Are you ready for DirectX 10?

By CHONG JINN XIUNG (The Star, Thursday April 12, 2007)

The biggest draw for gamers in Windows Vista is its support for DirectX 10. This issue we take a look at what gamers can expect from the new graphics programming tool.

Windows Vista has been out for nearly two months now and it is only a matter of time before PC gamers will have to make the switch to the new operating system (OS).

Without a doubt, Windows Vista sure looks pretty with its spiffy Aero interface and upgraded features for home and business users. However, the biggest draw for PC gamers is the inclusion of DirectX 10 in the OS.

For the uninitiated, DirectX 10 is basically a collection of APIs (Application Program Interfaces). It is widely used in the development of computer games for Windows and used by software producers to render high quality 3D graphics using the latest 3D graphics hardware.

DirectX 10 holds many benefits for PC gamers in general, boasting more efficient performance and stunning graphics – it is the next big thing in the upgrade path in terms of graphics.

So settle down and strap up as we take a look at the benefits the Windows Vista-exclusive DirectX 10 holds in store for gamers.

Going BIG on graphics

Needless to say, 2007 is going to be an exciting year to be a PC gamer. PC games have long been the hallmark of the latest and greatest graphics set to grace a game system.

In the past they have always been one step above consoles, with cutting edge games like Half-Life, Black & White, Far Cry and many more.

But the gap is slowly closing as next-generation consoles such as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 push new graphical boundaries that rival those of the PC.

NIGHT
AND DAY:
Alan Wake features some nifty lighting effects that an dramatically alter the way you look at your environment.

DirectX 10 is set to deliver what it is hoped to be the next-evolution of graphics in games. Giving a boost in the graphics between PC and consoles, DirectX 10 holds lots of goodies for PC gamers.

Increased CPU performance

One of the most notable upgrades DirectX 10 has over its predecessor is its tremendous increase in performance. Smarter resource management, improved API and driver efficiencies and move more work from the CPU to the GPU.

This means that DirectX 10 will reduce CPU utilisation and increase graphics card power. Also, the enforcement of stricter hardware standards will make games easier to develop.

Stricter hardware standards

Speaking in terms of hardware standards, standards are one thing that videogame consoles have going for them.

This is because games created for consoles have a set standard and be played across all consoles of the same make.

The same cannot be said true for PC games, as developers need to consider the type of hardware and graphics card on an individual's computer.

That being said, having to cater to different standards makes it difficult to develop games.

With DirectX 10 enforcing more standard hardware requirements, developers will be able to focus on making the game itself and not have to worry on differing hardware standards.

Virtualised memory

Another benefit is the use of virtualised memory for the GPU. Virtualised memory will benefit the video card by enabling it to use space in RAM to store information that would not have fit on a local video card memory.

Previously, textures were limited by the amount of onboard memory possessed by the graphics processor. Using virtualised memory, textures can be stored on the system memory thereby eliminating any memory bottleneck on texture size.

Basically, games will feature richer textures making them prettier to look at.

It is worth noting that some Windows XP games will have enhanced DirectX 10 modes when running under Vista. Games such as Company of Heroes and Supreme Commander will receive the DirectX 10 treatment with improved graphics and smoother frame rates.

Greater amount of detail

DirectX 10 promises to add a new level of realism to games with an incredible amount of emphasis to making characters look life-like.

If you look closely at some sample screenshots, you can see that character details stem right down to the pockmarks on their faces.

However, the biggest improvement gamers are likely to see is the greater environment complexity and increased amount of detail.

In-game environments will look more realistic with better-looking foliage, grass, trees and rocks. By allowing data to be generated within the graphics processor, the game will be able to add specific shading parameters and even change the geometry of in-game environmental objects adding to the complexity of the scene.

To give characters a more realistic appearance, DirectX 10 enables better-looking shadows to add a level of depth to characters. On DirectX 9, shadows were generated on the CPU, thus slowing down the performance.

However, on DirectX 10, shadow volume can be generated and rendered entirely on the GPU, easing the processing burden on the CPU.

Seeing more, but different

Another benefit from offloading work to the GPU is the ability to generate more objects on screen. Currently in games, you might find that blades of grass on a field are drawn up to look exactly the same.

This can detract the realism of the game because in the real world, no two objects are exactly the same.

However, next-generation DirectX 10 games will feature thousands of unique objects that will make the environment more realistic and immersive. So each generated object is not just carbon copies of one another but rather, unique objects that differ in perceptible size and weight.

Hardware matters

DirectX 10 is going to be visual treat for the PC gamer – that much is certain. However to enjoy the terrific graphics, you are going to need both Windows Vista and a DirectX 10-compliant graphics card.

8800GTX

At present there are only three DirectX 10 graphics cards – the nVidia 8800GTS (320MB and 640MB versions) and the GeForce 8800GTX (768MB), with prices ranging from about RM1,200 to RM2,400. ATI has yet to release a DirectX 10 graphics card at the time of writing.

While there isn't much choice out there at the moment, news of nVidia releasing more DirectX 10-enabled graphics cards (there's even an AGP version) sometime soon may help ease the burden for budget gamers.

Be prepared to be amazed

PC gamers are faced with a tough decision. With so many drool-worthy DirectX 10 games set to be released in the coming months, it is getting harder to ignore the growing need to upgrade.

With the future clearly leading towards Windows Vista, DirectX 10 may just be the push needed to get PC gamers to make the switch over to Vista.

But is it too soon to upgrade and will the potentially enormous cost associated with upgrading deter gamers?

That's a question only gamers (and their wallets) themselves can answer.