Nvidia 8800 -Need Vista?

[Whytey]

Do you really need to install vista if you going to buy a 8800?
I also know microsoft won't be releasing dx10 for winxp either do you think it will possibly get cracked so we can install it on windows xp?

 

[fornowagain]

No it doesn't need Vista and it'll run faster in DX9 than any other card. It will never be on XP, ever.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

If you want Dx10 then yes you have to get Vista, and as above.

 

[Fido McNasty]

Not much chance of me getting Vista then.

It took me about 5 years to go from '98 to XP I see the same scenario (for my uses) again.

 

[Jabbs]

Whats to say somone won't get dx10 working on xp

 

[Big.Wayne]

I'm still not clear which features of the 8800GTs/GTX are disabled when running under WinXP/DX9?

 

[Macro]

Whats to say somone won't get dx10 working on xp

It wont happen, despite the similarity in name the code is vastly difference as are the dependencies on the new driver models/code base in Vista.

 

[Darkwave]

Whats to say somone won't get dx10 working on xp

Wishful thinking at best. The Direct3D API has been re-written from the ground up specifically for Vista, so it's not just a matter of "patching it in" but going back and completely re-writing the source code then recompiling it with the new API. That isn't even possible because of the different ways that XP and Vista work on the most basic levels.

Even if it was possible, which it isn't, it would be illegal as you would be basically building a brand new OS that's 99% a rip-off of Windows XP.

 

[Macro]

I'm still not clear which features of the 8800GTs/GTX are disabled when running under WinXP/DX9?

Not much at the moment as there's almost nothing out that takes advantage of DX10 specific features.

Eventually you may see DX10 games that look a bit prettier, have a few more effects and run a little quicker than a DX9 only version on XP. It's likely to be some time before that happens though as most games (even with DX10 versions) will be coded for the lowest common demoninator (DX9c on XP) and may just have a DX10 version with a few more effects and a bit quicker. It's unlikely to be anything spectacular though. Remember DX10 is just a change in the API and not a fundamental change like going from software 3D to hardware accelerated 3D was.

Most people would be hard pushed to tell the difference between a DX7, 8 or 9 coded game just by looking at it. DX10 will be much the same, its an incremental step rather than a revolution.

In the mean time most of the new DX10 cards are stonkingly fast for DX9 so just regard any DX10 updates as icing.

 

[xirokx]

"No it doesn't need Vista and it'll run faster in DX9 than any other card. It will never be on XP, ever."

what about DX9L

 

[Darkwave]

what about DX9L

DX9L is DirectX 9 in Vista.

The 'L' stands for Longhorn.

 

[fornowagain]

what about DX9L

What about it? Aka DX9ex is the DX9 rendering path API for Vista. Mainly used for Aero and nothing to do with XP. DX10 will never be on XP, its not going to happen.

 

[Architect]

Not much at the moment as there's almost nothing out that takes advantage of DX10 specific features.

Eventually you may see DX10 games that look a bit prettier, have a few more effects and run a little quicker than a DX9 only version on XP. It's likely to be some time before that happens though as most games (even with DX10 versions) will be coded for the lowest common demoninator (DX9c on XP) and may just have a DX10 version with a few more effects and a bit quicker. It's unlikely to be anything spectacular though. Remember DX10 is just a change in the API and not a fundamental change like going from software 3D to hardware accelerated 3D was.

Most people would be hard pushed to tell the difference between a DX7, 8 or 9 coded game just by looking at it. DX10 will be much the same, its an incremental step rather than a revolution.

In the mean time most of the new DX10 cards are stonkingly fast for DX9 so just regard any DX10 updates as icing.

DX10 may only be a change in the API, but it's nevertheless a very substantial change to the rendering pipeline - similar to the introduction of programmable shading. It's disappointing not to see it in XP, but exactly the same functionality will be available in OpenGL 2.1 and up which will run in XP. If only more game developers would switch to OpenGL...