Thursday, June 24th 2021
Microsoft DirectStorage Walled Off from Windows 10, Now Needs Windows 11 and DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU
Microsoft's ambitious DirectStorage API, which attempts to solve the storage bottleneck in games, facilitating faster game load times, has been walled off from Windows 10. To use it, games now require the new Windows 11 operating system, and a GPU that supports the DirectX 12 Ultimate API. This limits the GPU choices to NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 20-series, RTX 30-series, and AMD's Radeon RX 6000 series.
The other hardware requirement intrinsic to DirectStorage is for you to use an NVMe SSD that uses Microsoft's "Standard NVM Express Controller" driver that's included with Windows. Another hardware requirement that's baffling is that the SSD should be at least 1 TB in capacity. DirectStorage facilitates compressed game asset data to be transferred directly to the GPU from the storage device, and for it to be uncompressed by the GPU (using compute shaders), so there is a significant reduction in storage sub-system latency, and CPU utilization, impacting game load times.
Sources:
Microsoft, dampflokfreund (Reddit)
The other hardware requirement intrinsic to DirectStorage is for you to use an NVMe SSD that uses Microsoft's "Standard NVM Express Controller" driver that's included with Windows. Another hardware requirement that's baffling is that the SSD should be at least 1 TB in capacity. DirectStorage facilitates compressed game asset data to be transferred directly to the GPU from the storage device, and for it to be uncompressed by the GPU (using compute shaders), so there is a significant reduction in storage sub-system latency, and CPU utilization, impacting game load times.
103 Comments on Microsoft DirectStorage Walled Off from Windows 10, Now Needs Windows 11 and DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU
forced upgrades ala Apple.
If I have to pay then gonna stick to Win 10 for foreseeble future.
so Windows 11 etc will have to maintain backwards compatibility
radeon 5700,5600,5500 users... those gpu are not that old...
ssd companies be smiling
And well, probably not going to upgrade to windows 11 for many years. I have a 5700 XT, and there's really little reason to upgrade it for the next 3 years or so.
I only need light version who feels fast on old CPU.
With preinstalled things I need and unnecessary deleted.
Internet connection and ms login mandatory.
I'm shocked but not shocked as well. Same goes for android apps and samsung apps, want to use them - internet connection required with login.
I just hope that this 11 doesn't ***k and is not similiar to apple os.
I don't see any reason why it wouldn't.
Microsoft edited the page thus the new url.
"DirectStorage requires an NVMe SSD to store and run games that use the "Standard NVM Express Controller" driver and a DirectX12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support."
That doesnt say it needs DX12 ultimate, just DX12
Just take M$ requirements with an ocean of salt. As usual they have trouble distinguishing their rear end from their mouth.
The support CPU list are even more entertaining.
For whatever black magic, Zen1 and Skylake CPUs are not supported, while Zen APUs and Zen+ also Coffelake are.
There are no practical difference in the ISA of Zen and Zen+ or between SkyLake/KabyLake/CoffeeLake.
How will this affect SSD reads/writes and life expectancy?
Edit. If the upgrades are free, does the naming scheme really matter at all?
Maybe the compression is slightly worse than the zlib that typical games use, doubt it.Could you elaborate how you think latency affects size?