PC gaming has been synonymous with Microsoft Windows almost since the very beginning, with the operating system serving as a gateway for all kinds of experiences. Microsoft's support for PC gaming has seen its ups and downs through history. However, it's undergone a resurgence in recent years with the return of several key IPs like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Age of Empires, the introduction of Game Pass and closer integration with the company's Xbox consoles.
It's now looking to take the next big step in its PC support with Windows 11, its latest operating system that features several exclusive features aimed at gaming.
The OS is out later this year and there's still quite a lot to be showcased. Nevertheless, let's take a look at all of its gaming-related features revealed till now.
RTX card so far.I'm a little confused. What are the requirements for this? Am I gonna be able to use this on RAID0 SSD's?
DirectStorage doesnt require an RTX card.RTX card so far.
Well you need to supported GPU as far as I know, and I am not sure that AMD stated that their card will support it. Or am I imagine things, you still needs something to decompress the data, so it's not just a DMA to GPU VRAM....DirectStorage doesnt require an RTX card.
You are thinking of RTXIO which leverages DirectStorage.
Well you need to supported GPU as far as I know, and I am not sure that AMD stated that their card will support it. Or am I imagine things, you still needs something to decompress the data, so it's not just a DMA to GPU VRAM....
Systems must also include a DirectX 12 Ultimate supporting GPU, like an AMD Radeon RX 6000 series, or Nvidia GeForce RTX20 or RTX30 series GPU.
Well it's supported in Xbox, so it's only logical, however AMD PC drivers...
So it should be supported. I am still trying to figure out if the 1tb requirement exists.
MS themselves said DX12U compatible cards such as RX6000, RTX20 and RTX30.....Intel DX12U cards are also likely going to be supported.Well you need to supported GPU as far as I know, and I am not sure that AMD stated that their card will support it. Or am I imagine things, you still needs something to decompress the data, so it's not just a DMA to GPU VRAM....
Sorry missed it.MS themselves said DX12U compatible cards such as RX6000, RTX20 and RTX30.....Intel DX12U cards are also likely going to be supported.
It doesn't. Not anymore.I am still trying to figure out if the 1tb requirement exists.
I only found the one quote but is a GTX 970 dx12u compatible? In which case, we do have two differing statements.It doesn't. Not anymore.
As for the DirectStorage GPU requirement - any GPU with shader model 6.0 support will work according to MS. Meaning even if you have something like a GTX 970 in your PC and an NVMe SSD, you will be able to take advantage of DStorage in supported games.
GTX 970 isn't, but you don't need a DX12U capable GPU for DirectStorage.I only found the one quote but is a GTX 970 dx12u compatible? In which case, we do have two differing statements.
You got an official link?
GTX 970 supports shader model 6.4.
- DirectStorage requires an NVMe SSD to store and run games that use the "Standard NVM Express Controller" driver and a DirectX12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support.
Getting an error page but think i clocked onto the requirements changed to DX12 agility.DirectStorage isn't exclusive to DX12U GPUs.
Windows 11/DirectStorage Requirements | microsoft.com
GTX 970 supports shader model 6.4.
“DirectStorage requires an NVME SSD to store and play games that use the 'Standard NVM Express Controller' and DirectX12 GPU with support for Shader Model 6.0.
Yeah looks like its just DX12 and Shader model 6 from that newer requirements page.Getting an error page but think i clocked onto the requirements changed to DX12 agility.
You dont think Microsoft DirectStorage will only work through Microsoft DirectX 12?Making it only support the 6000/2000/3000 series is absolute idiotic.
Also not sure if AMD will care for DX12 to start with, they could very well make a updated version of vulkan with there own requirements. i highly doubt directstorage will only work through DX12 to start with.
Here's what microsoft stated.
This 2nd Gen CPU (iirc) is from 2011, and going by core count/speed/ memory bandwidth and cache sizes should easily play games, as would any of the Xeon 8 or 10 core variants from the same time period or newer, and none of them had motherboards with TPM 2.0 and are too old to have Intel® Trusted Execution Technology.How are you planning to play games on a system that has neither? Or are you one of those 2500k forever folks?
Yeah looks like its just DX12 and Shader model 6 from that newer requirements page.
Which is good more GPUs can get access though I wonder how worth while it would be on say a GTX 1050.
You dont think Microsoft DirectStorage will only work through Microsoft DirectX 12?
Im sure games that use Vulkan as their API and need fast loading will have some other way "ported" version of DirectStorage, but it wont be DirectStorage as thats a DirectX feature.
wow these console peasants are getting uppity....I'm excited for PC users to be able to finally use their SSD to it's true potential. Welcome to the club guys!
wow these console peasants are getting uppity....
i've been using an SSD since 2008 and these console crackpots have an SSD in their console for a few months....yeah welcome to the club
face the truth: when Windows 10/11 gets DirectStorage it'll make your little toy consoles severely outdated. you think a 5.5GB/s SSD is good? HAHAHAHAHA....we're on 7.1GB/s now and next year will be going to 14.2GB/s. the PS5 is already struggling to keep up with PC gaming.
Is an i7 9700k too old a CPU to be supported for direct storage?
