Microsoft has revealed that its much-anticipated DirectStorage API for PC will help PCIe 3.0 NVMe drives in addition to PCIe 4.0 SSDs. The data got here out of a presentation to builders on the Game Stack Live 2021 occasion—a useful Redditor who attended posted a number of the slides from the speak. The precise presentation ought to be posted quickly, based on this DirectX Developer Blog. It was usually accepted that DirectStorage, which streamlines transfers between your SSD and graphics playing cards, can be restricted to the very newest, quickest tech, so that is stunning albeit very welcome information. Note that it will not work with SATA drives although, as they merely aren’t quick sufficient for what Microsoft has in thoughts.This is nice information just because there is a a lot larger set up base of PCIe 3.0 drives—PCIe 4.0 drives had been restricted to AMD’s Ryzen 3000 and 5000 platforms till Intel launched Rocket Lake, on the finish of final month. A machine working a PCIe 4.0 drive will be sooner at transferring information throughout, which might equate to sooner load occasions, though we’ll have to attend and see what video games builders make of this.(Image credit score: Microsoft/Reddit)Microsoft DirectStorage is notably totally different to the idea put ahead by Nvidia with its RTX I/O API, in that it copies the compressed information throughout to system reminiscence earlier than copying to the GPU VRAM. Once within the graphics card VRAM, the GPU can then decompress the info a lot faster than the CPU can. Nvidia’s resolution works in largely the identical method, though bypasses the system reminiscence fully, and copies the info straight from the drive to the graphics card. In answering a query from one developer on the occasion, Microsoft did say that bypassing the system reminiscence was one thing it was for the way forward for DirectStorage.There aren’t any particular particulars about what {hardware} is supported by DirectStorage, though Microsoft has stated all DirectX 12 suitable {hardware} will help it, though DirectX 12 Ultimate supporting {hardware} will be sooner. So when you’ve got managed to pay money for a fairly up-to-date graphics card, you ought to be in a great place to learn from the improved method of accessing information when it makes its method into Windows. Microsoft DirectStorage is because of get a restricted developer preview this summer season, with a full launch anticipated earlier than the 12 months’s finish. It will take sport builders a while to implement it into their video games, though the actual fact it’s up and working on the Xbox Series S/X signifies that any video games that make use of the API there, ought to port throughout pretty simply.
Microsoft DirectStorage will work with PCIe 3.0 SSDs
