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View Full Version : Shader Model 3.0 help?

demonbrawn
07-10-2006, 06:47 PM
Alright, I've been trying to google SM3.0, but I just can't seem to find that much specifically about it. Someone told me I needed SM3.0 a couple days ago, but I can't figure out exactly what it is, if it's even offered on ATI cards, or where to download it (if it can be downloaded individually since I'm not sure if it's part of a specific package or not). I would appreciate your knowledgeable input.
celidee
07-10-2006, 06:59 PM
Its basically an extra feature for certain Video Cards that allows more graphical detail(I think with certain shawdows or something like that) , mines doesn't have it, but I don't find all too necessary right now....for me that is.

And yes it offered in ATI cards but the high end ones.
zekrahminator
07-10-2006, 07:14 PM
SM3 is just a few details here and there, you really won't miss them on a SM2 computer. There is no FPS increase and no way to upgrade...it's a hardware thing. ATI cards with SM3 are the X1K series and up, and Nvidia cards with SM3 are the Geforce 6 series and up.
demonbrawn
07-10-2006, 07:19 PM
ohhh okay. Someone just said "I see you have SM2.0. You need SM3.0" blah blah. I didn't really know what they were talking about. I see, they saw my X850 in my specs and realized I didn't have it. Alright, thanks.
giorgos th.
07-10-2006, 07:22 PM
no big deal.your card`s SM2.0b is very very close to SM3.0.you wont notice the slightest difference.
zekrahminator
07-10-2006, 07:32 PM
Well there are some 3Dmark05 screenshots that will beg to differ...but other then that nothing major lol. It just looks a tiny bit prettier.
i_am_mustang_man
07-10-2006, 08:13 PM
HDR is SM3.0. it makes brights look brighter. identical cards (lets say same 3d05 score for example) one with sm3.0, one with sm2.0, same game, the fps with sm2.0 will be higher. sm3.0 is more of more complex calculations. also sometimes affects transparency of water and stained glass style windows. it's not a major upgrade.

for 3d06 tho, it really hurts your score not to have sm3.0.
Aegis
07-11-2006, 02:42 AM
Heard the opposite's true. SM3.0 optimizes some of the features of SM2.0, so they run quicker aka more FPS. However, the added features (HDR) does tend to drop the framerates back down.
zekrahminator
07-11-2006, 02:42 AM
Dude...you have the same SN as my main computer...cool!
i_am_mustang_man
07-11-2006, 03:02 AM
Heard the opposite's true. SM3.0 optimizes some of the features of SM2.0, so they run quicker aka more FPS. However, the added features (HDR) does tend to drop the framerates back down.

that's more or less what i was saying, sorry for not being clearer! what i was trying to say was that an sm3.0 capable card will run faster when using sm2.0 in a certain graphics engine than if it was utilizing the full sm3.0 capabilities of the engine.

i'm rereading my post, and it's not well worded, even so much as it is probably always going to be interpreted "incorrectly", ie i'm stupid.

thanks for clarification aegis!
giorgos th.
07-11-2006, 10:39 AM
i`ve seen this mostly in Nvidia cards.especially in 06.in 90% of the tests they have worst SM3.0 score than SM2.0.
Ati seems ok.
rpgbefore...
07-11-2006, 01:59 PM
Heard the opposite's true. SM3.0 optimizes some of the features of SM2.0, so they run quicker aka more FPS. However, the added features (HDR) does tend to drop the framerates back down.
no, sm3 puts more load onto the gpu as there needs to be more graphics rendered per frame and thus lowers fps