Direct X and the Windows paradox

[alleycat]

Since going with the Mac Pro about two years ago, I've enjoyed lots of PC games. I've installed a larger Nvidia graphics card and have enjoyed its improved performance over the stock card. I also have a copy of Windows Vista 64 bit sitting on my shelf. However I ask myself…why? Why do gamers even need Vista or Windows 7 for that matter? Most games are still written for Direct X 9.0c and Windows XP. I'm sure that will change over time, but very few games are coded for Direct X 10 with the advent of Vista. Does anyone really care about using Vista or 7 when it comes to gaming on the Mac?

 

[gatepc]

I avoid vista at all cost but I do really enjoy using windows 7 you are right when you say that not many games truly take advantage of DX 10 and thats really because DX 10 was sort of a failure which is why DX 11 is going to be released probably by late 09 or in 2010 and its looking like it will actually be successful which means many games should start taking advantage of it but right now most games are dx 9 and it will be that way for a whale.

 

[panamax]

Your post ended in whale, I laughed.

 

[aaron11193]

I avoid vista at all cost but I do really enjoy using windows 7 you are right when you say that not many games truly take advantage of DX 10 and thats really because DX 10 was sort of a failure which is why DX 11 is going to be released probably by late 09 or in 2010 and its looking like it will actually be successful which means many games should start taking advantage of it but right now most games are dx 9 and it will be that way for a whale.

LOL @ whale..

Sigged BTW

 

[gatepc]

LOL @ whale..

oops haha I think I will leave it there so others can have a laugh lol
On another note I really hope that cheaper computers start getting better gpu's they are holding back many developers from fully taking advantage of things like dx 10.

 

[JFreak]

I have hated DirectX since day one.

 

[chrono1081]

I have hated DirectX since day one.

+1 Unfortunately OpenGL is lagging waaaay behind (it used to not be that way wtf...) so more devs are supporting Direct X only : / I really hope this changes.

 

[gatepc]

I have hated DirectX since day one.

+1 Unfortunately OpenGL is lagging waaaay behind (it used to not be that way wtf...) so more devs are supporting Direct X only : / I really hope this changes.

I agree it would be amazing if OpenGL would release version 3 and everyone jumped ship. Of course this has the same odds as everyone on MacRumors getting hit by lighting at the same time....

 

[Rodus]

OpenGL 3.2 is due out soon. One feature is easier portability from DX so that could hopefully improve the Mac gaming side of things. DirectX 10 was pretty much a flop, high system overheads for minimal graphical improvements. DX 11 should change this but it'll be a while before you need to have anything more then DX 9.

 

[LtRammstein]

DirectX also supports OpenCL calls, so it makes it easier to use more of the GPU for rendering. I believe OpenGL will also support OpenCL, but I'm not sure.

On the downside, only a handful of graphics cards that are coming out will support DX11, and DX10 is supported by most Macs within the past 2 years. I'm a huge Mac guy, and I run Windows 7 for games. I will say that Windows 7 leaves less of a foot print on memory and does a pretty good job on making things run efficiently (as long as the developer wasn't stupid and using deprecated calls).

 

[Rodus]

^^OpenCL is a major part of OpenGL, one of the selling points of Snow Leopard, on the other hand Direct X does not support OpenCL, Microsoft are designing their own version.

 

[Stridder44]

OpenGL 3.2 is due out soon. One feature is easier portability from DX so that could hopefully improve the Mac gaming side of things. DirectX 10 was pretty much a flop, high system overheads for minimal graphical improvements. DX 11 should change this but it'll be a while before you need to have anything more then DX 9.

OpenGL is great and all, but truth is has never and probably will never reach the same level as DX has/will. I would LOVE to see OpenCL really take off, trust me. But these are the facts.

Since going with the Mac Pro about two years ago, I've enjoyed lots of PC games. I've installed a larger Nvidia graphics card and have enjoyed its improved performance over the stock card. I also have a copy of Windows Vista 64 bit sitting on my shelf. However I ask myself…why? Why do gamers even need Vista or Windows 7 for that matter? Most games are still written for Direct X 9.0c and Windows XP. I'm sure that will change over time, but very few games are coded for Direct X 10 with the advent of Vista. Does anyone really care about using Vista or 7 when it comes to gaming on the Mac?

XP is a dinosaur. It was great in its day, but that day is LONG gone. Vista, despite what many Mac fanboys spew, is a great OS. Windows 7 is a progression of it, which is why I find it so amusing that all these XP fanboys claim 7 is so much better than Vista. 7 is built off of Vista. And guess what, both Vista and 7 have DX9. And I shouldn't even have to explain why 64-bit is relevant and better than 32-bit.

So yes, _many_ people care about using Vista or preferably 7 when it comes to gaming on their Mac, because we want the best performance and experience from our system. People need to let go of their old ideals and grudges.