Games: Window Mode VS Full Screen

[EastCoasthandle]

Some games can be played using window mode while others may need a 3rd party program or can not. But if you had a choice which would you prefer window mode or full screen.

The advantage of full screen is obvious. But some may ask the benefits of window mode? Each reason may vary but from my understanding it's the result of those who like to multitask without having to minimize one screen for another.

 

[Chryonn]

well, personally i game in full screen. if i did it in windowed, i'd get distracted by something else so i'd rather get fully immersed in the game.

 

[alexp999]

Usually FPS drops quite considerably in windowed mode. So I use always use fullscreen when I can. plus it looks better IMO, I dont want to be told what game I'm playing at the top of the screen, just want to play it!!!

 

[kyle2020]

Usually running in windowed mode = performance loss. Personally i only ever run in windowed mode if im tweaking settings or on-the-fly overclocking.

 

[Ongaku]

both sometimes, I play AO in windowed mode so I can use a program for it...but other games I play in fullscreen

 

[Steevo]

Full screen. I like to be IN the game.

 

[sneekypeet]

Full screen...due to having dual monitors

 

[acperience7]

Full Screen. It's much more immersive in my opinion.

 

[W1zzard]

i run in window mode whenever possible so i can go work on my emails and instant messenger from time to time without the long fullscreen back and forth switching.

any properly engineered graphics card/driver will see only a few percents of performance hit if any at all

 

[SerenadeRB]

Personally it depends on the type of game I'm playing. I could easily play TBS, RPGs, Adventure and even RTS games and MMO's in windowed mode whereas FPS, action, beat-em-ups and immerse games are best played full screen.
Civ4 is great in a window
Bioshock ... not so much

 

[olithereal]

I only play MMOs in windowed because I usually am on MSN while playing these types of games.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Interesting results. Looks like many prefer full screen.

 

[Lillebror]

I only play games where im needed all the time in fullscreen - everything else is played in window mode. Makes it much easier to do Msn and mails and other stuff

 

[3870x2]

There is a definate performance decrease, and smaller window size. I believe the last product that supported hardware windowed mode acceleration was back in voodoo 2 an 3...

 

[Solaris17]

I play everything in fullscreen if people want to m me smply put gaming as my away or i shut it down completely.

 

[candle_86]

There is a definate performance decrease, and smaller window size. I believe the last product that supported hardware windowed mode acceleration was back in voodoo 2 an 3...

adjust your 2dclocks to 3rd clocks

 

[WhiteLotus]

I have never really thought about using the windowed version. I play games because i want to get AWAY from people.

 

[3870x2]

adjust your 2dclocks to 3rd clocks

wasnt talking about me in particular, I can play all settings@full on anything except crysis.

 

[candle_86]

i was just stating, its the clock speed diffrence is the big impace, though on vista if your in a window its doing your game in Aero, on xp though, if you have at least 2gb and a dual core, and your 2d clocks are the same as the 3d clocks the preformance diff should be less than 2%

 

[3870x2]

yeah, logically you would think so, but it doesnt seem to do that for me.

 

[Silverel]

I remember back in the day playing with multiple instances of Shadowbane at the same time. Twas interesting, essentially you'd run 3-4 instances each with a different account and set them to a party. Also with a macro-manager running on the side for easy access to multiple skills. Some of the GM's for the game showed us how to do it. Lots of fun, and beat the hell out of trying to find a party you could trust in a game built for ganking and PvP.

Played Ultima Online windowed as well, but more for a chat function with guildmates. Most games these days already have a friends list and chat function built in though. Aside from using L33t H4X, trainers, and macro-managers, there's no reason to play windowed... hehe