| Copyright (c) 2007 Titus Hoskins | | | | many of the major gaming specialists such as |
| | | | Alienware, Vigor, and Sager sporting DX 10 |
| Right now all the talk in PC gaming is | | | | graphics. |
| DirectX 10 Graphics. New hardware and new | | | | |
| DX10 games have everyone buzzing about a new | | | | Present or upcoming games that will have |
| era in PC gaming. But is all the celebration | | | | DirectX 10 support include Crysis, Shadowrun, |
| a little bit premature? | | | | World in Conflict, and Company of Heroes. |
| | | | |
| Yes and No! | | | | Nor should you think DirectX 10 is solely for |
| | | | gamers; the general PC user will also benefit |
| As with any new technology there is a lag | | | | from better graphics and higher performance. |
| time before everything catches up, before the | | | | For instance, the ability to play and enjoy |
| new technology is truly integrated into the | | | | HD DVD and Blu-ray video playback on their |
| old, in this case gaming systems. The big | | | | PCs. |
| question on everyone's mind, (especially | | | | |
| gamers) how long will we have to wait before | | | | Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of |
| DX10 graphics delivers the goods? | | | | DirectX 10 Graphics is that it makes it much |
| | | | more easier for game designers and developers |
| In other words, how long is the lag time | | | | to create games. For a more detailed |
| before performance (what you see in your | | | | discussion of the technical side of this |
| games) catches up with the technology DX10 | | | | topic, you can try Microsoft Game Developer |
| Graphics will ultimately deliver? | | | | Presentations here: |
| | | | |
| For the ordinary consumer who is not a techie | | | | Or you can read this very good, detailed |
| or even a dedicated gamer all this fuss about | | | | article on "The Future of PC Gaming" by Tim |
| X10 Graphics can be downright confusing to | | | | Smalley presented here: |
| say the least. Getting a handle on even the | | | | |
| simplest terminology can be a challenge. | | | | The question still remains - is DirectX 10 |
| | | | Graphics deserving of all the hoopala or |
| First, you have to understand DirectX is a | | | | fuss? |
| Microsoft Windows technology that lets you | | | | |
| have higher performance in sound and graphics | | | | Yes, but it will be a while before the true |
| when playing games and/or watching videos on | | | | benefits are fully enjoyed by gaming |
| your computer. In the past we have had | | | | enthusiasts and the general public. As more |
| different versions of DirectX... DirectX 8, | | | | DX10 games are developed and as more powerful |
| DirectX 9, and with the introduction of | | | | gaming hardware become available, the full |
| Windows Vista we have DirectX 10. | | | | potential of better gaming will hopefully be |
| | | | reached. |
| DX10 Graphics gives us better performance and | | | | |
| better looking PC graphics with clearer, | | | | But there may be some catching up to do |
| higher resolution images with more shading | | | | before we see the real benefits. Many gamers |
| and details. It simply means better overall | | | | complain that presently most hardware is more |
| picture quality and performance; a forward | | | | suited to DX9 Graphics. Here's a very |
| step to true realism in gaming. | | | | interesting and detailed discussion of this |
| | | | issue done by X-bit Labs entitled: "DirectX |
| At the heart of DirectX are APIs (Application | | | | 10 Games vs. Contemporary Graphics |
| Programming Interfaces) which can be | | | | Accelerators" |
| oversimplified as a bridge or way for the | | | | |
| hardware and the software to "talk" to each | | | | Implementing any new technology takes time, |
| other. These give you multimedia applications | | | | as old technology is gradually replaced by |
| such as (3-D) graphics acceleration, sound | | | | the new. Just compare it to say switching |
| mixing, sound output and other functions. | | | | from VHS to DVD and now to Blu-Ray, keeping |
| | | | ahead of the latest technology takes some |
| We are now seeing higher performing DirectX | | | | catching up time. DX9 Graphics will |
| 10 Graphics GPUs from top makers such as | | | | eventually lose ground to DX10 Graphics. |
| NVIDIA with their 8800 series, including the | | | | |
| NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX and GeForce 8800 GTS. | | | | So it may be a while before DirectX 10 |
| These GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) will | | | | Graphics delivers the full potential of the |
| give you better gaming with greater image | | | | ultimate gaming experience but there is |
| quality and performance. HD DVD and Blu-ray | | | | little doubt this technology is the future of |
| video playback is even possible. | | | | gaming. It may just take a little while |
| | | | before game developers and hardware makers |
| Top gaming manufacturers like Rockdirect in | | | | get all their guns locked and loaded to give |
| the UK are now all carrying DX 10 Graphics in | | | | you that ultimate gaming experience. |
| their gaming machines. You will also find | | | | |