Click an area in the diagram or on any of the tabs to get information about a particular option.

Recommended resolution: 1024x768 or higher

 

The Direct3D Settings panel allows you to customize certain 3D functions in order to enhance games and applications that are optimized for Direct3D.

 

Modification of these parameters could cause 3D performances and/or visual quality to be impaired. If you discover that a game is not compatible with any of these settings, then disable the option causing the conflict.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance and Compatibility Options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mipmapping

Please refer to the glossary for a definition of these functions as well as for numerous others.

3D Prophet is capable of using mip-maps in order to increase the efficiency of texture transfers and provide even higher application performance. Textures are "stored" in different resolutions to optimize visual quality. You can select the number of mip-map levels to be used together with the type of texture filtering (bi-linear or 8-tap anisotropic) to be carried out. Bi-linear filtering will usually offer a better performance while 8-tap anisotropic filtering will offer a higher quality display. If you encounter display problems then reduce the number of automatically generated mip-map levels until the images are properly displayed.

The level of detail may also be selected from several options: Best and High image quality for optimum visual display to High and Best performance for optimum 3D performance. The Blend option offers a compromise between the two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customized configurations

You may prefer certain configurations depending on the game you are playing. This panel allows you to save your favorite configurations and reapply them instantly at a later time.
To do this, simply define the parameters you wish to save and click on Save As... to access the following dialog box.

Enter a name for your new configuration and click on OK. These settings will then be listed in the Custom Direct3D settings selection box. If you wish to remove a setting from the list, select it and click on Delete.

To reapply these presets at a later time, refer to the section QuickTweak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restore Defaults

The Restore Defaults option resets the settings to the factory default values.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texel Alignment

This option allows you to change the definition of texel origin, between the upper left corner and the center of the texel. The default value (3) is in accordance with Direct3D but certain software applications and games may define the texel origin differently. If the hardware texture addressing scheme is programmed to define the texel origin elsewhere then the image quality will obviously be higher if the texel origin is redefined (using the slider) in conformity with the addressing scheme.
Click on Close to return to the Direct3D Settings panel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCI Texture Memory Size

This option applies to both PCI display adapters and AGP display adapters running in PCI compatibility mode. Enabling the option allows the GPU (graphics processor) to use up to the amount of user-specified system RAM for texture storage. This system RAM will be used in addition to the RAM installed on 3D Prophet. The amount of RAM available for texture storage will depend ultimately on the amount of physical RAM installed on the PC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vertical Sync

This option allows an image to be rendered immediately without waiting for it to be synchronized to the vertical retrace of the monitor. This allows for higher frame rates than the monitor refresh rate.

Enabling this option may cause visual artifacts or tearing. This will result in reduced image quality.

Render no more than "x" frame(s) ahead: where vertical sync has been disabled, use this option to set the number of frames to be prepared by the CPU before being rendered by the graphics processor. A high level of pre-rendered frames may cause a delay in response time for your gaming peripherals.