Creative Alchemy helps emulate software sound which is lost due to Vista dumping a lot of the main components to run the enhancer, check it out, you must have a Creative Audigy, or Xi-Fi product:
http://connect.creativelabs.com/alchemy/default.aspx
Friday, October 12, 2007
Mac Malware? Mac Gaming?
Macs and Malware:
The Mac has certainly took a nose dive in video games that are compatible with the OS X, so bad in fact that Apple has just said, "Screw it, XP is better", and wham-o here comes boot camp. Boot camp is so successful amongst the noob Mac users that majority of non-techno impaired persons actually use XP over OS X.
My deal with this is; why spend your 1.4k on a Mac thats far inferior to a PC? It used to be because of no malware; but if you read the Mac Magazines for the past few months you will see the emergence of Mac malware and viruses; take that Apple.
Its about time the Mac-o-philes learn that everything is effected by malware and viruses, even linux. What does this have to do with gaming? Well, not much, but its about time, they will get hit hard; and since many Mac users are techno-weenies, it will be a sad sight. Well, at least they switched to XP :)
Macs and Gaming:
To you Mac-o-philes, PHOTOSHOP ISN'T A GAME, photoshop actually runs better on a PC hardware machine. Besides this, there are really no games and no topic on games for the Mac, you get a few good games that run better on a PC equipped machine, you will never be able to run Vista with DX10, because you won't be able to get DX10 cards. which basically means; for that 1.4-2.5k you spend on a Mac, sure you get current generation security for your ported games, but in the long run; your screwed.
Now to the die-hard, Mac-o-philes; theres really nothing I can do to change your mind, but keep this in your head, your Mac, isn't a Mac anymore; its a PC.
The Mac has certainly took a nose dive in video games that are compatible with the OS X, so bad in fact that Apple has just said, "Screw it, XP is better", and wham-o here comes boot camp. Boot camp is so successful amongst the noob Mac users that majority of non-techno impaired persons actually use XP over OS X.
My deal with this is; why spend your 1.4k on a Mac thats far inferior to a PC? It used to be because of no malware; but if you read the Mac Magazines for the past few months you will see the emergence of Mac malware and viruses; take that Apple.
Its about time the Mac-o-philes learn that everything is effected by malware and viruses, even linux. What does this have to do with gaming? Well, not much, but its about time, they will get hit hard; and since many Mac users are techno-weenies, it will be a sad sight. Well, at least they switched to XP :)
Macs and Gaming:
To you Mac-o-philes, PHOTOSHOP ISN'T A GAME, photoshop actually runs better on a PC hardware machine. Besides this, there are really no games and no topic on games for the Mac, you get a few good games that run better on a PC equipped machine, you will never be able to run Vista with DX10, because you won't be able to get DX10 cards. which basically means; for that 1.4-2.5k you spend on a Mac, sure you get current generation security for your ported games, but in the long run; your screwed.
Now to the die-hard, Mac-o-philes; theres really nothing I can do to change your mind, but keep this in your head, your Mac, isn't a Mac anymore; its a PC.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
DX10 and its Application
Direct X 10, the selling point of Microsoft's Windows Vista, but what makes this so different from DX9? I will explain in basic terms and what it means to you; the non-developer end user.
DX10 is Microsoft's Vista exclusive API (Application Programming Interface), it boasts high-end graphics, and a radically new construction. What really makes DX10 different from DX9, is that it was not just built from the ground up, but its also a compilation of the older DirectX API's. But what really makes it awesome is how it runs; before the CPU (Central Processing Unit)would handle Physics, and Game Objects entity rendering which caused major stress on the CPU, limiting performance.
With the new API, the GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) runs the physics, the entity spawning, the rendering, etc. This boosts HUGE performance increases with the CPU, freeing up memory, thus increasing Frame Rates.
Microsoft has made it a requirement for a graphics card to be labeled DX10 compatible, is things such as: Physics processing, Unified Shader Units, etc. Before this, company's would include somethings, and leave out others to save money, but with this; company's MUST follow the guidelines or not receive a DX0 compatible seal.
DX10.1
DX10.1 is basically a patch up for DX10, small improvements such as required AA (Anti-Aliasing)and it improves on GPU usage and reduces strain on the CPU furthermore, thus increasing performance. THIS DOES NOT MAKE DX10 OBSOLETE; it is just a patch up, though a game must support DX10.1 to make advantage of the new features.
DX10 for the End User
DX10 is mostly for a Performance/Graphical upgrade, it is the real selling point for Vista, and with SP1 (Service Pack 1) coming out for Vista soon, the performance upgrade will be more apparent.
