Iz3d driver vs. Nvidia's fully dead
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 1:24 am
First I would like to say that this is my comparison - the way I think it shold look and you dont have to agree with me.
Since Nvidia's stereo driver is currently, so to say ,lethargic and we don't know when it will wake up or fully recover, meaning that shutter support as well as post processing effects support is kind of gone (although I have not tested nvidia's vista drivers) I suggest we focus on the qualities of the drivers, but do not neglect the point of having, or not having shutter support.
1.) Comparing game compatibility - Nvidia clear winner - they have support for a wide range of dx7 to dx9 games
2.) Next - game speed with stereo - I've tried both Nvidia's driver and Iz3d's in anaglyph mode and I'll go with Nvidia their drivers work a little faster and that is without turning on the autofocus in iZ3d's, which leads to half the framerate.
3.) Quality of the stereo effect - I was skeptical towards iZ3d's drivers, due to having seen screenshots with very low level of separation, compared to Nvidia's. I was extremely pleased to find out that Iz3d have changed the whole concept of stereo. When setting the effect I didn't have to worry about making great reductions to sepration because of high level convergence. I kept getting surprised how you can get super pop out effect without having your images separate if we come to a close-up (and that is not even with the autofocus function). - iZ3d - full marks.
4.) Compatibility with the latest post-processing effects - You know who wins this one, so I won't even comment it, all I can say is bravo Iz3d.
5.) Perks with anaglyph - personally I was surprised to find out that iz3d's drivers preserve the colors much better than Nvidia anaglyph support.
6.) Driver update's and compatibility with Win XP - iZ3d rulls.
7.) Shutter support - Nvidia still the champion, hopefully not for long.
Games that I've tested or tried to test:
UT2004 - both Nvidia and iZ3d get this one right, but with iZ3d you get both deepness and pop-out, which is a great combo.
The witcher - Nvidia - you have to turn off or reduce a couple of effects, meaning shadows, depth of field and lightning. Iz3d - shadow sticks out and doesn't feel right, other stuff can be turned to max.
Prince of Persia - warrior within - Nvidia - you have to either edit the ini file and turn off post-processing effects, or use the dragon util.
Iz3d - you definately have to turn off shadows, or you get yours displayed twice, everything else great - a real showpiece title.
MdK 2 (dx7 game) - hangs up at some poing with 162.50, worked fine with previous Nvidia drivers, but you at least get stereo. Iz3D - stereo doesn't start.
NFS Most wanted - Nvidia, worked with all post-processing effects with previous driver versions + dragon util., with 162.50 it doesn't so you have to turn them off. Iz3d - everything runs fine, if you don't take into account the choppiness.
Far Cry 1.3 - Nvidia you have to either turn off a lot of stuff, or use dragon utility, but after that you get a consistent stereo effect.
Iz3d - great pop-out, but stereo is all wrong - trees in the back keep jumping out in front, as if it is a living forest or something.
Tomb raider anniversary - Nvidia post processing via dragon util. Iz3d obviously no problems.
NFS U2 - Nvidia you have to switch off a lot of stuff, Iz3d everything is fine, but framerate drops considerably of course partially due to turned on effects.
Bioshock - hangs up after loading -with iZ3d. With Nvidia post processing is not right.
Infernal - great surprice Nvidia no stereo at all, iz3d - showpiece.
Resident Evil 4 - Nvidia - works only if not having applied the lightning effects fix patch and the crosshair (lasersight) gets doubled. Iz3d, works both with and without the patch, no doubling everything is fine including framerate.
NFS Porsche Unleashed - Nvidia image gets stretched and there is a lot of flickering (shutter glasses) but you get stereo (haven't tried in anaglyph), iZ3d - no stereo (dx7 game).
I'm probably gonna try a few more things in the next couple of days, so stay tuned.
Final thoughts:
iZ3d - get shutter support and you'll still be the winner, but this time you'll leave Nvidia biting the dust.
Nvidia - either drop dead or do something .
Since Nvidia's stereo driver is currently, so to say ,lethargic and we don't know when it will wake up or fully recover, meaning that shutter support as well as post processing effects support is kind of gone (although I have not tested nvidia's vista drivers) I suggest we focus on the qualities of the drivers, but do not neglect the point of having, or not having shutter support.
1.) Comparing game compatibility - Nvidia clear winner - they have support for a wide range of dx7 to dx9 games
2.) Next - game speed with stereo - I've tried both Nvidia's driver and Iz3d's in anaglyph mode and I'll go with Nvidia their drivers work a little faster and that is without turning on the autofocus in iZ3d's, which leads to half the framerate.
3.) Quality of the stereo effect - I was skeptical towards iZ3d's drivers, due to having seen screenshots with very low level of separation, compared to Nvidia's. I was extremely pleased to find out that Iz3d have changed the whole concept of stereo. When setting the effect I didn't have to worry about making great reductions to sepration because of high level convergence. I kept getting surprised how you can get super pop out effect without having your images separate if we come to a close-up (and that is not even with the autofocus function). - iZ3d - full marks.
4.) Compatibility with the latest post-processing effects - You know who wins this one, so I won't even comment it, all I can say is bravo Iz3d.
5.) Perks with anaglyph - personally I was surprised to find out that iz3d's drivers preserve the colors much better than Nvidia anaglyph support.
6.) Driver update's and compatibility with Win XP - iZ3d rulls.
7.) Shutter support - Nvidia still the champion, hopefully not for long.
Games that I've tested or tried to test:
UT2004 - both Nvidia and iZ3d get this one right, but with iZ3d you get both deepness and pop-out, which is a great combo.
The witcher - Nvidia - you have to turn off or reduce a couple of effects, meaning shadows, depth of field and lightning. Iz3d - shadow sticks out and doesn't feel right, other stuff can be turned to max.
Prince of Persia - warrior within - Nvidia - you have to either edit the ini file and turn off post-processing effects, or use the dragon util.
Iz3d - you definately have to turn off shadows, or you get yours displayed twice, everything else great - a real showpiece title.
MdK 2 (dx7 game) - hangs up at some poing with 162.50, worked fine with previous Nvidia drivers, but you at least get stereo. Iz3D - stereo doesn't start.
NFS Most wanted - Nvidia, worked with all post-processing effects with previous driver versions + dragon util., with 162.50 it doesn't so you have to turn them off. Iz3d - everything runs fine, if you don't take into account the choppiness.
Far Cry 1.3 - Nvidia you have to either turn off a lot of stuff, or use dragon utility, but after that you get a consistent stereo effect.
Iz3d - great pop-out, but stereo is all wrong - trees in the back keep jumping out in front, as if it is a living forest or something.
Tomb raider anniversary - Nvidia post processing via dragon util. Iz3d obviously no problems.
NFS U2 - Nvidia you have to switch off a lot of stuff, Iz3d everything is fine, but framerate drops considerably of course partially due to turned on effects.
Bioshock - hangs up after loading -with iZ3d. With Nvidia post processing is not right.
Infernal - great surprice Nvidia no stereo at all, iz3d - showpiece.
Resident Evil 4 - Nvidia - works only if not having applied the lightning effects fix patch and the crosshair (lasersight) gets doubled. Iz3d, works both with and without the patch, no doubling everything is fine including framerate.
NFS Porsche Unleashed - Nvidia image gets stretched and there is a lot of flickering (shutter glasses) but you get stereo (haven't tried in anaglyph), iZ3d - no stereo (dx7 game).
I'm probably gonna try a few more things in the next couple of days, so stay tuned.
Final thoughts:
iZ3d - get shutter support and you'll still be the winner, but this time you'll leave Nvidia biting the dust.
Nvidia - either drop dead or do something .