Difference between DX8 and DX9 cards in HL2

[Claws]

Hello folks,

I was just wondering, will HL2 offer exclusive features for DX9 cards? Stalker, for example, has a completely different renderer for DX9 that offers dynamic soft shadows that blend with other shadows which DooM3 doesn't have. I was wondering if HL2 will offer something similar.

 

[Sushi]

As far as I know, I think it was Gabe who said that there will be a huge difference in graphics quality between DX9 and DX8 cards in HL2.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

it will probably just add the basic graphical features.. they actually haven't said what is different just that you will get more bang for your buck if you get a DX9 card... probably shadows will differ like stalker

 

[Claws]

Ah but no specifics have been confirmed?? I see.

 

[$niper]

Originally posted by Sushi
As far as I know, I think it was Gabe who said that there will be a huge difference in graphics quality between DX9 and DX8 cards in HL2.

No.

Huge difference in quality between DX6 and [DX8 or DX9].

 

[Joneleth]

Using DX9 will just probably enable a few fancy features and allow higher resolutions (because the cards are faster then DX8 ones). Other then that there probably won't be a lot of change.

 

[JunkieXL]

Is the 9700 pro DX9?

 

[JimmyTheGent]

yes

 

[TAZ]

I honestly think there aren't many great features in DX9 that make a big difference from DX8.. The video cards now, the 9800 pro and the Geforce FX 5900 Ultra are all going to be obsolete by this time next year.. Nvidia and ATI both have technology they are working on that is going to make the current dx9 cards look like Voodoo 3's (man those were great cards, was the first card I bought to play HL in 3d and not in software mode)

 

[$niper]

I doubt anyone is going to be missing out on anything with a DX-8 card.

 

[Kamakazie]

Originally posted by $niper
No.

Huge difference in quality between DX6 and [DX8 or DX9].

errrr no, i also swear ive seen an Interview where Gabe has said there will be some smart features that you need a Dx9 card for that will make the game look much better.
i couldn't say im positive OR where i saw it but its stuck in the back of my head.

Kam

 

[FAK3R]

sorry if this sounds n00b, but whats a geforce2 mx400 64mb qualify as? dx8?

 

[Pr()ZaC]

GeForce 2 and 4MX are DX7.0 cards.

 

[TAZ]

Originally posted by FAK3R
sorry if this sounds n00b, but whats a geforce2 mx400 64mb qualify as? dx8?

I think it's more of a Direct X 7 card.. Time to upgrade it I would say, especially considering the mx400's aren't capable of alot of the eye candy like pixel shading and such.

I had one of those cards , and it was great til I got my first Geforce 3 Ti 200 card.. WOW , what a difference.. and they are going for cheap now.

 

[FAK3R]

yeah I'm looking into upgrading to and FX
I'm not much of a fan when it comes to ati gpu's
they are always problematic with certain games such as MGS2, CS, QUAKE3
anyways I'm going to most likely have a upgraded system before HL2 is released

 

[Hudson]

my MX 420 served me well.....ON MY 500MHZ POWER RIG! but i really need to buy a 9700 or 9800 now that ive upgraded

 

[righte0us]

the better, newer, and more advanced machine you have; the better HL2 will run.

 

[Claws]

Originally posted by righte0us
the better, newer, and more advanced machine you have; the better HL2 will run.

Really?

 

[righte0us]

o_o

 

[Goddamn Freeman]

lol. Isn't it the fancy rendering 'splodes and stuff (like that water person effect in the e3 demo) that need Dx9? or is my conversation issuing from my posterior regions?

 

[Incoming]

This guy over at www.gamefaqs.com / Half-Life 2 forum, has posted these great scanned pages where they cover everything about HF2 and graphics !!! Here are the links;

http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl21.jpg
http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl22.jpg
http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl23.jpg
http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl24.jpg
http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl25.jpg
http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl26.jpg
http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl27.jpg
http://unrealbattlegrounds.net/HL2/maxhl28.jpg

These links are working as of the time posted. The last four pages are mainly about cards, DX and visual comparisons.

 

[DogFacedKilla]

Wow, sweet article, thanks. It looks like I need to upgrade a lil.

 

[Stigmata]

The diff between DX8 and DX9 cards is mostly limited to the rendering speeds and how much the advanced shaders are usd. IE a DX8 can use specular reflections on everything BUT NPC's, and a DX9 can use them on NPCs plus everything else. And DX9 cards have volumetric fog in the water, whereas DX8 cards will not.

 

[Lunch_Box]

Would a GeForce4ti 4600 be directx9 compatible?

 

[SidewinderX]

Those cards are compatable, in the sense they they run with DX9 on your comp, but they don't use DX features, like PS/VS 2.0