Description of DirectX Support on MMX Processors (180888)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q180888

SUMMARY

This article describes how DirectX components use the Multimedia Extension (MMX) features of Intel-compatible processors.

MORE INFORMATION

DirectX components are used by multimedia programs. Many hardware drivers are written to take advantage of DirectX. DirectX uses MMX capabilities, if available, when a multimedia program requires a DirectX capability that the hardware cannot support. For example, if a display adapter cannot support 3D hardware acceleration and a multimedia program requires enhanced 3D (Direct3D) capability, MMX provides that capability instead.

DirectX is a suite of components that accelerate multimedia program features. DirectX includes the following components:
  • DirectDraw provides direct access to video memory and low-level display capabilities to enhance 2D performance.

  • Direct3D provides direct access to 3D capabilities on display adapters that support this feature.

  • DirectSound provides direct access to low-level audio capabilities for sound cards.

  • DirectPlay provides direct access to network connections for multiplayer games and network-based multimedia programs.

  • DirectInput provides direct access to peripheral devices, such as joysticks, game pads, mice, and keyboards.

  • DirectShow provides enhanced performance for multimedia files, such as ActiveMovie files, using DirectDraw and DirectSound.

  • DirectAnimation provides enhanced performance for Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language (DHTML) scripts using DirectShow and other low-level DirectX components.
MMX technology, available with Intel Pentium and compatible processors, provides enhanced multimedia capabilities to programs.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB180888
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