows 7 64 bit it gave me another higher option to 75 hz for the 1280 x 1024 Screen res setting......  just something worth checking...... ( NOTE: I have only sho resolutions/refreshes that my monitor supports, and hide all others.... you do not want to turn on show all resolutions and use something your Monitor is not capable of sustaining, it may damage your monitor.. YMMV )

hope this helps.....



Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: zack1234 on February 26, 2010, 08:08:32 AM
Get a Track IR 5 as well
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on February 26, 2010, 08:23:47 AM
TC, I didn't check about the monitor refresh rates, I've left mine at the 59 that it had when I got it.  I'll check that here in a second before I leave for work.  

I flew around the field with the ack and waterline and such offline and the FR never dropped below 100 with everything maxed. I did have shadows set at 1k though, I'll turn them up some and see if that effects anything for me.  I haven't got to try it in the arenas yet, but I'm looking forward to it.  

Everything just looks so much nicer and sharper now.  I'd been flying with no AA running, and it was jaggy for sure.  I like this a lot better.  

Zack, I've got TrackIR  :D

Edit: just checked, and with the new card the 59hz is gone and the only refresh rate available to me now is 60, which will be just fine.  Now I've got to build a new desktop for the GF and her daughter.  It'll be fun!
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: FLS on February 26, 2010, 09:00:14 AM
Madda check your frame rates at different shadow settings, even if it's over 60 I think it's good to have extra headroom.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on February 26, 2010, 03:04:40 PM
Will do!  I haven't flown in the arenas with the shadows at all yet, so I may end up hating them and turning them off, you never really know.  Looking forward to checking it out though.

Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Kazaa on February 26, 2010, 03:08:28 PM
Madda, smooth shadowing will impact FPS, but it sounds like you have a lot of overhead room to not notice the impact at all.

Just tweek it, smooth shadowing is a must if you can run it!
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: FLS on February 26, 2010, 05:44:54 PM
The self shadows are excellent. You won't want to fly without them.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Ruler2 on February 26, 2010, 06:00:16 PM
Madda, what are the other specs of your PC? I have a 5870 and my FRs dip below 100 all the time with shadows OFF!
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on February 26, 2010, 08:43:12 PM
Quote from: Ruler2 on February 26, 2010, 06:00:16 PM
Madda, what are the other specs of your PC? I have a 5870 and my FRs dip below 100 all the time with shadows OFF!

I think I posted them in my last thread, but  phenom2 x4 black edition 955 3.2 ghz, 4 gig gskill ripjaws ddr3, 1tb western digital caviar black hdd, asus evo motherboard basically.  Can't remember the specific model mb, but it was the newest one they had out.  For whatever help that was worth. I think I just copied and pasted from my newegg invoice in that alacrity thread a few days ago.  

Edited to add, that was flying around the field and water in the offline practice, seeing all the ack and whatnot.  I only took it up for one hop in the ma today, with the shadows smoothed and set to 4k, but it never got below refresh rate, so I'm comfortable, there were lots of mountains and good and bad guys around.  I think I'll be all right.



Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Ruler2 on February 26, 2010, 09:30:35 PM
Hmm... So it may actually be worth upgrading my 940BE to a 955 or 965...
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 26, 2010, 10:13:23 PM
Quote from: Ruler2 on February 26, 2010, 09:30:35 PM
Hmm... So it may actually be worth upgrading my 940BE to a 955 or 965...

Ruler2, going by what you have posted recently, is the below what you currently have for PC setup?

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940BE

Motherboard: Gigabyte MA790GP-DS4H

RAM: 4GB(2X2GB) OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066

GPU: ATI HD5870 1 GIG DDR5


or have you upgraded your MB & Memory since you posted that?

going from an "AMD Phenom II X4 940BE AM2+ CPU"  to an "AMD Phenom II X4 955 or 965 AM3 CPU" is not going to gain you but very little.....

what is your monitor resolution & refresh rate set at?  when maddafinga says his never dropped below "100" he was testing with vsync turned off...with vsync turned on his refresh( frame rate ) is locked at 60 all times......

your PC should be able to handle that as well.....

( unless you might be using ATI Catalyst Control Center, Hydravision , etc......  all the exta ATI bloatware....this could affect your performance )

hope this helps.....



Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Ruler2 on February 26, 2010, 10:20:53 PM
monitor res is 1920X1080@ 60Hz

and I use the Catalyst  :headscratch:
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Bronk on February 26, 2010, 10:24:27 PM
I use CC and frames locked at 60. Unless Oil bug pops. :noid And that is with a 5770.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on February 27, 2010, 11:18:18 AM
I"ve heard you need to be shutting the catalyst control center down to play because it's a resource hog.  I never installed it in the first place. 

