Abdul Hafeez
Member
I wouldn't be surprised if this is a stunt to get people to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. Just because it's called DirectX 12 doesn't mean it isn't just 11.3 or something minor like that.
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DirectX 12 is on the way
- Thread starter Tyrax
- Start date
I wouldn't be surprised if this is a stunt to get people to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. Just because it's called DirectX 12 doesn't mean it isn't just 11.3 or something minor like that.
Basileus777
Member
Hardcore gamers who are all about performance have SSDs, making boot times on W7 moot.
-COOLIO-
The Everyman
im on w7 with an ssd. im excited to upgrade to 8.1 because of the insanely fast boot time on my surface pro 2, which has an ssd as well.
-MD-
Member
I reboot my computer like once a month. 30 seconds isn't going to make or break me.
As long as you can live with the Start screen, Windows 8 is clearly better than Windows 7 and the performance additions are just icing on the cake. I dont even use the Metro apps and the Start screen feels second nature to me, so its win win.
Demigod Mac
Member
I predict you'll be fine. It takes remarkably little effort to make 8 look and feel functionally identical to 7, and you'll never have to deal with Metro.
The more likely scenario is that by the time DX12 cards roll around, we'll be on 9 and that will be celebrated as the "true" sequel to 7.
No it won't.
It only saves your personal files and settings, it will get rid of all your programs (unless they are windows store apps).
If anything, it is flat out worse than doing a repair install (which does not nuke your programs).
illustri0us
Banned
I never use it
But that may change if I get a 2nd touch screen monitor, have that one on metro at all times
What if dx12 takes advantage of the architecture in xbone, move engines, esram, seperate audio chip etc and future dx12 pc cards use xbox one architecture? I can't imagine microsoft engineers ignoring dx12 on xbone knowing full well it is on the horizon
BennyBlanco
aka IMurRIVAL69
If it's exclusive to win8, nobody will use it. What is the percentage of current PCs running win 8? I have to imagine it's well under 10%.
I imagine it's either A) meant for low-end mobile hardware, or B) another pathetic attempt by Microsoft to control the market by introducing something exclusive that requires all kinds of upgrades and investments, but ends up being a product that no one actually wants and it won't even remotely take off for another five to ten years. It's DX9>DX11 all over again. How old is DX11? And we're only now getting to the point where those features are starting to be standard in PC games.
Developers will go where the established hardware and software base is. Which is, for the foreseeable future, DX11.
Developers will go where the established hardware and software base is. Which is, for the foreseeable future, DX11.
BebopMcJigglypuff
Member
I'm kind of still hoping openGL makes a big comeback so I can abandon windows altogether. I suppose that might suck for amd video card users though 
get your shit together amd...
get your shit together amd...Wouldn't it be funny if it's exclusive to Windows 9, and ends up being the thing that causes a lot of devs to start moving more toward OpenGL in conjunction with SteamOS?
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
Hate is too strong. The word you're looking for is apathy.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
Windows 8 scares me. It's not the start screen or anything, I just get fucking confused when I try to format a computer and the internet tells me that I have to do some funky factory reset type deal instead. My brain is full of fuck.
I believe it broke 10% right around New Years
That being said... Win8/8.1 is awesome and anyone who likes games and hasn't upgraded is missing out
My Windows 8.1 boots much faster than my Windows 7 and both have the same SSDs.
Also I never even see or notice Metro with Start8 installed. All the performance benefits of Windows 8.1, none of the downside.
Don't worry about the factory reset (or writing zeros to a drive). A simple format is fine. Most of the time windows 7/8 is smart enough to get the disk alignment correct as well.
My advice is to jump into it if you want a fresh coat of paint with some performance improvements, otherwise just wait for Win9.
fatgamecat
Member
Windows 8.1 is okay with Classic Shell installed, with start menu returned and edge shortcuts disabled. Otherwise it's not as useful for power users or productivity, and it's confusing to new or casual users.
Cannot wait to see first hardware properly support DX12, I really hope that there are some significant changes to allow developers do what they dream of. (Changes to ROPs, TEX units overall programmability.. etc.)
It's silly that we haven't seen any progress for nearly 5 years.
Currently it seems that the most feature rich hardware is from Intel with their Pixel Sync tech..
This means that one can program their game using single API to old target hardware.
Of course one cannot use Shader Model 5 based things like tesselation etc.
It's silly that we haven't seen any progress for nearly 5 years.
Currently it seems that the most feature rich hardware is from Intel with their Pixel Sync tech..
DX11 API has paths for dx9 and dx10 class hardware as well.
This means that one can program their game using single API to old target hardware.
Of course one cannot use Shader Model 5 based things like tesselation etc.
Absolutely, depending on the game its up to 10fps, but usually around 5 or so. The big thing is micro-stutters no longer occur for my machines after the win7 > win8.1 switch. All AMD cards by the way.
Iced_Eagle
Member
In general its very minor improvements. However if a game takes advantage of DX11.1 or 11.2 in Win8 then you see noticeable increases. Bf4 for example has better performance on Win8 compared to Win7 because they take advantage of DX 11.1/11.2.
Windows 8.1 update 1 is adding close and minimize buttons among other desktop friendly options to the metro side so yeah, ain't happening.
I'm not really seeing why people are excited about this. It's just an API. It's not like as an enduser you turn on a DX12 targeted game and it's suddenly something completely new and improved over a DX11 targeted game.
The vast majority of games still, and will continue to, support DirectX 9c.
The vast majority of games still, and will continue to, support DirectX 9c.
Wiktor
Member
No, Mantle is terrible crap because it works only on AMD GPUs. The only good thing about this is that it will push general Windows APIs to get better performance. When this happens Mantle needs to die and die fast.
quantumnerd
Member
People seem to be giving increasingly less of a damn about DirectX considering OpenGL powers everything not-Microsoft. I guess I'll just mop up The Last Generation Of MS Platform Games on a Win9 PC.
GoofsterStud
Member
Somebody sided with Nvidia.
Lol. Indeed.
I don't think you understand. Im not moving to 8, but Ill be there for 9. They have rolled back a shitload of the stuff I hated about 8 in 8.1. They seem to have gotten the message loud and clear, but right now I still don't have a need to upgrade. I can wait until 9 just fine.
And you havent been paying attention if you think Win9 would be Metro only. They have gone out of their way to accomodate the people who dislike metro. Expect more of that in Win9. Metro won't go away, but they will damn sure make certain that the public doesnt have to fiddle with that hot mess unless they want to. You get to keep your colored squares and I get to never see them again. Perfect compromise, and everyones happy.
When 9 comes sure, but you aren't going to get me to bother with 8. I remember all of the previous DX roll outs. Itll be Win9 time before devs get good and rolling on DX12 anyway, and we all know it.
Its not going to be released and suddenly and instantly supported and properly used by every PC game ever.... theres a lag time on DX support. Ill be just fine gaming until Windows 9. All games that will be relevant will support 10/11/12 for a good long while.
Unknown Soldier
Member
Windows 8 uptake has been so slow that no developer will exclusively support DX12 if the majority of players are still on Win7/DX11.
Wiktor
Member
Yeah, that somebody being majority of pcgamers
Wiktor
Member
How would they be pissed? They would just remain on W7.
Wolfgang Jr
Banned
And console gaming?
Unknown Soldier
Member
Microsoft actually does like money and the users have made it crystal clear in their wholehearted rejection of Metro on the desktop, especially the corporate users who are their profit base. MS has already started de-emphasizing Metro and rolling back trying to force it on users in 8.1. Win9 will probably go back to a straight traditional desktop and relegate Metro to an optional UI that you have to toggle to enable.
Metro Everywhere has been an abject failure and really MS shouldn't have tried to cram a UI designed for touch devices like phones and tablets down the throats of the keyboard and mouse crowd.
soulassssns
Banned
I love Win 8 but I still despise Metro and never use it.
Wiktor
Member
A phone makes much more sense in this scenario than a big ass tablet.
A great reason to upgrade. They should slap that on the box.
PetriP-TNT
Member
And sometimes the upgrade requirement is artificial and neither players nor devs follow and you end up still using DX9 features for all games two OS upgrades in. Welcome to DX10-requires-Vista.
freezamite
Banned
It's a bit depressing to see how much the hardware development has slowered down due to increasing cost of development and the consoles being so popular in comparison to PC gaming.
If nothing changes this generation, it won't matter if DX12, DX13 or DX14 are released during those next years, because we will be stuck with DX11 hardware as the basis of game development.
Likely the opposite (in the sense of having more KB/M support). That and manufacturers apparently think Windows 9 will be the OS that drives users off XP.
cyberheater
PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
Same here. Metro as a desktop interface for non touchscreen PC's needs to die.
justsomeguy
Member
I'm glad W8 is adding better support for mouse / kb users... But in general I really like Win8. Imo it absolutely shines on a tablet, and being able to dock that tablet and have full fat desktop Windows is v useful. I have pinned my most used apps to the task bar and rarely need to use the start screen.
I have my tablet start screen organised into sensible groups of live tiles and it's genuinely useful for an at-a-glance view - Imo we should have done a better job walking people through start screen customisation.
edit: Be interesting to see what platform we launch dx12 for. I rather suspect it'll be windows 8.1 only as that would be in keeping with past decisions. Wonder if Mantle being os agnostic (ish) will influence that though.
I have my tablet start screen organised into sensible groups of live tiles and it's genuinely useful for an at-a-glance view - Imo we should have done a better job walking people through start screen customisation.
edit: Be interesting to see what platform we launch dx12 for. I rather suspect it'll be windows 8.1 only as that would be in keeping with past decisions. Wonder if Mantle being os agnostic (ish) will influence that though.
DodgyGeezerFella
Member
Pretty much my experience too .... I have never seen a game suddenly look graphically way more impressive, or perform significantly better running on DX10/11.
I don't think this is the API's fault, more developer time spent on them (additional tech features thrown on top of a developed DX9 game, vs built from the start as a DX10/11 game).
I still remember getting excited for DX10, having a nice 8800GT, and waiting for those DX10 patches to come out for games. Nothing but problems when they did, drivers had to mature, games were just putting DX10 features in and crippling performance for no significant benefit.
As a techy, i can see why this stuff can be exciting, but as a gamer, i just see it as something that gets in the way for no real benefit.
cyberheater
PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
Metro on a tablet makes sense. But on a desktop it's shite. It's like trying to use a android tablet with a mouse. It just feels wrong and awkward.
What were MS thinking.