Normal map VS. More Polys

[tigerija]

What better way for mobiles, having normal maps or adding few more polys.

I was thinking of using simple plane for some things that are usually on the floor almost flat.

Should I use normal maps or add more polygons?

[darthviper107]

Depends on which device you're developing for--the older iPhone/iPad/iPod don't really have the power to run normal maps very well and would be able to do more polygons (within reason)

[TheWarlord25]

Like a carpet?

[tigerija]

This is an example where this plane model is using diffuse, emissive, specular and normal map.
I was thinking using this plane model instead of creating geometry but i was wondering if "older iPhone/iPad/iPod" would run better around 200 tris models like those on the picture (I assume low poly would be somewhere around 200 or less, dunno) with only diffuse or plane model with 2 tris(doh) and all maps.

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/5...iewpngthum.png

Thanks for the replys.

[Tom P]

For a static object more polys should run cleaner on the old devices. If you use bones to deform your objects, normalmaps are faster (but not on ipad1, like darthviper has written).

[darthviper107]

The normal/specular maps slow it way more than adding more polygons

[tigerija]

Thanks a lot people!

I'll give it 2:1 on poly count.

I assume best way would be to test 3D content directly on mobiles.