With DirectStorage, your CPU could be relieved in games by up to 40 percent.
Many gamers still use Windows 10 instead of Windows 11, despite features like gaming mode, auto HDR and more. According to our survey in January, around 30 percent of GameStar readers have switched to Windows 11. A whopping 65 percent are sticking with Windows 10 for the time being. If you look at the comments, many of you read that there’s just no good reason for gamers to switch operating systems.
For example, GameStar reader Takamisakari writes: As long as Windows 11 is not a requirement for games I want to play, an update is out of the question for me.
And it’s called DirectStorage. The technology, which was first used in the Xbox Series X, ensures more efficient communication between data storage and the graphics unit. This ensures faster loading times and relieves the processor.
Yes, the technology also works with Windows 10, but DirectStorage is said to deliver far better results in cooperation with Windows 11 and an NVMe SSD. Cooper Partin, a senior software developer at Microsoft, tells the magazine Tweak Town. There he says:
“DirectStorage was developed for modern gaming systems. It handles smaller reads more efficiently, and you can group multiple requests together. When fully integrated into your title, DirectStorage with an NVMe SSD on Windows 11 reduces in-game CPU overhead by 20-40%. This is attributed to the advances made in the file IO stack on Windows 11 and the improvements on this platform in general.”
The combination of Windows 11, an NVMe SSD and DirectStorage can relieve your processor by 20 to 40 percent. This frees up computing power that developers can use for other purposes. For example, they can use it to create larger and livelier game worlds.
DirectStorage can also greatly reduce loading times
The technology not only relieves the processor, but also ensures much shorter loading times in games. You can find more on the subject in this article:
DirectStorage:
Windows is getting the biggest update for PC gamers in years
The first game to use the technology is Forspoken, due out on October 11, 2022. There was a first demo recently at the Game Developers Conference. Here the developers have also shown what effects DirectStorage has on loading times.
The aim was therefore to reduce the average loading time from around 10 seconds to just one second. With an M.2 SSD, a scene could actually be loaded in just 1.9 seconds, like PC Gamer reported. Another scene was only slightly longer, namely 2.2 seconds.
A major downside of DirectStorage is that it doesn’t just work in all games. Developers need to build it into their games so that you can benefit from it later. So it will probably be a while before Windows 11 players can really enjoy the benefits of the technology.
If you want to install Windows 11, but it is not offered to you in the Update Center, you can find out how to get the latest operating system here:
Switching from Windows 10: When will I get Windows 11 and how to make it faster?
Is DirectStorage a reason for you to switch to Windows 11 or are the benefits too small? Would you rather wait for the technology to be implemented in your favorite game? Please let us know.
