Resolution or Graphical Settings?

Spacedeck · 10 May 2015 at 18:26

I'm not sure if this will have been asked before, but when you are playing a game and you find that the FPS isn't as good as you thought it would be. What do you do?

Do you compromise your graphics, or your resolution?

So say you game at 1440p as your native res. The game will only reach an acceptable 60fps with some of the graphical settings turned down a notch. Now if you was to just downgrade your res to 1080p, you get to keep the graphical settings and get a constant 60 fps.

So I'd just like to know, what do you guys do?

What benefit / disadvantage does both options give?

Also if you keep the resolution, but change the graphical settings. What settings do you usually change first?

pooley · 10 May 2015 at 18:28

For me i just knock down the gfx keep res the same..

SonniLombardi · 10 May 2015 at 18:51

I keep 1080p as it's best for textures and stuff, and better for the jaggies (anti-aliasing) and just knock down to medium/high for settings, shadows msaa etc is the ones for performance hits.

almoststew1990 · 10 May 2015 at 18:58

For me it is AA, then Shadows, then gimmicky stuff like the TresFX. I like to game at my native res, whatever it may be.

kedge · 10 May 2015 at 18:59

Each to their own and it might depend on the gamers hardware and the actual game, but reducing graphics settings in modern games is defeating the objective of what pc gaming is largely about, pc gaming is or should be about 'pushing the envelope', reducing graphics to lower settings you might as well go console. Resolution is subjective to some, for me it's about a comfortable view distance from the monitor/tv rather than the actual resolution because sometimes i'm not sure i can differentiate between 1080p - 1440p - 2160p.

Randomface74 · 10 May 2015 at 19:00

I choose a lower quality setting, e.g. High instead of Ultra. Sometimes I do this anyway if I can't tell the difference.
If it comes to it... Medium instead of High. Sometimes I do this anyway in competitive games.
If it comes to it... lower AA. I really don't like jaggies.
If it still doesn't work... spend.

Relentless81 · 10 May 2015 at 19:10

I like to be able to switch everything to max at 1080p

arc@css · 10 May 2015 at 19:15

Drop AA down. That's very often enough.

SonniLombardi · 10 May 2015 at 19:36

kedge said:
Each to their own and it might depend on the gamers hardware and the actual game, but reducing graphics settings in modern games is defeating the objective of what pc gaming is largely about, pc gaming is or should be about 'pushing the envelope', reducing graphics to lower settings you might as well go console. Resolution is subjective to some, for me it's about a comfortable view distance from the monitor/tv rather than the actual resolution because sometimes i'm not sure i can differentiate between 1080p - 1440p - 2160p.

It just boils down to hardware, if your GPU simply can't keep the frame rate high enough to be playable then the only option is drop some settings down or purchase a faster card

Disco_P · 10 May 2015 at 21:01

I will run everything at minimum before I lower resolution.

The exception is my laptop which has a 1440p 13.3" screen. I run games at 720p cause it scales perfectly, still has a high pixel density that 27" 1440p and allows much higher frame rates whilst making text readable.

Ryan-3 · 10 May 2015 at 21:35

I just set my maximum res and see what settings it gives me. Then turn them down till happy.

Sin_Chase · 10 May 2015 at 21:41

Always game at native res with sacrificed IQ. I cannot stand scaled images.

Akagi · 10 May 2015 at 21:42

Usually I put the settings down and keep the resolution the same, but now I have a 4K display, I sometimes put the resolution down to 1080P and max out the graphical settings instead.

Calabi · 10 May 2015 at 23:19

Always the graphic's setting's. If your not using the native resolution on your LCD monitor then thing's can look blurry and wrong.

Vinno · 11 May 2015 at 02:33

I once tried to lower the res in desperation when Crysis first came out and my brand new rig couldn't run it at full settings

It looked dreadful. I would never try to change the res again - I just lower the settings until it runs smoothly.

Monkeynut · 11 May 2015 at 03:04

Resolution and AA are the last things to go IMO. Hate jaggies with a passion.

FloppyPoppy · 11 May 2015 at 03:18

Resolution stays native to your monitor it will look horrible otherwise.

Guest2 · 11 May 2015 at 22:50

1080p on a 1440p native monitor looks terrible. For me I usually suffer with less fps or knock down AA and shadows

neoglow · 11 May 2015 at 22:56

I seem to be in the minority, if I can't max the game at native resolution, I'd rather max the settings and AA but drop the resolution. Within reason obviously, 640x480 is maybe a bit too low lol, like being in the 90's again.

VincentHanna · 11 May 2015 at 23:07

I've got a 4k TV and I need two Titan X's for 60fps/max settings.

Just playing Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and that doesn't use SLI unfortunately (due to the id Tech 5 engine) so I had to drop it back to 1440p to avoid any slowdown with max settings.

Otherwise with adaptive V-sync it would drop below 60 and the tearing is really bad in this game for some reason.

1440p looks really good on the TV still though. I guess the scaler in a £1500 TV is a bit better than a £300 monitor.