DirectX 12 Detailed

Microsoft held a conference which outlined the benefits of the new DX12 API. Their new API will be unified to support Mobile, Desktop, and console devices (Xbox One). In a similar fashion to AMD’s Mantel, Dx12 promises a lower level of communication between software and hardware. In fact, MS claims up to 50% less CPU utilization with the new API while assigning the workload in a less taxing mannor. Here’s a basic breakdown of what we know so far:

• Better CPU Utilization
• “Console-Like” Lower Level access to hardware
• Unified across Mobile, Desktop, and Microsoft console devices
• Better GPU caching and improved multithreading on CPUs
• More power efficient especially for mobile devices
• Most DX11 capable gamers will not need to upgrade their hardware to use DX12
• Early access later this year
• Games are expected to use DX12 starting holiday 2015
• Unclear if DX12 will be Windows 8 only

Oddly enough AMD’s Corporate Vice President of Visual Computing, Raja Koduri, confirmed that they have been working very closely with Microsoft on DX12 as well. It will be interesting to see how DX12 will compare with AMD’s own Mantle API moving forward.

Furthermore, most DX11 capable gamers will NOT need new hardware as Intel confirmed their Iris GPU will support it on Haswell, AMD confirmed support for the Xbox One, and Nvidia will have DX12 capility on Fermi, Kepler, and Maxwell (4,5,6, and 7 series Nvidia GPUs). So, there you have it DX12 is looking rather promising with optimizations for existing modern DX11 desktop graphics cards and more. Currently DX12 is set for early access later this year with games expecting to utilize the new API in early 2015.

Source: pcper.com