32-Bit Z-buffering??????

[Widdlecrimps]

What difference would it make if I enabled 32-bit Z-buffering,(To games I mean). It's currently not enabled.
I have a G400 32Mb

[Scytale]

Your visual quality will get slightly better and your performance will get slightly down.

[Phil MURC]

To expand a little..

Although a 3D scene is basically a 2D mockup of 3D, the 2D image that is eventually generated needs to know which object in the 3D scene is in front of another object. This information is stored byt means of a Z (depth) buffer.

Imagine a packet of playing cards in a pile, fanned out across a table top. You ideally would see 52 cards, each one (other than the top on - duh) peeking out behind another one. If we had a 4bit Zbuffer (4bits=16 possible values) we would not be able to tell our 3D hardware where to place 52 playing cards and it would (seemingly) randomly place cards in the wrong order. Increasing the bit depth of the Zbuffer would allow more 'slots' to position the cards. A 16bit Z buffer allows for 65536 layers whereas a 32bit Integer Z-buffer allows for 4294967296 layers and hence a greater accuracy.

People have noticed that games such as Half Life show improvement when using a 32bit Zbuffer as distant objects don't suddenly 'pop' into view (an artifact of a low res Zbuffer). Flight sims rely on a huge depth of scene and really benefit from a 32bit Zbuffer. Games of that nature are where you would gain most benefit.

There is a slight performance loss associated with enabling the feature but if image quality is your thing - then go for it - it's hardly noticeable.

And yes - all you clever gits out there - I KNOW it's an over simplified explanation - but Floating point Z Buffer utilisation is out of my depth!

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Phil (MURC's G200 : WWW.G200.COM

[bobmitch]

Phil...

Oversimplified explanation! NOT! That was GREAT! Yes...I am saying it loudly. That is one of the best explanations of Z buffer I have ever seen explained. Thank You! I am still a newbie to the forum, but I promise you this...I will be looking for your posts and learning.

Bob

[Phil MURC]

*Shucks* :/

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Phil (MURC's G200 : WWW.G200.COM

[JAZZ]

Visually stunning explanation. Where do we send the flowers?

Ciao
J