Welcome, Guest. Please login or register. Did you miss your activation email?

Author Topic: Apparently, my computer doesn't support the Shader feature, so what can I do?  (Read 3981 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

awsumpwner27

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
I checked out the examples, and I was disappointed to find out that the Shader example didn't work. I updated my graphics driver, hoping that it would make a difference, but it didn't. I got this computer about 4 years ago, and apparently I'm using a "Intel(R) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family" graphics card. Also, the driver update I got was about 3 years old. :|

So, what are my options?

Laurent

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 32498
    • View Profile
    • SFML's website
    • Email
If sf::Shader::isAvailable() returns false, then there's probably nothing you can do.
Laurent Gomila - SFML developer

masskiller

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 284
  • Pointers to Functions rock!
    • MSN Messenger - kyogre_jb@hotmail.com
    • View Profile
    • Email
It depends on the OpenGL version supported by your GPU, if it uses a version lower than OGL 2 then you can't do much about it since it was from that version that GLSL has created and therefore supported. sf::Shader::isAvailable() probably returns either true or false according to you OGL version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLSL
Programmer, Artist, Composer and Storyline/Script Writer of "Origin of Magic". If all goes well this could turn into a commercial project!

Finally back into the programming world!

Laurent

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 32498
    • View Profile
    • SFML's website
    • Email
Quote
sf::Shader::isAvailable() probably returns either true or false according to you OGL version.
Not exactly, it checks the corresponding extensions.
Laurent Gomila - SFML developer

awsumpwner27

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
Well, how bad of an idea would it be if I implemented shader-like effects without the Shader? I imagine it being slow since it wouldn't be able to use the GPU.

Laurent

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 32498
    • View Profile
    • SFML's website
    • Email
You mean, downloading the intermediate rendering to a pixel array in RAM, applying the "shader" manually pixel per pixel, and then uploading the result back to a texture and displaying it with a sprite? That would be incredibly slow :)
Laurent Gomila - SFML developer

awsumpwner27

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
I figured.

Well, thank you for the info.

iride

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 88
    • View Profile
    • Email
Maybe you can update or get a new machine?
It'll be worth it.

awsumpwner27

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
Getting a new computer is a possibility that isn't favorable enough to depend on. I don't nearly have the money to afford it.

Nexus

  • SFML Team
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6287
  • Thor Developer
    • View Profile
    • Bromeon
What effect do you have in mind?

Maybe shaders are not the only option to achieve it.
Zloxx II: action platformer
Thor Library: particle systems, animations, dot products, ...
SFML Game Development:

Qix

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
  • I am Qix!
    • View Profile
    • Natoga Technologies
What hardware are you on, out of curiosity? Shaders not being supported suggests it's extremely old hardware or extremely outdated drivers.
~ Qix
Creator of Rippl Studio
Code: [Select]
<danharibo> iostream: I don't do enough drugs to think that's a good idea.