Custom graphics driver for FF7/FF8 [v.1-.7.6]

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Changeling:
Let me turn this around for you; why should I use DirectX? It is only supported on windows, it has an awful record of backward compatibility (case in point: FF7) and the documentation ranges anywhere from lacking to non-existant. Now of course I would never switch to DirectX anyway since that's a lot of work for little or no benefit, but if I were, what exactly would I gain from that?

AlbusJC:
What? I don't see how you could make that connection but anyway the answer is no, nothing you do to a texture can cause that problem.
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Well I can think of one :). Just one though don't get you hopes up yet DX lovers. I for one found immense plugin documentation as well as countless ways to filter only the backgrounds and leave out the 3D. As well as free SDK and audio plugins found...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX_plugin

A Quote from wiki...
"Until about 2005, another functional difference between the APIs was the way they handled rendering to textures: the Direct3D method (SetRenderTarget()) is convenient, while previous versions of OpenGL required the manipulation of P-buffers (pixel buffers). This was cumbersome and risky: if the programmer's codepath was different from that anticipated by the driver manufacturer, the code would have fallen back to software rendering, causing a substantial performance drop. However, widespread support for the "frame buffer objects" extension, which provided an OpenGL equivalent of the Direct3D method, successfully addressed this shortcoming, and the "render target" feature of OpenGL brought OpenGL up to par with Direct3D in this respect."

That would explain why Aali's driver performs poorly FPS wise for some. As I don't know if Aali's driver uses the "render target" feature.
Although they are equal on almost all levels some of the new features of DX11 would be nice to have. I do also want to note as you already know the impossible overwhelming amount of PC users in the market...My take DX=More power; OpenGL=More Flexibility.

it has an awful record of backward compatibility
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Those days may be behind us we can only hope still is not looking good...
 
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Open GL 4.0 brings opengl up to parity with dx11 anyways. So this whole debate is pointless.
 
Hi! i'm pretty new to this modding community for FFVII. I've been trying to install the custom OpenGL driver to my PC, but i keep getting errors anytime a video is played in the game. I get the Glitch: video playback is lagging error. There any way to fix this? Thanks! :)
 
Hi! i'm pretty new to this modding community for FFVII. I've been trying to install the custom OpenGL driver to my PC, but i keep getting errors anytime a video is played in the game. I get the Glitch: video playback is lagging error. There any way to fix this? Thanks! :)
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Try using v0.7.3b

You can find a link to it in the wiki
 
Some people use mac, some use linux. Even though it was a windows only game why not let everyone enjoy it. Aali's driver allows this.
 
Some people use mac, some use linux. Even though it was a windows only game why not let everyone enjoy it. Aali's driver allows this.
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Couldn't agree more. I was just pointing out the difference on another small note I am trying to learn Basic Visual C and they only teach "managed DX". As a matter of fact at least at my local bookstore I found NO books on OpenGL!?!. Also all of the personal tutors I was looking at as well only taught DX. Would explain why it is so overwhelmingly popular. But none the less even what little I know I can tell OpenGL is the way to go for this game.
 
That's cool then.

Does anyone know how to control OpenGL's Anisotropic filtering on some program other than Catalyst Control Center?  Or is that even possible?
 
That's cool then.

Does anyone know how to control OpenGL's Anisotropic filtering on some program other than Catalyst Control Center?  Or is that even possible?
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you should be able to just set forced filtering in the CCC , i know this works w/ the linux ati driver, its way behind the windows one so i would assume that it would also work in the windows version of CCC.
 
Mako: It's very easy to filter only the backgrounds and leave out the 3D, that was never a problem. The problem is that you can't simply filter the background and get a good result, no matter how you do it.

FPS issues are usually due to misconfiguration, like trying to do scaling/postprocessing on a crappy onboard graphics card. It's a very very taxing operation on a card that doesn't have it's own dedicated memory, no matter how you do it. Or even worse, missing/not having access to a useful OpenGL driver altogether, Vista and later like to revert to their own software renderer instead of bailing out, with disastrous results.
 
yes it is possible....

http://www.guru3d.com/category/nvopenglsettweak/

That one is Nvidia

There are more there for ATI, surely.
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You mean it didn't work before?

Does that mean my 32xQ AA and my 16x AF haven' been taking effect? (i dunno about AF, but i know AA has)

Dual 9800GT if it matters. OH! reminds me

Aali, does your driver support SLI? or does the game have to do i? I know nVidia says it does in the control Panel, But thats them using FF7 and the default driver..
 
-zip-

Edit: Don't blame me for that, blame the tit that just told that on Skype.
 
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Hellbringer616: In short, there's nothing you CAN do to "support" SLI in OpenGL. The driver decides what to do with the data you give it, if it's configured to use more than one GPU it will try to do so.
 
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Alright, well it seems to do it. So i suppose it works. I'm getting a gtx480 when the 512 core version comes out. So it won't matter hehe :D
 
@Aali

I know its possible in OpenGL I just stated in the language VC++ its easier using "managed DX". Also on another note I guess I am the only one that LIKES the smartbloom effect?. I think the game is super sharp with my setup NO pixelation what so ever well maybe the FMV's. But with that filter the colors definitely lost detail. I do want to note also how flawless the game runs on my machine and used to chug when on vista same setup with XP runs flawless. OpenGL and vista don't get along well (from what I can tell) but who cares?!?. Vista's full of fail anyway...
 
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@Aali

I know its possible in OpenGL I just stated in the language VC++ its easier using "managed DX". Also on another note I guess I am the only one that LIKES the smartboom effect?. I think the game is super sharp with my setup NO pixelation what so ever well maybe the FMV's. But with that filter the colors definitely lost detail. I do want to note also how flawless the game runs on my machine and used to chug when on vista same setup with XP runs flawless. OpenGL and vista don't get along well (from what I can tell) but who cares?!?. Vista's full of fail anyway...
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I like smartbloom! The only thing is that my laptop can't handle it. It kills my framerate.
 
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