Does DirectX only improve games?

Does a good graphics card only improve graphics performance in games? What
about other PC applications. I guess that DVD playback is improved but what
about other apps like MediaPlayer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc?

If I understand correctly, the FX range of cards directly supports DirectX
v9 in hardware? If so, doesn't this improve overall system performance?

Bobby

"Bobby" wrote in message ...
Does a good graphics card only improve graphics performance in games? What
about other PC applications. I guess that DVD playback is improved but what
about other apps like MediaPlayer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc?

Yes. MediaPlayer utilises the graphics hardware through DirectX to decode mpgs, and avi, and wmv files. Even
when rendering windows on to the desktop and dragging them about, the Windows OS makes use of the graphics
hardware provided it is equipped to do the necessary operations. Otherwise DirectX's hardware emulation layer
(HEL) is used, which means operations are done in software.

If I understand correctly, the FX range of cards directly supports DirectX
v9 in hardware? If so, doesn't this improve overall system performance?

Bobby

They do support dx9, but unless the software makes use of the extra functionality dx9 provides then it won't
improve system performance.

Tony.

--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz

"The Black Wibble" wrote in message
...
"Bobby" wrote in message
...
Does a good graphics card only improve graphics performance in games?
What
about other PC applications. I guess that DVD playback is improved but
what
about other apps like MediaPlayer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc?

Yes. MediaPlayer utilises the graphics hardware through DirectX to decode
mpgs, and avi, and wmv files. Even
when rendering windows on to the desktop and dragging them about, the
Windows OS makes use of the graphics
Desktop Graphics accelerators existed before directx was invented. Just
because the desktop uses the graphics hardware dosn't mean directx is
involved. Old operating system would need rewriting for directx to be used
for desktop functions.

The rumour mill for longhorn implies that Directx, or it's replacement, will
be at it's heart and then your statement will be correct.

They do support dx9, but unless the software makes use of the extra
functionality dx9 provides then it won't
improve system performance.

Cheers Tony. I presume Office 2003 uses the latest version of DirectX? If
so, then surely nVidia FX drives Office faster?

Hey, I like nVidia cards so I'm looking for reasons to upgrade to nVidia
rather than ATI. :-)

"Bobby" wrote in message
...

Cheers Tony. I presume Office 2003 uses the latest version of DirectX? If
so, then surely nVidia FX drives Office faster?

Hey, I like nVidia cards so I'm looking for reasons to upgrade to nVidia
rather than ATI. :-)

ATI's Radeon 9500 and above also support DirectX 9 in hardware. You're
going to need a different reason to choose nVidia. :-)

JB

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 12:13:46 -0000, "Justin Baker"
wrote:

"Bobby" wrote in message
...

Cheers Tony. I presume Office 2003 uses the latest version of DirectX? If
so, then surely nVidia FX drives Office faster?

Hey, I like nVidia cards so I'm looking for reasons to upgrade to nVidia
rather than ATI. :-)

ATI's Radeon 9500 and above also support DirectX 9 in hardware. You're
going to need a different reason to choose nVidia. :-)


Uneducated Troll.........ignore..........

John Lewis

JB

Nvidia is more fun to say ...... n . v . i. d. i. a
"John Lewis" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 12:13:46 -0000, "Justin Baker"
wrote:

"Bobby" wrote in message
...

Cheers Tony. I presume Office 2003 uses the latest version of DirectX?
If
so, then surely nVidia FX drives Office faster?

Hey, I like nVidia cards so I'm looking for reasons to upgrade to
nVidia
rather than ATI. :-)

ATI's Radeon 9500 and above also support DirectX 9 in hardware. You're
going to need a different reason to choose nVidia. :-)


Uneducated Troll.........ignore..........

John Lewis

JB

"Bobby" wrote in message ...
They do support dx9, but unless the software makes use of the extra
functionality dx9 provides then it won't improve system performance.

Cheers Tony. I presume Office 2003 uses the latest version of DirectX?

Ha! Not that it matters. :-) As far as graphics rendering goes, office software only uses the standard 2D
windows point & click environment shared by Notepad and Windows Explorer. I suspect little has changed in the
simple 2D functions most versions of DirectX offer, and any reasonably modern graphics card does an excellent
job at accelerating 2D graphical operations.

If so, then surely nVidia FX drives Office faster?

It's the speed in rendering complex 3D models that makes various graphics cards stand out from one another.
Although I've never had office software (as it bores me to tears), I imagine Office 2003 has no use for that
sort of computation.

Hey, I like nVidia cards so I'm looking for reasons to upgrade to nVidia
rather than ATI. :-)

Can't help you there becuase I've only ever had two graphics card -- a Cirrus Logic 5465 (4MB) and the one I
have now. All I know is that my FX5900 has been problem free and handles brilliantly every graphics intensive
game I throw at it.

Tony.

--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz

"John Russell" wrote in message
...

"The Black Wibble" wrote in message
Yes. MediaPlayer utilises the graphics hardware through DirectX to decode
mpgs, and avi, and wmv files. Even when rendering windows on to the desktop
and dragging them about, the Windows OS makes use of the graphics

Desktop Graphics accelerators existed before directx was invented. Just
because the desktop uses the graphics hardware dosn't mean directx is
involved. Old operating system would need rewriting for directx to be used
for desktop functions.

The rumour mill for longhorn implies that Directx, or it's replacement, will
be at it's heart and then your statement will be correct.

Are there any accelerated functions in graphics hardware that Windows 95/98/2000/XP bypasses DirectX to
ultilise?

Tony.

--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz

John Lewis wrote:

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 12:13:46 -0000, "Justin Baker"
wrote:

"Bobby" wrote in message
...

Cheers Tony. I presume Office 2003 uses the latest version of DirectX?
If so, then surely nVidia FX drives Office faster?

Hey, I like nVidia cards so I'm looking for reasons to upgrade to nVidia
rather than ATI. :-)

ATI's Radeon 9500 and above also support DirectX 9 in hardware. You're
going to need a different reason to choose nVidia. :-)


Uneducated Troll.........ignore..........

Is it your contention that the 9500 and above do _not_ support DirectX 9 in
hardware or am I just too tired right now to figure out your point?

John Lewis

JB



--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)