diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index a34b8dd..6ff26ae 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ add: r_khr_debug <0|1|2> (default: 2) decides whether to create an OpenGL debug
   r_khr_debug 0 = forced OFF
   r_khr_debug 1 = forced ON
   r_khr_debug 2 = only in debug builds
+
+add: r_rtColorFormat <0|1|2> (default: 0) selects the color format for render targets
+  r_rtColorFormat 0 = R8G8B8A8
+  r_rtColorFormat 1 = R10G10B10A2
+  r_rtColorFormat 2 = R16G16B16A16
   
 add: r_mapBrightness now works on q3map2's external lightmap atlas images
 
diff --git a/code/renderer/tr_backend_d3d11.cpp b/code/renderer/tr_backend_d3d11.cpp
index 2f119d4..138ad21 100644
--- a/code/renderer/tr_backend_d3d11.cpp
+++ b/code/renderer/tr_backend_d3d11.cpp
@@ -278,6 +278,11 @@ struct Direct3D
 	texEnv_t texEnv;
 	float frameSeed[2];
 
+	DXGI_FORMAT formatColorRT;
+	DXGI_FORMAT formatDepth;     // float: DXGI_FORMAT_R32_TYPELESS
+	DXGI_FORMAT formatDepthRTV;  // float: DXGI_FORMAT_R32_FLOAT
+	DXGI_FORMAT formatDepthView; // float: DXGI_FORMAT_D32_FLOAT
+
 	Texture textures[MAX_DRAWIMAGES];
 	int textureCount;
 
@@ -540,6 +545,17 @@ static D3D11_BLEND GetDestinationBlend(unsigned int stateBits)
 	}
 }
 
+static DXGI_FORMAT GetRenderTargetColorFormat(int format)
+{
+	switch(format)
+	{
+		case RTCF_R8G8B8A8: return DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM;
+		case RTCF_R10G10B10A2: return DXGI_FORMAT_R10G10B10A2_UNORM;
+		case RTCF_R16G16B16A16: return DXGI_FORMAT_R16G16B16A16_UNORM;
+		default: return DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM;
+	}
+}
+
 static void ResetShaderData(ID3D11Resource* buffer, const void* data, size_t bytes)
 {
 	D3D11_MAPPED_SUBRESOURCE ms;
@@ -979,7 +995,9 @@ static void FindBestAvailableAA(DXGI_SAMPLE_DESC* sampleDesc)
 	while(sampleDesc->Count > 0)
 	{
 		UINT levelCount = 0;
-		if(SUCCEEDED(d3d.device->CheckMultisampleQualityLevels(DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM, sampleDesc->Count, &levelCount)) &&
+		if(SUCCEEDED(d3d.device->CheckMultisampleQualityLevels(d3d.formatColorRT, sampleDesc->Count, &levelCount)) &&
+		   levelCount > 0 &&
+		   SUCCEEDED(d3d.device->CheckMultisampleQualityLevels(d3d.formatDepth, sampleDesc->Count, &levelCount)) &&
 		   levelCount > 0)
 		   break;
 
@@ -1045,6 +1063,11 @@ create_device:
 	}
 	Check(hr, "D3D11CreateDeviceAndSwapChain");
 
