rec.autos.simulators

by **Marc Collin** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:28:12

I was looking at some higher-end LCD units, with maximum resolution of 1600
x 1200 and refresh rates above 60 Hz (both an extreme rarity in the LCD
world it seems) and noticed that even these models could only display 24-bit
colour at the highest setting. Since most of our sims look best and run
well in 32-bit, does that mean LCD panels are basically a non-option for the
time being? Even if you wanted to spend a small fortune on a higher-end
unit?

Thanks for any info.

Marc

--
****************************************************************************
Marc Collins

Your mouse has moved. Windows must be restarted for the change
to take effect. Reboot now?
****************************************************************************

by **Haqsa** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:53:23

Someone will surely correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe 24 bits of
resolution is all you really get out of 32 bit color anyway. The extra 8
bits are an alpha channel that is used to represent the translucency of a
texture, it doesn't really have any meaning to the final bitmap. All of the
final pixels that you actually see in a scene only have 24 bit resolution.

****************************************************************************

> Marc Collins

> Your mouse has moved. Windows must be restarted for the change
> to take effect. Reboot now?

****************************************************************************

- Show quoted text -

by **Internet Use** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 12:27:53

> I was looking at some higher-end LCD units, with maximum resolution of 1600
> x 1200 and refresh rates above 60 Hz (both an extreme rarity in the LCD
> world it seems) and noticed that even these models could only display 24-bit
> colour at the highest setting. Since most of our sims look best and run
> well in 32-bit, does that mean LCD panels are basically a non-option for the
> time being? Even if you wanted to spend a small fortune on a higher-end
> unit?

> Thanks for any info.

> Marc

I have a 20" Dell LCD and it is amazing. At work I have a 22" Dell/Sony
CRT and the LCD is much better. It's sharper, doesn't require tuning
the picture for hours on end, and is easier on the eyes. The LCD is
also very good for games, so I would not worry about the 60hz refresh
rate. You might want to head over to Dell and check the thing out. I
paid $1100 a few months back, but recently saw it marked down to $800.
If you visit the forums at ARS, you'll see this is a highly regarded
*** LCD. I don't know if anything has come out that bests it, but I
would recommend one to anyone.

by **Marc Collin** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 14:35:38

I agree that many of them look great. But can you set your screen to 32-bit
colour to match the 32 bit colour that the video card can output and that
most titles are now optimized for? F12002 et al looks a hell of a lot
better in 32 bit than in 16 bit...which I only realised after I got a
GeForce 4 card that could run in 32 bit at a decent resolution and frame
rate. So what colour depth do you use in all your racing sims--16 bit
(because I have never seen a 24 bit option)?

Marc

> > I was looking at some higher-end LCD units, with maximum resolution of
1600
> > x 1200 and refresh rates above 60 Hz (both an extreme rarity in the LCD
> > world it seems) and noticed that even these models could only display
24-bit
> > colour at the highest setting. Since most of our sims look best and run
> > well in 32-bit, does that mean LCD panels are basically a non-option for
the
> > time being? Even if you wanted to spend a small fortune on a higher-end
> > unit?

> > Thanks for any info.

> > Marc

> I have a 20" Dell LCD and it is amazing. At work I have a 22" Dell/Sony
> CRT and the LCD is much better. It's sharper, doesn't require tuning
> the picture for hours on end, and is easier on the eyes. The LCD is
> also very good for games, so I would not worry about the 60hz refresh
> rate. You might want to head over to Dell and check the thing out. I
> paid $1100 a few months back, but recently saw it marked down to $800.
> If you visit the forums at ARS, you'll see this is a highly regarded
> *** LCD. I don't know if anything has come out that bests it, but I
> would recommend one to anyone.

by **Marc Collin** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 14:36:59

Sounds plausible, but none of my sims have an option for 24 bit...or is that
only because I have a monitor that doesn't support it (and jumps from 16 to
32 bit)?

Marc

> Someone will surely correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe 24 bits of
> resolution is all you really get out of 32 bit color anyway. The extra 8
> bits are an alpha channel that is used to represent the translucency of a
> texture, it doesn't really have any meaning to the final bitmap. All of
the
> final pixels that you actually see in a scene only have 24 bit resolution.

> > I was looking at some higher-end LCD units, with maximum resolution of
> 1600
> > x 1200 and refresh rates above 60 Hz (both an extreme rarity in the LCD
> > world it seems) and noticed that even these models could only display
> 24-bit
> > colour at the highest setting. Since most of our sims look best and run
> > well in 32-bit, does that mean LCD panels are basically a non-option for
> the
> > time being? Even if you wanted to spend a small fortune on a higher-end
> > unit?

> > Thanks for any info.

> > Marc

> > --

****************************************************************************

> > Marc Collins

> > Your mouse has moved. Windows must be restarted for the change
> > to take effect. Reboot now?

****************************************************************************

- Show quoted text -

by **Dale Gree** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 14:46:57

You don't see many 24-bit options because the video card GPU has 32-bit
registers. 16-bit and 32-bit words fit efficiently. 24-bit requires extra
handling to keep data aligned (or something like that).

