Gizmodo: directx

DirectX 11 Now Available For Windows Vista

Rosa Golijan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:10:29 EDT

We didn't see much of a difference between DirectX 10.1 and 11, but if you're a Windows Vista user who did and has been waiting impatiently: be happy because DirectX 11 is now finally available through Windows Update. [DailyTech]

DirectX 10.1 vs. DirectX 11: Can You See the Difference?

Jason Chen — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EDT

Like with the jump from DirectX 9 to DirectX 10, you'll have to really concentrate hard to see what's changed between the two versions. If you can even really tell which version is which.

In that first shot with the swine flu guy, it seems the one on the right is a bit nicer looking, as in his head and mask don't look as polygonal as the one on the left. The two vents in his mask are actually round instead of octagonal, and there are more details all around. But that probably took you a while to spot.

I can't even see a huge difference in the second shot, where I reversed the DX10 and DX11 shots to make sure you were paying attention. Did you think the one on the right was better looking before I said anything? If so, you don't need to upgrade. More shots over at Firing Squad. [Firing Squad]

Your Graphics Card Is Obsolete Again: ATI and Nvidia DirectX 11 Cards Soon

matt buchanan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:40:00 EDT

The first graphics cards that support DirectX 11—the next version of Microsoft's gaming APIs with more fiyapowah—from both ATI and Nvidia will apparently arrive in the next couple of months.

ATI's first, with the RV870-based Radeon HD 5800 series shipping out next month (no surprise, since they were showing it off a couple months ago), while Nvidia's following with the GT300 series that'll apparently hit in December, according to DigiTimes' sources. On the other hand, Nvidia seems to have the lead on the actual Windows 7 front, since their GPUs are already Windows Hardware Qualification Lab-certified with support for the new DirectCompute API. Bonus: Your existing Nvidia graphics works with it, if it ain't ancient.

Then again, there's no excuse like a new operating system for buying hundreds of dollars in new computer gear. [DigiTimes]

AMD Unveils World's First DirectX 11 Graphics Processor, Takes It for a Spin in Public

Adrian Covert — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:30:00 EDT

AMD demoed their buzzed-about DirectX 11 graphics processor at the Computex show in Taiwan, offering proof that they're making progress in getting to market first with their product.

Engadget says details are scant, but mention that AMD says that new DX11 features, such as the Compute Shader, will help improve Windows 7 performance, among other things. They expect their DirectX 11 products to be available in late 2009. [AMD via Engadget]

AMD Promises DirectX 11 in 2009

Elaine Chow — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:35:08 EDT

AMD has confirmed rumors that it is working on DirectX 11, announcing at CEATEC that it plans to release its first DirectX 11-compatible GPUs in 2009. The company also predicted an increase in general purpose computing on GPUs (GPGPU) and a transition to a 40nm fabricating standard, which ought to give graphics chip performance rates a considerable boost. In layman terms: Things are about to get a lot bigger and a lot prettier. [Xbit Labs via Tweaktown]

Microsoft: DirectX 11 To Use GPU For Parallel Processing

Matt Hickey — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EDT

DirectX 11 is coming, and it looks pretty awesome. Sure, you get advancements in shading and better support for multi-core machines, but what's really got our heads turning is the concept of letting programmers use the GPU in your video card to do some of the heavy lifting, meaning your graphics chip becomes a second, parallel processor. While the idea itself isn't new, this is the first we've heard of DirectX using such technology and we're sure it'll have PC gaming fanboys drooling when it rolls out, whenever that happens to be. [Joystique]

DirectX 10.1 Leaving DirectX 10 Cards in the Dust?

Matt Buchanan — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:00:00 EDT

British site The Inquirer is reporting from Siggraph 2007 that the next version of DirectX, 10.1, requires spanking new hardware to support its sort of spanking new features.

The spec revision basically makes a number of things that are optional in DX10 compulsory under the new standard - such as 32-bit floating point filtering, as opposed to the 16-bit current. 4xAA is a compulsory standard to support in 10.1, whereas graphics vendors can pick and choose their anti-aliasing support currently.

Consequently, your schmancy new DX10 card won't be so schmancy when 10.1 drops. On the bright side, even if this turns out the way the Inquirer seems to think it will, since DX10.1 supposedly isn't shipping until Vista SP 1 does, you probably have about 26 years of being on the cutting edge with a standard whose game support is nascent, to put it generously. [The Inquirer via /., Image via Flickr]

Those aluminum and glass iMacs revealed yesterday...

Jason Chen — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:24:27 EDT

Those aluminum and glass iMacs revealed yesterday actually have DirectX 10 capable graphics cards from ATI, which means that your Boot Camp Windows gaming will be able to kinda handle Crysis. [Kotaku]

Parallels 3.0 Supports 3D Windows Gaming, SmartSelect

Jason Chen — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:45:51 EDT

One of the main reasons why Mac users still use Boot Camp to run Windows Natively instead using virtualization software like Parallels is its lack of 3D gaming (OpenGL and DirectX) support. In Parallels Desktop version 3.0, now in final candidate development, you can finally use 3D gaming without rebooting.

The other major feature is "SmartSelect," which allows users to open a file in either a OS X or Windows program directly from OS X. You won't have to fire up the Windows program first and open it the long way. New versions cost $79 and upgrade versions are $39 if you buy before June 6. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Parallels via MacWorld]

DirectX 9 vs DirectX 10: Worth Upgrading to Vista For?

Jason Chen — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:15:22 EST

One of the main (only?) improvements in Vista for gamers would be the inclusion of DirectX 10. And to make gamers upgrade, they made DirectX 10 a Vista exclusive. Is it worth it? See for yourself.

Above are two screenshots of the same game rendered in DX9 and DX10. Can you tell which is which? Maybe you need to see the larger versions after the jump. Can you tell now? If not, then it's probably not worth it.

– Jason Chen

Shacknews [via Kotaku]