+	d3d.formatColorRT = GetRenderTargetColorFormat(r_rtColorFormat->integer);
+	d3d.formatDepth = DXGI_FORMAT_R24G8_TYPELESS;
+	d3d.formatDepthRTV = DXGI_FORMAT_R24_UNORM_X8_TYPELESS;
+	d3d.formatDepthView = DXGI_FORMAT_D24_UNORM_S8_UINT;
+
 	D3D11_TEXTURE2D_DESC readbackTexDesc;
 	ZeroMemory(&readbackTexDesc, sizeof(readbackTexDesc));
 	readbackTexDesc.Width = glConfig.vidWidth;
@@ -1083,7 +1106,7 @@ create_device:
 	renderTargetTexDesc.Height = glConfig.vidHeight;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.MipLevels = 1;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.ArraySize = 1;
-	renderTargetTexDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM;
+	renderTargetTexDesc.Format = d3d.formatColorRT;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.SampleDesc.Count = sampleDesc.Count;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.SampleDesc.Quality = sampleDesc.Quality;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.Usage = D3D11_USAGE_DEFAULT;
@@ -1103,7 +1126,7 @@ create_device:
 	renderTargetTexDesc.Height = glConfig.vidHeight;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.MipLevels = 1;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.ArraySize = 1;
-	renderTargetTexDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM;
+	renderTargetTexDesc.Format = d3d.formatColorRT;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.SampleDesc.Count = 1;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.SampleDesc.Quality = 0;
 	renderTargetTexDesc.Usage = D3D11_USAGE_DEFAULT;
@@ -1126,8 +1149,7 @@ create_device:
 	depthStencilTexDesc.Height = glConfig.vidHeight;
 	depthStencilTexDesc.MipLevels = 1;
 	depthStencilTexDesc.ArraySize = 1;
-	//depthStencilTexDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R32_TYPELESS; // DXGI_FORMAT_R24G8_TYPELESS
-	depthStencilTexDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R24G8_TYPELESS;
+	depthStencilTexDesc.Format = d3d.formatDepth;
 	depthStencilTexDesc.SampleDesc.Count = sampleDesc.Count;
 	depthStencilTexDesc.SampleDesc.Quality = sampleDesc.Quality;
 	depthStencilTexDesc.Usage = D3D11_USAGE_DEFAULT;
@@ -1138,16 +1160,14 @@ create_device:
 
 	D3D11_DEPTH_STENCIL_VIEW_DESC depthStencilViewDesc;
 	ZeroMemory(&depthStencilViewDesc, sizeof(depthStencilViewDesc));
-	//depthStencilViewDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_D32_FLOAT; // DXGI_FORMAT_D24_UNORM_S8_UINT
-	depthStencilViewDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_D24_UNORM_S8_UINT;
+	depthStencilViewDesc.Format = d3d.formatDepthView;
 	depthStencilViewDesc.ViewDimension = D3D11_DSV_DIMENSION_TEXTURE2DMS;
 	depthStencilViewDesc.Texture2D.MipSlice = 0;
 	hr = d3d.device->CreateDepthStencilView(d3d.depthStencilTexture, &depthStencilViewDesc, &d3d.depthStencilView);
 	CheckAndName(hr, "CreateDepthStencilView", d3d.depthStencilView, "depth stencil view");
 
 	ZeroMemory(&srvDesc, sizeof(srvDesc));
-	//srvDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R32_FLOAT; // DXGI_FORMAT_R24_UNORM_X8_TYPELESS
-	srvDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R24_UNORM_X8_TYPELESS;
+	srvDesc.Format = d3d.formatDepthRTV;
 	srvDesc.ViewDimension = D3D11_SRV_DIMENSION_TEXTURE2DMS;
 	D3D11_CreateShaderResourceView(d3d.depthStencilTexture, &srvDesc, &d3d.depthStencilShaderView, "depth stencil shader resource view");
 
@@ -1776,7 +1796,7 @@ static void GAL_EndFrame()
 		}
 	}
 
-	d3d.context->ResolveSubresource(d3d.resolveTexture, 0, d3d.renderTargetTextureMS, 0, DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM);
+	d3d.context->ResolveSubresource(d3d.resolveTexture, 0, d3d.renderTargetTextureMS, 0, d3d.formatColorRT);
 	d3d.postPSData.gamma = 1.0f / r_gamma->value;
 	d3d.postPSData.brightness = r_brightness->value;
 	d3d.postPSData.greyscale = r_greyscale->value;
diff --git a/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl2.cpp b/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl2.cpp
index c283e24..5c33b0d 100644
--- a/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl2.cpp
+++ b/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl2.cpp
@@ -398,6 +398,32 @@ static const char* GL2_GetFBOStatusString( GLenum status )
 #undef CASE
 
 
+void GL_GetRenderTargetFormat( GLenum* internalFormat, GLenum* format, GLenum* type, int cnq3Format )
+{
+	switch( cnq3Format )
+	{
+		case RTCF_R10G10B10A2:
+			*internalFormat = GL_RGB10_A2;
+			*format = GL_BGRA;
+			*type = GL_UNSIGNED_INT_2_10_10_10_REV;
+			break;
+
+		case RTCF_R16G16B16A16:
+			*internalFormat = GL_RGBA16;
+			*format = GL_BGRA;
+			*type = GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT;
+			break;
+
+		case RTCF_R8G8B8A8:
+		default:
+			*internalFormat = GL_RGBA8;
+			*format = GL_BGRA;
+			*type = GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE;
+			break;
+	}
+}
+
+
 static qbool GL2_FBO_CreateSS( FrameBuffer& fb, qbool depthStencil )
 {
 	while ( glGetError() != GL_NO_ERROR ) {} // clear the error queue
@@ -411,11 +437,13 @@ static qbool GL2_FBO_CreateSS( FrameBuffer& fb, qbool depthStencil )
 		GL(glTexImage2D( GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL_DEPTH24_STENCIL8, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight, 0, GL_DEPTH_STENCIL, GL_UNSIGNED_INT_24_8, NULL ));
 	}
 
