Direct X 8a ??

[mason22]

using 7a now with:

asusP3V4X MB
pIII600E@901mhz
256 pc133
geforce2 ULTRA 64megs
drivers nvidia D3 ver. 6.5
via 4in1 not sure whats the latest version

is it worth upgrading to 8a yet? It seems that the 6.5 vs the 6.3s slowed down my fps in the smoke. (i might swap them tonight). But will the 6.5's work better with dx8a??

skuzzy, any ideas? anyone else??

please help! thanks!

[Skuzzy]

I have not tested DX8 yet, but could not find a claim on Nvidia's WEB site that the 6.50 drivers are DX8 certified.  They do mention DX7.

Due to the inability to switch between DX7 and DX8 without a complete re-install of the OS, I have had the tendency to wait until I see the video card guys claim support for the version of DX.
DX8 opens a can of worms with its changes.  Unlike switching from DX6 to DX7, there can be compatibility issues with DX8.

I know a lot of people that would say it is fine with the GF drivers,...but for me,..its not worth the risk.  If the video card guys are not willing to claim thier drivers are DX8 compatible, then I have to beleive there is a reason.
Of course,..I might not have found the right place on NVidia's WEB site.

I also have concerns with older games I play, so it might be a while before I upgrade to DX8.  From what I can tell,...it appears MS was concerned about W2K and ME support, and that pushed DX8 out the door.  Maybe I am being paranoid, but until I can fully test DX8 on a system I don't care about, I cannot afford to take the plunge.

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Roy "Skuzzy" Neese
President, AppLink Corp.
http://www.applink.net
skuzzy@applink.net

[Dowding]

I've installed Dx8a on my new system and I use the Prophet II Pro 64. I've had no problems with stability or frame-rate - at 1280x1024 and 32 bit I get about 85 FPS just flying around, 35 in smoke and about 70 near the fleet.

I don't actually know what version of the driver I have - installed the ones off the disk and have had no reason to get more recent ones.

But I guess every system is different and Skuzzy knows more about computers than I will ever know, so I'd go with his advice.  

BTW Skuzzy, on your advice I bought the NEC FP950 19" monitor - and I'm not disapointed.   I've never seen a more crisp monitor. It's bigger than I though it would be.

[bloom25]

I'd stick with 7a.  I've seen some benchmarks comparing them and at best you might pick up 1 fps.  You will also get errors when exiting AH if RW is using DirectSound recording.  Given the marginal benefits and huge amount of potential problems; I'd say stick with 7a.



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bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS

[Skuzzy]

Congrats Dowding.  That is one very sweet monitor.  Since I got mine, I have a hard time looking at all my other ones.
Did you reset the color temperature?  In the OSD menu, go to the RGB menu and set it to 6500K.  This is about as close as you can get to the true color standard of 6200K.  Makes for a much better display and colors are more accurate.

------------------
Roy "Skuzzy" Neese
President, AppLink Corp.
http://www.applink.net
skuzzy@applink.net

[Animal]

DirectX8 should work as fast as Dx7 since they just added instructions for future technology and barely modified those for the games we play now.
I'm running Dx8a and there was no difference between 7.1, no difference at all.

However if you plan on having a Geforce3 and playing those new games Dx8 will be needed.

[Dowding]

Skuzzy - I set the colour temp to 7500 - I remembered what you said, but 6500 seemed a little too red to me. Will check it out though.

It's like being a newbie all over again - seeing the clouds, smoke and sunset in 32 bit, 1280x1024 on a Trinitron 19" is simply awesome. And the Prophet II Pro pumps out 85 FPS at these settings  .

I sat on one of the CVs watching the ack and flak for ages. This game is amazing all over again.  

[Swoop]

Ya know,  I finally figured out how to display framerate in Counterstrike - 237.    

Swoop

[This message has been edited by Swoop (edited 02-28-2001).]