14 DAY TRIAL // The latest iteration of the Windows client and the next generation of the OS’ graphics technology will deliver the new ultimate power gaming platform, according to Chris Daniel, product manager for software at NVIDIA. Windows 7 and DirectX 11 bring to the table the graphics processing unit (GPU) for computing, Daniel noted. In this context, Windows 7 no longer limits the graphical processing unit to just graphics. Instead, the successor of Windows Vista allows for a marriage between the CPU and the GPU for the creation of a co-processing environment.
“What makes this co-processing possible is one of the most significant additions Windows 7 brings: DirectCompute. DirectCompute enables applications in Windows 7 to take advantage of GPU Computing to accelerate applications. DirectCompute will be distributed as part of the DirectX 11 API and is fully supported by NVIDIA’s current lineup of DirectX 10 GPUs. Murray Vince, General Manager of the OEM Division at Microsoft was at Computex to discuss the new DirectCompute API in Windows 7,” Daniel explained.
In the videos embedded at the bottom of this article you will be able to see a real-time dynamic ocean simulation demonstration that leverages DirectCompute. That will be the kind of detail and realism possible with games developed for Windows 7. Gaming developers will be able to leverage DirectCompute as an integral component of the DirectX 11 application programming interface. NVIDIA’s DirectX 10 GPUs already support DirectCompute.
“DirectCompute will enable great consumer visual and interactive experiences such as new high-quality video and photo entertainment, simplified ways to interact with your devices, faster, more responsive PCs, and even new realistic gaming effects. DirectCompute is accelerated by today’s 200 million+ DirectX 10 GPUs and future DirectX 11 GPUs,” Daniel pointed out.
Windows 7, DirectX 11, DirectCompute and GPU computing are all ingredients of what NVIDIA referred to as the “new ultimate power gaming platform.” Gamers will have new experiences available, superior to everything available in previous Windows releases. Dynamic and physical environments with real time effects will bring the gaming experience to another level.
“Next generation PC Games are moving towards much more dynamic and immersive worlds that literally come to life: walls can be torn down, glass can be shattered, trees bend in the wind, and water flows with body and force,” Daniel added.