Best graphical optimization for Games in general

[Jueg]

Since I'm a complete noob on the subject of graphical optimization, I wanted to know the best graphical optimization for my games that provides the perfect balance between performance and quality. Here's my system:

 

GPU: Nvidia GeForce 310M

CPU: Intel(H) Core i5 CPU M 430 @ 2.27GHz

Memory: 7.86 GB

Resolution: 1280x800, 59 Hz

Driver Version: 327.23

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit)

 

And here's my (noobcraft) graphical optimization in the NVIDIA Control Panel:

 

Ambient Occlusion: Off

Anistropic Filtering: App-Controlled

Antialiasing - FXAA: Off

Antialiasing - Gamma Correction: On

Antialiasing - Mode: Override app setting

Antialiasing - Setting: 2x

Antialiasing - Transparency: Multisample

Max pre-rendered frames: 4

Multi-display/mixed-GPU correction: Multi display performance

Power management: Prefer Max Performance

Texture Filtering - Anistropic Sample: On

Texture Filtering - Negative LOD bias: Allow

Texture Filtering - Quality: High Performance

Texture Filtering - Trilinear Opt: On

Threaded Opt: Auto

Triple Buffer: On

Vertical Sync: Adaptive

 

I would also welcome any thoughts on how to optimize Skyrim in a balanced manner.

[spz2]

V-sync - on , not adaptive , adaptive turns it off , you want it on cuz it's a good setting to have on .

 

Max prerender frames - 1 , reduces input lag .

 

Antiasing - you might want it "Application controled" , no need to force it on in all games since it may interfere with a game's original setting , what if you want a game to run 4x ? or 8 x ?

 

Antialiasing transparency - supersampling - no performance penalty if your card suports it , from 8xxx series and above all cards suport it .

 

The rest are ok.

Edited October 23, 2013 by spz2

[Rennn]

Vsync - Off (Use D3DOverride for better vsync without losing performance. You can download it free online.)

 

Antialiasing - Off (Enable FXAA instead. The AA you're using now is a big framerate hit on your card.)

 

Antialiasing Transparency - Off (It's redundant since FXAA already anti-aliases transparent textures.)

 

Texture Filtering - Quality. (No visual difference from High Quality in most cases, but you will get a bit better performance.)

 

Max pre rendered frames - 1 (Good compromise between stutter and fps)

 

Anisotropic Filtering - User controlled 4x (Should be a small framerate hit for a significant increase in texture quality. Nvidia's AF is better than most game's versions.)

[Rennn]

V-sync - on , not adaptive , adaptive turns it off , you want it on cuz it's a good setting to have on .

 

Max prerender frames - 1 , reduces input lag .

 

Antiasing - you might want it "Application controled" , no need to force it on in all games since it may interfere with a game's original setting , what if you want a game to run 4x ? or 8 x ?

 

Antialiasing transparency - supersampling - no performance penalty if your card suports it , from 8xxx series and above all cards suport it .

 

The rest are ok.

 

Your advice about vsync is correct, though D3DOverride would avoid the loss in performance from static vsync.

 

Your advice about prerendered frames is correct.

 

His video card is incapable of running 4x or 8x AA at a good framerate, so that would be pointless. Nvidia driver AA has better compatibility than most in-game AA anyway.

 

Antialiasing transparency does cause a large framerate drop. I've benchmarked it.

Edited October 23, 2013 by Rennn