<b>actually, somebody else help him, i dont have a clue what im talking about </b>
Software, is Half-lifes own gfx engine, and isnt useually pretty. D3D uses, the... D3D graphics engine, i dunno, i dont use it. OpenGL uses opengl to create your inviroment and thats what i use
Software mode uses your motherboard's integrated video chipset, and as such, offers the worst rendering out of the three. Generally avoided unless your unlucky/poor.
Direct 3D utilizes Microsoft's DirectX to render, and is generally the norm for many of the new games now days. It's not generally that highly supported for Half Life though.
OpenGL is/was an experimental 3D renderer, and happens to be perferred for the HL engine. It genearlly offers the best rendering (smoothest, fastest, etc.) If you have any type of video card, this is the perferred method you should choose for HL.
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--QuoteBegin-Vash TS .45L.C.+Sep 19 2004, 01:05 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Vash TS .45L.C. @ Sep 19 2004, 01:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Software mode uses your motherboard's integrated video chipset, and as such, offers the worst rendering out of the three. Generally avoided unless your unlucky/poor.
Direct 3D utilizes Microsoft's DirectX to render, and is generally the norm for many of the new games now days. It's not generally that highly supported for Half Life though.
OpenGL is/was an experimental 3D renderer, and happens to be perferred for the HL engine. It genearlly offers the best rendering (smoothest, fastest, etc.) If you have any type of video card, this is the perferred method you should choose for HL. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Also along those lines, something to remember, is ATi cards will render the D3D better, NVidia cards run OpenGL better, and nothing runs software right. ever.
...in fact, for NS, software mode makes the background of everything pink.
<!--QuoteBegin-Quaunaut+Sep 19 2004, 02:56 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Quaunaut @ Sep 19 2004, 02:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ...in fact, for NS, software mode makes the background of everything pink. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> And this is why software mode is blocked by NS - it makes it easy to spot cloaked aliens.
<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct3D_vs._OpenGL' target='_blank'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct3D_vs._OpenGL</a> sorftare rendering just makes sense on old pcs (laptops) without 3d grapic card.
Yar, running D3D in HL, even if you be the owner of a card which perfers it (like one of those "Stingraydeons") is not perfered. It be causing major FPS drops, missing textures, and possibly other strange behavor. Running software mode be acceptable for most mods, however, due to the comprox scenery ye find in NS, it simply will not work. Therefore, ye must use OpenGL with NS or ye be walking the plank! YARRRR!
Comments
Software, is Half-lifes own gfx engine, and isnt useually pretty.
D3D uses, the... D3D graphics engine, i dunno, i dont use it.
OpenGL uses opengl to create your inviroment and thats what i use
Direct 3D utilizes Microsoft's DirectX to render, and is generally the norm for many of the new games now days. It's not generally that highly supported for Half Life though.
OpenGL is/was an experimental 3D renderer, and happens to be perferred for the HL engine. It genearlly offers the best rendering (smoothest, fastest, etc.) If you have any type of video card, this is the perferred method you should choose for HL.
Direct 3D utilizes Microsoft's DirectX to render, and is generally the norm for many of the new games now days. It's not generally that highly supported for Half Life though.
OpenGL is/was an experimental 3D renderer, and happens to be perferred for the HL engine. It genearlly offers the best rendering (smoothest, fastest, etc.) If you have any type of video card, this is the perferred method you should choose for HL. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Also along those lines, something to remember, is ATi cards will render the D3D better, NVidia cards run OpenGL better, and nothing runs software right. ever.
...in fact, for NS, software mode makes the background of everything pink.
render the environments (hence software - not hardware accelerated).
And this is why software mode is blocked by NS - it makes it easy to spot cloaked aliens.
It isnt compatible with NS for multiple reasons, mainly cloaked aliens and rotating modles (skulks climbing walls) dont work properly.
The other 2 modes use your GPU to render everything.
sorftare rendering just makes sense on old pcs (laptops) without 3d grapic card.