A couple of questions about ATI options.

retard · Dec 8, 2006, 03:26 PM

Hello guys since im no expert i ask you guys what are these options and what do they do since i cant find any articles on the net that describe them .

D3D:

Flip Queue Size ?
Alternate pixel centers ?
Support DXT textures ?
Support bump maping ?
Catalyst A.I ?
And those AF & TF optimizations.

OGL:

Force Z Buffer Depth ?

Also what are the recomended setings for these things (on/off 16bit/32bit etc.)
All of these options are on ATT but i gues they are on CCC too (dunno since i didnt use CCC).

Thx.

X1800XTTOP · Dec 8, 2006, 04:04 PM

Hello
You can find info on all those settings and more in this guide;
http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.html

Note that some of those settings are not in the CCC (only in ATT).

aNy_oNE · Dec 8, 2006, 11:36 PM

D3D:

Flip Queue Size: Maximum number of frames to render ahead of the current one. Should be Undefined or 3+, except if you get mouse lag reduce it.
Alternate pixel centers: Changes the pixels so they are slightly off-center, in most games this makes everything look weird.
Support DXT textures: Should always be enabled. I think this provides support for DXT/Compressed textures.
Support bump mapping: A technique to make objects/the environment look 3D, without requiring too much performance. Should be enabled.
Catalyst A.I: Not sure what this actually DOES, but when set to Low/High (or low/advanced), enables some "optimisations".
AF & TF Optimisations: Exactly what they say - should improve performance when AF & TF are enabled. Might reduce image quality slightly.

OGL:

Force Z Buffer Depth: Forces the Z buffer (where depth information is stored) to the value you set. 16 bit = lowest precision, 24/32 are higher. 24/32bit buffers decrease performance from 16 but are more accurate. With a later card probably 24 is best, or not forcing it.

retard · Dec 9, 2006, 12:30 PM

Thx again guys

H3X4D3C1M4L · Dec 10, 2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aNy_oNE

D3D:

Flip Queue Size: Maximum number of frames to render ahead of the current one. Should be Undefined or 3+, except if you get mouse lag reduce it.
Alternate pixel centers: Changes the pixels so they are slightly off-center, in most games this makes everything look weird.
Support DXT textures: Should always be enabled. I think this provides support for DXT/Compressed textures.
Support bump mapping: A technique to make objects/the environment look 3D, without requiring too much performance. Should be enabled.
Catalyst A.I: Not sure what this actually DOES, but when set to Low/High (or low/advanced), enables some "optimisations".
AF & TF Optimisations: Exactly what they say - should improve performance when AF & TF are enabled. Might reduce image quality slightly.

OGL:

Force Z Buffer Depth: Forces the Z buffer (where depth information is stored) to the value you set. 16 bit = lowest precision, 24/32 are higher. 24/32bit buffers decrease performance from 16 but are more accurate. With a later card probably 24 is best, or not forcing it.

Good work I didn't know that about the Z Buffer Depth... I thought it was just a compatibility thing for older OGL games

aNy_oNE · Dec 11, 2006, 07:01 AM

Lol, I like to tweak things

did some reading.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Dec 12, 2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aNy_oNE

Lol, I like to tweak things

did some reading.

Good digging skills

I suppose I should use Google more often

Jikuu · Sep 24, 2007, 05:38 PM

This post is often brought up by google so I though it would be nice to add what little I have for these:

Alternate pixel center: If you see horizontal and/or vertical lines across the entire screen (or at texture "tile" edges), try changing this. This setting has fixed many games' graphics for me so far. Yumeria, Castle Fantasia serie and other e-go titles (where ever "3d effects" are used), Sacred, Darkstone, Front Mission online, Mech Commander II, to mention some I remember now. Highly graphics card specific issues, and mostly do not appear in "modern" games/programs.

Catalyst A.I.: Might not be 100% correct, but as far as I know these are (mostly game) title specific driver level optimisations that ATI software engineers have written into display drivers.
You can often see things like "increased overall underwater FPS in game-X by 10-30 on X19x0 series cards" in change notes of new ATI drivers. Allowing end users to turn these off manually is a smart move, as they can (and do) screw up some titles when left on.

Just don't forget you have the ability to change these if something looks weird. (Been there, done that.. in an awkward way. Changed and forgot I had turned it on. Troubleshooted a title for a while before realising.)

Dec 8, 2006, 03:26 PM	#1
retard DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	A couple of questions about ATI options. Hello guys since im no expert i ask you guys what are these options and what do they do since i cant find any articles on the net that describe them . D3D: Flip Queue Size ? Alternate pixel centers ? Support DXT textures ? Support bump maping ? Catalyst A.I ? And those AF & TF optimizations. OGL: Force Z Buffer Depth ? Also what are the recomended setings for these things (on/off 16bit/32bit etc.) All of these options are on ATT but i gues they are on CCC too (dunno since i didnt use CCC). Thx.

Dec 8, 2006, 11:36 PM	#3
aNy_oNE DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	D3D: Flip Queue Size: Maximum number of frames to render ahead of the current one. Should be Undefined or 3+, except if you get mouse lag reduce it. Alternate pixel centers: Changes the pixels so they are slightly off-center, in most games this makes everything look weird. Support DXT textures: Should always be enabled. I think this provides support for DXT/Compressed textures. Support bump mapping: A technique to make objects/the environment look 3D, without requiring too much performance. Should be enabled. Catalyst A.I: Not sure what this actually DOES, but when set to Low/High (or low/advanced), enables some "optimisations". AF & TF Optimisations: Exactly what they say - should improve performance when AF & TF are enabled. Might reduce image quality slightly. OGL: Force Z Buffer Depth: Forces the Z buffer (where depth information is stored) to the value you set. 16 bit = lowest precision, 24/32 are higher. 24/32bit buffers decrease performance from 16 but are more accurate. With a later card probably 24 is best, or not forcing it. Last edited by aNy_oNE; Dec 9, 2006 at 10:07 PM.

Dec 8, 2006, 04:04 PM	#2
X1800XTTOP DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Hello You can find info on all those settings and more in this guide; http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.html Note that some of those settings are not in the CCC (only in ATT).

Dec 9, 2006, 12:30 PM	Thread Starter #4
retard DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 60 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Thx again guys

Dec 11, 2006, 07:01 AM	#6
aNy_oNE DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 162 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Lol, I like to tweak things did some reading.

Sep 24, 2007, 05:38 PM	#8
Jikuu DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	This post is often brought up by google so I though it would be nice to add what little I have for these: Alternate pixel center: If you see horizontal and/or vertical lines across the entire screen (or at texture "tile" edges), try changing this. This setting has fixed many games' graphics for me so far. Yumeria, Castle Fantasia serie and other e-go titles (where ever "3d effects" are used), Sacred, Darkstone, Front Mission online, Mech Commander II, to mention some I remember now. Highly graphics card specific issues, and mostly do not appear in "modern" games/programs. Catalyst A.I.: Might not be 100% correct, but as far as I know these are (mostly game) title specific driver level optimisations that ATI software engineers have written into display drivers. You can often see things like "increased overall underwater FPS in game-X by 10-30 on X19x0 series cards" in change notes of new ATI drivers. Allowing end users to turn these off manually is a smart move, as they can (and do) screw up some titles when left on. Just don't forget you have the ability to change these if something looks weird. (Been there, done that.. in an awkward way. Changed and forgot I had turned it on. Troubleshooted a title for a while before realising.)