The Best Graphics....

[DoomUK]

High Dynamic Range Imaging/Lighting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

Thanks for that benchmark link. Well, looks like my 7800's should cut through it, although HL2/CS:S don't support SLI that well (yet).

 

[brady]

Ahhhh... Thanks for the learnin.

 

[hu_xu]

Wow, it looks like Nvidia is by far the winner...and it looks like I'll be playing this with no HDR.

"The demo takes place in the Cathedral, probably the most graphically stressful locations in the level: HDR Refraction; HDR Cube Mapping; Bloom; multiple enemies; you name it, this test has it. We tested across the current top cards from both ATI and NVIDIA, and included NVIDIA's latest too."

Therefore, you'll probably get higher fps in other areas.

Also:

High-end: Radeon X800, GeForce 6800 - playable at 1024x768 or 1280x1024, with AA and AF depending on the exact model of card

I don't think you will be that bad bee.

What's interesting is that HDR is rendered the SAME in SM 2.0b and SM 3.0.

SM 3.0 (7800GTX):

http://www.bit-tech.net/content_images/lost_coast_benchmark/eyecandy1.jpg

SM 2.0b (X850XT):

http://www.bit-tech.net/content_images/lost_coast_benchmark/aticomparison1.jpg

So if you turn on HDR it will look good...REAL good. You might have to turn limit the res to 1024*768 though but at least you can turn on AA and AF.

Also, the teaser trailer is quite amazing. Look at the part where the helicopter passes the cathedral windows and how Source renders the lighting and HDR as the helicopter passes. Amazing.