Question regarding resolutions

[pieman109]

Can someone clarify this for me or let me know if I've got this right. Would I get (as near as damnit) the same performance (say in crysis) at 1680 x 1050 res with a 4870 as I would at 1900 x 1200 res? I realise some games would run better on one card as opposed to another, COD4 on ati cards for an example, but generally am I right in thinking that you don't get a massive performance increase just by getting a newer, faster card, just the ability to have similar framerates but at a higher resolution?
Cheers.

 

[The_Abyss]

Think about how much increase in size there is between those 2 resolutions - multiply them up - so there will be a performance hit for higher resolutions, or as you say, a performance gain for a new card at the same resolution. Add in AA, and the factors are multiplied further.

 

[Silverwolf]

Some games/applications are CPU intensive and some are GPU intensive these days.

If your game is GPU intensive then going up a notch and resolution will in all likely hood net you a gain.

If the game is CPU intensive then this will not show up unles the CPU can do all the work.

Most game companies are now shifting towards the GPU doing all the work, well most of it.

Most of the more powerful GPUs will allow you to up the resolution and add AA and Af without loss of FPS. We are talkin of 1680X1050 upwards.

But ones CPU makes a difference, as I have just found out. Bought a GTX280 OC and saw not a lot of difference in Age of Conan so had to buy a new CPU to realise the potential of the 280. With my old GTX8800 I could not run FEAR at 1600 X1200 everything maxed with the 280 I can and have not changed the CPU yet.

As I was told in the forum balance is crucial, although I already knew this and generally this is what I aim for.