+	GLenum internalFormat, format, type;
+	GL_GetRenderTargetFormat( &internalFormat, &format, &type, r_rtColorFormat->integer );
 	GL(glGenTextures( 1, &fb.color ));
 	GL(glBindTexture( GL_TEXTURE_2D, fb.color ));
 	GL(glTexParameteri( GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR ));
 	GL(glTexParameteri( GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL_LINEAR ));
-	GL(glTexImage2D( GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL_RGBA8, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight, 0, GL_BGRA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, NULL ));
+	GL(glTexImage2D( GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, internalFormat, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight, 0, format, type, NULL ));
 
 	GL(glGenFramebuffers( 1, &fb.fbo ));
 	GL(glBindFramebuffer( GL_FRAMEBUFFER, fb.fbo ));
@@ -446,9 +474,11 @@ static qbool GL2_FBO_CreateMS( FrameBuffer& fb )
 	GL(glGenFramebuffers( 1, &fb.fbo ));
 	GL(glBindFramebuffer( GL_FRAMEBUFFER, fb.fbo ));
 
+	GLenum internalFormat, format, type;
+	GL_GetRenderTargetFormat( &internalFormat, &format, &type, r_rtColorFormat->integer );
 	GL(glGenRenderbuffers( 1, &fb.color ));
 	GL(glBindRenderbuffer( GL_RENDERBUFFER, fb.color ));
-	GL(glRenderbufferStorageMultisample( GL_RENDERBUFFER, r_msaa->integer, GL_RGBA8, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight ));
+	GL(glRenderbufferStorageMultisample( GL_RENDERBUFFER, r_msaa->integer, internalFormat, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight ));
 	GL(glFramebufferRenderbuffer( GL_FRAMEBUFFER, GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT0, GL_RENDERBUFFER, fb.color ));
 
 	GL(glGenRenderbuffers( 1, &fb.depthStencil ));
diff --git a/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl3.cpp b/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl3.cpp
index 2cbe137..5e6979f 100644
--- a/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl3.cpp
+++ b/code/renderer/tr_backend_gl3.cpp
@@ -823,6 +823,8 @@ static qbool CreateComputeProgram(Program* prog, const char* cs, const char* deb
 	return qfalse;
 }
 
+extern void GL_GetRenderTargetFormat(GLenum* internalFormat, GLenum* format, GLenum* type, int cnq3Format);
+
 static void FBO_CreateSS(FrameBuffer* fb, qbool color, qbool depthStencil, const char* name)
 {
 	if(depthStencil)
@@ -837,11 +839,13 @@ static void FBO_CreateSS(FrameBuffer* fb, qbool color, qbool depthStencil, const
 
 	if(color)
 	{
+		GLenum internalFormat, format, type;
+		GL_GetRenderTargetFormat(&internalFormat, &format, &type, r_rtColorFormat->integer);
 		glGenTextures(1, &fb->color);
 		glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, fb->color);
 		glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);
 		glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);
-		glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL_RGBA8, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight, 0, GL_BGRA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, NULL);
+		glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, internalFormat, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight, 0, format, type, NULL);
 		SetDebugName(GL_TEXTURE, fb->color, va("%s color attachment 0", name));
 	}
 	
@@ -875,9 +879,11 @@ static void FBO_CreateMS(FrameBuffer* fb, const char* name)
 	glGenFramebuffers(1, &fb->fbo);
 	glBindFramebuffer(GL_FRAMEBUFFER, fb->fbo);
 
