Dx 10?

[cudakite]

Please forgive my ignorance...

What's the deal with DirectX 10? Is it only a Windows Vista thing? And what Features/improvements will it bring? I'm guessing a new shader model...

[Spart]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_x#DirectX_10 <--- something here.

And yes, it's Vista only (unfortunately?) New effects, shader model 4.0. Simply: Better graphics/performance in games that support it. Hmm.. I don't have any comparison screens between dx9 and dx10 now, but I've seen some..

Me not being very technical person or graphics enthusiast, someone could propably tell some more about this =)

[Shaun]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_x#DirectX_10 <--- something here.

And yes, it's Vista only (unfortunately?) New effects, shader model 4.0. Simply: Better graphics/performance in games that support it. Hmm.. I don't have any comparison screens between dx9 and dx10 now, but I've seen some..

Me not being very technical person or graphics enthusiast, someone could propably tell some more about this =)

Actually, DX10 in itself does not bring better graphics, it makes it easier for devs to code graphical effects for all different cards, and runs faster. This does no mean better graphics unless the devs make better graphics.

[Spart]

Yes, well, that's pretty obvious =)
Something I dug up:

vs.

(This seems to be an extreme example and cunning marketing by Microsoft :p)

So DX 10 just offers some fancy effects and stuff.. Meh, I'll stick with DX9 for a long time...

[belson]

Also, it should be noted that eventually, in the far future, some games will require DX10. Just as some games currently require the newest version of DX 9.0c. But you wont have to worry about this for years.

[Freddie]

Please forgive my ignorance...

What's the deal with DirectX 10? Is it only a Windows Vista thing? And what Features/improvements will it bring? I'm guessing a new shader model...

The big deal about DX10 is that it will put those pesky consoles in there place.

Just have a look for Crysis screenshots and you will see what I mean when I say DirectX10 is the revolution the PC has been waiting for. Sadly DirectX 10 will never appear on Windows XP.

The DX10 graphics API will usher in unified vertex and pixel shaders, and introduce the concept of "geometry shaders" that can act on not just single vertices, but whole triangles and their adjacent vertices. Developers will be able to stream out data from the GPU and reuse it without needing the CPU to do a single thing, so a lot of the CPU load seen in current graphics drivers and games should be reduced. DX10 should allow for more flexible and granular graphics memory access, and in general allow GPUs to be far more flexible and powerful than before.

Perhaps one of the best features of DX10 is the removal of capability bits, or "cap bits." Today, graphics cards don't have to support everything in DirectX 9 to be a "DX9 graphics card." There are lots of optional features, and the drivers have to report to the OS exactly what it can and can't do with a set of cap bits. This has been a huge headache for developers, as different cards all support different features, or perform the same operations in different ways. In DX10, either you meet the spec or you don't—no more supporting only these or those texture formats, and this or that shader model but only with this level of precision.



I don't need to say anything else.

[cudakite]

Wow, cool stuff. thanks for the replies fellas

bummer about no XP though... Oh well. Something to look forward too with my next PC purchase. (in a year or more )

Interesting stuff Ferrbie. It does seem like DX10 will be the key element PC games need to put consoles to shame. That makes me happy. I guess the side effect would be videocard will become even more important... are you afraid that might raise the price of already expencive GPUs?