If you have installed and
played a lot of games
on your Windows computer, just before you finish setting up the game, you may come across a screen asking you to install DirectX on your computer. I first came across this screen back in the days of Windows XP when installing
Empire
. Back then I didn’t really care what DirectX was and thought it was only necessary for gaming.
However, today we decided to take a closer look at the importance of DirectX for Windows. Knowledge is power when it comes to these complex computing terms, so you better arm yourself with an understanding of it. Of course, it goes without saying that like all Tech Tutorial articles, this one also tries to explain things in the simplest way possible. So there’s no need to put on a nerd mantle.
In this article, we will see answers to three questions related to DirectX:
- What is DirectX?
- What are the needs of DirectX for Windows?
- What version am I using and why do I need to update it?
So let’s bring them up one by one.
What is DirectX?
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of programs that handle multimedia-related tasks such as playing games, rendering videos, creating 3D models, and other similar tasks. DirectX acts as a bridge between the computer’s multimedia hardware such as sound and video cards and the software that is trying to access it. DirectX libraries help not only with graphics, but also with complex sounds and moving images.
Now that we know what DirectX is, let’s see the demand for it.
What is needed for DirectX for Windows?
DirectX is a Windows program and as long as you are working on a Windows PC and performing multimedia related tasks, you need it. Most of us believe that DirectX is only necessary to play games but it is not. As I mentioned, most complex programs that use 3D models with complex sounds or moving images will need DirectX library files on the computer to work properly.
All programs that require DirectX mention it on the system requirements page but sometimes it is not immediately written as DirectX. Instead of directly mentioning that DirectX 9 or DirectX 10 is required, the program may say that Direct3D 10 technology, Direct3D 9 technology is required. Since Direct3D is part of the DirectX API along with DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay, DirectSound and a few others, installing DirectX should solve this problem.
What version am I using and why do I need to update it?
Every version of Windows starting with Windows XP has a version of DirectX included with it. The latest version that Windows 8 comes with is DirectX 11. To check the version of DirectX you are using, open the Run command box with the hotkey Windows + CHEAPknock on DXDIAG and press enter. After you execute the command DirectX . Diagnostic Tool will open.
Here you can see the DirectX version you are using below System information IN system card.
Different programs require different versions of DirectX to work, and if a program requires an updated version, you must install that version for proper functionality. Most of these updates come with the program you’re trying to install on your computer. You can also download the latest version of DirectX from this page. The page contains links to both the online version and the redistributable version and can be installed just like any other Windows application.
However there is a limitation to that. The last version of DirectX that can be installed on Windows XP Service Pack 3 is 9.0b. For Windows Vista and 7, the limit is DirectX 11. If you are a Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 user, the DirectX 11.1 update is specifically for you because it cannot be installed on earlier versions of Windows.
You also have to keep in mind that DirectX updates don’t always work. From what we’ve seen, DirectX is essential for smooth multimedia performance on your computer. But that’s only possible if your computer hardware supports the version of DirectX you’re using. For example, to use the full potential of DirectX 11, your computer must have supporting hardware such as compatible video cards, etc.
If you have any further DirectX related questions that you would like me to answer, please post them as comments.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
