[ GameSpot ] AMD "Misspoke" Saying DirectX 12 Won't Work With Windows 7

[KaRLiToS]

SOURCE

You might have seen reports circulating that Windows 7 won't support DirectX 12, Microsoft's next, "low level" graphics API that will introduce several improvements to existing graphics cards and the Xbox One.

The news is based on a video of AMD Chief Gaming Scientist Richard Huddy speaking at the PDXLAN event. During the video of his presentation (which has since been removed from YouTube) Huddy plainly says that Windows 7 will not support DirectX 12. However, AMD has told GameSpot that Huddy simply "misspoke."

SOURCE #2

It's highly likely that AMD is just trying to cover its "butt" (redacted) right now, with Huddy likely letting private, NDA-covered information slip publicly. Windows 7 celebrated its fifth anniversary last month and mainstream support for the OS will cease in January 2015, so it is certainly highly likely DX12 will require Windows 8 or later, whether or not Huddy and AMD know the truth. So if you're like the majority of PC gamers who stuck with Windows 7 all this time, you may want to keep your eyes on Windows 10.

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[geoxile]

Misspoke in that he was wrong or misspoke in that he isn't a MS spokesman (but he's right anyway)?

 

[KaRLiToS]

Misspoke in that he was wrong or misspoke in that he isn't a MS spokesman (but he's right anyway)?

Misspoke like saying private information. (Speculation)

 

[ViRGE]

Huddy should not be considered a reliable source for anything in or out of AMD. He is an evangelist; what he often ends up doing is exaggerating the truth for effect and/or attention.

 

[boozzer]

I thought it was how windows os work these days? to force gamers to upgrade, microsoft tie the direct x versions to a every new release, even if yearly, gamers will upgrade. they have to, no choice what so ever if they want the new features or performance increase.

weren't all direct x versions after 9 all tie to a specific os? even if this is a guess, but it is 100% accurate. dx 12 would be tie to whatever new os microsoft will release, w10.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I thought it was how windows os work these days? to force gamers to upgrade, microsoft tie the direct x versions to a every new release, even if yearly, gamers will upgrade. they have to, no choice what so ever if they want the new features or performance increase.

weren't all direct x versions after 9 all tie to a specific os? even if this is a guess, but it is 100% accurate. dx 12 would be tie to whatever new os microsoft will release, w10.

All wrong.

 

[96Firebird]

Huddy should not be considered a reliable source for anything in or out of AMD. He is an evangelist; what he often ends up doing is exaggerating the truth for effect and/or attention.

*claps*

 

[NTMBK]

Interesting. Here's hoping that it arrives on Win7, low level APIs show promise.

 

[Flapdrol1337]

I don't think dx12 will come to win7, but who knows, maybe microsoft will try to sell windows 10 on it actually being a better OS this time.

 

[AnandThenMan]

Don't get your hopes up.

 

[RussianSensation]

My laptop is on 8.1 and I plan on upgrading my desktop to 10 anyway as my W7 is nearly 5 years old. I don't mind DX12 to focus only on W8 and up as W10 brings all the benefits of W7 and 8. Once you get your Start bar back in W10, you get the faster and more efficient OS, with more security and more features. I don't presume that pricing upgrades from W7 will be that much as MS will entice users to upgrade from the failed attempt to get users to move to W8/8.1. Further, there is just too much competition from Mac OSX for MS to try and charge historically high prices for W10 upgrades. I look forward to improved 4K scaling as I am really looking to move to a 4K monitor in the next 2-3 years.

 

[AnandThenMan]

8.1 is a fair bit faster I just can't stand the interface. I'll move to Win10 if it really does become a proper desktop OS unlike 8.1.

But I don't see any technical reason why MS can't bring DX12 to Windows 7, using a "gun to the head" tactic has not worked in the past see Vista as an example.

 

[boozzer]

All wrong.

so how does it really work?

 

[lyssword]

lol I had win 8 for 2 yrs now, and had metro for like 1 day only. I use classic start menu, there's no difference from start to finish from my 8.1 /win7 with this mod

 

[garagisti]

IIRC, can't remember where but i did read something to the effect almost 2-3 quarters ago. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it were in fact so. I could be wrong, but even 11.1 is only fully supported on Win 8+. Obviously 12 will only build up on features and add some stuff, and thus, xyz?

 

[garagisti]

My laptop is on 8.1 and I plan on upgrading my desktop to 10 anyway as my W7 is nearly 5 years old. I don't mind DX12 to focus only on W8 and up as W10 brings all the benefits of W7 and 8. Once you get your Start bar back in W10, you get the faster and more efficient OS, with more security and more features. I don't presume that pricing upgrades from W7 will be that much as MS will entice users to upgrade from the failed attempt to get users to move to W8/8.1. Further, there is just too much competition from Mac OSX for MS to try and charge historically high prices for W10 upgrades. I look forward to improved 4K scaling as I am really looking to move to a 4K monitor in the next 2-3 years.

