http://venturebeat.com/2015/01/21/m...rformance-is-up-to-50-better-than-directx-11/
Great news for gamers all around. The Xbox One just keeps getting better, and that gap keeps getting smaller.
Microsoft: DirectX 12 performance up to 50% better than DirectX 11
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http://venturebeat.com/2015/01/21/m...rformance-is-up-to-50-better-than-directx-11/
Great news for gamers all around. The Xbox One just keeps getting better, and that gap keeps getting smaller.
Looks like we'll find out the reality soon 
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonev...social&utm_channel=Technology&linkId=11877533
Test The Impact Of DirectX 12 On PC Gaming With Upcoming 3DMark Update
DX11 versus DX12 versus Mantle: FIGHT!
If you’ve followed this column or any other site focused on PC gaming, you’ve no doubt read about Futuremark’s 3DMark, a benchmarking application that tests the gaming performance of your system by putting your CPU and GPU through some rigorous graphical and computing calisthenics. And you’ve probably heard Microsoft's repeated claims about the forthcoming DirectX 12 built into Windows 10 — the API that powers the majority of PC games (there’s also AMD’s Mantle) — and how it will supercharge PC gaming by letting developers wring more power from those components.
Today during a Windows 10 press conference, Microsoft reiterated the promise that for CPU-bound games (such as the majority of MMOs) DirectX12 will deliver up to 50% better performance. DX12 will allegedly also use half the power consumption of DX11, which could mean more devices we view as traditionally “mobile” would be able to run high-end games with lower-end hardware.
I’m especially excited about the potential performance gains we might see on Intel integrated graphics and APUs from AMD.
A forthcoming update to popular benchmarking suite 3DMark will allow you to test DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 side by side.
In the very near future we’ll get to start testing those claims for ourselves with an updated version of 3DMark which introduces an “API Overhead Feature Test.”
Every game makes thousands of “draw calls” per frame of animation. And as Futuremark explains, “each one creates performance-limiting overhead for the CPU. APIs with less overhead can handle more draw calls and produce richer visuals.” And that’s exactly what DX12 is shooting for.
What the API Overhead test will do is compare the performance of DirectX 12, DirectX 11, and even AMD’s Mantle, presumable by pushing an increasingly large amount of draw calls to your CPU. You’ll be able to see how many your rig can handle using each API before the frame rate drops below 30fps.
(Below, 3DMark’s “Firestrike” is one of the tests I use almost daily to test the capabilities of gaming rigs and graphics cards.)
The demo you may have seen today during Microsoft’s Windows 10 event used this very same 3DMark demo. On the surface the results were impressive, though we didn’t see any scores, direct comparison results, or included hardware. When testers and gamers get this test into their own hands, and data is aggregated, it should begin showing us quite a bit about the future of PC gaming on DirectX 12, and the limitations or benefits of certain hardware combinations.
A Futuremark representative tells me that the API Overhead feature test will be added to the next free update of the 3DMark suite.They’re hoping this can be immediately after Microsoft releases the new build of Windows 10 next week (late January). That means assuming you own 3DMark and have access to ongoing Windows 10 Technical Preview builds, you’ll get to see DX11 versus DX12 in action for yourself.
If not, rest assured that I’ll be testing it extensively on the hardware at Evangelho HQ.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonev...social&utm_channel=Technology&linkId=11877533
Test The Impact Of DirectX 12 On PC Gaming With Upcoming 3DMark Update
DX11 versus DX12 versus Mantle: FIGHT!
If you’ve followed this column or any other site focused on PC gaming, you’ve no doubt read about Futuremark’s 3DMark, a benchmarking application that tests the gaming performance of your system by putting your CPU and GPU through some rigorous graphical and computing calisthenics. And you’ve probably heard Microsoft's repeated claims about the forthcoming DirectX 12 built into Windows 10 — the API that powers the majority of PC games (there’s also AMD’s Mantle) — and how it will supercharge PC gaming by letting developers wring more power from those components.
