Raytracing with DirectX

[original question from split thread http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/showpost.aspx postid=1274336&siteid=1]

 As a sidenote, if you know, could you explain to me the relationship between Shader Model 3.0/4.0 and DirectX9/10. I've read the documentation, but am a little confused. If a motherboard supports DirectX 10, does it automatically have support for SM4.0, or can it be DX10 and still only have support for SM3.0

Actually, there is a case where some new motherboards support DirectX 10. The Intel, DG965WH says in its manual:

http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/wh/wh_documentation.htm

that it does support DirectX 10 through the onboard video chipset X3000. There are conflicting reports on the internet and I'm wondering if DirectX 10 support explicity implies Shader Model 4.0 support, even if its added afterwards with a driver update. Put simply, will the Intel DG965WH, as described in the technical support document, Support DirectX 10 as well as SM 4.0

As SM4 is the only shader model that Direct3D 10 supports there could no Direct3D 10 solution without.

I know that Intel claimed some time ago that this chipset is able to support Direct3D 10 and only need a driver to do so. But until know I haven¡¯t see a driver. Therefore I would not put too much hope in this.

I agree there is a good possibility that I won't have complete DX10 support until a driver appears, but shouldn't there be some way to scrap one together seeing as how Intel's next Bearlake chipset G35 is being quoted as definately DirectX10 compliant, and its graphics is just a derivative of the X3000, which is in the DG965WH The driver code base would no doubt be close to identical I would think. Don't they give out all their driver code to open source nowadays :)

I guess in the DG965WH manual where it says support for DX10 and then below lists support for Shader Model 3.0, that was just put in to denote backwards compatibility with DirectX9. Oh well. Guess I need to buy a new motherboard in 6 months.

The Linux driver is open source. Not sure about the windows driver. I have taken a look at the Linux version some time ago and I have seen things that smell like D3D10 but other things are missed in the driver. The problem with the code is that is hard to understand as it is only the code. The technical manual that was used to write the driver is AFAIK not public. Therefore it is hard to say it is only a software or a real hardware limitation that holds them back.

I might just have gotten lucky with my mobo purchase. Seems Intel was waiting for GDC this week to release the news. Not only will the G965/X3000 chipset, on my DG965WH mobo, support DX10, but it looks like it will run some of the latest games at really good rates. Check it out here:

http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/03/08/gdc2007_intel_g965_integratedgraphics/

Bye, bye video cards. Now all they need to do is put an HDTV tuner on the mobo and I will have no PCI cards left in my machine. :)

The ZMan wrote:

OK point taken but its still the graphcis chip on that motherboard that is supporting DX10 :-) I'm going to split off this question and move it to the DX10 forum so you can get an official answer.

For anyone that is interested in info on the G965 directx/opengl support check here:

http://www.dxten.com/wiki/Intel_Integrated_G965_X3000

No hardware vertex shaders, pixel SM3.0 and decent software vertex shading performance with a 3.2 Ghz P4 cpu. One tip, install the motherboard outside the case first. Seems to short out if you attach all screws to case/mobo(AsusVento3600). I eventually got it to work with 4 screws no where near any circuitry. Good stable board so far.

So currently, even though the Intel driver information says DirectX 10, its still only got pixel SM3.0 and no HW vertex support. Can't wait to see the new drivers.