NVIDIA Could Capitalize on AMD GCN Not Supporting Direct3D 12_1

[BiG StroOnZ]

AMD's Graphics CoreNext (GCN) architecture does not support Direct3D feature-level 12_1 (DirectX 12.1), according to a ComputerBase.de report. The architecture only supports Direct3D up to feature-level 12_0. Feature-level 12_1 adds three features over 12_0, namely Volume-Tiled Resources, Conservative Rasterization and Rasterizer Ordered Views. 

Volume Tiled-resources, is an evolution of tiled-resources (analogous to OpenGL mega-texture), in which the GPU seeks and loads only those portions of a large texture that are relevant to the scene it's rendering, rather than loading the entire texture to the memory. Think of it as a virtual memory system for textures. This greatly reduces video memory usage and bandwidth consumption. Volume tiled-resources is a way of seeking portions of a texture not only along X and Y axes, but adds third dimension. Conservative Rasterization is a means of drawing polygons with additional pixels that make it easier for two polygons to interact with each other in dynamic objects. Raster Ordered Views is a means to optimize raster loads in the order in which they appear in an object. Practical applications include improved shadows.

 

 

Given that GCN doesn't feature bare-metal support for D3D feature-level 12_1, its implementation will be as limited as feature-level 11_1 was, when NVIDIA's Kepler didn't support it. This is compounded by the fact that GCN is a more popular GPU architecture than Maxwell (which supports 12_1), thanks to new-generation game consoles. It could explain why NVIDIA dedicated three-fourths of its GeForce GTX 980 Ti press-deck to talking about the features of D3D 12_1 at length. The company probably wants to make a few new effects that rely on D3D 12_1 part of GameWorks, and deflect accusations of exclusivity to the competition (AMD) not supporting certain API features, which are open to them. Granted, AMD GPUs, and modern game consoles such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 don't support GameWorks, but that didn't stop big game devs from implementing them.

 

 

Source: http://www.techpowerup.com/213191/nvidia-could-capitalize-on-amd-graphics-corenext-not-supporting-direct3d-12-1.html

 

I find this article very interesting, because people are going around on this forum constantly posting a chart claiming Maxwell does not have full DX12 support, but AMD GCN does and inside of this chart it lists all features that are supported for Maxwell, GCN, and Intel. This is the chart that I'm talking about:

 

 

Now according to this article, GCN does not support Volume Tiled Resources, Conservative Rasterization or Rasterizer Ordered Views. I don't know where people got this chart as I'm finding difficulty finding a source for it but apparently it is incorrect and inaccurate. As this article from TechPowerUp dictates these features are not supported on GCN. I find the most interesting part of this article is that GCN does not support Volume-Tiled Resources, which if you read the description helps conserve video memory usage (or VRAM usage). Which IMO, is the most important feature for GCN to have considering they are about to launch Fiji / Fiji XT (Radeon Fury) with only 4GB of VRAM. If NVIDIA capitalizes on this by utilizing 12_1 feature sets in their GamesWorks games, they could really do some damage to AMD especially to their new cards about to launch.

[Guest Kloaked]

Wait, so are the 3xx-series considered the same GCN iteration that won't support 12.1?

[Samfisher]

Interesting.  I always wondered why Nvidia apparently didn't support DX12 fully when they've been working with MS on it for so many donkey years.

[Syntaxvgm]

So a 290 and 290x would not support it? or am I wrong on what GCN is? 

[The Benjamins]

The only card that supports 12.1 is 980ti and the AMD FURY will too. so how is that a advantage?

also AMD has better older support for 12.0 then Nvidia according to that chart

[Victorious Secret]

So a 290 and 290x would not support it? or am I wrong on what GCN is? 

 

Some 3xx cards will NOT have the latest GCN since they are just rebadged 2xx cards on older GCN card so yes, some 3xx cards are already behind the 8 ball on DX12 support. 

[dragosudeki]

So a 290 and 290x would not support it? or am I wrong on what GCN is? 

I think there are some features that won't be supported. When DirectX12 is in development, they add/remove features in the specification in it. Therefore, the earlier generation you have, the more likely you will lose out on some of the features. I think it would be best for everyone to wait for DX12 to release (and games to fully use it) before I think about a new card. The generation of cards after should probably fully support it.

