DirectX 11 vs DirectX 12- Which is best for Gaming ?

 DirectX 11 vs DirectX 12- Which is best for Gaming ?



What Is DirectX? 

        DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) developed by Microsoft that allows software developers to create multimedia applications, especially video games, for Microsoft Windows-based computers. It provides a set of APIs for handling multimedia tasks such as graphics, audio, input, and networking.


        DirectX was first introduced in 1995 and has since undergone several updates and revisions. It is now a core component of the Windows operating system, allowing developers to access system-level resources for multimedia applications.

Some of the primary components of DirectX include:

1.  Direct3D: A component of DirectX that provides APIs for rendering 3D graphics in video games and other multimedia applications.


2.  DirectSound: A component of DirectX that provides APIs for handling audio in multimedia applications.


3.   DirectInput: A component of DirectX that provides APIs for handling input from devices such as keyboards, mice, and game controllers.


4.  DirectPlay: A component of DirectX that provides APIs for handling networking in multiplayer games.


5.  DirectCompute: A component of DirectX that provides APIs for general-purpose computing on the GPU (graphics processing unit).

        DirectX is constantly evolving and is updated regularly to provide support for new hardware and software technologies. The latest version of DirectX, DirectX 12, was released in 2015 and provides support for new features such as advanced graphics rendering techniques and improved performance.

Overall, DirectX is a crucial component for multimedia application developers on the Windows platform, providing a standardized set of APIs for handling graphics, audio, input, networking, and other multimedia tasks.

Difference between DirectX 11 vs. DirectX 12

DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 are two different versions of the DirectX API developed by Microsoft. While they share some similarities, there are also several key differences between them. Here are some of the main differences:

1.  Performance: DirectX 12 is designed to provide better performance than DirectX 11 by reducing overhead and improving multithreading. It allows developers to use the GPU more efficiently and take advantage of multiple cores.


2.  Hardware support: DirectX 12 requires newer hardware than DirectX 11. While DirectX 11 can run on older hardware, DirectX 12 requires a graphics card that supports DirectX 12 features.


3.  CPU usage: DirectX 11 relies heavily on the CPU to process commands, while DirectX 12 offloads more work to the GPU. This reduces CPU usage, allowing for better performance in games and other multimedia applications.


4.  Memory management: DirectX 12 provides more control over memory management than DirectX 11, allowing developers to optimize memory usage and reduce overhead.


5.  Cross-platform support: DirectX 11 is only available on Windows, while DirectX 12 has been ported to Xbox One and is available on Windows 10 and later versions.

        Overall, DirectX 12 is designed to provide better performance and more efficient use of resources than DirectX 11, but it requires newer hardware and more advanced programming techniques. DirectX 11, on the other hand, is more widely supported and can run on older hardware, making it a more accessible option for developers.


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