Monday, August 19th 2013

AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series Won't Fully Support DirectX 11.2

by
btarunr
 Discuss (24 Comments)
Graphics processors based on first-generation Graphics CoreNext micro-architecture, slotted inside the "Southern Islands" and "Sea Islands" families, and branded under Radeon HD 7000 and Radeon HD 8000 (OEM) series, don't fully support Microsoft DirectX 11.2 API. Exclusive with the upcoming Windows 8.1 operating system, the Direct3D component of DirectX 11.2 introduces a handful of revolutionary consumer 3D features, such as "D3D tiled resources," which is analogous to OpenGL mega-textures; HLSL shader linking, frame-buffer scaling, etc.

In an interview with German publication c't Magazin, AMD engineer Laylah Mah pointed out that a feedback routine Microsoft deployed in the final specification of DirectX 11.2 turned out different from the one AMD anticipated. Mah stressed that the incompatibility is not at the level of the hardware, but the driver. The GPUs inside next-generation consoles like Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 aren't fundamentally different from current AMD GPU micro-architecture, and at least one of the two, Xbox One, will leverage the latest DirectX.
Source: Heise.de

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24 Comments on AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series Won't Fully Support DirectX 11.2

#1
Mathragh
So this means that an upcoming driver can actually bring support if I'm reading this correctly.
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#2
midnightoil
MathraghSo this means that an upcoming driver can actually bring support if I'm reading this correctly.
I don't know about that. I don't ever remember such an occurrence happening. D3D is VERY rigid. OpenGL frequently adds new features which can be added to drivers and existing games / engines. I'm not sure if that's really the case for D3D. Besides, these are all features supported in OpenGL for current hardware ... so if devs want to use them, one API supports them.
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#3
Sasqui
AMD engineer Laylah Mah pointed out that a feedback routine Microsoft deployed in the final specification of DirectX 11.2 turned out different from the one AMD anticipated. Mah stressed that the incompatibility is not at the level of the hardware, but the driver.
Ummm... so they can write compatibility into the drivers, or not?
(:confused: <- about the point of the article)
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#4
Pumper
Irrelevant. If MS does lock the 11.2 support to Win 8.1 only, 97% of gamers will not use the new DX version regardless of GPU compatibility.
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#5
RejZoR
Unless if they offer Windows 8.1 for up to 50 EUR (standard version, not some OEM one install only bullcrap), in which case people will go and grab it regardless. I know i would. That's the price of any game on release date so it's no biggie and MS would get a guaranteed purchase. With prices well over 100 EUR, a lot of people simply decide not to update or they get a pirated copy.
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#6
Mathragh
RejZoRUnless if they offer Windows 8.1 for up to 50 EUR (standard version, not some OEM one install only bullcrap), in which case people will go and grab it regardless. I know i would. That's the price of any game on release date so it's no biggie and MS would get a guaranteed purchase. With prices well over 100 EUR, a lot of people simply decide not to update or they get a pirated copy.
I suppose you missed the 30 dollar/30 euro deal that lasted for like 3 months when win8 came out?
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#7
BigMack70
DX 11.2 is the biggest load of marketing BS designed to push an operating system since DX10. Stop it Microsoft. :slap:

(and yes, I know DX10 was useful in a couple games, but by and large it was not taken advantage of because it was tied to a bad OS at the time)
Posted on Reply
#8
cadaveca
My name is Dave
BigMack70DX 11.2 is the biggest load of marketing BS designed to push an operating system since DX10. Stop it Microsoft. :slap:

(and yes, I know DX10 was useful in a couple games, but by and large it was not taken advantage of because it was tied to a bad OS at the time)
Vista had nothing to do with DX10's success or lack thereof. :roll: Thanks for making my Monday morning a bit brighter. :p

I see the news saying that AMD won't support this new DX, and that it's not because of hardware, so I'm left confused.
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#9
seronx
Bonaire and most of the other nonexistent Sea Island chips support DX11.2 fully.
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#10
Kaynar
According to Steam july 2013 stats only 13.3% of users are on Windows 8 at the moment and that mostly laptops for sure, most of which are mid to low range anyway... so as others are saying in their replies above, DX11.2 is going to affect a very small amount of people (especially since current gen ATI cards won't support it apparently)... not to mention no games take advantage of it yet and that DX11.2 features are tailored to boost low-end hardware by allowing for better resource sharing in hardware such as the one found in PS4 and Xboxone.

To me it just seems like AMD doesn't want to go into trouble with messing their drivers to incorporate a (probably complicated) marketing stunt that basically has a good performance impact (and was developed specifically) for new consoles.
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#11
zlatan
I don't understand this news ... and the source.

1. Tiled Resources is an optional feature. It doesn't matter which tier is supported by the hardware or not.
2. She said that the hardware support it.
3. There is no such thing like feature level 11.2. I don't know why Heise.de mention it.

Last but not least Layla Mah said that they need to change the driver to support Tiled Resources tier2. I don't know how this translated to DX support but something is clearly missing.
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#12
omnimodis78
cadavecaVista had nothing to do with DX10's success or lack thereof. :roll: Thanks for making my Monday morning a bit brighter. :p

I see the news saying that AMD won't support this new DX, and that it's not because of hardware, so I'm left confused.
Actually, it had more to do with it than not. I thought of "upgrading" to Vista when it became feasible, and for absolutely no other reason but to be able to play Crysis in DX10 mode - then I decided against it because, well, I used Vista at work and despised it so I skipped it (then discovered the mods that enabled DX10 visuals on DX9 under XP. I knew of people who had decided on the same (only entertaining the idea for DX10, but deciding to skip it). Anyways, the point he was making is that this whole DX11.2 thing is just a carrot on a stick. It can be done under 7, and DX11.2 will be irrelevant because of Windows 8.1 cemented reputation.