A while ago ATi README.TXT files mentioned that only 16 and 32-bit video
were accelerated with their drivers. Now they've just removed the 24-bit
option from the Display Properties it seems.

by **Doug Elliso** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 19:00:13

No monitor can produce 32 bit - because 8 of those are transparancy.

A '24 bit' monitor will give you every ounce of colour that a CRT will give
you - when both are fed a 32 bit output.

You can give a 24 bit monitor a 32bit feed - because only 24bits of the 32
are infact colour.

Doug

by **Marc Collin** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 23:01:49

That's what I thought--that 24 bit actually runs slower than 32--if it is
even supported.

Marc

> > Sounds plausible, but none of my sims have an option for 24 bit...or is
> that
> > only because I have a monitor that doesn't support it (and jumps from 16
> to
> > 32 bit)?

> You don't see many 24-bit options because the video card GPU has 32-bit
> registers. 16-bit and 32-bit words fit efficiently. 24-bit requires
extra
> handling to keep data aligned (or something like that).

> A while ago ATi README.TXT files mentioned that only 16 and 32-bit video
> were accelerated with their drivers. Now they've just removed the 24-bit
> option from the Display Properties it seems.

by **Marc Collin** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 23:03:02

So Windows display control panel and the sims themselves are all still set
to 32 bit (as mine are now)?

Marc

> > I agree that many of them look great. But can you set your screen to
> 32-bit
> > colour to match the 32 bit colour that the video card can output and
that
> > most titles are now optimized for? F12002 et al looks a hell of a lot
> > better in 32 bit than in 16 bit...which I only realised after I got a
> > GeForce 4 card that could run in 32 bit at a decent resolution and frame
> > rate. So what colour depth do you use in all your racing sims--16 bit
> > (because I have never seen a 24 bit option)?

> No monitor can produce 32 bit - because 8 of those are transparancy.

> A '24 bit' monitor will give you every ounce of colour that a CRT will
give
> you - when both are fed a 32 bit output.

> You can give a 24 bit monitor a 32bit feed - because only 24bits of the 32
> are infact colour.

> Doug

by **Internet Use** » Sat, 29 Mar 2003 23:40:30

> I agree that many of them look great. But can you set your screen to 32-bit
> colour to match the 32 bit colour that the video card can output and that
> most titles are now optimized for? F12002 et al looks a hell of a lot
> better in 32 bit than in 16 bit...which I only realised after I got a
> GeForce 4 card that could run in 32 bit at a decent resolution and frame
> rate. So what colour depth do you use in all your racing sims--16 bit
> (because I have never seen a 24 bit option)?

> Marc

Yes, I run with a 32bit color depth with my Radeon 9700 and the Dell
LCD. I haven't noticed any loss of color depth on the LCD, but to tell
you the truth I haven't done side by side comparisons. To my eyes,
F12002 looks perfect as well as GTR2002.

by **Marc Collin** » Sun, 30 Mar 2003 03:50:51

Thanks for the info.!

Marc

> > I agree that many of them look great. But can you set your screen to
32-bit
> > colour to match the 32 bit colour that the video card can output and
that
> > most titles are now optimized for? F12002 et al looks a hell of a lot
> > better in 32 bit than in 16 bit...which I only realised after I got a
> > GeForce 4 card that could run in 32 bit at a decent resolution and frame
> > rate. So what colour depth do you use in all your racing sims--16 bit
> > (because I have never seen a 24 bit option)?

> > Marc

> Yes, I run with a 32bit color depth with my Radeon 9700 and the Dell
> LCD. I haven't noticed any loss of color depth on the LCD, but to tell
> you the truth I haven't done side by side comparisons. To my eyes,
> F12002 looks perfect as well as GTR2002.

by **Larr** » Sun, 30 Mar 2003 06:01:18

As the great Ed McMahon once said...

You are correct, Sir!

Larry

> Someone will surely correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe 24 bits of
> resolution is all you really get out of 32 bit color anyway. The extra 8
> bits are an alpha channel that is used to represent the translucency of a
> texture, it doesn't really have any meaning to the final bitmap. All of
the
> final pixels that you actually see in a scene only have 24 bit resolution.

> > I was looking at some higher-end LCD units, with maximum resolution of
> 1600
> > x 1200 and refresh rates above 60 Hz (both an extreme rarity in the LCD
> > world it seems) and noticed that even these models could only display
> 24-bit
> > colour at the highest setting. Since most of our sims look best and run
> > well in 32-bit, does that mean LCD panels are basically a non-option for
> the
> > time being? Even if you wanted to spend a small fortune on a higher-end
> > unit?

> > Thanks for any info.

> > Marc

> > --

****************************************************************************

> > Marc Collins

> > Your mouse has moved. Windows must be restarted for the change
> > to take effect. Reboot now?

****************************************************************************

- Show quoted text -

rec.autos.simulators

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?

OT: Do even the high-end LCD monitors top out at 24 bit-colour?