DX10 uses a Unified Shader Unit(s), which basically means the GPU will adapt the the games needs. Say a game requires more shader than physics processing units, the card will level the shader units to the correct level also the physics units level to form an even ration; Ex. Card supports 30 Units, game requires more Shader, card adapts to 20:10, shader:other.
This increases performance, and doesn't waste your units like the DX9 and below API's.
Heres some basic information from Wiki about Shader Units, etc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shader
Performance in Games
A game running DX10 will typically run 1.5 - 3x slower in full graphics, AA to high, etc; this is mainly because you trade off a little performance for an increase in graphics; currently the game making this the most obvious is Bioshock
, though to run DX10, you must have extremely good hardware, at least a 8800 GTS to run with mediocre to high graphics w/ DX10; though some people prefer a frame rate over 50 (the human eye cannot tell the difference over 60).
Heres a load out I recommend:
CPU - E6600+ Intel Cpu
GPU - 8800 Nvidia GTS or above
Memory - 2 Gigabytes of memory or more
Hard Drive - at least a 500 Gigabyte or more HDD
Sound Card - Creative sound card (Audigy 2ZS +)
This will allow you to play on maximum graphics with todays current DX9 games at high-resolution; and will enable medium to high graphics at a 1680x1020 resolution with DX10 enabled.
Hope this helped
DX10 is Microsoft's Vista exclusive API (Application Programming Interface), it boasts high-end graphics, and a radically new construction. What really makes DX10 different from DX9, is that it was not just built from the ground up, but its also a compilation of the older DirectX API's. But what really makes it awesome is how it runs; before the CPU (Central Processing Unit)would handle Physics, and Game Objects entity rendering which caused major stress on the CPU, limiting performance.
With the new API, the GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) runs the physics, the entity spawning, the rendering, etc. This boosts HUGE performance increases with the CPU, freeing up memory, thus increasing Frame Rates.
Microsoft has made it a requirement for a graphics card to be labeled DX10 compatible, is things such as: Physics processing, Unified Shader Units, etc. Before this, company's would include somethings, and leave out others to save money, but with this; company's MUST follow the guidelines or not receive a DX0 compatible seal.
DX10.1
DX10.1 is basically a patch up for DX10, small improvements such as required AA (Anti-Aliasing)and it improves on GPU usage and reduces strain on the CPU furthermore, thus increasing performance. THIS DOES NOT MAKE DX10 OBSOLETE; it is just a patch up, though a game must support DX10.1 to make advantage of the new features.
DX10 for the End User
DX10 is mostly for a Performance/Graphical upgrade, it is the real selling point for Vista, and with SP1 (Service Pack 1) coming out for Vista soon, the performance upgrade will be more apparent.
DX10 uses a Unified Shader Unit(s), which basically means the GPU will adapt the the games needs. Say a game requires more shader than physics processing units, the card will level the shader units to the correct level also the physics units level to form an even ration; Ex. Card supports 30 Units, game requires more Shader, card adapts to 20:10, shader:other.
This increases performance, and doesn't waste your units like the DX9 and below API's.
Heres some basic information from Wiki about Shader Units, etc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shader
Performance in Games
A game running DX10 will typically run 1.5 - 3x slower in full graphics, AA to high, etc; this is mainly because you trade off a little performance for an increase in graphics; currently the game making this the most obvious is Bioshock
, though to run DX10, you must have extremely good hardware, at least a 8800 GTS to run with mediocre to high graphics w/ DX10; though some people prefer a frame rate over 50 (the human eye cannot tell the difference over 60).
Heres a load out I recommend:
CPU - E6600+ Intel Cpu
GPU - 8800 Nvidia GTS or above
Memory - 2 Gigabytes of memory or more
Hard Drive - at least a 500 Gigabyte or more HDD
Sound Card - Creative sound card (Audigy 2ZS +)
This will allow you to play on maximum graphics with todays current DX9 games at high-resolution; and will enable medium to high graphics at a 1680x1020 resolution with DX10 enabled.
Hope this helped
Thursday, September 13, 2007
My apologize
Due to my extremely busy schedule I was not able to update this blog, but I am back, and will be able too :)
This month: Video Game hardware
This month on Techno World, I will be discussing hardware concerning Video Games; tweaks, updates, patches, and more! Stay tuned!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
April 2007's topic : Computer Hardware
This month I shall be talking about computer hardware. Either your building a computer or jsut upgrading, expect to find this helpful. I will post a Hardware guide for Video Games and other applications, around the 14th or so.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
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