HDR vs Loading times

Discuss Certain Aspects of Mapping, Modeling, and Coding.
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Remove HDR to increase the speed of loading times?

Yes, you can always use bloom effects
9
60%
Yes, but only to the maps which are large in file size?
2
13%
No
4
27%
 
Total votes: 15

fug4life
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HDR vs Loading times

Post by fug4life »

oc_warmachine really takes a while for the map to load both for the server and the client. I'm seriously considering taking W0rf0x's advice and removing it from all my maps.

What you think?
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Post by Hyperjag3 »

I say no myself, I love the way HDR looks and I don't notice all that much of a loading time difference.
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Post by Shana »

It took almost 3 minutes with my old cpu and ram (1 gb) to go from a non-hdr map to a hdr map and otherwise than going from a non-hdr map to another non-hdr map or hdr to hdr, with my new cpu and ram (2 gb) it only loads about 10 seconds longer, so i gues it depends on how much ram you have and how full it is.

So i would say, keep the hdr, because you can turn it off in options anyways if its too much for you pc.

But better keep it out of your map selection map.

And the loading times on server shouldnt increase with hdr.
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Post by fug4life »

I like the subtle glow effect it seems to give to thing's like models and materials that should naturally omit a glow that just don't seem to in LDR.
I'm not 100% sure of the effect it has on skies (Some times it seems too bright). But I've started to come to the conclusion, HDR looks good if implemented in the map well by the mapper. I know that you really have to play around to get the difference in brightness levels balanced for both LDR and HDR & so many other things you can configure to get it looking/working right. It would appear there is a lot to learn in working with HDR.

I have to say my experience with working with it so far (Although it hasn't nessercarily always been difficult to add) it has generally been a pain in the arse for me, things are getting easier but I think I've got a lot to learn still. And it just feels easier to map without it (lazy opt out).

It does seem to make life easier in general just to not use it.
But when I set out to map for Source I sort of told myself to try and make good use of everything the engine has on offer.

So I'm a little divided,

I may continue to map in both modes and come release, make the descision depending on the individual map where file sizes and loading times are more important etc.
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Post by fug4life »

W0rf0x wrote: And the loading times on server shouldnt increase with hdr.
Maybe I'm wrong I thought I noticed more of a delay/hang when the server is at 'changing map' stage of the load process.
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Post by skidz »

You know I'm stick of all this bullcrap about peoples slow PCs. Welcome to the next gen, if you don't have a decent machine that is at least greater than:

CPU: 2.4 GHz Processor
RAM: 512 MB
Graphics Card: DirectX 9 capable graphics card 256 MB
Windows 2000/XP/ME/98
Mouse
Keyboard
Internet Connection
CD or DVD rom drive

You aren't getting any sympathy from me, or Valve.
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Post by Hell-met »

Valve is much more low-end friendly than people tend to think

But damn, I'm so glad I bought myself an extra 1gb stick and a 7600 :D
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Post by skidz »

Fire_cube wrote:Valve is much more low-end friendly than people tend to think

But damn, I'm so glad I bought myself an extra 1gb stick and a 7600 :D
Well its nice people on old machines can play. As for HDR, the clients can turn it off if its causing slow loading.
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Post by fug4life »

I used to be of a similar opnion, until the day I found out that I wouldn't be buying BF2 cause my gfx card was just below the minium required.
I couldn't be arsed to splash the cash, so I decided to dust of my copy of HL2 (Barely played) And start playing all things Source. So I'm kind of glad Valve give the support they do to low end machines. Well was,.. till I had to buy a new pc anyhow. Never did buy Bf2 or put anything else than Source HL1 games on my new PC.

I'd say I have a half decent Laptop,

Core 2 duo T7200 (2x2.0ghz)
2 GB ram
512 mb ati x1600 mobility radeon

(DVD drive screwed!! and I borrowed Matrix revolutions from a friend, I've only seen a dodgey pirate :( )

Looks like I'll keep mapping with HDR but not for the level select map.
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Post by skidz »

Well for the people that can have HDR and enjoy it. No use alienating graphics whores ;)
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Post by Hell-met »

I've NEVER witnessed phong or HDR ingame..

oh man oh man i cant wait for my card to be shipped in :excited:
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Post by DaMaN »

Fire_cube wrote:I've NEVER witnessed phong or HDR ingame..
Ditto Fire_cube... ditto...

I've got a Radeon 9800 that's been my graphics workhorse for the past few years - no HDR, no phong, but it does enough to play HL2 ;)

And I'd much rather keep my low-end system than spend $800 for every time I hear "Welcome to the next gen, if you don't have a decent machine that is at least greater than: X, don't complain!" :P

What can I say: gameplay > graphics in my books.
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Post by sgae »

i prefer hdr removal (specialy in huge maps) because they increase the file size and make the map more harder to download from servers

(about loading times yes, you can disable it)
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Post by skidz »

DaMaN wrote:
Fire_cube wrote:I've NEVER witnessed phong or HDR ingame..
Ditto Fire_cube... ditto...

I've got a Radeon 9800 that's been my graphics workhorse for the past few years - no HDR, no phong, but it does enough to play HL2 ;)

And I'd much rather keep my low-end system than spend $800 for every time I hear "Welcome to the next gen, if you don't have a decent machine that is at least greater than: X, don't complain!" :P

What can I say: gameplay > graphics in my books.
Oh cmon, its not that expensive :P
Fricken 8800gt's are flying off the shelves at $250 and they run Crysis like a dream. And you don't need an amazing CPU.
Just have to buy smart and do your research, you can make a system that will last you 3-4 years at a time.
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