Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

[Joshua]

First of all, hello; this is my first post.

Now, on with the post. I already ran Vana'diel Bench 3, but that doesn't give me specific settings to try, so I don't really know what settings it was running at. I have a 17" LCD, so I either run at the native resolution on this computer or get a new video card. Here are my specs:

A64 3000+ Venice
MSI RS480M2-IL S939 Mobo
ATI Radeon Xpress 200 IGP
Corsair Value Select 512x2 MB Dual Channel 2.5:3:3:8 RAM
120 GB Seagate IDE Hard Drive
Antec SLK2650-BQE with included Antec 300W SmartPower Power Supply

If you know anything about computers, then you should know how this IGP performs compared to other video cards. If not, well, it's ~about~ a Radeon 9600, or a Radeon X300, maybe a little less powerful than an X300.

If anyone could tell me if FFXI will run in this environment at 1280 x 1024, I would greatly appreciate it.

(I would like to delay the inevitable video upgrade as long as possible as I'm tight on money right now, but I could of course save up for a while.)

Thank you,
Joshua

[pearlsea]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

I would double check for you but my ffxi config is being stupid now but i think the only way to get 1280 x 1024 is to edit the registry, if you dint know. And for your video card handeling it i think it should be able if its equal to a X300 cause thats what i have. run bench3 in low resolution mode and tell us what you get and we could maybe suguest something.


BTW 1280 x 1024 drives me crazy for normal internet work cause the text it too small but i guess you need it for your lcd and probably looks better on your screen.

Also for gaming geting a decsent videocard is the BEST way to improve FPS.

[Joshua]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

Ah, so I can only run the game at 1024 x 768 max without hacking? Hmmm...Then I do need a new video card that can use 1:1 pixel scaling for my LCD monitor since my monitor can't do it and my current graphics can't so I don't have to look at a scaled picture.

Well, it seems I won't start playing for a while longer!

[tnt118]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

"Hacking" is a harsh term for changing resolution the registry.. I run at 1280 x 1024 to match my 19inch LCD, and it's really a simple thing to do. I can't speak to the quality of your graphics card, but in general running anything at 1280 x 1024 is a strain on a system. Occasionally I lose a little bit of framerate but I'm willing to make that sacrifice. BTW, the game looks *fantastic* with the resolution bumped up ... I used to do it for my CRT also just for the looks.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

The official Final Fantasy config allows you to set resolution up to 1280x1024...you guys know that, right? ._.

[Joshua]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

The official Final Fantasy config allows you to set resolution up to 1280x1024...you guys know that, right? ._.

Eh? That's not what others said...sigh...

Anyway, if I do somehow make my resolution 1280 x 1024, how does the game compensate for the aspect ratio change of the screen from 4:3 to 5:4? Would I lose some field of view one the sides or would I gain some field of view on the top or bottom? Or would the image be stretched? Also, how would 2D images look? Would they be stretched or what?

Thanks again, everyone.

[Lunaryn]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

Also for gaming geting a decsent videocard is the BEST way to improve FPS.

Seconded. I'd been using a 400MHz desktop w/ a decent graphics card (Radeon 8500 LE) and decided to bench my parents' 2.4GHz system (onboard i865) and it came out just decent enough in high resolution to use without weather effects, though much higher in low resolution. Then I came across a Free Geek Store Special, a 1.3 GHz Athlon box, and bought it. Swapped in the Radeon 8500 LE and it outperformed the 2.4GHz box on the bench slightly on low res and dramatically on high res (about 500 points). Good hardware video acceleration is much more important than the overall power of the box.

(Yeah, I have less powerful video hardware than the people posting here, but the principle is the same. Personally, 1933-H on the benchmark seems plenty good for my particular situation.)

[tnt118]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

The official Final Fantasy config allows you to set resolution up to 1280x1024...you guys know that, right? ._.

Ahh, I see where the confusion is coming from (and I apologize for being a part of it).

I was talking in the mindset of texture resolution, but of course the overlay resolution is set differently from that. From what I've gathered reading the various threads about changing resolutions in the registry, if your texture resolution and overlay resolution are different, FFXI will scale the textures to match the overlay. Going on a suggestion from others, I've always set my texture, overlay, and desktop resolution to be identical -- and I get very respectable framerates. (In dynamis, I'll get from 5-15fps, while many others who don't tweak their settings are getting anywhere from 2-10 .. all this while my resolution is set higher than theirs)

To get back to the topic:

If you change the aspect ratio of your resolution (assuming the same monitor) the game will stretch/shrink instead of losing information "off the screen" or being letterboxed. However, there's an in-game aspect ratio adjuster that I *think* (don't use it myself) can compensate for this. I don't remember what all options are there, but I do know that people with laptops or widescreen monitors can use it to keep the game looking "normal".

It's been a good 4-5 months since I've played with resolution settings, framerates, and the registry -- I'll use that as my excuse why I'm a little hit foggy on the subject. I'll try to play around with things tonight and see if I can't come across any additional information.

[pearlsea]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

Ok sorry for my first post about only going to 1024X768 cause i juse checked my ffxi config and it lets me go all the way to 1280X1024, sorry for starting any confusion, cause before my ffxi config was being stupid.

[Caspian]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

If you change the aspect ratio of your resolution (assuming the same monitor) the game will stretch/shrink instead of losing information "off the screen" or being letterboxed. However, there's an in-game aspect ratio adjuster that I *think* (don't use it myself) can compensate for this. I don't remember what all options are there, but I do know that people with laptops or widescreen monitors can use it to keep the game looking "normal".

Yes, theres a lot of options for it, cant recall it off the top of my head, but its in the ingame menu under config, and its one of the misc. options if i recall correctly. You may have to look around for a minute or two to find it, but I know its there. Its actually one of the reasons im looking forward to getting ffxi for xbox360...HD and wide screen!

[InuTrunks]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

Yea, it's in the config options on the 2nd menu, you can set it to 16:9 (wide screen).

Also, AFAIK the background resoloution is a square isn't it? 1024x1024?, and that the overlay resolution has no effect on what the graphics are...b ut I could be wrong.

[Joshua]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

Yea, it's in the config options on the 2nd menu, you can set it to 16:9 (wide screen).

Also, AFAIK the background resoloution is a square isn't it? 1024x1024?, and that the overlay resolution has no effect on what the graphics are...b ut I could be wrong.

Eh? Now this is getting confusing...I hate when it gets like this...

[pearlsea]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

Overlay is display resolution and UI interface resolutuon, backround resolution is the amount of pixles used for everything else, the bigger the better, try 2048 x 2048 for best graphics(instructions are in game tweaking section(stickied)) , im 99% sure your computer can handle it, if not just bump it down

[fastcart]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

Also, AFAIK the background resoloution is a square isn't it? 1024x1024?, and that the overlay resolution has no effect on what the graphics are...b ut I could be wrong.

The higher the background res, the better your game looks at the expense of gpu/cpu resources. 1024x1024 is the highest the ffxicfg utility go. The background res is different from the overlay res you set your game at (like 1024x768).

[Joshua]

Re: Can my computer run FFXI at 1280 x 1024?

How is it a square, though, and why would a higher resolution than 1280 x 1024 fit on my monitor?