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Pixel Shader 3.0

M

Munka

Gawd
Joined
Jan 4, 2004
Messages
628
okay, I know there have been a few threads about this already... but well, im seriously getting sick of my outdated video card and I am likely going ot go for a 9800 pro... I do have some questions though, teh biggest one being is pixel shader 3.0 as bid of a difference from 1.4 to 2.0?

like will I eventually not be able to run benchmarks and crap in 3d mark or not be able to play certain games and what not? maybe this is a really stupid question, but anyway....

and as for question number two.... should I get the 256 meg version or the 128 meg? would this add any extra longetivity to the card? I don't know how the performance numbers compare really...

thanks,
 
Question 1:

PS 3.0 is a smaller step than 1.4 to 2.0 was. It is more like what 1.1 to 1.4 was.

Two things about PS 3.0, basically for better shader performance and longer shaders which means more things can be done to a pixel. The minimum instruction limit is 512 and the texture read limit is removed, and of course increased registers.

There are other things along with that though like dynamic branching, gradient, arbitrary swizzle that could be included.

What matters is what developers will be picking up on and using. Right now its PS/VS 2.0. But will they adopt PS/VS 3.0 quickly? That is the question, and nobody really has the answer right now. I saw one hint that Ubisoft may be adopting PS/VS 3.0 for a future Splinter Cell game engine. Check this post out: http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9982

What also depends is will the two major IHV's support PS/VS 3.0 in hardware, and will it be fast enough for real time gaming. That won't be answered until those cards are announced and performance evaluated.

The biggest thing is VS 3.0 which brings with it texture lookups, that is a very big thing with developers. So again it remains to be seen how quickly they pick it up and use it in games.

Will you be missing effects in a PS/VS 3.0 game compared to that same game using only PS/VS 2.0? The answer is a potential Yes. With the longer shader length available they could do more to each pixel making for some even better effects. But really what it will come down to is performance in accelerating it plus how available it is in hardware and what games are using it.

It is simply a question that cannot be answered yet, only guessed at.
 
PS3.0 Is not Supported by the 9800 Pro Nor the XT either both are PS2.0 as for thier compatibility in the Future the only asnwer to that Is what's next weeks lottery numbers.

you see it's impossible to tell. the basics of it is if it can be done games will be backwards compatible but it's sometime notallways possible.

If you are after a PS3.0 Card then wait for the R420 and the NV4X range as both of thoes are suppost to be PS3.0 compatible. as for the diffrence noone can tell as PS3.0 API's/Hardware has not been released yet
 
256 MB isn't worth it. You'll want a new card by the time that 256 makes any difference. If I were you, I'd hold out on buying a new card until the next gen from nVidia and ATi are released.
 
yes, but that is still a while off, and I am certainly not getting a new mobo just for a video card
 
Originally posted by jnex26
If you are after a PS3.0 Card then wait for the R420 and the NV4X range as both of thoes are suppost to be PS3.0 compatible.
Click to expand...

What makes you say that? Just curious because I haven't heard anything from a reliable source to indicate both parts are definitely going to support PS 3.0.
 
actually, it has been said that the R420 will almost definately not have shader 3.0 compatability.
 
Originally posted by Serv0h
256 MB isn't worth it. You'll want a new card by the time that 256 makes any difference. If I were you, I'd hold out on buying a new card until the next gen from nVidia and ATi are released.
Click to expand...

Depends on the settings you commonly use. For me, I'm a 1280x960 with 6x AA junkie, and that doesn't leave much room for textures on a 128MB card.
 
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