Today during a Windows 10 press conference, Microsoft reiterated the promise that for CPU-bound games (such as the majority of MMOs) DirectX12 will deliver up to 50% better performance. DX12 will allegedly also use half the power consumption of DX11, which could mean more devices we view as traditionally “mobile” would be able to run high-end games with lower-end hardware.
I’m especially excited about the potential performance gains we might see on Intel integrated graphics and APUs from AMD.
A forthcoming update to popular benchmarking suite 3DMark will allow you to test DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 side by side.
In the very near future we’ll get to start testing those claims for ourselves with an updated version of 3DMark which introduces an “API Overhead Feature Test.”
Every game makes thousands of “draw calls” per frame of animation. And as Futuremark explains, “each one creates performance-limiting overhead for the CPU. APIs with less overhead can handle more draw calls and produce richer visuals.” And that’s exactly what DX12 is shooting for.
What the API Overhead test will do is compare the performance of DirectX 12, DirectX 11, and even AMD’s Mantle, presumable by pushing an increasingly large amount of draw calls to your CPU. You’ll be able to see how many your rig can handle using each API before the frame rate drops below 30fps.
(Below, 3DMark’s “Firestrike” is one of the tests I use almost daily to test the capabilities of gaming rigs and graphics cards.)
The demo you may have seen today during Microsoft’s Windows 10 event used this very same 3DMark demo. On the surface the results were impressive, though we didn’t see any scores, direct comparison results, or included hardware. When testers and gamers get this test into their own hands, and data is aggregated, it should begin showing us quite a bit about the future of PC gaming on DirectX 12, and the limitations or benefits of certain hardware combinations.
A Futuremark representative tells me that the API Overhead feature test will be added to the next free update of the 3DMark suite.They’re hoping this can be immediately after Microsoft releases the new build of Windows 10 next week (late January). That means assuming you own 3DMark and have access to ongoing Windows 10 Technical Preview builds, you’ll get to see DX11 versus DX12 in action for yourself.
If not, rest assured that I’ll be testing it extensively on the hardware at Evangelho HQ.
Oh, this will hurt some here and I'm ok with that.
Who. Specifically who will it hurt. Because if you're talking about the people who have been trying to preach reason about what Dx12 will do and won't do, I don't suspect as many of them will be as hurt as you think. There are two schools of thought here about DX12:
1. People who say that it will change everything, and make the X1 leap far ahead of the bad, nasty PS4
2. People who say that it won't do that.
I imagine you're in camp 1, and the people you think will get hurt are in camp 2. But what I think you and most of those in camp 1 don't realize is, those of us in camp 2 are excited about the changes DX12 will bring, but realistic about it at the same time.
Here's the deal: it WILL improve performance for CPU-bound games. That's not in doubt. It's finally addressing an issue that's existed in GPU-based gaming for a while, whether on PC or console, by allowing multi-threaded communication between CPU and GPU. That's great. It WON'T "bridge the gap" with PS4, because it's an API. Sony will have their own version of it soon, most likely based on Mantle. Their hardware is just as capable of that kind of multi-threaded communication as the X1's. It won't make up for the hardware differences between the two boxes.
Things will look and play really cool as a result of this announcement. But for those who are looking at this as the final step in the "X1 MUST BE MORE POWERFUL THAN PS4" journey, you're looking in the wrong place.
If you're not one of those delusional lunatics, then I apologize.
I accept your apology. Now then back to those that will cry themselves to sleep over this...
Microsoft has had great success with Xbox Live, and it's now time to extend that to phones, tablets, and desktop PCs. From phone to tablet to console to PC, Phil Spencer has promised that the gaming experience will be great for everyone on any Windows 10 device.
With DirectX 12, the company is offering game developers access "closer to the metal" than ever before, allowing them to tap into the full potential of today's powerful multi-core processors. Games will be able to run up to 50% faster even on the current DirectX 11 hardware. That will be especially important for open world games, which tend to be very CPU-bound.
Spencer showed off the benefits of the new game programming API by displaying an upcoming Futuremark demo running on two machines with the same hardware configuration. One of the computers ran the demo using DirectX 11, and as the level of graphical complexity and detail was increased, it slowed down to a standstill.
