Quick FFXI Resolution Question

[Novalye]

I just got a 21.5IN widescreen monitor today, but I've never had a widescreen monitor before, so I'm not sure what's up with my resolution. I've asked a few friends for advice, and I'm still getting the same problem. (I've been absolutely spoiled with my graphics, so even the tiniest things get under my skin now)

This is what I'm used to:

Spoiler: show

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...shirastuff.png

This is what I'm getting now:

Spoiler: show

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...706_151929.png

I'm sitting at a 16:10 ratio in the second screenshot, and on the first I was at 4:3. My windower ratio is currently at 1400 x 875 as well. Any ideas on how to smooth out the edges? :/

[Kryssan]

First picture isn't working as of this post.


Also, registry settings? Need to know what your BG res and screen res are. Sounds like another alias issue.


Edit: Recent thread about aliasing stuffs

[Novalye]

Fixed the first picture. Thanks for the quick response.

Background resolution: 1024 x 1024
Overlay graphics resolution: 1280 x 960

Edit: Not sure how to check registry settings.

[Kryssan]

Fixed the first picture. Thanks for the quick response.

Background resolution: 1024 x 1024
Overlay graphics resolution: 1280 x 960

Edit: Not sure how to check registry settings.

Ah, I see. You are using the tool, then? This is your error. Not really your fault, but it is a fault of the system. FFXI was never really designed for widescreen. By using a square background resolution, the AA feature of oversampling is not provided. One side of the screen is analyzed more than the other. In addition, as you will note, your BG resolution is larger than your Screen in one aspect and smaller in the other.


I have some posts in this thread that describe what you are suffering from.


Do a forum/Google search for how to edit your FFXI registry. Or use Windower. You need to edit your BG resolution so that it is at least the same as your Screen, and preferably, the same ratio. You are also encouraged to make your BG ratio larger than your screen ratio whilst maintaining the aspect ratio, as this will provide a false AA to the game and make the image look better.

[Novalye]

Ah, I see. You are using the tool, then? This is your error. Not really your fault, but it is a fault of the system. FFXI was never really designed for widescreen. By using a square background resolution, the AA feature of oversampling is not provided. One side of the screen is analyzed more than the other. In addition, as you will note, your BG resolution is larger than your Screen in one aspect and smaller in the other.


I have some posts in this thread that describe what you are suffering from.


Do a forum/Google search for how to edit your FFXI registry. Or use Windower. You need to edit your BG resolution so that it is at least the same as your Screen, and preferably, the same ratio. You are also encouraged to make your BG ratio larger than your screen ratio whilst maintaining the aspect ratio, as this will provide a false AA to the game and make the image look better.

I understand; but I'm not sure how to carry this out. I am using Windower, but what do I change everything to (the 2 FFXI config resolution settings, as well as the Windower window resolution)?

[Kryssan]

Don't use the FFXI config tool if you're using Windower. Windower will make all the necessary changes. Using the FFXI config tool will cause them to reset back to builtin values that you can't change.



Ok, here is an example for you:


With a screen/monitor resolution of say 1680x1050, you would set your Overlay Resolution in Windower to X=1680, Y=1050.


Your background registry setting in the Windower tab then needs to AT LEAST have an X and Y of 1680, 1050, respectively. However, to get an even better picture, increase these by factors regarding their ratio. Best way to do this is to just multiply the numbers by a whole number. You can use multipliers like 1.2, 1.5, 1.8 if you wish, but you might have to do some rounding ~ granted honestly this shouldn't make a difference since you're only talking about a few pixels. So, say you use 2, or fake AAx2, you would have X and Y for BG resolution of 3360, 2100. However, using such large BG screens can have a negative performance impact depending on your system stats. You'll have to play around with this and determine what works best for you without sacrificing performance.


Then ingame set your game option to whatever your screen is. A 1680x1050 screen is 16:10.

[Auspice]

Also try different versions of your video card drivers. When I updated my Catalyst drivers my XI performance took a major shit and textures were really grainy in the backgrounds. I ended up rolling everything back and it looks great again.

[aalryn]

I have another question that somewhat relates to this one...

What if you don't have the registry settings.. Like there is no playonline in my registry. Even windower can't update my graphics settings.

here is a SS of my regedit. definitely playing ffxi. definitely no reg key.

http://i27.tinypic.com/2m68ww0.jpg

[Kryssan]

What version of Windows are you using? There are different paths depending on 32 or 64 bit.


Also, you could just manually input the values for yourself given knowledge of what the strings are. Easier solution is to just uninstall/reinstall.

[Novalye]

Windower tab as in launcher.ini, correct? My screen/monitor resolution is 1920x1080, so it's set to:

#Final Fantasy XI window resolution
x-resolution = 1920
y-resolution = 1080

So, I make that bigger (to the ratio) as I want to make it look better, right?

