FSAA performance 16bit vs. 32bit

The FSAA numbers should show large increases when switching from 16bit to 32bit because running 2X and 4X FSAA modes, effectively multiplies the current resolution by 2 and 4, respectively. ( e.g. 4X FSAA at 640x480 = 1280X960 ). Rendering at the effective resolution, therefore, tends to reveal bandwidth limitations more readily.

At 640x480 with FSAA off, the MX400 doesn't benefit from the switch to 16bit from 32bit. Its fillrate nor its bandwidth isn't really taxed at this resolution without FSAA. As soon as FSAA is used, the MX400 benefits greatly if color depth is reduced to 16bit. At 2X FSAA a huge 53% is gained by the MX400 when switching to 16bit. The same thing happens with 4X FSAA, where its performance increases to 75 frames per second.

Like the MX400, the Geforce2 Ti, doesn't experience and performance bonus when switching to 16bit. Even when in the 2X FSAA setting, it gains "only" 10% when dropping down to 16bit. It does, however, perform 30% slower when using 32bit, at the 4X FSAA setting.

Increasing the resolution to 1024x768, we see very different results. The MX400 performs very well when switching to 16 bit at this resolution. Immediately noticeable are the FSAA modes. At 32bit the MX400's drivers refuse to allow FSAA modes on 1024x768. Simply switching it to 16 bit mode allows it to do FSAA on this resolution. And its results are quite respectable. The 2X FSAA setting isn't to bad, with 50.7 framesper second. And although, switching to 4X FSAA ( at 16bit ) makes frame rate a bit low, its still is better than its 32bit results! With no FSAA, its performance goes up by 57%!

Even at 1024x768x32 ( NO FSAA ) the Geforce2 Ti still has the raw power to allow it to surpass the 100 frames per second mark. At 2X FSAA the Geforce2 Ti, gains fa hefty 69% when switching to 16 bit. And at the 4X FSAA setting gains an even larger, 74% going just over 60 frames per second on 1024x768 4X FSAA.

Switching to 16 bit really helps both cards perform significantly better in al,l but the lowest resolutions. Also FSAA modes can be very playable on the MX400 if 16bit is used. The Geforce2 Ti too, can benefit greatly when 16bit is used alongside FSAA modes. Besides FSAA, both cards gain a huge increase in performance when using 16bit on really high resolutions. ( bandwidth intensive )