The machine with DirectX 12 handled the stress very well, managing to maintain decent framerate even with many more graphical elements to display in the cityscape scene. Here's a video to show you the difference:
Performance is not the only improvement, as the power consumption has been reduced as well, which is good news for mobile gaming, as batteries struggle to power phones and tablets for a few hours of play at best.
With DirectX 12, the biggest surprise is cross-platform gaming. Spencer announced that Unity has adopted the new API, and games such as Fable Legends will allow people on PC and Xbox One to play together. He also revealed that Unreal Engine will also support the new standard in upcoming games.
http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-10-gaming-on-steroids-with-directx-12
DX12 and the power of the cloud will make the X1 at least 50 times more powerful than the PS4.
Proof here: http://wccftech.com/phil-spencer-directx-1-xbox-one-hardware-graphics/
it is a bold statement to make, but how often can people boast "up to 50% CPU performance"?
Lets celebrate that AI is going to get better!
For those that would rather focus on the negatives... Enjoy the wait.
Lets celebrate that AI is going to get better!
For those that would rather focus on the negatives... Enjoy the wait.
I don't consider the power gap that large and I went into the purchase decision knowing I purchased the weaker system. With that said 50% is a pretty impressive performance gain. That demo was brief but it showed the Dx11 screen grimding to a halt while the DX12 screen kept up. Pretty cool as I feel like we really have not seen next gen yet. Get those unreal engine 4 games going.
I bought the X1 because I feel that the exclusives trounce the competition's. Honestly, if all I could play was FH2... worth it. Too bad I've been distracted by so many other great games to spend the time it deserves.
All those who picked hardware because of a spec sheet must feel burned. So burned that they will even say things like Sony will catch up to DX12 with similar software. Lol, Sony catch up to MS with software, eh? Not in our lifetimes. Not in our lifetimes.
All those who picked hardware because of a spec sheet must feel burned. So burned that they will even say things like Sony will catch up to DX12 with similar software. Lol, Sony catch up to MS with software, eh? Not in our lifetimes. Not in our lifetimes.
Yeah the XBO software improves its performance and the PS4 software is stuck and not going to improve.
Looks like we'll find out the reality soon
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonev...social&utm_channel=Technology&linkId=11877533
Test The Impact Of DirectX 12 On PC Gaming With Upcoming 3DMark Update
DX11 versus DX12 versus Mantle: FIGHT!
If you’ve followed this column or any other site focused on PC gaming, you’ve no doubt read about Futuremark’s 3DMark, a benchmarking application that tests the gaming performance of your system by putting your CPU and GPU through some rigorous graphical and computing calisthenics. And you’ve probably heard Microsoft's repeated claims about the forthcoming DirectX 12 built into Windows 10 — the API that powers the majority of PC games (there’s also AMD’s Mantle) — and how it will supercharge PC gaming by letting developers wring more power from those components.
Today during a Windows 10 press conference, Microsoft reiterated the promise that for CPU-bound games (such as the majority of MMOs) DirectX12 will deliver up to 50% better performance. DX12 will allegedly also use half the power consumption of DX11, which could mean more devices we view as traditionally “mobile” would be able to run high-end games with lower-end hardware.
I’m especially excited about the potential performance gains we might see on Intel integrated graphics and APUs from AMD.
A forthcoming update to popular benchmarking suite 3DMark will allow you to test DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 side by side.
In the very near future we’ll get to start testing those claims for ourselves with an updated version of 3DMark which introduces an “API Overhead Feature Test.”
Every game makes thousands of “draw calls” per frame of animation. And as Futuremark explains, “each one creates performance-limiting overhead for the CPU. APIs with less overhead can handle more draw calls and produce richer visuals.” And that’s exactly what DX12 is shooting for.
What the API Overhead test will do is compare the performance of DirectX 12, DirectX 11, and even AMD’s Mantle, presumable by pushing an increasingly large amount of draw calls to your CPU. You’ll be able to see how many your rig can handle using each API before the frame rate drops below 30fps.