+	GLenum internalFormat, format, type;
+	GL_GetRenderTargetFormat(&internalFormat, &format, &type, r_rtColorFormat->integer);
 	glGenRenderbuffers(1, &fb->color);
 	glBindRenderbuffer(GL_RENDERBUFFER, fb->color);
-	glRenderbufferStorageMultisample(GL_RENDERBUFFER, r_msaa->integer, GL_RGBA8, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight);
+	glRenderbufferStorageMultisample(GL_RENDERBUFFER, r_msaa->integer, internalFormat, glConfig.vidWidth, glConfig.vidHeight);
 	glFramebufferRenderbuffer(GL_FRAMEBUFFER, GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT0, GL_RENDERBUFFER, fb->color);
 	SetDebugName(GL_RENDERBUFFER, fb->color, va("%s color attachment 0", name));
 
diff --git a/code/renderer/tr_help.h b/code/renderer/tr_help.h
index 78bdcc6..210e892 100644
--- a/code/renderer/tr_help.h
+++ b/code/renderer/tr_help.h
@@ -151,3 +151,8 @@ S_COLOR_VAL "    T2  " S_COLOR_HELP "= Tent 2 (1/3 2/3, same as the CPU version)
 "dithering noise strength\n" \
 "The dithering on/off switch is " S_COLOR_CVAR "r_dither" S_COLOR_HELP "."
 
+#define help_r_rtColorFormat \
+"render target color format\n" \
+S_COLOR_VAL "    0 " S_COLOR_HELP "= R8G8B8A8\n" \
+S_COLOR_VAL "    1 " S_COLOR_HELP "= R10G10B10A2\n" \
+S_COLOR_VAL "    2 " S_COLOR_HELP "= R16G16B16A16"
diff --git a/code/renderer/tr_init.cpp b/code/renderer/tr_init.cpp
index 9dcb585..6666e73 100644
--- a/code/renderer/tr_init.cpp
+++ b/code/renderer/tr_init.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ cvar_t	*r_softSprites;
 cvar_t	*r_gpuMipGen;
 cvar_t	*r_alphaToCoverage;
 cvar_t	*r_dither;
+cvar_t	*r_rtColorFormat;
 
 cvar_t	*r_mipGenFilter;
 cvar_t	*r_mipGenGamma;
@@ -391,6 +392,7 @@ static const cvarTableItem_t r_cvars[] =
 	{ &r_gpuMipGen, "r_gpuMipGen", "1", CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_LATCH, CVART_BOOL, NULL, NULL, help_r_gpuMipGen },
 	{ &r_alphaToCoverage, "r_alphaToCoverage", "1", CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_LATCH, CVART_BOOL, NULL, NULL, help_r_alphaToCoverage },
 	{ &r_dither, "r_dither", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_LATCH, CVART_BOOL, NULL, NULL, help_r_dither },
+	{ &r_rtColorFormat, "r_rtColorFormat", "0", CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_LATCH, CVART_INTEGER, "0", XSTRING(RTCF_MAX), help_r_rtColorFormat },
 
 	//
 	// latched variables that can only change over a restart
diff --git a/code/renderer/tr_local.h b/code/renderer/tr_local.h
index 0b581d9..142af98 100644
--- a/code/renderer/tr_local.h
+++ b/code/renderer/tr_local.h
@@ -930,6 +930,12 @@ extern trGlobals_t	tr;
 #define BLITMODE_STRETCHED	2	// dumb stretch, takes the full screen
 #define BLITMODE_MAX		2
 
+// r_rtColorFormat
+#define RTCF_R8G8B8A8		0
+#define RTCF_R10G10B10A2	1
+#define RTCF_R16G16B16A16	2
+#define RTCF_MAX			2
+
 // r_gl3_geoStream
 #define GL3MAP_AUTO			0
 #define GL3MAP_SUBDATA		1
@@ -979,6 +985,7 @@ extern cvar_t	*r_softSprites;			// draws certain surfaces as depth particles
 extern cvar_t	*r_gpuMipGen;			// uses GPU-side mip-map generation
 extern cvar_t	*r_alphaToCoverage;		// enables A2C on alpha-tested surfaces
 extern cvar_t	*r_dither;				// enables dithering
+extern cvar_t	*r_rtColorFormat;		// see RTCF_*
 
 extern cvar_t	*r_mipGenFilter;			// if the string is invalid, Lanczos 4 is used
 extern cvar_t	*r_mipGenGamma;				// what gamma-space do we consider the textures to be in