Thursday, June 24th 2021
Microsoft DirectStorage Walled Off from Windows 10, Now Needs Windows 11 and DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU
Microsoft's ambitious DirectStorage API, which attempts to solve the storage bottleneck in games, facilitating faster game load times, has been walled off from Windows 10. To use it, games now require the new Windows 11 operating system, and a GPU that supports the DirectX 12 Ultimate API. This limits the GPU choices to NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 20-series, RTX 30-series, and AMD's Radeon RX 6000 series.
The other hardware requirement intrinsic to DirectStorage is for you to use an NVMe SSD that uses Microsoft's "Standard NVM Express Controller" driver that's included with Windows. Another hardware requirement that's baffling is that the SSD should be at least 1 TB in capacity. DirectStorage facilitates compressed game asset data to be transferred directly to the GPU from the storage device, and for it to be uncompressed by the GPU (using compute shaders), so there is a significant reduction in storage sub-system latency, and CPU utilization, impacting game load times.
Sources:
Microsoft, dampflokfreund (Reddit)
The other hardware requirement intrinsic to DirectStorage is for you to use an NVMe SSD that uses Microsoft's "Standard NVM Express Controller" driver that's included with Windows. Another hardware requirement that's baffling is that the SSD should be at least 1 TB in capacity. DirectStorage facilitates compressed game asset data to be transferred directly to the GPU from the storage device, and for it to be uncompressed by the GPU (using compute shaders), so there is a significant reduction in storage sub-system latency, and CPU utilization, impacting game load times.
103 Comments on Microsoft DirectStorage Walled Off from Windows 10, Now Needs Windows 11 and DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU
hmmmm. No pc master race comments?? ;)Indeed. By nice if a company with deep pockets like valve would actually develop a Linux distro into a true windows competitor. (Steam os is not it). If it was good I would pay for it. Be nice to break up that monopoly then maybe they would not make crap for desktops if there was other options in the market.
Most of the major productivity software is now cross platform and/or web-based.
There's a huge number of Microsoft-trained professionals that run Microsoft networks and servers for companies but Microsoft is going out of their way to snub those professionals and make enemies in the one camp other than gamers who are preventing mass-defection to other platforms. People use Windows at work because that's the existing system and the IT department knows how to manage Windows-based networks. More and more Unix servers and web-based, platform-agnostic software is making its way into on-prem business networks and that's the thin end of the wedge for Microsoft. They need to understand that their existing marketshare momentum is already being eroded and they can't afford to push their luck as they have been doing since W8.
Self-entitled creators, Gordon Gecko wannabe mofos use Mac.
Sadly, Linux is still only for a select few. And let's face it, every distro has its own flaws. M$ will reap tons of cash with half-assed builds for the time being.
I have fiber internet and there is no slow loading with any browser on my machine on windows 10 21H1adding a TPM module won't help since the 2700K is not on the supported cpu list.
fyi I am typing this from Linux Mint, its smooth as butter... loving every second of it.
I made a topic below sharing details if your interested
www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/i-just-switched-to-linux-mint-latest-beta-release-i-am-freaking-in-love-take-care-windows-10-and-11-lmao.283820/
I learned a long time ago that generalizing is wrong. Yes, stereotypes exist for a reason but things are never black or white.
hell, most of my peripherals have no linux support either except with dodgy hacks that dont work correctly
I actually also think the vendor drivers might be taking shortcuts to compromise data safety to get those boosts, I would stay on the standard nvme driver anyway which is what I am using now.
Also I can provide feedback on what I think is going on with these new i/o api's.
I think there is maybe some cheating going on.
On PS4 FF7 remake with an sata ssd in my ps4 pro, when an area was loaded I never noticed pop ins when immediately in an area after its loaded. It feels like it waits until everything is loaded before its displayed on screen.
On the PS5 it loads super duper fast but when area appears, not everything is immediately loaded so e.g. if I turn round I see things popping in as they load.
Or could a third party program do it to speed up file transfers, like teracopy?
(Used to be awesome in the XP days, before microsoft improved their shiz)
Many die-hard FOSS guys hate blobs, however.