Tuesday, March 13th 2007
NVIDIA's New Software Development Kit Supports Shader Model 5.0
Even though not all game developers have adopted shader model (SM) 3.0 introduced three years ago, and some claiming that transiting to DirectX 10's shader model 4.0 right now hardly makes sense, NVIDIA's new software development kit (SDK) already features profiles for shader model 5.0, which is believed to be an improved version of the SM4.0.
NVIDIA new SDK 10, which was released just last week, apparently contains macro invocations that define the supported CG profiles, including such profiles as Fragment50, Vertex50, Geometry50, meaning that current SDK supports architecture micro-code profiles for pixel shaders 5.0, vertex shaders 5.0 and geometry shaders 5.0.
While hardly anybody knows what shader model 5.0 actually is and how much is it different from the shader model 4.0, the inclusion of the architecture micro-code inside a compiler indicates that NVIDIA foresees the arrival of shader model 5.0-capable hardware soon enough to enable game developers to compile their titles for it.
Source:
X-bit labs
NVIDIA new SDK 10, which was released just last week, apparently contains macro invocations that define the supported CG profiles, including such profiles as Fragment50, Vertex50, Geometry50, meaning that current SDK supports architecture micro-code profiles for pixel shaders 5.0, vertex shaders 5.0 and geometry shaders 5.0.
While hardly anybody knows what shader model 5.0 actually is and how much is it different from the shader model 4.0, the inclusion of the architecture micro-code inside a compiler indicates that NVIDIA foresees the arrival of shader model 5.0-capable hardware soon enough to enable game developers to compile their titles for it.
11 Comments on NVIDIA's New Software Development Kit Supports Shader Model 5.0
Im interested in what cards are going to be utilized while using this SM5.0 profile.
And also, why are they releasing SM5.0 when SM4.0 hasnt even been utilized in a single game. And if it took them 2 months to come up with SM5.0 after SM4.0 then why did it take them 3 years to come up with SM4.0?
Even if they already have the SM5.0 technology (wich is wierd at best), they shouldnt be releasing it now because then no one would buy the SM4.0 cards. Its like Intel putting all of their efforts into creative 32nm chips right now (wich im sure they can), they arent because then they would have to price much higher than the 65nm chips and no one would buy it and so there would be no demand in all.
All in all, this is just wierd.. and quite frustrating.