DirectX 9 Final

[Malabooboo]

me too. I don't know if it takes advantage of DX9 or not, but it sure doesn't stop 2001SE from running.

[The__tweaker]

Not to mutch advantage i guess, but older games run with newer dx versions so why would this app refuse..:?:

:cheers:

[dryadsoul]

Have been running Directx 9 beta since last fall no probs.
But , just having downloaded and installed Full D9 runtime
.........it sucks major shyte.......had zero probs running
all 3DMarx from 99 to 2003 versions and now it runs them
****ed up........before full Dx9 i pulled down 14000 scores
with 2100XP and Pny Geforce Ti4200 64mb card.....and now,
huh what a joke i am lucky to get anything on 2001se higher
than 5000...........but, cranking out 1400fps on 3DMx2000
and don't even wanna go there with 2003 edition :snip:

[weta]

Tweaker, sorry mate you're quite right, when I first tried to use 3DMark2001SE with DX9, I kept getting a message
telling me to install DX8.1. Many sites at the time were saying that 2001SE would not work with DX9, which is why
I questioned the validity of your statement.

Futuremark says

Q:I installed DirectX 9 and now 3DMark2001 SE tells me that I need DirectX 8.1, what gives?
A: We have noticed this behavior and the solution is quite easy. Uninstall your 3DMark2001 SE, download the latest
version (Build 330) if you don`t have it already, reboot your machine and install 3DMark2001 SE again.

[weta]

DirectX 9 will be the last DX release for a while, as Microsoft focuses resources on making bigger improvements for PC gaming in Longhorn, including introducing a standard controller.

At GDC, we had a chance to sit down with Dean Lester, the head of Microsoft's Windows Graphics and Gaming division, to hear about the software giant's major new project to make the PC a better gaming platform. Lester acknowledged that two or three years of the company's attention was focused on launching the Xbox, but he said that now it's the PC's turn. The PC gaming initiative has support from "Bill and Ballmer" on down, and it's enough of a priority that there are some 200 people working on it. Basically, Microsoft will make improving the PC gaming experience one of the central appeals of Longhorn, the next major version of Windows that's expected in about two years.

Before saying too much about where Microsoft is going, it's important to know where the platform stands. We've seen major releases of DirectX nearly every year since the standard debuted in the early days of Windows 95. Lester revealed that DirectX 9 packs enough features to be future-proof and is a temporary stopping place for DX development. ATI, Nvidia, and other hardware companies have spelled out their road maps in enough detail that DX9 has previously unannounced support for all the next-generation graphics features, and as a result Microsoft doesn't expect to release another major DirectX update for a couple of years.

As has been rumored, Longhorn will likely include a major overhaul in Window's visual presentation, which may include 3D interface elements. Lester also said it would include a special "My Games" view that would centralize all the matchmaking, control panel settings, patching tools, and game lists and make such tasks much simpler. Microsoft is working on streamlining a number of current technical trouble areas, like the installation process and display drivers, and will centralize game updates through a Windows Update-like patch server. It's also looking into making it possible to run Windows games directly from the CD without installation. Somewhat more straightforward features include adding sophisticated matchmaking into Microsoft Messenger and parental controls over which users can play certain games.

There are a couple of parts of the initiative that will require wide industry support: new system requirements for retail packages and a standard for PC controllers. The current methods for listing system requirements are confusing and don't necessarily represent what's actually needed for a game to perform well. The plan is to set up a numerical system that categorizes and groups system levels, and when this goes into effect in 2005 or so, a level-1 system might represent the current or year-old value-priced PC configurations, while level 2 and level 3 group systems that define the mainstream and high-end performance of the time. As PCs progress, new levels will be added. Lester admitted that there were some challenges ahead to get the necessarily industry support, but he also noted that Longhorn would require the sort of general rethinking of PC standards that's accompanied previous Windows generations.

One of the bigger surprises came when Lester mentioned that Microsoft is working on a standard PC controller, which would allow a more seamless conversion of cross-platform titles and generally simplify the use of PC gamepads. To get the ball rolling, Microsoft will update its Sidewinder lineup with its own next-generation PC controller, but also expects other controller makers to follow suit. The heart of the controller initiative revolves around standardizing the number, type, and layout of buttons. In contrast to how it's now necessary to program PC gamepads for specific games, the standard should make things more plug-and-play.

Given that the gaming improvements will likely be touted as a reason to upgrade to Longhorn, Microsoft's business motivations for the project are fairly evident, particularly since the company's operating business is still it's most lucrative. But that in turn means there's some pressure for the initiative to be ready on time. Although all these elements are scheduled to be ready in time for Longhorn's roughly 2005 release schedule, Lester mentioned the possibility that some parts might be released at a later time.

GameSpot

[weta]

Overview

Microsoft DirectX is a group of technologies designed to make Windows-based computers an ideal platform for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements such as full-color graphics, video, 3D animation, and rich audio. DirectX 9.0 includes security and performance updates, along with many new features across all technologies, which can be accessed by applications using the DirectX 9.0 APIs. This release also resolves an issue with DirectX 9.0 where some multiplayer games or MSN Messenger may not work correctly. A number of minor bugs were also resolved.

Download DirectX 9.0a >>

[weta]

DirectX 9.0 SDK Update- Summer 2003 (Beta 2)

This release contains updated versions of the D3DX library. The new features contained are support for shader model 2.0 with capability bits on, and new animation system updates. The support for shader model 2 allows the High-Level Shader Language (HLSL) to enable flow control via predication to reduce the amount of instructions needed to run advanced shaders. For information on what is supported in shader model 2.0, refer to the DirectX 9.0 SDK reference documentation. The animation system adds functionality for looping, callback functions, event querying, and more advanced animation cloning functionality. The Direct3D team now has a team of engineers that are specifically addressing the issue of creating development tools to make it easier for you the developer to make use of Direct3D in an optimal way. This includes many updates to the DirectX extensions for Visual Studio .Net 2003, and extended support for DirectX Texture Tool. There are several new graphic samples demonstrating how to:

High dynamic range lighting effects using floating point textures and shaders
Use spherical harmonic math functions in the simple case of a single fixed directional light
Better show a depth-of-field effect using floating point textures and shaders
And this release includes the all of the DirectX 9.0b Developer runtime enhancements.
Neowin

Download DirectX 9.0b (WARNING! This is a beta release)

[weta]

Quick Info
File Name: DirectX9b-KB825116-x86-ENU.exe - Download Size: 289 KB - Date Published: 9/4/2003 - Version: 9.0b

Overview
DirectX 9.0b was released on 7/23/03 to address the MIDI security issue identified in bulletin MS03-030. A small number of non-security fixes were also included in the release. One of these fixes caused several TV Tuner capture card/driver combinations using video formats other than NTSC (NTSC-J, PAL, SECAM) to no longer initialize correctly on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. Symptoms include loss of capture functionality and potential inability to set/retain device capture settings. This hotfix, documented further in Knowledge Base article 825116, has been issued to correct the flaw.

System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP
DirectX 9.0b installation.

Download: Non-NTSC TV Tuner Hotfix for DirectX 9.0b (KB825116)

[weta]

Next DirectX to be called 9.0c
No 9.1 yet, it seemsThe Inquirer