Q: I can often see DirectX before installing some games. What is this? Be sure to install?
A: DirectX is an interface method. Common DirectX and OpenGL, the general programmers only need to comply with the corresponding specifications, without providing different procedures for different hardware, and explains. The following text is Microsoft's official explanation:
Windows supports DirectX 8.0, which enhances the computer's multimedia functionality. Use DirectX to access the graphics card and sound card function, so that the program provides realistic three-dimensional (3D) graphics and the like is funny music and sound. DirectX is a set of low-level "App Programming Interfaces (APIs" that provides high-performance hardware accelerated multimedia support for Windows programs.
DirectX makes the program easily determines the hardware performance of the computer, then sets the program parameters that match it. The program enables multimedia software programs to run on a computer with DirectX compatible hardware based on Windows, while ensuring that multimedia programs can make full use of high-performance hardware.
DirectX contains a set of APIs that access high-performance hardware advanced features such as three-dimensional graphics accelerator chips and sound cards. These API controls low-level features (which include two-dimensional (2D) graphic acceleration, support input devices (such as joysticks, keyboards, and mice) and controlling mixing and sound output. The following components constituting DirectX support low-level features:
Microsoft DirectDraw
Microsoft DirectDraw API supports speed-up hardware features that quickly access computer video adapters. It supports display graphics standard methods on all video adapters and can be accessed faster and more directly when using acceleration drivers. DirectDraw provides programs (such as games and two-dimensional graphics package) and Windows system components (such as digital video codecs), providing a method other than devices to access a particular display device without requiring a user. Other information of the function.
Microsoft Direct3D
Microsoft Direct3D API provides interfaces for most new video adapters built into 3-D toner feature. Direct3D is a low-level 3-D API that provides software programs that provide a method other than devices to communicate with accelerator hardware. Direct3D contains a dedicated CPU instruction set support to provide further acceleration support for new computers.
Microsoft DirectSound
The Microsoft DirectSound API provides links between programs and audio adapters, sound playback, and sound capture functions. DirectSound provides low delay mixing, hardware acceleration, and direct access to sound devices for multimedia software programs. Maintaining this function when maintaining compatibility with existing device drivers.
Microsoft DirectMusic
Microsoft DirectMusic API is DirectX's interactive audio components. Different DirectSound APIs with capture and play digital sound samples, DirectMusic processes digital audio and messages based on messages, which are converted to digital audio through sound cards or their built-in software synthesizers. DirectMusic API supports inputs in the Musical Infraction (MIDI) "format, also supports compression and uncompressed digital audio formats. DirectMusic provides software developers with the ability to create intoxicated dynamic tracks to respond to various changes in the software environment, not just users directly enter changes.
Microsoft DirectInput
The Microsoft DirectInput API provides advanced input features for the game and can process the game poles and inputs including mouse, keyboard, and powerful feedback gaming controller.
Microsoft DirectplayMicrosoft DirectPlay API supports games through a modem, Internet, or LAN connection. DirectPlay simplifies access to communication services, and provides a method that enables games to communicate with each other without being limited by the agreement or online service. DirectPlay provides a variety of lobbying services that simplify the initialization of multimedia player games, while also supporting reliable communication protocols to ensure that important game data will not be lost on the network. The new features of DirectPlay 8.0 support voice communication over the network, which can greatly improve entertainment based on games based on multimedia player group, and the component also makes group games more charm by providing functions with other people playing games. .
Microsoft DirectShow
The Microsoft DirectShow API provides a function of high quality capture and playback of multimedia files on your computer with the Internet server. DirectShow supports a variety of audio and video formats, including "Advanced Flow Format (ASF)", "Audio-Video Interlaced (AVI)", "Digital Video (DV)", "Animation Expert Group (MPEG)", "MPEG audio" Layer 3 (MP3) "," Windows Media Audio / Video (WMA / WMV) "and WAV files. DirectShow also has video capture, DVD playback, video editing and mixing, hardware acceleration video decoding, and tuning broadcast simulation and digital TV signals.
