Image quality

[mito]

Reading geforce and ati reviews, the term "image quality" is used. What do they really mean? I'm aware it's not about FPS (GPU power).

I'd like to hear your opinions. Thanks!




/\/\ito
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asus a7n8x dlx, xp2600/333, 2x512mb pc2700, geforce 4 ti4200 64mb, win xp pro, dx 9.0b, nforce 2.45, det 43.45, samsung 40gb 7200rpm
Note: no SP1 and no OC!

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Image quality is talking about whether what you see on your CRT for one card is better than what you would see with the competition (or at least how it differs), and how they compare to the the reference image.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[mito]

Isn't image quality determined by CRT quality? (dpi, flat, etc....)




/\/\ito
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asus a7n8x dlx, xp2600/333, 2x512mb pc2700, geforce 4 ti4200 64mb, win xp pro, dx 9.0b, nforce 2.45, det 43.45, samsung 40gb 7200rpm
Note: no SP1 and no OC!

 

[DonnieDarko]

somewhat but the card also has alot to do with it, if you have your aa and af up high the image will generally look better. ATI has better aa and af support than nvidia (better drivers)

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

And by the same token, isn't image quality determined by the abilities of your cornea and visual cortex?

Of course, but we are talking about all things being equal, except the cards, therefore the when talking about IQ the quality of the CRT is irrelevant. I wrote it as outlined above to be brief.

And for image quality comparisons CRT quality is irrelevant, all of the screen captures are taken of what the computer/card is outputing, not what is displayed on the monitor, although the output determines what you see on your CRT.

If it helps, think of it more as the quality of the image rendered by the card.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

 

[phial]

when they say "image quality", or "IQ" for short, they mean two identical scenes compared between the two cards

meaning you have the same computer, same monitor, and you switch the cards around ... they mean the card that will give better texture detail/color saturation etc.

in general, ATi seems to have better IQ .. especially when using Anti-Aliasing (AA), and from my experience AF as well altho the nvidia fans will of course claim the opposite (the "blah blah nvidia filters textures equally at all angles" story.. )

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[Piccoro]

Especially when some DX9 games may not use PS2.0 while running a FX card while ATI's DX9 cards have no problem displaying PS2.0 plus good FPS.

 

[phial]

theres alot of DX9 functions that nvidia hardware can barely pull 5fps on , while ati hardware gets over 50fps+

too lazy to post shader mark benches , but they have been posted here before

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[TheGreatGrapeApe]

You lazy Ba$tard! I want Proof! :tongue:

Should I click on that link? Did you put the proof there?

Actually the 3Dcenter did a good job, and I posted that here a while back. The whole rotational method, and off angles is only very minorly noticeable, and even then it is only apparent in very certain situations. I wouldn't call it noticeable, but it is worth noting, since it's not perfect.



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[phial]

ahah yes plz! click the link click it click it!




yes, ATI does use a less "consistant" AF method, but i believe the trade off in speed that you get is MORE than worth it.

and most people would never have the eye to spot the difference, except in still images. on the other hand, nvidia's AF has very strong mip-map transitions which is down right annoying to me




on the other hand, my GF4TI's AF is absolutely horrendous (yea yea GW , i have a 9500pro coming in the mail, going to use it until prices drop in a month or two).. and when i use Bilinear filtering in games like UT2004, the mipmap lines stand out like im using that special Mipmap-mode in Q3.. i coul draw themwith a pencil on my monitor, its that bad. drivers dont fix it. in fact, Forceware are bad bad drivers for the GF4TI line

i guess GF4's arent realy applicable to arguements anymore, as they are legacy products.. but it USED to be nvidias flaship card not too long ago and many many people still use them


hmm i guess im kinda bias'd towards ATI eh? it aint so bad tho, because its mostly based on truth's not fanboyism
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[TheRod]

<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=392721#392721" target="_new">Go to this thread</A> and read the article, you will see screenshot comparing IQ between ATI/nVidia. You will then understand what IQ is about!

If we compare with cars...

ATI would be a BMW/Mercedes, great performance and very smooth rige (good supension, etc...) and nVidia is a Mustang, lots of horse power but with less refinements.

Will you ever see a Car Review comparing Mustang and BMW? NO, because they are so different. Does this make the Mustang worst than the BMW? NO...

But what if Ford would try to sell you a mustang for the price of a BMW? You would think that Ford are crazy thinking that people would buy Mustang anymore. nVidia is doing this kind of game, they offer lots of FPS, but they cut in IQ. The problem is that they don't cut their product price!

When you look at raw data, GeForce FX performs well against ATI, but when you looks in details, you see that ATI gives some extras, but not anyone care about that.

You know that some people would buy Mustang even if they were 50 000$US! That's the life!

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[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Funny I think I mentioned that article and my thread (now imbedded in yours) above.

BTW, I have seen a Mustang versus a Mercedes, the SLR vs the SVT Cobra (last of the SVT line [to be replaced by Saleen]), and the SLR had the performance and raw power lead AND very smooth ride too.

600+ horsepower and 550+ torque, SchweEet! Of course you could buy about half a dozen Cobras for the price of the SLR. :lol:


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK