[Need 2 Know]

Dont know if this is old but interesting read.

Microsoft unveils DirectX 11

New version adds compute shaders for GPGPU; completely compatible with DirectX 10 hardware

Microsoft has revealed the first details on the latest version of its DirectX SDK at the Gamefest event in Seattle.

Chief new features in version 11 are the new Compute Shader technology, which allows GPUs to be used for general purpose computing; support for tesselation, allowing models to be refined and smoother up-close; and multi-threaded resource handling to help games utilise multi-processor set-ups more effectively.

Rather than require new hardware as DirectX 10 did, DirectX 11 will be completely compatible with DirectX 10 and 10.1 cards - but will, like its predecessor, only support Windows Vista.

[CarstenS]

Originally Posted by Need 2 Know

Rather than require new hardware as DirectX 10 did, DirectX 11 will be completely compatible with DirectX 10 and 10.1 cards - but will, like its predecessor, only support Windows Vista.[/I][/B]

Before this gets out of hand: NO, you won't be able to run DX11-games with DX10(.1) cards.

[Humus]

I would expect that if the game is written that way, you should be able to run it on DX10, even if it's using the DX11 interface. Much like DX9 games will work on DX8 cards if the game is written to work when only DX8 level features are available.

[Demirug]

Originally Posted by Humus

I would expect that if the game is written that way, you should be able to run it on DX10, even if it's using the DX11 interface. Much like DX9 games will work on DX8 cards if the game is written to work when only DX8 level features are available.

Exactly. The Direct3D 11 runtime can work in 3 different tech level modes: 10,10.1 and 11. Each mode let the application use a well define feature subset of the Direct3D 11 specification. The nice part is that even tech level 10 got some Direct3D 11 features. If the IHV doesn’t provide new drivers for this feature the runtime will emulate them to make it compatible with current drivers. Therefore if a game only requests a tech level 10 device as minimum it will work with the Direct3D 10 hardware out there.

[Davros]

Originally Posted by Demirug

Exactly. The Direct3D 11 runtime can work in 3 different tech level modes: 10,10.1 and 11.

so what happens if i run a dx7 game ?

[AlphaWolf]

Originally Posted by Davros

so what happens if i run a dx7 game ?

you pull out your abacus and play on that.

[aaaaa00]

Originally Posted by Davros

so what happens if i run a dx7 game ?

It uses the DX7 version of the runtime, which should still be available even in the latest Windows.

[Demirug]

Originally Posted by Davros

so what happens if i run a dx7 game ?

It would run by using the Direct3D 7 runtime (and parts of DirectDraw). On Vista the Direct3D 7 runtime translate the “old” calls to Direct3D 9 driver calls.

[Davros]

Originally Posted by Demirug

On Vista the Direct3D 7 runtime translate the “old” calls to Direct3D 9 driver calls.

but you said but demirug said "The Direct3D 11 runtime can work in 3 different tech level modes: 10,10.1 and 11"
ie: the is no direct3d 9.0
unless you meant "The Direct3D 11 runtime can work in 4 different tech level modes: 9,10,10.1 and 11"
with calls older than 9 being translated to 9 ?

[Demirug]

Originally Posted by Davros

but you said but demirug said "The Direct3D 11 runtime can work in 3 different tech level modes: 10,10.1 and 11"
ie: the is no direct3d 9.0
unless you meant "The Direct3D 11 runtime can work in 4 different tech level modes: 9,10,10.1 and 11"
with calls older than 9 being translated to 9 ?

Each Direct3D version has its own dedicated runtime that can talk to one or more different driver interfaces. On Vista the runtimes for anything up to Direct3D 9 talk to the Direct3D 9 driver interface. The Direct3D 10 runtime make use of the Direct3D 10 driver interface. 10.1, the runtime that is includes in SP1, works with a Direct3D 10 and 10.1 driver interface. Finally the upcoming Direct3D 11 runtime will work with the 10, 10.1 and 11 driver interfaces.

[BRiT]

So once DX11 hits, then WinOSwould have the following:

Driver interfaces

• Direct3D 9 driver interface
• Direct3D 10 driver interface
• Direct3D 10.1 driver interface
• Direct3D 11 driver interface

Direct3D Runtimes

• Direct3D n - 9 runtime (talks to Direct3D 9 driver interface)
• Direct3D 10 runtime (talks to Direct3D 10 driver interface)
• Direct3D 10.1 runtime (talks to Direct3D 10, 10.1 driver interfaces)
• Direct3D 11 runtime (talks to Direct3D 10, 10.1, 11 driver interfaces)

[Davros]

As i understand it Brit

Direct3D Runtimes
Direct3D n - 9 runtime (talks to Direct3D 9 driver interface)
Direct3D 11 runtime (talks to Direct3D 10, 10.1, 11 driver interfaces)

[BRiT]

Davros, thats what I was thinking until Demirug said:

Each Direct3D version has its own dedicated runtime that can talk to one or more different driver interfaces.

[Demirug]

Brit is right.

You can open a System32 folder on Vista and you will find the following files.

D3D8.dll
D3D9.dll
D3D10.dll
D3D10_1.dll (if SP1 is installed)

The older runtimes are include somewhere in the DirectDraw components.

The Direct3D 11 runtime will be in a D3D11.dll.