Which cards can run 1680x1050 without AA/AF?

[Serp86]

I was about to build a system for university that is going to be used mainly for internet/research/some rendering and a lot of typing

However, i am doing it on a tight budget and would like to include a 22 inch monitor with 1680x1050 resolution (reason is i can get an LG L226WTQ cheap at my local store). Other specs are pretty medium with an athlon X2 5200+ or a core duo E6350 and 2gb RAM.

My question is, should I ever want to game, I would propably want to do so at the native resolution, right? Which cards can run this resolution in current games? Even medium settings are enough and I wasn't expecting AA/AF anyway.

I was thinking somewhere along the lines of X1950pro/2600xt/8600gt

Cliffs
-22" monitor 1680x1050
-No AF/AA/High settings needed
-video card suggestions?

 

[will889]

Medium Settings 16*10 no AA-AF would be 7600GT or X1650XT. Better would be 7900GT-7950GT or X1950 pro (actually high settings no AA-AF with these cards).

 

[idiotekniQues]

i love AA

 

[VirtualLarry]

Get the X1950 pro, if you want to game. It should handle that LCD's native res without issues in most games. If you want to watch HD movies, choose one of the other cards.

 

[BFG10K]

There is no good reason not to run 16xAF these days.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
There is no good reason not to run 16xAF these days.

And I'm sure he would, if you would just drop that 8800 Ultra into your nearest mailbox. I know I would, if it arrived with my address on it.

 

[BFG10K]

Even previous generation cards have quite small peformance hits when enabling 16xAF and the gain in image quality is astonishing. :thumbsup:

 

[myocardia]

Probably, as long as your "previous generation" card was the top of the line, like an X1950 XTX, or a 7900GTX. I would doubt that many ~$100 video cards would run 16x AF @ 1680x1050, at least anywhere near smoothly (playably). BTW, I would suggest that the OP get himself a $100 7600GT. Mine does just fine at anything up to 1600x1200, as long as I cut way back on the AA & AF, even with fairly high in-game settings.

 

[will889]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
Even previous generation cards have quite small peformance hits when enabling 16xAF and the gain in image quality is astonishing. :thumbsup:

That's actually very true but many people don't realize that. Even with a 7900GS-7950GT-X1950 Pro @ 16*10 you can do 8-16AF with no or 2X AA with little performance hit. game depending of course. 16*10 resolution in and of itself is already a big step up from CRT resolutions and with 16AF little AA to none is required to get decent IQ (again game depending).

 

[Serp86]

yeah i do realise that - been that way since the 9700pro came out, which is why i was leaning more and more on an x1950pro or 7950gt (I have a 7900gt already in another computer, and that can take high settings and 6xAA/8xAF @ 1280x1024 - the monitor's resolution).

Oh and BTW, which card is best for widescreen gaming? I hear nvidia drivers are better in that aspect (having more settings). Is this true?

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: Serp86
Oh and BTW, which card is best for widescreen gaming? I hear nvidia drivers are better in that aspect (having more settings). Is this true?

Well, obviously the best performing card would be the 8800Ultra

With the correct drivers, both brands allow custom resolutions.

If all the FUD re: widescreen is worrying you, try widecreengamingforum.com

 

[MarcVenice]

My widescreen monitor hasn't beeped, squeaked or done anything wrong from the moment I got it. Most games will run in 1680*1050 just fine, one game, LOKI, didn't let me choose the 1680*1050 resolution, but I could check a box saying: use resolution the monitor is in right now. Some widescreen monitors are of course better then others, and the link betasub provided you with is an excellent one. Long list with a lot of monitors, that have reader or professional reviews.

And once you get one, you will never want anything less. My screensize doubled, the contrast, the sharpness, the response time, everything improved and it's not a gods blessing, coz I've never had one of those, but I bet it comes close