How to enable 32-bit color mode in running 1152x864 pixels.

[afterMath]

Sorry for noob question.

I'm using SuSE 9.0 Professional about a week and I'm having problem how to SET it right at 32-bit color. Everytime I boot my computer, its reset at 24-bit color. Is there any way to fix that to 32-bit color mode as a default when I boot up my computer up?

I'm running Windows XP Home in dual boot and running on GeForce4 MX 440 and I dunno that I didn't do driver installation correctly on my video card. It's seems to be working since 3-D accelrator is enabled.

Any Advice?

[Dolda2000]

Actually, there's no difference between 32-bit mode and 24-bit mode, except the pixel encoding. It's very likely that it just reports itself being in 24-bit mode, since there's no real difference. In 32-bit mode, the last bits are simply unused.

[variant]

Thats interesting. I allwase wonderd about that! So whats thr reasone for MS windos to say 32bit mode? does windows also have a 24 bit in its settings?

[Dolda2000]

Well, there are technical differences. In 32-bit mode, all pixels are aligned on 32-bit boundaries, which makes it easier to optimize drawing operations, since you can just work with double-word operations. Thus, the video card does differ between 24-bit modes and 32-bit modes, although even if you use a 32-bit mode, you still only get a 24-bit colorspace.

Also, in more advanced applications, like texture drawing acceleration and such things, the last 8 bits are used to represent an alpha channel (that is, gradual translucency), but that doesn't apply to this discussion.

For the end user, however, a 24-bit mode gives exactly the same visual quality as a 32-bit mode. If anything, a 32-bit mode can be faster than a 24-bit mode. In general, however, they are extremely similar.

[Daryl.S]

Yet what about programs that are required to run in 32-bit color mode?