[Kryssan]

Windower tab as in launcher.ini, correct? My screen/monitor resolution is 1920x1080, so it's set to:

#Final Fantasy XI window resolution
x-resolution = 1920
y-resolution = 1080

So, I make that bigger (to the ratio) as I want to make it look better, right?

No, thats screen resolution.

Example:

#Windower 3.3 Config File
#Final Fantasy XI window resolution
x-resolution = 1680
y-resolution = 1050
#PlayOnlineViewer Language (JP, US, or EU)
language = US
#Windower Console Key
console-key = insert
#------------Registry Settings For GUI Launcher-------
#all commands for gui must start with #
#commands prefixed with / will be ignored
#background-x = 3072
#background-y = 1920
#enviro-animation = 2
#texture-compression = 2
#mipmaps = 2
#maxsounds = 30
#bumpmapping
#soundenabled
#hardwaremouse
#advancedsettings

I was presuming you to be using the GUI launcher, since most people find it easier to use. The screen resolution posed by Windower in the INI file is just so you can set a window that doesn't take up your full screen. If you're uncomfortable doing registry edits, just use the GUI launcher. RegEdit isn't that difficult though, and as long as you follow the always make backups policy you won't run into issues.




@Aalryn: Nevermind, you're using 64 bit. I see the structure. You're looking in the wrong place. In 64 bit the registry is under HKEY_Local_Machine > Software > WoW6432Node > PlayOnlineUS

[Novalye]

To be honest, I've never touched the GUI launcher until now. Now, I set my overlay resolution to 1920 x 1080 (like you said), and in registry to (times 1.5) 2880 x 1575 for now until I get to work with it. Right?

And out of curiosity; this means I'd be playing fullscreen, or is there a way to change that as well?

[aalryn]

What version of Windows are you using? There are different paths depending on 32 or 64 bit.


Also, you could just manually input the values for yourself given knowledge of what the strings are. Easier solution is to just uninstall/reinstall.

Vista-64.

I had it working on my last install, but this install there is no reg key (after formatting pc)

edit: nevermind. actually found it under Wow6432node/playonlineus/squareenix/finalfantasyxi

[Kryssan]

To be honest, I've never touched the GUI launcher until now. Now, I set my overlay resolution to 1920 x 1080 (like you said), and in registry to (times 1.5) 2880 x 1575 for now until I get to work with it. Right?

And out of curiosity; this means I'd be playing fullscreen, or is there a way to change that as well?

Yes, that is the general idea to follow. Play around with it until you find something you like. If you want to use a Window, make your screen res smaller but following the same aspect ratio. If you're using 1080p/i, that means you're using 16:9 rest though, not 16:10. Not that big of a difference, but pointing it out. The next generally accepted smaller res for 16:9 is 720p/i, but that really is up to you. If you make the overlay smaller than your actual screen res, it will appear as a Window. If you then want to play fullscreen, just maximize the window.

By keeping the aspects the same across the board however, it will minimize any stretching effects you would normally see by maximizing the screen. I currently do this so that I can play as a Window or FullScreen, depending on my current mood and other things I might be trying to accomplish.

[Kryssan]

@Aalryn: Nevermind, you're using 64 bit. I see the structure. You're looking in the wrong place. In 64 bit the registry is under HKEY_Local_Machine > Software > WoW6432Node > PlayOnlineUS

Vista-64.

I had it working on my last install, but this install there is no reg key (after formatting pc)

edit: nevermind. actually found it under Wow6432node/playonlineus/squareenix/finalfantasyxi

That would have been the reason for my earlier mention. I noticed after I actually looked at your picture that you were looking in the wrong place.

[Xanthe]

I personally set my overlay at 1280x720 (720p) and use window_togglefullscreen since I'm hooked up to my 52" HDTV and full 1080p would make the chat text too small to easily read from my couch about 11' away. I double my overlay for a 2560x1440 background resolution. I can further augment the graphics by forcing settings using Catalyst Control Center.

On the subject of drivers, what Catalyst version have people had the best luck with? I know the latest "supported" version for FFXI is 8.3. I had been using the 8.12 drivers with good success until my 4870X2 bit the dust a month back. Now I'm using 9.6 with my 4890 and the performance has tanked in areas like Whitegate and Nashmau with constant frames of 15 or less compared to 25-29 previously. Disabling any extra post-processing in CCC doesn't have an effect.

[Auspice]

I'm running 9.1 and it's great. Whenever I try ANYTHING higher than that my FPS drops like crazy and I get grainy textures like I posted about above.

[Xanthe]

I'm running 9.1 and it's great. Whenever I try ANYTHING higher than that my FPS drops like crazy and I get grainy textures like I posted about above.

Thanks, I'll try installing 9.1 tonight and see how it works for me.

[xopher]

I'm failing to see what the issue is here.

Just zoom out.