(Below, 3DMark’s “Firestrike” is one of the tests I use almost daily to test the capabilities of gaming rigs and graphics cards.)
The demo you may have seen today during Microsoft’s Windows 10 event used this very same 3DMark demo. On the surface the results were impressive, though we didn’t see any scores, direct comparison results, or included hardware. When testers and gamers get this test into their own hands, and data is aggregated, it should begin showing us quite a bit about the future of PC gaming on DirectX 12, and the limitations or benefits of certain hardware combinations.
A Futuremark representative tells me that the API Overhead feature test will be added to the next free update of the 3DMark suite.They’re hoping this can be immediately after Microsoft releases the new build of Windows 10 next week (late January). That means assuming you own 3DMark and have access to ongoing Windows 10 Technical Preview builds, you’ll get to see DX11 versus DX12 in action for yourself.
If not, rest assured that I’ll be testing it extensively on the hardware at Evangelho HQ.
What about camp 3? People who say that the performance gap, while real (hardware wise), really isn't that far apart, and that while the X1 will never surpass the PS4 in graphics potential due to the better GPU/Ram in the PS4, it will be close enough that it won't matter.
It's great that we will "some day" have all these great features and performance improvements added to the PS4 and the improved dev kits. That is fine and dandy, and we should all embrace it. SOME DAY. What day? MS keeps improving their development kits throughout this past year, and has shown us they are still continuing to do so, and have already given us REAL updates, REAL performance gains, and now with DX12, adding more.
I hope the PS4 does do ALL OF THAT, some day. What day we are asking. Where have they said they are giving us the DX12 update (their version of it). I haven't seen anything from Sony stating they are doing that?
All of this. I already have experience with Mantle and I will tell you that it is no miracle as a lot of these Xbox One fanboys are touting. They legitimately have no idea what they are talking about. The most notable gains will be in CPU bound games. In non CPU bound games (If Mantle is any indication) you are seeing at best 10-15% increase in frame rates. Mantle benefited low end CPU users the most in CPU bound games, in which the Xbox One CPU would be considered mega low end.
The CPU in the Xbox One and the PS4 (though the PS4 is behind the X1 in CPU) are complete bottlenecks. The CPU hardware will never change, and no amount of software will change the physical aspects of the CPU. It can improve the efficiency of the CPU usage in games (as seen by DX12), but it is still a bottleneck.
Which one did you test? Most benchmarks I'm looking at show the AMDs getting bigger gains, and Intel's getting only slight bumps like you mentioned.
If AMDs are getting slightly bigger gains, it could be beneficial. Even 15% could be meaningful, it could be enough to go from a slightly choppy game to a closer to stable frame rate.
I said that weak CPU's gained the most, aka AMD CPU's aka the Jaguar in Xbox One, they have awful IPC. But it's not as mind blowing as fanboys are making it out to be.
That was announced yesterday
And this article is pretty good as well:
http://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/01/22/staying-ahead-with-directx-12/
STAYING AHEAD WITH DIRECTX 12
Last year at GDC Microsoft announced DirectX 12. During yesterday’s Windows 10 media briefing, Phil Spencer of Microsoft mentioned that Unity is going to add support for DirectX 12. Here are some more details we can share with you today!
Direct3D 12 is a new graphics API with the promise of reducing driver overhead and allowing better use of multi-core systems. In those aspects it is comparable to AMD’s Mantle and Apple’s Metal.
The architecture of Direct3D 12 differs greatly from that of Direct3D 11 both in the way memory is accessed and GPU commands are issued. Rather than having a single context on which to set states and issue draw calls, we can now build command lists on multiple threads and retain them over multiple frames if necessary, saving precious CPU cycles and eliminating the dreaded my-render-thread-does-most-of-the-work problem. This has the potential to both reduce total frame time and increase battery life.
3DMark have ported one of their benchmarks to DirectX 12 and reported a 50% improvement in CPU utilization. See this blog post for more details.
