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    Is there a way to run a game in software mode?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by TrackerTrem, Aug 19, 2008.

  1. TrackerTrem

    TrackerTrem Newbie

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    Is there a way to run game so that it checks the software and not the
    hardware? any help would be appreciated. Thanks
     
    TrackerTrem, Aug 19, 2008
    #1
  2. Mr._Kubelwagen

    Mr._Kubelwagen More machine now than man

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    What are you trying to do? Get past the dedicated vram?
     
    Mr._Kubelwagen, Aug 19, 2008
    #2
  3. StormEffect

    StormEffect Lazer. *pew pew*

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    Very few games still have a software rendering mode. I think the GoldSrc games like Half-Life 1 had a software mode. You got more compatibility, but you lose a bit in performance (at least on older machines).

    Still can't think of any modern games that have a software rendering mode, the processors just can't handle it.

    What are you trying to do?
     
    StormEffect, Aug 19, 2008
    #3
  4. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If we knew the exact problem, we might be able to help.
     
    Greg, Aug 19, 2008
    #4
  5. Diver_Down

    Diver_Down Notebook Guru

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    Yeah. Do you have a particular game in mind?
     
    Diver_Down, Aug 19, 2008
    #5
  6. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Actually I'd be curious as well just to see how well a game can run CPU only. I wonder if there's an actual DirectX driver out there for software mode? That would be interesting.
     
    HTWingNut, Aug 19, 2008
    #6
  7. Phil17

    Phil17 Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, a software render only benchmark would be a very nice way of measuring the actual performance differences between processors. Plus I like slide shows :D

    @OP: Only a few old games have the option of running software rendering, HL1 is one of them as mentioned above. There really isn't any reason for wanting to use only the CPU when the GPU&CPU together are a whole lot more effective. Think slideshow vs 60fps
     
    Phil17, Aug 19, 2008
    #7
  8. Ttime20

    Ttime20 Notebook Deity

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    You can set UT2004 to software mode but I don't know why anyone would do that because it makes it run like crap compared to hardware mode.
     
    Ttime20, Aug 19, 2008
    #8
  9. kermit1979

    kermit1979 Notebook Evangelist

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    run 3dmark06. The 3rd test is pure cpu. Roughly .5fps on my system. Gives you a good idea on how crappy cpu's are at performing gpu tasks heh.

    The architecture between cpu and gpu is very different. GPU's are like a bunch of mini cpu's all working in parallel. Think dual/quad core but on a much larger scale.

    I really do think the days of software (cpu) rendering are long over.
     
    kermit1979, Aug 19, 2008
    #9
  10. kermit1979

    kermit1979 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes that's because cpu's were never designed for that type of task.

    see this image

    Each green cube (top) is like a mini cpu dedicated to a certain task. 128 cpu's is going to outperform 4 cpu's. ;)
     
    kermit1979, Aug 19, 2008
    #10
  11. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    I remember NovaLogic's "Voxel" technology. Actually did decent 3D with software.
     
    HTWingNut, Aug 20, 2008
    #11