DirectX

DirectX is the API (Application Programming Interface) function allows applications, such as games, to "talk" with your hardware. DirectX itself consisted of several versions of each of which has different versions.

DirectX act as translator between the hardware and software. Instead of programmers to create special programs for each of the hardware, the programmers create programs for the operating system. Later, the driver will translate what is desired by the program, and will access the hardware as desired. The advantage of this technique is the programmer does not need to know the specification of all the existing hardware. API will convert to what the programmer wants to be a command that is compatible with the hardware used.

DirectX is the most popular API for the video card, and you are encouraged to use the latest version of DirectX. Sure you want to know the difference between the version of DirectX is and why it is always advisable to use the DirectX version of the most recent. In general, the latest version allows the system (Windows) to recognize the latest features in the video card. Features so that it can be used, and the results improve 3D performance and image quality.

Since its emergence in the year 256 GeForce 1999, GPU began to take part in the calculation of 3D objects, which was conducted by the processor. Section was calculated transformation and lightning (T & L). Therefore, DirectX 7 was launched to recognize this feature and help the process.

Switch to the next version, DirectX 8.0 introduces what is called the Pixel Shader and Vertex Shader. 3D objects created using hundreds or even thousands of polygon, such as triangle and square shapes. In the polygon will be given the surface or color to form 3D objects.

With Vertex Shader, 3D applications can change the characteristics of each vertex of each polygon. While Pixel Shader provides 3D applications the ability to change the characteristics of each pixel of each polygon. Before DirectX 8.0, an ability that can be done only as change the character of the entire polygon.
In DirectX 9.0 introduced Shader 2.0. This shader capabilities further improved by increasing the number of instructions. Likewise, the introduction of DirectX 9.0c shader 3.0.

In that introduces DirectX 10 Shader 4.0 bring significant changes to the GPU architecture. Until the GPU which only supports DirectX 9.0c, chip has a unit pixel and vertex processing different. So, if the unit was working full-pixel and vertex is idle, then the pixel shader instructions that there should be queued.

On the GPU which already supports DirectX 10, the processing unit was made into a universal that can be used for pixel or vertex processing. This is called the Unified Shader Architecture. DirectX is also introduced in more features that allow the 3D calculations of the processor to GPU.

In the latest version of DirectX or DirectX 11, included a variety of other major features. Examples of support GPGPU or General-Purpose computing on Graphics Processing Units. This feature will allow the GPU to perform general computing is usually handled by the processor. In addition there are also features that will improve game performance in exploiting multicore processors.