Direct X 10 and video cards

[The Real McCoy]

I currently run Windows XP and am using a geforce 6600. I'm looking at upgrading to a geforce 9800 (the 512mb kind $300) It says that it requires or works best with direct x 10. Does anyone know if it makes a difference if i run it on an xp machine that cant get direct x 10 (as far as i know, legally, direct x 10 is just vista)

 

[Toasteddude]

The only difference you will notice is on games that support DirectX10. Unless you have Vista, you will not be able to use DirectX10 features.

 

[The Real McCoy]

Any chance you know what the DirectX10 features are? Also, how big of a difference is there between the 512 8800 and the 512 9800, besides $150

 

[/dev/null]

I tried both Vista and XP-64, and went back to XP-64 - which means I'm running DX9 rather than DX10 for all my gaming with my 9800gx2. You are missing very little, and whatever it is, you get back more frames per second. My 2 cents, anyhow.

 

[Ducttape]

The so-called DX10 games are imho not that big a deal so far; they're supposed to get better later on as programers learn to implement the new abilities DX10 is capable of. I've played Crysis in DX9 and DX10; there's a graphic improvement, but it's not that incredibla and my frames took a hit.

And I think TF2 doesn't (so far) use DX10, either.

 

[trykael]

DX10 has its visual advantages, but really most programmers will tell you that at the moment they can do almost everything in DX9 that they can in DX10. It's still a very young standard, and it's not being used to it's fullest abilities. Then again, neither is DX9.

I would say in general DX10 is NOT worth the headaches that Vista will bring you. Stick with XP Pro and be happy

 

[jdcskillet]

I would go to the trusty gamespot review of the card: http://www.gamespot.com/features/6188622/index.html?tag=result;title;0

 

[Lafinass]

DX10 will, in the future, be the natural choice. These days though?

Don't be fooled by the 'comparison' screenshots they show for games in DX9 vs DX10. DX10 is prettier, but it's not the night and day difference in most such comparisons as they've tuned the DX9 shots to look worse than they're capable of. It's more like the difference between 10AM and Noon.

 

[The Real McCoy]

Thanks for your help guys! I'm leaning more towards the 8800 now just because it doesnt lack very far behind the 9800 in power and is 150 bucks cheaper, which is a big plus seeing that i am 1. poor
2. saving money for a ring and 3. don't want to work during the school year

 

[Silent Assassin]

I say buy the 8800GT because the 9800GTX isn't worth that much money. Also just to let you know in the middle of June ATi will be releasing the new HD4800s and nVidia will release the Geforce GTX 200 series.