Only Gamers knows it and users who want to improve their video
resolution. That is Direct X. I will give an overview about it and
what its capabilities. These are information from different reliable
sources. I hope you find it interesting.
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| My Direct X Window |
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of
application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related
to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft
platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct,
such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay, DirectSound,
and so forth. The name DirectX was coined as shorthand term for all
of these APIs (the X standing in for the particular API names) and
soon became the name of the collection. When Microsoft later set out
to develop a gaming console, the X was used as the basis of the name
Xbox to indicate that the console was based on DirectX technology.[1]
The X initial has been carried forward in the naming of APIs designed
for the Xbox such as XInput and the Cross-platform Audio Creation
Tool (XACT), while the DirectX pattern has been continued for Windows
APIs such as Direct2D and DirectWrite.
Direct3D (the 3D graphics API within
DirectX) is widely used in the development of video games for
Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360 and some Sega
Dreamcast games. Direct3D is also used by other software applications
for visualization and graphics tasks such as CAD/CAM engineering. As
Direct3D is the most widely publicized component of DirectX, it is
common to see the names "DirectX" and "Direct3D"
used interchangeably.
The DirectX software development kit
(SDK) consists of runtime libraries in redistributable binary form,
along with accompanying documentation and headers for use in coding.
Originally, the runtimes were only installed by games or explicitly
by the user. Windows 95 did not launch with DirectX, but DirectX was
included with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2.[2] Windows 98 and
Windows NT 4.0 both shipped with DirectX, as has every version of
Windows released since. The SDK is available as a free download.
While the runtimes are proprietary, closed-source software, source
code is provided for most of the SDK samples. Starting with the
release of Windows 8 Developer Preview, DirectX SDK has been
integrated into Windows SDK.[3]
Direct3D 9Ex, Direct3D 10, and
Direct3D 11 are only available for Windows Vista and newer because
each of these new versions was built to depend upon the new Windows
Display Driver Model that was introduced for Windows Vista. The new
Vista/WDDM graphics architecture includes a new video memory manager
supporting virtualization of graphics hardware for various
applications and services like the Desktop Window Manager.
DirectX® 11, the next generation of
graphics technology, arrives with Windows 7. This is great news for
players as many of the newest Windows games will take full advantage
of this technology to create more immersive and detailed worlds and
experiences. Game developers will utilize new features to create rich
worlds, realistic characters, and more fluid gameplay.
DirectX 11 features include:
* Tessellation – Tessellation is
implemented on the GPU to calculate a smoother curved surface
resulting in more graphically detailed images, including more
lifelike characters in the gaming worlds that you explore.
* Multi-Threading – The ability to
scale across multi-core CPUs will enable developers to take greater
advantage of the power within multi-core CPUs. This results in faster
framerates for games, while still supporting the increased visual
detailing.
* DirectCompute – Developers can
utilize the power of discrete graphics cards to accelerate both
gaming and non-gaming applications. This improves graphics, while
also enabling players to accelerate everyday tasks, like video
editing, on their Windows 7 PC.
Want to see the difference with your
eyes??? Try checking it now in your computer. If you have comments or
suggestions please comment below.
REFERENCES and Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX
http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2008/09/17/directx-11-a-look-at-what-s-coming/1
Hi Sean, This is very interesting. I like the video tutorials and references. In your experience, is there anything that an entry-level user can or should do in a few steps to take advantage of the DirectX technology, or is it built in and the entry level user doesn't need to do anything to benefit from the application? Thanks, Susan
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan! I recommend that an entry-level user can be have the advantage, but it depends on the situation because DirectX is built in. If he/she doesn't do anything, still the user can be benefited from the application. For Persons like me who plays games, edit videos and use programs that needs the DirectX application. I should be aware of it.
DeleteThanks. Very informative. Have you been following the Raspberry Pi community at all? There's a lot you can do with this $35 dollar mini-computer:
Deletehttp://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/raspberry-pi-youtube.html