Windows Vista Service Pack 1 delivers Direct3D 10.1

Thursday 13th December 2007, 08:08:00 PM, written by Rys

The general release of the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 beta means that we're seeing the first widespread availability of Direct3D 10.1.  That's worth a hooray if you're a graphics nerd.  Maybe.

Direct3D 10.1 is an incremental update to ten dot zero which brings a few new API features and easier programmability in places, and is a bit more strict in terms of what hardware targets must provide.

Whispers say it's the last revision to Direct3D that we'll see before DirectX 11, and if true it cements in stone the main graphics API on the PC for the next 3 years at least.  We're not so sure that's the case.

If you're keen to experiment with D3D10.1 codes as an early adopter, pick up one of AMD's excellent Radeon HD 38xxs, since NVIDIA are tardy with hardware that support it.

So with 10.1 out, it's over 1000 days until DX11 and CC shaders, eh? Who said graphics moves fast?!

Discuss on the forums

directx ± 10.1, vista, sp1, dx11

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