What does that hydravision do exactly anyway?
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: katanaso on February 27, 2010, 01:02:19 PM
Quote from: maddafinga on February 27, 2010, 11:18:18 AM
I"ve heard you need to be shutting the catalyst control center down to play because it's a resource hog.  I never installed it in the first place. 

What does that hydravision do exactly anyway?


IMO, CCC is not as bad as people claim, and the hit on resources is minimal, especially on a good system.

It does give you a lot of control over your vid card in a simple interface -- OCing the card, various AA settings, Mipmap settings, etc.  You can use ATI Tray Tools to do the same thing, but I felt that CCC was simpler for my needs.

I believe Hydravision is their tool for spanning multiple monitors.  I don't have that installed.

mir
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on February 27, 2010, 05:00:44 PM
Ok, thanks Mir.  I don't need the hydravision, just anyway.  Perhaps by next year I can get a good three monitor setup going.  Until then, I'll be very happy to be running with all the eye candy turned all the way up.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: zack1234 on February 27, 2010, 05:34:23 PM
I have two screens using hydra vision :old:
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: cattb on February 28, 2010, 10:33:15 AM
Quote from: Ruler2 on February 26, 2010, 09:30:35 PM
Hmm... So it may actually be worth upgrading my 940BE to a 955 or 965...
unlocked multiplier you should be able to OC that to a 3.4. But don't do it if you don't know what your doing.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Ruler2 on February 28, 2010, 12:04:58 PM
I have it at 3.4 on air now  :D no special settings needed to get to that level.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: branch37 on March 01, 2010, 12:43:06 AM
How does this card compare to my ATI Radeon HD 4350?

<<<Computer stupid  :headscratch:
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on March 01, 2010, 02:17:26 AM
Quote from: branch37 on March 01, 2010, 12:43:06 AM
How does this card compare to my ATI Radeon HD 4350?

<<<Computer stupid  :headscratch:

How does a Ferrari Modena compare to a Yugo? :)
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on March 01, 2010, 07:20:20 AM
Quote from: branch37 on March 01, 2010, 12:43:06 AM
How does this card compare to my ATI Radeon HD 4350?

<<<Computer stupid  :headscratch:

I had always used nvidia cards before, since my first vid card had been one of those old 3dfx passthrough cards and I hated it.  Always stuck with nvidia after that, and had good success with them.  The card this one is replacing was an 8600GT.  I don't really know how the 4350 compares to the 8600 really, but I can tell you that the 5850 absolutely blows the 8600 out of the water.  I'd imagine that it would be the same for you with your 4350. 

It's big though, real big.  Make sure you've got room in your case for it.  You can turn every last bit of everything on and still have the game run super smoothly, so that's the giant upside.  Everything looks so much better now!

Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: Kazaa on March 06, 2010, 01:55:40 AM
Quote from: maddafinga on March 01, 2010, 07:20:20 AM
I had always used nvidia cards before, since my first vid card had been one of those old 3dfx passthrough cards and I hated it.  Always stuck with nvidia after that, and had good success with them.  The card this one is replacing was an 8600GT.  I don't really know how the 4350 compares to the 8600 really, but I can tell you that the 5850 absolutely blows the 8600 out of the water.  I'd imagine that it would be the same for you with your 4350. 

It's big though, real big.  Make sure you've got room in your case for it.  You can turn every last bit of everything on and still have the game run super smoothly, so that's the giant upside.  Everything looks so much better now!



The 5850 is smaller then my old 8800GTX.

Kaz.
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on March 06, 2010, 10:38:58 AM
Quote from: Kazaa on March 06, 2010, 01:55:40 AM
The 5850 is smaller then my old 8800GTX.

Kaz.

That's crazy.  My old card was an 8600 gt, and this 5850 is around four times the size of that card. 
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: katanaso on March 06, 2010, 03:52:04 PM
Madda,

If you haven't searched the web for OCing that card, there are a lot of links that explain how much more performance you can get out of a 5850 via OCing.

It might be overkill for this game, but if you play other games, it may be a worthwhile endeavor for you.  (And it's easy. :) )


mir
Title: Re: ATI HD5850
Post by: maddafinga on March 06, 2010, 04:10:08 PM
Quote from: katanaso on March 06, 2010, 03:52:04 PM
Madda,

If you haven't searched the web for OCing that card, there are a lot of links that explain how much more performance you can get out of a 5850 via OCing.

It might be overkill for this game, but if you play other games, it may be a worthwhile endeavor for you.  (And it's easy. :) )


mir

Yeah Mir, it came with some overclocking software from the manufacturer (MSI) that looks pretty easy to use.  I haven't messed with it because I don't really know much about overclocking at all.  I have a mb and cpu that are built to be easily overclocked too, but I haven't messed with that for them either. 

I keep intending to read on up, but just haven't gotten to it yet.  I probably will start educating myself in the next couple of months though.  Thanks for the headsup man!