With you on the 4k bit.

Apple will never release Mac OS in the wild, as it is their cash cow. It is the combined hardware and software package that they make their living off of. The only way to have Mac OS working properly is perhaps to buy a Mac (ok, this made me want to hurl). Well, as it is, may be they could be enticed to do so(it is all x86 afterall), but that may eat up a little on their margins, and so unlikely to happen in my opinion. Microsoft could charge you as much as they do for an upgrade, because what they offer you is an OS with support, for god knows what all sorts of hardware. Then there are independent hardware vendors propping up the support system. That said, i do feel that MS should be a little generous with the prices for complete OS and upgrades for that matter. I really hope they will.

 

[SoulWager]

With you on the 4k bit.

Apple will never release Mac OS in the wild, as it is their cash cow. It is the combined hardware and software package that they make their living off of. The only way to have Mac OS working properly is perhaps to buy a Mac (ok, this made me want to hurl). Well, as it is, may be they could be enticed to do so(it is all x86 afterall), but that may eat up a little on their margins, and so unlikely to happen in my opinion. Microsoft could charge you as much as they do for an upgrade, because what they offer you is an OS with support, for god knows what all sorts of hardware. Then there are independent hardware vendors propping up the support system. That said, i do feel that MS should be a little generous with the prices for complete OS and upgrades for that matter. I really hope they will.

If they gave up control over hardware, they'd have a lot more work to do on hardware compatibility, and they'd have to support no-name OEMs that cut every possible corner to get the prices down. It might be good for people that like to build their own systems, but I can see problems for people that just go to some big electronics chain and buy the cheapest thing on the shelf.

That said, Apple doesn't make their money on MacOS, they just use it to sell their hardware.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

^ That's why I build Hackintoshes

 

[Mushkins]

Does it even matter either way?

I'm still waiting for the majority of games to stop catering to DirectX 9. Unless it's the latest AAA shooter, it seems like barely anything uses DX10 or 11 as its baseline. DX12 does us no good if developers continue to cater to the lowest common denominator from a decade ago.

 

[Despoiler]

Does it even matter either way?

I'm still waiting for the majority of games to stop catering to DirectX 9. Unless it's the latest AAA shooter, it seems like barely anything uses DX10 or 11 as its baseline. DX12 does us no good if developers continue to cater to the lowest common denominator from a decade ago.

I agree. I would rather see the hard fork approach to force everyone to DX11/12. DX9 needs to die. I'm really hoping the devs mostly go with DX12.

I think Huddy spoke the truth on this one, but why it's under NDA I have no idea. Win7 stops getting new features on 1/13/2015. That is when mainstream support ends. The only thing Win7 is getting for the next 5 years are bug fixes and security updates.

http://support2.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=windows+7
http://support2.microsoft.com/lifecycle/

 

[NTMBK]

Does it even matter either way?

I'm still waiting for the majority of games to stop catering to DirectX 9. Unless it's the latest AAA shooter, it seems like barely anything uses DX10 or 11 as its baseline. DX12 does us no good if developers continue to cater to the lowest common denominator from a decade ago.

The next gen console ports are all built around DX11 hardware and 8GB of RAM- hopefully the DX9, 32-bit, built for XP games should be a thing of the past.

 

[biostud]

The more OS (ie users) that are capable of running DX12, the more likely games will DX12.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The more OS (ie users) that are capable of running DX12, the more likely games will DX12.

But it doesnt make sense to keep updating an obsolete platform or cut corners just to make it work on older generations.

 

[ShintaiDK]

so how does it really work?

The forced evil upgrade is nothing but a myth by people that feel entitled to it whatever new tech on their older OS platform. Yet they still replace functional hardware for the same reason.

Not to mention the obvious part about no more mainstream support at the time in case of Windows 7.

The WDDM plays a very integrated part with DirectX. And the WDDM is again very tied to the actual OS version. So its not possible really to add these functions unless you destroy what makes Windows successful over *nix.

 

[boozzer]

The forced evil upgrade is nothing but a myth by people that feel entitled to it whatever new tech on their older OS platform. Yet they still replace functional hardware for the same reason.

Not to mention the obvious part about no more mainstream support at the time in case of Windows 7.

The WDDM plays a very integrated part with DirectX. And the WDDM is again very tied to the actual OS version. So its not possible really to add these functions unless you destroy what makes Windows successful over *nix.

well TIL. I had no idea advances in direct x is tie to os versions, not the other way around. also had no idea how inflexible and hardcoded DX versions are. I honestly thought they are just software/driver with very high lvl/deep hardware access.