DX10 and non-vista OS

[hydra_ex]

I was recently having an argument with a family member that DirectX is the software program which actually displays the graphics, while he argued that DirectX was the device driver. To prove my point, I went to wikipedia (where else? ) There, I found that DX10 is dependant on the graphic driver Windows something or other, available only in vista systems. Now, according to the wikipedia entry, this would mean that the OS I use to play DDO (ie Windows XP), cannot run DX10. This means two problems for me. 1) Will I not be able to play the game anymore because DX10 completly replaces DX9? (unlikely, but still worried) and 2) If mod 8's "big thing" is DX10, will I not be able to draw much value from the module?
If case 2 is correct, this would be horrid planning on turbine's part, because Vista and DDO don't work well together, for one, and because most of the player base uses XP.

Can somone with more knowledge that me confirm or assay my worries please?

[Gennerik]

DirectX is basically a development method for producing graphics (in addition to many other things, but this update primarily focuses on graphics). Windows XP does not support DirectX 10 (limited to DX9.0c), so you won't be able to take part in some of the graphics goodness that is being introduced this next Module. However, you'll still be able to run everything just like you always do in XP with DirectX 9, you just won't get the inproved shadowing and water effects. The main focus in not the move to DirectX 10, this is just the first few things beign done with DirectX 10, so the main goal of the next module will still be playable on your current machine in its current configuration.

It's not really terrible planning on Turbine's part. It's just that they are adding additional effects graphically, and in order to do that, they need to run DX10, which Microsoft only supports with Vista. You'll still be able to play just like you always have, though.

[hydra_ex]

DirectX is basically a development method for producing graphics (in addition to many other things, but this update primarily focuses on graphics). Windows XP does not support DirectX 10 (limited to DX9.0c), so you won't be able to take part in some of the graphics goodness that is being introduced this next Module. However, you'll still be able to run everything just like you always do in XP with DirectX 9, you just won't get the inproved shadowing and water effects. The main focus in not the move to DirectX 10, this is just the first few things beign done with DirectX 10, so the main goal of the next module will still be playable on your current machine in its current configuration.

It's not really terrible planning on Turbine's part. It's just that they are adding additional effects graphically, and in order to do that, they need to run DX10, which Microsoft only supports with Vista. You'll still be able to play just like you always have, though.

Just like I thoght... /sigh... have you even seen the multitude of "DDO dosen't work on vista" posts... its sad... Is there a hack or something

[Drider]

The only thing you are really losing without DX 10 is alot of shadows and water effects. There are a few other little things, but those are the big ones.

[hydra_ex]

The only thing you are really losing without DX 10 is alot of shadows and water effects. There are a few other little things, but those are the big ones.

But thats what I was looking forwards too

[Drider]

But thats what I was looking forwards too

Well supposedly there are some ways where you can get XP to simulate DX10, these of course are unofficial tweaks, but you are better off just upgrading to Vista at that point. I've ran 64 bit Vista for over a year now and it's been way more stable for me then XP ever was.

[United]

http://www.techmixer.com/download-di...or-windows-xp/
go there its directx 10.1 for xp its still in early stages, so if you install it no dx 9 games will work at all so make sure your using all games that use 10.1 and if you are doing so you would want a 1gb video min cause 10 will drop you 50+ fps in ddo with only a 512 meg video

[Drider]

http://www.techmixer.com/download-di...or-windows-xp/
go there its directx 10.1 for xp its still in early stages, so if you install it no dx 9 games will work at all so make sure your using all games that use 10.1 and if you are doing so you would want a 1gb video min cause 10 will drop you 50+ fps in ddo with only a 512 meg video

Might want to warn people that these aren't official upgrades.

[United]

Might want to warn people that these aren't official upgrades.

opps sorry good point. Yes everyone use at your own risk lol, if you install tis for xp and dont want it, only way to remove it is to format your hd and reinstall windows xp and bcause the dx webupdater says that you have a better version then 9.0c and wont remove it

[Impaqt]

1: DDO Works Absolutly fine on Vista. most issues people run into are related to the excessive security MS has build into the OS.

2: You will be able to play DDO exactly as you always have if you still run XP/DX9 when Mod 8 Hits.

[alans240]

Word to the wise.....if you are thinking about upgrading to Vista, be sure to go 64bit. It's the same cost and uses system resources much better. Plus the only way you can use more than 3.5 gigs of RAM.

I've been running Vistax64 for about six months now and it's been very good to me.

[Uska]

Dont worry about it you will be fine, and many people who play ddo and other games toting dx10 cant use it yet so no game will do anything for now that will require it, so just keep having fun. and its best to pay no attention to wiki I dont even if they are right all info there is suspect.

[JakLee7]

Run both Vista 64bit Ultimate & XP pro (32 bit) at home. I have quite a few machines as I am quite a computer person. My Vista machine runs DDO better than the xp machine as it has more ram, bigger proc that is dual core, better vid card ect. However the OP who said "show me a game that requires 4 gigs & I will think of upgrading" you are being silly. Warcraft didn't require 2 gigs of ram. Starcraft didn't require 2 gigs of ram. KOTOR didn't require 2 gigs of ram. Jade Empire didn't require 2 gigs of ram. Doom didn't reaquire 2 gigs of ram. Half-life 2 doesn't require 2 gigs of ram. DDO doesn't require 2 gigs of ram. But games keep getting better & a 64 bit os allows you to use up to I think 128 gigs of memory without issue. A 32 bit os only lets you use 4 before you have memory adressing issues. Even sound cards now can come with memory; not to mention vid cards, physix cards, or even something like the Killer NIC which is a network card. It makes sense to upgrade to something that works well & I have no issues with Vista at all. When XP first came out lots of people hated it as they said it was horrible & no reason to upgrade from 98. Its cyclical & Vista is actually great. No reason to upgrade to Vista really though unless

1. New computer - you have to be able to upgrade the hardware, get a more flexible OS, go Vista 64 bit.
2. Upgrading hardware beyond XP's limit - look I love XP too, but unless you want to run XP 64 (I tried and it was not working out well at all, lots of issues driver wise that were really frustrating). I have 6 gigs of ram right now; eyballing those 4 gig single sticks, may eventually go to 16 gig, ddr3 will have 8 gig single sticks before we go to dd4 & you CAN quote me on that.
3.Finding out the truth. Mac adds are funny. However Vista is fine, it really is a decent OS & I have found that most of the so called "problems" people have with it result from Old hardware (same problems XP had) and good ole fashion user error.

[TechNoFear]

I think a better question is "Will DDO release a 64bit version with the DX10 upgrade?"

If not 32 bit DDO will run on 64bit OSs in the WOW64 (Windows on Windows 64 bit emulator for 32bit apps) and not be able to use the higher RAM addressing available to true 64bit apps (and therefore possibly run slower).

Also remember that you need the more expensive versions of Vista to get the higher RAM addessing but these OSs require you only use signed versions of the drivers (which are older and therefore possibly slower).

I have issues getting my software systems to work with pure 64 bit systems I can only put down to MS's current implementation (MS SQL Server 2005 32 v 64 bit versions both running on MS Server 2003 64 bit OS). If MS can not get it totally right, what hope do us mere mortals have?