[BiG StroOnZ]

The only card that supports 12.1 is 980ti and the AMD FURY will too. so how is that a advantage?

also AMD has better older support for 12.0 then Nvidia according to that chart

 

Incorrect:

 

The feature level 12_1 remains for the time being for the GM200 (980 Ti / Titan X) -  GM204 (970 / 980) - and GM206-GPU (960) Nvidia reserved. For Fiji, AMD is not expressed. According to Hallock, the absence of the feature level 12_1 is no problem in principle. So the key for games features are all included in the feature level 11_1 and 12_0. In addition, most games would already geared to the console and thus hardly rely on 12_1.

 

 

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computerbase.de%2F2015-06%2Fdirectx-12-amd-radeon-feature-level-12-0-gcn%2F

[The Benjamins]

 

Incorrect:

 

 

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computerbase.de%2F2015-06%2Fdirectx-12-amd-radeon-feature-level-12-0-gcn%2F

 

 

ok but AMD has better DX12 support then Nvidia. 12.1 is not that big of a deal if only a handful of people can use it. most game devs will not use 12.1 but just 12

[BiG StroOnZ]

ok but AMD has better DX12 support then Nvidia. 12.1 is not that big of a deal if only a handful of people can use it. most game devs will not use 12.1 but just 12

 

Handful? The majority market share is NVIDIA, if NVIDIA implements 12_1 features into GamesWorks games the majority will be able to use it. However the minority will suffer from performance issues and problems, that being AMD users.

[patrickjp93]

The only card that supports 12.1 is 980ti and the AMD FURY will too. so how is that a advantage?

also AMD has better older support for 12.0 then Nvidia according to that chart

All of Maxwell can support it. The 980TI is not unique to this.

[The Benjamins]

Handful? The majority market share is NVIDIA, if NVIDIA implements 12_1 features into GamesWorks games the majority will be able to use it. However the minority will suffer from performance issues and problems, that being AMD users.

 

 

All of Maxwell can support it. The 980TI is not unique to this.

 

thats only 970, 980, 980 ti, thats not a big market share. maxwell v1 does not have full support according to the chart. so still maxwell is the minority

[patrickjp93]

thats only 970, 980, 980 ti, thats not a big market share. maxwell v1 does not have full support according to the chart. so still maxwell is the minority

Maxwell V1 only applies to the 750/TI. All the 900 series is based on a GM 20X core. GTX 960 and the GTX 900M series all support the same level of DX 12 features. Now, it may require a driver update or two, but that doesn't change the fact they are all the same Maxwell V2 architecture.

[Briggsy]

most developers will undoubtedly use whatever the xbone is capable of using, and may ignore 12_1. there is a chance PC exclusive developers will use 12_1. Kepler didn't support 11.1 and it did literally zero credit to AMD for supporting 11.1 features, simply because developers weren't keen on dividing their engine and features up between platforms. Its possible some developers will dabble in 12_1, if there is reason to.

[NAP51DMustang]

All of Maxwell can support it. The 980TI is not unique to this.

Actually the 970 and 980 don't support either raster feature (iirc) and they emulate the tile feature.

[Eroda]

im not even concerned DX12 isnt out yet and it wil take time for it to reach critcal mass so possibly by then the support for some of the more important features will be on the majority of medium/highend GCN stuff

[patrickjp93]

Actually the 970 and 980 don't support either raster feature (iirc) and they emulate the tile feature.

Emulation is still support, just tier 2 support instead of tier 3.

[monstercameron]

Handful? The majority market share is NVIDIA, if NVIDIA implements 12_1 features into GamesWorks games the majority will be able to use it. However the minority will suffer from performance issues and problems, that being AMD users.

nvidia only has the majority of current dgpu sales, what about total GPU shipments?

[BiG StroOnZ]

nvidia only has the majority of current dgpu sales, what about total GPU shipments?

 

MSI alone has 100 million shipments of NVIDIA cards.

[monstercameron]

MSI alone has 100 million shipments of NVIDIA cards.

Total GPU share

[CommandMan7]

I'm just glad that stupid chart has been properly and publicly debunked. It should be obvious that AMD rebrands don't somehow support all these features, especially when Nvidia is launching brand new cards every couple months it seems like.

[deviant88]

Is anyone else amazed by the fact that 12_0 isnt even released and theres already a 12_1 coming? at the same fucking time.

Wat?

[BiG StroOnZ]

Total GPU share

 

That's not discrete GPU's that includes all shipped for consoles like APU's. Notice Intel is on that list, with majority market share, that's from on die graphics.

[Zulkkis]

Waiting for tessellation 2.0

 

Stupidly high-res skybox that is an uncompressed image that reaches under the map as well.

[monstercameron]

That's not discrete GPU's that includes all shipped for consoles like APU's.

Point is nvidia isn't the majority here.