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Summary
Usually, DirectX 12 will give you a better gaming experience.
This can include better frame rates and advanced visual effects.
But if you’re playing games on older hardware, you might find that DirectX 11 improves game stability.
Josh Hendrickson / How-To Geek
But just because DirectX 12 is newer, does that mean it’s always the best choice?
What Is DirectX?
The API suite includes Direct3D, DirectPlay, DirectSound, DirectDraw, and several others.
It was designed to help game developers ensure their software works with as many different hardware configurations as possible.
Related:Vulkan vs. DirectX 12: Which Should You Choose?
DirectX 11 vs. 12: What is the Difference?
DirectX 12uses low-level APIs, which operate in a software layer close to the hardware.
That means it has more direct control over the GPU and can work more efficiently.
That low-level access to hardware optimization makes DirectX 12 more difficult and time-consuming to work with.
The second difference to consider when looking at DX 11 vs. 12 isCPU coreutilization.
With DirectX 12, Microsoft resolved that problem by building support for multi-core processing into the API.
When playing a game using DX 12, more cores equals better performance.
The ability to access multiple cores is combined with another new feature in DX 12: Parallel Compute.
DirectX 12 also introduces Asynchronous Compute.
This allows operations to be executed without waiting for the previous one to complete.
For example, the procedure to generate in-game shadows can be executed before the texture compression operation has finished.
Is DX 11 or DX 12 Better for Gaming?
In general, you will see better game performance when using DirectX 12.
Yet Far Cry 6 and The Division 2 only get a 5% boost.
Which DirectX Should I Use?
Not all games let you choose between using DirectX 11 and 12.
In fact, the number of games that do offer the choice is still pretty low.
And even the games that are compatible with DirectX 12 will often default to DirectX 11 when first installed.
DirectX 11 might even be the better choice on older PC hardware, purely to avoid issues with compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What DirectX Do I have?
If you’re using Windows 10 or 11, you should have DirectX 12 on your system.
It is included with both operating systems.
Do I Need to Install DirectX 12?
No, you normally won’t need to install DirectX 12 manually as it comes with Windows.
you’ve got the option to alsoupdate DirectXwhen new versions become available.
Does DirectX 12 Increase Frame Rates?
What Is DirectX 12 Ultimate?
DirectX 12 Ultimateis the latest version of DirectX 12, released in 2020.
Not all graphics cards support DirectX 12 Ultimate, so availability is dependent on your hardware.
Related:What Is DirectStorage on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Xbox?
FAQ
What DirectX do I have?
If using Windows 10 or 11, you should have DirectX 12 on your box.
It is included with both operating systems.
Do I need to install DirectX 12?
No, you normally won’t need to install DirectX 12 manually as it comes with Windows.
Does DirectX 12 increase Frame Rate?
What is DirectX 12 Ultimate?
DirectX 12 Ultimateis the latest version of DirectX 12, released in 2020.
Not all graphics cards support DirectX 12 Ultimate, so availability is dependent on your hardware.
