High resolution low settings or low resolution high settings?
High resolution low settings or low resolution high settings?
It varies based on your screen. I think lowering resolution should come last, especially since it's tough to spot quality differences between high and max settings. But if your display has a pixel density well above the usual 96 PPI, reducing resolution won't seem as noticeable. For instance, my 4K 27-inch monitor runs around 140 PPI. I can cut it down to 2560x1440 and it still looks fine because it matches the standard people are used to.
High quality at low resolution works, but the effect varies with the resolution. Anything under 1080p stands out quite clearly to me.
Higher detail settings often cause issues. I noticed the problem in Just Cause 3 at 720p, but it’s not great overall. Avoid buying it unless you’re okay with frequent crashes and technical glitches. Some titles handle higher resolutions well, like Alan Wake. Still, lowering the settings first is a smart move. Be realistic—you won’t see the improvement in shadows until later in the game.
I generally keep resolution at least 720p to avoid scaling problems. Running games at this level can give a smoother experience, even if it's not the default setting. Some titles may appear blurry while others look sharper. It really depends on what you're comfortable with. In most cases, it's smarter to reduce graphics before lowering resolution. In practice, I usually preview the visuals at 720p first. If I don’t notice any loss in quality, it’s better to save energy.
It varies by title. For the Forza 6 Apex version, I lower the render resolution to 1280x720 and enable 4x MSAA. It looks a bit blurry, but it performs better than 1080p without anti-aliasing in that game.