Greetings--
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul E. <[log in to unmask]>



>Could someone explain the difference (advantage?) in the colour
palette
>under display settings between:
>256 colour
>High colour (16 bit)
>True colour (24 bit)
>True colour (32 bit)


The fact that your display properties list all of these options
means that your video adapter card has sufficient memory to work
at all these display levels. This is a good thing. In the order
they are listed, each 'choice' requires progressively more video
memory to provide the display on your monitor. This is the area
of 'trade-off'.

The best looking picture--with the most accurate colors,
transitions between colors, and sharpness of detail--will be
achieved at the "True colour (32 bit)" setting.

The picture is also subject to another variable known as "refresh
rate". This is measured in Hz. The higher the number, the better.
It refers to how many times/second the picture you see is
'redrawn'. The generally accepted threshold for visible flicker
is less than or equal to 72Hz. Here's the trade-off. Depending on
how much video memory is on your video adapter card (and,
perhaps, the efficiency of the AGP communication with main system
memory, if you are using an AGP [accelerated graphics port] video
card), setting your display for the best looking picture may
result in an unacceptably low refresh rate. It is something best
determined by you--and your eyes--by experimenting with the
settings until you find one that is optimal for you and the tasks
your computer is typically used to perform. For example: for
gaming, you may need to set the resolution below the "best
picture" level, because the higher refresh rate is essential. For
graphics creation/editing, the reverse may be true.

(...Doncha jest hate them "It depends..." answers?)

HTH and Merry Christmas,

Paul A. Shippert           Library/Media Specialist
"   . . . and your wise men don't know how it feels
   to be thick as a brick."  Jethro Tull
[log in to unmask]

             Do you want to signoff PCSOFT or just change to
                    Digest mode - visit our web site:
                    http://nospin.com/pc/pcsoft.html