And yes, I'm confused as hell about that too. Is this a hardware or a software issue AMD is facing?
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#13
Deadlyraver
There is no reason to have Direct X 11.2 unless if you really want to make a game for the Xbox One. It simply doesn't make sense that there is optimizations only for PCs and Xboxes while the PS4 has been far more admirable.
Posted on Reply
#14
zlatan
omnimodis78And yes, I'm confused as hell about that too. Is this a hardware or a software issue AMD is facing?
Are they facing with an issue? The Tiled Resources specs aren't finalized yet, so it is very likely that they don't have drivers for the final specs.
Posted on Reply
#15
cadaveca
My name is Dave
omnimodis78Actually, it had more to do with it than not. I thought of "upgrading" to Vista when it became feasible, and for absolutely no other reason but to be able to play Crysis in DX10 mode - then I decided against it because, well, I used Vista at work and despised it so I skipped it (then discovered the mods that enabled DX10 visuals on DX9 under XP. I knew of people who had decided on the same (only entertaining the idea for DX10, but deciding to skip it). Anyways, the point he was making is that this whole DX11.2 thing is just a carrot on a stick. It can be done under 7, and DX11.2 will be irrelevant because of Windows 8.1 cemented reputation.

And yes, I'm confused as hell about that too. Is this a hardware or a software issue AMD is facing?
I'm not really confused. Nor do I misunderstand Nvidia's manipulation of DX10's acceptance, and enthusiasts ignoring NVidia's role in that; Assassin's Creed and DX10.1 says everything I need to about that subject.

I am an "early adopter". I ran Vista, and liked it, just like I today run Win8, and like it. It doesn't matter to me that other people don't like it....some people don 't like red and black like I do either. To me, OS choice is no different.. it's a matter of personal preference. News like missing features or such definitely sways how I buy things, however, so I understand why this is seemingly news.
Posted on Reply
#16
TheinsanegamerN
So, a new version of direct x, which no video game developer will likely use for their main game engine, but rather include it as an afterthought, wont even receive full support from gpu manufacturers?
next thing you know people will claim the sky is blue.
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#17
zlatan
TheinsanegamerNSo, a new version of direct x, which no video game developer will likely use for their main game engine, but rather include it as an afterthought, wont even receive full support from gpu manufacturers?
All mandatory DX11.2 features can be supported by any DX11 or DX11.1 GPU. This is a fact. Don't bother what's claimed in the media.
Posted on Reply
#18
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
omnimodis78Actually, it had more to do with it than not. I thought of "upgrading" to Vista when it became feasible, and for absolutely no other reason but to be able to play Crysis in DX10 mode - then I decided against it because, well, I used Vista at work and despised it so I skipped it (then discovered the mods that enabled DX10 visuals on DX9 under XP. I knew of people who had decided on the same (only entertaining the idea for DX10, but deciding to skip it). Anyways, the point he was making is that this whole DX11.2 thing is just a carrot on a stick. It can be done under 7, and DX11.2 will be irrelevant because of Windows 8.1 cemented reputation.

And yes, I'm confused as hell about that too. Is this a hardware or a software issue AMD is facing?
This is an old horse, but DX10 changed a whole lot and iirc it used stuff that existed in Vista but not in XP, don't remember the details, but that was what it boiled down to. That "mod" never got anywhere (again iirc) and some games got mods that sort of "increased" graphics quality, but it wasn't DX10 as such.

So, at certain points there will be actual technical reasons why you can use new software with old software. Is such a point upon us now? That I doubt.
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#19
Kaotik
TheinsanegamerNSo, a new version of direct x, which no video game developer will likely use for their main game engine, but rather include it as an afterthought, wont even receive full support from gpu manufacturers?
next thing you know people will claim the sky is blue.
Nah, the news piece is simply wrong. HD7 series supports DX11.2 fully, but the drivers aren't ready for it just yet because MS did something different from what AMD assumed they would do.

The proper title for the news would be "AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series Will Fully Support DirectX 11.2"
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#20
haswrong
nvidia doesnt even provide hardware support for 11.1 let alone 11.2, so whats the fuss?
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#21
BigMack70
haswrongnvidia doesnt even provide hardware support for 11.1 let alone 11.2, so whats the fuss?
Nothing. Just Micro$oft blowing hot air to try and scare people into buying an OS they don't want.
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#22
riffraffy
Aren't the drivers the easy part how can that possably be the wall ? And given the money spent on R&D at a large company how did they guess wrong , this report does not make sense . Somebody is telling a little fib me-thinks .
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#24
Frogger
looks like somebody changed their collective minds :wtf:
AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series Video Cards Will Support DirectX 11.2 After Driver Update

“The Radeon™ HD 7000 series hardware architecture is fully DirectX 11.2-capable when used with a driver that enables this feature. AMD is planning to enable DirectX 11.2 with a driver update in the Windows® 8.1 launch timeframe in October, when DirectX® 11.2 ships. Today, AMD is the only GPU manufacturer to offer fully-compatible DirectX 11.1 support, and the only manufacturer to support Tiled Resources Tier-2 within a shipping product stack.” - AMD PR

Read more at www.legitreviews.com/amd-radeon-hd-7000-series-video-cards-will-support-directx-11-2-after-driver-update_121841#E3F8xd18H6bvh9KF.99
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