shader question

g0ldfishcracker · 05-05-2007, 07:39 PM

i have noticed that stores dont post the pixel or vertex shader version anywhere. at least as far as stating it obviously they dont. so my question is: is there any way to tell what shader version the video card has before you buy it? thanks for your time.

**TheMatt** · 05-05-2007, 08:49 PM

Hi,

What video card is it? Here is a basic list of card series and what shadder versions they have:

GeForce MX4 series - Shader 1.1 (DirectX 8.1)
GeForce FX5 series - Shader 2.0 (DirectX 9.0a)
GeForce 6 series - Shader 3.0 (DirectX 9.0c)
GeForce 7 series - Shader 3.0 (DirectX 9.0c)
GeForce 8 series - Shader 4.0 (DirectX 10.0)

Radeon 8 series - Shadder 1.1 (DirectX 8.1)
Radeon 92 series - Shader 1.1 (DirectX 8.1)
Radeon 9 series - Shader 2.0 (DirectX 9.0a)
Radeon X series - Shader 2.0 (DirectX 9.0a)
Radeon X1k series - Shader 3.0 (DirectX 9.0c)
Radeon X2k series Shader 4.0 (DirectX 10.0)

Hope this helps.

g0ldfishcracker · 05-05-2007, 09:13 PM

it helps a bit but im not looking at buying a new video card now. how did you find out what version they are? or is it basically just word of mouth?

ebackhus · 05-07-2007, 12:45 PM

Virtually ALL gaming cards today support at least DirectX 9c.

**TheMatt** · 05-07-2007, 07:43 PM

Just remember to stay away from the Radeon 92xx series of cards because most of them still have DX 8.1, which has the rather limited PS 1.1

ebackhus · 05-07-2007, 10:47 PM

eb smells the need for a DirectX article!

g0ldfishcracker · 05-08-2007, 11:09 AM

yes i think that sounds like a great idea if you dont mind that is.

**TheMatt** · 05-11-2007, 09:42 PM

There is some good information here.
http://www.playtool.com/pages/basic3d/basics.html

BTW, I don't actually remember where I learned about all the different Direct3D support from graphics card generations. It was probably in one of the books I read, along with the web site above.

ebackhus · 05-11-2007, 10:52 PM

I'm a graphics and 3D design nut plus PC gaming is one of my other interests so I research all I can and even buy older hardware to test with.

I currently have the following as extra stock:

nVidia Riva 128ZX (2x)
nVidia GeForce TnT2 (2x)
nVidia GeForce 256
nVidia GeForce 2 GTS
nVidia GeForce 2 MX 200/400
nVidia GeForce 3 Ti500 (2x)
nVidia GeForce 4 TI4600
nVidia GeForce 6800

I had a Radeon 9600Pro but traded it out for some software. I also know the DirectX supprt for most S3 cards both discrete and integrated. ATi I'm pretty familiar with from the Rage 128's and up to current. I'm (obviously) an nVidia fan and know their hardware as far back as the Riva 128 series. After that I just read read READ.

**TheMatt** · 05-12-2007, 11:44 AM

Can I have your 6800?

**Kalim** · 05-12-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g0ldfishcracker

it helps a bit but im not looking at buying a new video card now. how did you find out what version they are? or is it basically just word of mouth?

Check on the manufacturers website (technical specs) or if not Wikipedia usually has some facts on these aspects.

A keyword search in Google will get you quite a lot of info, just from the card reviews online.

I visit beyond3d to learn a lot of the intricate facts online.

05-05-2007, 07:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
g0ldfishcracker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38 OS: XP	shader question i have noticed that stores dont post the pixel or vertex shader version anywhere. at least as far as stating it obviously they dont. so my question is: is there any way to tell what shader version the video card has before you buy it? thanks for your time.

05-05-2007, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: shader question Hi, What video card is it? Here is a basic list of card series and what shadder versions they have: GeForce MX4 series - Shader 1.1 (DirectX 8.1) GeForce FX5 series - Shader 2.0 (DirectX 9.0a) GeForce 6 series - Shader 3.0 (DirectX 9.0c) GeForce 7 series - Shader 3.0 (DirectX 9.0c) GeForce 8 series - Shader 4.0 (DirectX 10.0) Radeon 8 series - Shadder 1.1 (DirectX 8.1) Radeon 92 series - Shader 1.1 (DirectX 8.1) Radeon 9 series - Shader 2.0 (DirectX 9.0a) Radeon X series - Shader 2.0 (DirectX 9.0a) Radeon X1k series - Shader 3.0 (DirectX 9.0c) Radeon X2k series Shader 4.0 (DirectX 10.0) Hope this helps. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides Last edited by TheMatt; 05-05-2007 at 08:51 PM.

05-05-2007, 09:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
g0ldfishcracker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: shader question it helps a bit but im not looking at buying a new video card now. how did you find out what version they are? or is it basically just word of mouth?

05-07-2007, 12:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: shader question Virtually ALL gaming cards today support at least DirectX 9c. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-07-2007, 07:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: shader question Just remember to stay away from the Radeon 92xx series of cards because most of them still have DX 8.1, which has the rather limited PS 1.1 __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

05-07-2007, 10:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: shader question eb smells the need for a DirectX article! __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-08-2007, 11:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
g0ldfishcracker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: shader question yes i think that sounds like a great idea if you dont mind that is.

05-11-2007, 09:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: shader question There is some good information here. http://www.playtool.com/pages/basic3d/basics.html BTW, I don't actually remember where I learned about all the different Direct3D support from graphics card generations. It was probably in one of the books I read, along with the web site above. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

05-11-2007, 10:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: shader question I'm a graphics and 3D design nut plus PC gaming is one of my other interests so I research all I can and even buy older hardware to test with. I currently have the following as extra stock: nVidia Riva 128ZX (2x) nVidia GeForce TnT2 (2x) nVidia GeForce 256 nVidia GeForce 2 GTS nVidia GeForce 2 MX 200/400 nVidia GeForce 3 Ti500 (2x) nVidia GeForce 4 TI4600 nVidia GeForce 6800 I had a Radeon 9600Pro but traded it out for some software. I also know the DirectX supprt for most S3 cards both discrete and integrated. ATi I'm pretty familiar with from the Rage 128's and up to current. I'm (obviously) an nVidia fan and know their hardware as far back as the Riva 128 series. After that I just read read READ. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-12-2007, 11:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: shader question Can I have your 6800? __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides