Playing through this with HDR was fun

[TaoFan]

I played the beginning of Episode 1 again today and with my new system and the HDR/bloom stuff thought it was better than before, especially the reactor chamber.

I first look at that, and it's too bright and washed out, then my character's eyes "adjust" to look at it better, and the same happens whenever I look away and back at it.

The bloom effects were also impressive, and I'm sure they weren't there in my old PC system - they really added to the atmosphere.

HDR and bloom really is an impressive addition to the Source engine, and I hope it's further exploited in later titles from Valve.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

Yes, glad you finally got into the "Next Gen" era.

 

[bigburpco]

I am ****ing jealous. Stupid computer! *kicks*

 

[bbson john]

I still can't believe the bloom effect is in the monitor - it looks as if it is really real. Especial in EP: One, the core, the effect which the light leaks out of the edges is really impressive. It was the first time I felt "brightness" or "heat" in computer game.

 

[Ennui]

Yeah, the HDR really adds to the gameplay :upstare:

sorry, I've never understood the fuss about it

 

[Azner]

Can anyone tell me how to install ram, i mean do i really have to bring it to some com shop to install ram... I have not been using high model details at all

 

[cojawfee]

RAM is one of the easiest things to install. All you have to do is pull apart the locks on the sides of the slot, make sure the pins line up with the slot and shove it in. Push the locks in and you have more RAM.

 

[Hullu]

What is the bloom effect exactly?

Maybe in 2010 I will be able to play hl2 with hdr :I

 

[Shasta]

RAM is one of the easiest things to install. All you have to do is pull apart the locks on the sides of the slot, make sure the pins line up with the slot and shove it in. Push the locks in and you have more RAM.

Nice to see you mentioned about static electricity and how to avoid it frying his motherboard and new RAM etc.

Noobs trying to install wardware themselves and frying it with static electricity is by far the number one reason for returned hardware. Of course, they get just a little upset when they find out that situations like that are NOT covered by warranty, so no replacement, no refund. I see it all the time. It makes me smile, thinking about the day earlier, when they were all "nah, I'll save money and do it myself, thanks. You just line it up and shove it in, right? Make sure the locks lock back in? Easy...". Famous last words, and it happens ALL the time...

So make SURE you know what you are doing, or pay someone who does.

 

[bbson john]

RAM is one of the easiest things to install. All you have to do is pull apart the locks on the sides of the slot, make sure the pins line up with the slot and shove it in. Push the locks in and you have more RAM.

Pushing a DDRII ram into a DDR slot will always be miserable.

 

[Jintor]

Nice to see you mentioned about static electricity and how to avoid it frying his motherboard and new RAM etc.

Noobs trying to install wardware themselves and frying it with static electricity is by far the number one reason for returned hardware. Of course, they get just a little upset when they find out that situations like that are NOT covered by warranty, so no replacement, no refund. I see it all the time. It makes me smile, thinking about the day earlier, when they were all "nah, I'll save money and do it myself, thanks. You just line it up and shove it in, right? Make sure the locks lock back in? Easy...". Famous last words, and it happens ALL the time...

So make SURE you know what you are doing, or pay someone who does.

I feel lucky now that I did exactly that and it worked, first time...

 

[Shasta]

Pushing a DDRII ram into a DDR slot will always be miserable.

Yeah, knowing the difference between the types helps alot! Also knowing what type and speed your motherboard can take, and knowing if it will pair up nicely with what you already have. No point putting a 512MB DDR2 400MHz stick in with a 512MB DDR2 266MHz stick or vice-versa...

I love it when they are all like "Hi! One stick of 512MB RAM please. How much does it cost, by the way?...". The look on their faces when you ask what type and speed they need is priceless...

 

[SpotEnemyBoats]

LOLZ HDR IZ GOT ON ME FACES KEKEKEKEKEKEKEKE!!!!!11111one

 

[el Chi]

Seeing the reactor core for the first time caused a few drops of love wee.

 

[Reginald]

Yeah, the HDR really adds to the gameplay :upstare:

sorry, I've never understood the fuss about it

Troof. I played Dark MEssiah on my mate's new PC and he was like "Look at the amazing HDR, isn't it amazing?" and I was like "I've NEVER stood outside and actually been blinded for 10 seconds, even if I have just been inside."

I know your eyes do react like that, but it's not as horrendous as games make it out to be.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

No! Blinded you will be, blindness you will like!!

 

[SPARTACVS]

I am ****ing jealous. Stupid computer! *kicks*

Wanna see what you're missing?

Fixed Aperture (Non-HDR):

HDR-unadjusted iris:

HDR-adjusted iris:

...Beautiful.

(P.S. How old is your video card? I thought my 6600GT was getting long in the tooth, and HDR runs just swell even with 2 or 4x AA applied.)

 

[bigburpco]

Radeon 9250 SE. :|

 

[SPARTACVS]

Radeon 9250 SE. :|

I'm sure that if you looked at your local bestbuy or something, you could find an AGP version of a card that does SM3.0/HDR, and it would be quite a bit less than $100. This is not a bad deal considering that the newest cards coming out are over $700.

 

[Adabiviak]

I have a hard time seeing exactly what improvements HDR adds (except bloom), but when I turn it off, I sure notice a difference.

 

[SPARTACVS]

I have a hard time seeing exactly what improvements HDR adds (except bloom), but when I turn it off, I sure notice a difference.

Not just the bloom, but the shaders on everything (like Alyx's face) are different, and the refraction of the liquid sphere on the core just looks flat and lame without HDR.