GeForce FX Go5700 Image Quality - AA Sample Patterns
The GeForce FX Go5700 supports 2X, 4X and 6XS (a D3D-only mode) and 8X from a default driver install. The 2X mode is a 45° rotated grid, the 4X mode a 2-plane ordered grid, the 6XS mode is 3X horizontal multi-sampling and 2X super-sampling mode combined, with the 8X mode 4X multi-sampling and 2X super-sampling combined.Colourless's D3D AA Tester is used to generate the grids.
2X Antialiasing - 45° rotated grid
The standard 2X AA sample set seen on most hardware since AA reared its smooth head. Note the rotation angle is opposite to the angle used on ATI hardware.
4X Antialiasing - 2-plane ordered grid
While there are four distinct geometry samples, they only lie on two distinct horizontal and vertical planes, reducing the pixel coverage compared to ATI's 4X grid.
6XS Antialiasing - 3X horizontal multi-sampling and 2X super-sampling
3X multi-sampling on a pair of distinct horizontal planes, and 2X texture sampling on a single distinct vertical plane, combine to give the 6XS mode. The 2X texture sampling gives 2X less pixel fillrate than a non super-sampled mode, impacting performance heavily.
8X Antialiasing - 2X multi-sampling and 4X super-sampling
Another super-sampling combination mode with 4X less pixel fillrate than with a single texture sample point. Quality is barely better than the 6XS mode, with much less performance.
I've missed out the 2XQ Quincunx mode sample grid because it's no different to the regular 2X mode in terms of what Colourless's tester can show, since the extra sampling of neighbouring pixels is done in the DAC and doesn't show up. Quality with Quincunx antialiasing is poor, with the resulting image looking blurred. However it is free, hence its inclusion.