DirectStorage API is reliant on the GPU and its core function itself is to bypass CPU for GPU decompression, so it's more than fine.Is an i7 9700k too old a CPU to be supported for direct storage?
Nice, thank ya kindly sir.It's fine, it's Windows 11 compatible too
DirectStorage specifically avoids relying on your CPU.Is an i7 9700k too old a CPU to be supported for direct storage?
I can't imagine the 1 TB nvme requirement is real and it sounds more like a recommendation. Series S works with DirectStorage and runs off 512 gb. Granted, it's an Xbox and not a Windows PC, but still. Same underlying tech.
It doesn't. Not anymore.
Yeah, that's the one. I know the point is to utilize the GPU over CPU for faster storage decompression, but I remember seeing somewhere, probably erroneously, that for some reason support started at the gen directly after mine for it, but I remember thinking that that didn't make sense if it was a GPU focused technology for NVME SSD's, but I swear I saw something like that. Don't know how or why, but just wanted to clarify. I have an RTX 2080 and a 2 tb 970 Samsung Evo as well, so I assume the rest of the configuration should be fine. Anyway, thanks for your time and answers.DirectStorage specifically avoids relying on your CPU.
P.S The 9700K as in a top CPU from a generation ago?
Oh weird. I thought direct storage was new. Right now, PC games can't make use of that 7.1GB/s drive yet, but PS5 sure can since last year. So yeah, consoles have the advantage right now and PC WILL surpass it soon enough. So I say it again... welcome to the club guys!wow these console peasants are getting uppity....
i've been using an SSD since 2008 and these console crackpots have an SSD in their console for a few months....yeah welcome to the club
face the truth: when Windows 10/11 gets DirectStorage it'll make your little toy consoles severely outdated. you think a 5.5GB/s SSD is good? HAHAHAHAHA....we're on 7.1GB/s now and next year will be going to 14.2GB/s. the PS5 is already struggling to keep up with PC gaming.
Cool, but welcome to the club with outdated zen 2 CPU, outdated GDDR6 and weak RDNA2 GPU.Oh weird. I thought direct storage was new. Right now, PC games can't make use of that 7.1GB/s drive yet, but PS5 sure can since last year. So yeah, consoles have the advantage right now and PC WILL surpass it soon enough. So I say it again... welcome to the club guys!
Release games?Is there anything Phil can't do? Praise be.
I'm excited for PC users to be able to finally use their SSD to it's true potential. Welcome to the club guys!
wow these console peasants are getting uppity....
i've been using an SSD since 2008 and these console crackpots have an SSD in their console for a few months....yeah welcome to the club
face the truth: when Windows 10/11 gets DirectStorage it'll make your little toy consoles severely outdated. you think a 5.5GB/s SSD is good? HAHAHAHAHA....we're on 7.1GB/s now and next year will be going to 14.2GB/s. the PS5 is already struggling to keep up with PC gaming.
DirectStorage specifically avoids relying on your CPU.
P.S The 9700K as in a top CPU from a generation ago?
Good then, more or less what I expect.
People seem to think its some sort of a major change, its just a solid service pack with a lot of visual changes, which are needed.
yeah exactly. as they promised, Windows 10 will be the last Windows... this Windows 11 naming is really just A: PR stuff and B: to easily get across which version of windows will be supported on newer hardware.
I mean try to tell a normie PC user that he will need a Zen+ CPU or enable TPM if he wants to use Windows 10 version 21H2-21201. it's way easier to just say that Windows 11 needs this instead of a certain Windows 10 version.
I think they really didn't think this through back when they came up with the brilliant idea to have Windows 10 be the only windows going forward, since it is way harder to actually get across big version differences and hardware compatibility if they are all called Windows 10... and they must have known that at some point newer Windows 10 version will no longer support old hardware that originally ran early Windows 10 versions
They didn't think it trough but that's nothing new lol
Ultimately it will work out, there will be some push back, like always, but give it a year or two and most people will be running it. Like you say, it will be extremely difficult to get non techy people to understand all this, so pushing it as a new version is the way. Its also a good way to clear out old hardware to be honest.. I always look at what Apple have done with iOS, its a perfect example as to how things should be done when it comes to upgrades, and yes, I know they have full control of the hardware, and even in that case, they have to eventually phase out older hardware. I'm not sure, but I think they finally cut off the iphone 6.
Microsoft have done a pretty good job at supporting older hardware in the past 20 years or so, it has to be said, and now maybe its time to move the bar up a little bit and using windows 11 to do it might not be such a bad idea.
Why not 7000 and below?Directstorage starts with the 8000 desktop cpu's for intel. So 9000 is supported.
Why not 7000 and below?
Why not 7000 and below?
Why not 7000 and below?
Not spend papa Nadellas money?Is there anything Phil can't do? Praise be.
It's just stupid W11 requirements. And this system works even on Core 2 Duo, I believe Linus tested this...
No clue, its what there requirement lists ssays.
DStorage is coming to Windows 10 too, this thread is literally about that... So I don't see how 7th gen Intel and below aren't supported or am I missing something?most likely safety reasons. they want to make sure they rid themselves from old issues to have a clean slate going forward
Not spend papa Nadellas money?
I'd rather they spend that money to improve the surface line and repair their known issues.If anyone should be spending, Spencer should def be one of them.