DirectX 11 is the next generation graphics API from Microsoft. DX11 has been shown to the public at a couple of events, but the specifications have remained clouded. Microsoft has said that DX will be an expansion of DX10.1. DX10 was a total rewrite of the DirectX code and DX11 would “just” bring new functions and features along with better efficiency and scalability. The pipeline will also include new steps for tessellation, something that first appeared in use with the Xenos GPU for the Xbox 360.
Unfortunately the tessellator found inside Xenos or any of the current Radeon HD 2xxx, 3xxxx or 4xxx cards are compatible with the DirectX 11 specifications. It is unclear how much has to be changed to make it incompatible with DirectX 11. Microsoft will also introduce a more multi-purpose shader, but the goal is not really to create a new GPGPU API but sooner give programmers more options when programming games.
Last but not least there is the long anticipated multi-threading support. Not really a new feature, but still one thing that could boost performance for many gamers out there, especially those who chose to upgrade to Core i7. When Windows 7 arrives in the second half of 2009, there should be plenty of people waiting for DirectX 11 as well and its new features, and it has been confirmed that they will come together. When the Vista version arrives is uncertain.
