How to force DirectX10 over DirectX11?

[RyanGreener]

Hi everyone. I'm not too proficient with graphics cards and stuff (I just simply install them). I am wondering how I can force the GPU to ues DirectX10 instead of DirectX11. Is there any way to do this?

 

[brandonb]

No...

Computing is not much different than a calculator.

Think of this:

_ + _ = _

2 + 2 = 4

Thats what DirectX 10 is... Now DirectX 11 comes out and says "You must support the minus sign:

_ - _ = _

5 - 3 = 2

Any app written for DirectX10 thinks the only command available is the plus... It has no knowledge of the minus sign. So DirectX10 works on DirectX11 hardware, provided DirectX11 hardware does not remove the _ + _ = _...

Forcing something DirectX10 only when it supports DirectX11 is sort of meaningless. You won't get any magical things going on.

DirectX10's _ + _ = _ is the same as the DirectX11's _ + _ = _

You won't gain anything by saying "Do not support _ - _ = _" when you can...

 

[yottabit]

@brandonb Umm... some games will take brutal performance hits (i.e. low end GPUs with DX11), so that might be a reason. If the game or software doesn't have an option for it built in you can look up to see if there is a tag you can add on to the executable or shortcut to force it.

For instance I add -d3d11 as a launch parameter to WoW to force it into DX11 mode

Depending on the situation it can definitely make all the difference to run games in different modes... I don't know of a way to disable DX11 mode on the GPU entirely

 

[Red Hawk]

Isn't DirectX 11 supposed to be a more efficient API than DirectX 10? When developed properly, that is. I can't imagine turning off DirectX 11 in favor of DirectX 10 would help much more than manually turning off some graphical settings.

 

[Anteaus]

Why would you want to? There really isn't anything to be gained by it. The better way is to use the in game graphics settings because some settings actually directly control what DX11 features are used. An example is Shader level. Shader level 2 and 3 are DX9, level 4 is DX10, 4.1 is DX10.1 and level 5 is DX11. You can dramatically affect performance by tweaking this setting, assuming it's available for adjustment. There are others also, but this, shadows and AA/AF are the biggest offenders for weaker cards.

 

[BD231]

DX 10/11 are not hugely different and neither is performance between the two. The only way to change your version of Direct-X is through the game you're playing so just go into video options and you should see a Direct-X feature, if not you're SOL.

 

[RyanGreener]

I am running a low end GPU that ran SC2 on DX10 great and when I updated the drivers it started running DX11 and it slowed down, so this is why I think I want to run DX10. I guess I'll look around later but I'm hoping there is a way to disable it

 

[yottabit]

Starcraft 2 is DX9 only so I'm not sure what's happening. You could always just reinstall the older drivers

 

[RyanGreener]

Starcraft 2 is DX9 only so I'm not sure what's happening. You could always just reinstall the older drivers

Oh wow....weird. It says my card is running in DX11 instead of DX10 like before in the properties, but I guess if SC2 has always ran in DX9 I'm guessing the new feature set just isn't applied?

 

[Red Hawk]

Windows Vista and 7 report the latest version of DirectX that the operating system is compatible with (DirectX 11, right now) regardless of hardware, but games and graphics cards only actually run the latest version of DirectX that they individually are compatible with.

 

[NoQuarter]

@brandonb Umm... some games will take brutal performance hits (i.e. low end GPUs with DX11), so that might be a reason.

DX11 is more efficient than DX10 especially in multi-threading, so if you don't use DX11 to improve graphics and only use it to improve efficiency then a game will run faster in DX11 mode than DX10. Thing is many games also have settings that up the graphics in DX11 mode which DOES brutalize the lower end cards.

For instance I add -d3d11 as a launch parameter to WoW to force it into DX11 mode

This is the perfect example too, WoW runs something like 20% faster in DX11 mode because the graphics aren't increased in DX11 mode only the efficiency.

 

[BD231]

I am running a low end GPU that ran SC2 on DX10 great and when I updated the drivers it started running DX11 and it slowed down, so this is why I think I want to run DX10. I guess I'll look around later but I'm hoping there is a way to disable it

I don't play that title but it should have a Direct X selection under video options, dx 9 would definitely take a load off your GPU or you could always roll back your driver.

 

[RyanGreener]

Ok well I did some tweaks to the graphics control panel and it seems to be running better. Thanks for the suggestions guys 🙂