Tested on GIGABYTE BRIX Pro (Intel Core i7-4770R + Iris Pro Graphics 5200)
Intel have also demonstrated what can be done on a Surface Pro 3 with Intel HD4400 graphics. This blog post has all the details.
Close up of another CPU/GPU power graph taken during a locked framerate Intel Asteroids demo showing over 50% CPU power usage reduction
Direct3D 12 is expected to run on all Microsoft devices: mobiles, laptops, desktops and Xbox One, all of which Unity already supports. It is only logical for us to adopt the new universal API. However a significant amount of work is required to reap all the benefits this architectural switch can provide and that is why we have started early. Over the past several months we have worked closely with Microsoft to bring Unity to DirectX 12 and our initial port is now passing over 95% of our graphics tests.
Passing all the tests is only the first step. Once we are happy with the implementation feature-wise we shall move on to the new features of Direct3D 12 and invest heavily in optimization. There is ongoing work to allow our renderer to better use multiple cores which will apply directly to Direct3D 12 and hopefully provide the promised performance improvement. Right now, it’s too early to discuss performance due to the alpha state of Windows 10 and DirectX 12 drivers, however we are happy with the numbers we’re seeing.
Both Nvidia and Intel have given us ample support, and we now have code running on both Nvidia and Intel hardware. All of our demos are behaving well on Direct3D 12. That makes us very confident that your games will too.
Currently our plan is to release DirectX 12 support early in the Unity 5 cycle (well in time for the release of Windows 10), and to target standalone builds and Windows Store Apps first. Then we’ll follow up with Windows Phone and Xbox One support, aligning with the plans Microsoft has for their platforms.
Keep checking our blog for more DirectX 12 news. We should have more announcements in the next few months. In the meantime you can find more general information on the subject on the Microsoft DirectX 12 blog.
Well, Camp 2 and your Camp 3 aren't mutually exclusive. As many respected developers have stated, at the end of the day, the disparity won't be nearly as much as it was made out to be. I think that the big issues near launch were more due to rushed dev kits and the SDKs not being finalized. And a lot of stuff coming out now (pre DX12) seems to validate that view. Still, there is a hardware disparity, and to some people, having the perceived performance leader is a big deal regardless of what the actual performance gap is. (it's how the original Xbox got some traction, after all). If you compare Uncharted 4 gameplay, for example, to Quantum Break gameplay, they both look pretty f-ing amazing and I don't know how you could say one was better than the other; both are better than last gen and what we're seeing now.
What about camp 3? People who say that the performance gap, while real (hardware wise), really isn't that far apart, and that while the X1 will never surpass the PS4 in graphics potential due to the better GPU/Ram in the PS4, it will be close enough that it won't matter.
It's great that we will "some day" have all these great features and performance improvements added to the PS4 and the improved dev kits. That is fine and dandy, and we should all embrace it. SOME DAY. What day? MS keeps improving their development kits throughout this past year, and has shown us they are still continuing to do so, and have already given us REAL updates, REAL performance gains, and now with DX12, adding more.
I hope the PS4 does do ALL OF THAT, some day. What day we are asking. Where have they said they are giving us the DX12 update (their version of it). I haven't seen anything from Sony stating they are doing that?
As to the idea that Sony won't have an answer to DX12, they haven't said anything because they generally don't talk about this sort of thing. Their SDKs are based more on OpenGL stuff rather than DX. In the past, that's been largely because of their esoteric hardware (PS2, Cell, etc.). But now that they're running more standard hardware that already has Mantle up and running on it in the PC world, I wouldn't expect it to take long to see it on PS4. I would be very surprised if they're not in the process of updating their SDKs for this now.
But you probably won't hear about it, because again, they just don't talk publicly about improvements to their SDKs. That's not a value judgement, that's just how Sony has historically handled this sort of thing. And honestly, the only reason anyone's making a big deal about DX12 is because of PCs. The "close to the metal" part of DX12 (that the X1 already mostly has) is a big deal for DirectX in the PC world, bigger in that context than the multithreaded improvements we'll see on X1.
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