Windows 10 OS performance, especially in the gaming arena, is set to improve substantially. Microsoft has indicated a new Windows 10 API called “DirectStorage” is being developed. The API was, until recently, exclusive to Xbox Series X, and it works well particularly with the newer generation of Solid State Drives such as SSDs and NVMe drives.
Microsoft Integrating DirectStorage API into Windows 10 To Improve Gaming And PC Performance:
Microsoft is currently engaged in developing and finalizing the DirectStorage API for Windows 10. The company claims it is working with its industry partners, especially in the gaming segment, to gain feedback about the best possible implementation of the Xbox Series X feature in Windows 10. Developers are expected to get early access to the API next year. DirectStorage is an API for Windows 10 PCs that will reportedly bring best-in-class IO tech to supported hardware. The API is designed for PCs with NVMe drives. In other words, PCs will have to be installed with these miniature Sold State Drives, and Windows 10 OS will have to boot from the same. While the majority of NVMe SSDs are used to boot the primary OS, they are rarely used as large storage media.
Near-instant game loads, richer graphics, low CPU use promised with DirectStorage API coming to Windows PCshttps://t.co/CoNDmV5diD — Aizen_sama (@Aizen_6509) September 3, 2020 In case the computers running Windows 10 do not have any NVMe SSD installed and running, the OS will continue to function normally with the new DirectStorage API. Needless to add, the API was initially developed to improve game loading times from the dedicated gaming console. Microsoft has assured that gamers who have upgraded their computers with the newer NVMe SSDs should see performance improvements after the DirectStorage API arrives as part of a feature update. Additionally, the new API will allow games to offer more detailed gameplay than ever.
Windows 10 OS Was Limiting The Performance Of Newer Storage and Boot Media?
Solid State Drives, especially the newer NVMe drives, are much faster than the majority of traditional, permanent storage and boot media. However, the outstanding possibilities of these SSDs are only being used to a limited extent even by Windows 10. It is quite likely Microsoft was ensuring compatibility across the multiple types of storage media and hence, hadn’t focused on improving the performance. The problem, which wasn’t addressed until recently, was with the overhead that has to be dealt with when working with the storage media. The stored information is still read and passed on using methods that have been rooted deep in systems for a very long time. Needless to mention, they work fine with slower storage media such as the traditional mechanical hard drives.
— Geoffrey (@Geoffreytai2017) September 3, 2020 The NVMe memory in the new Xbox Series X, for example, is so fast that it would use up several CPU cores to process the metadata quickly enough. The new DirectStorage API significantly reduces or lowers the load on the game console to a fraction of the capacity of a core. And in the near future, PC gamers should also benefit from the technology which significantly reduces loading times. Gaming on Windows 10 as well as dedicated gaming consoles have to deal with enormous amounts of data in modern games, and the new API should help significantly. Incidentally, alongside games, other applications should also benefit, but their developers must ensure that the API is supported directly. Incidentally, in order for the DirectStorage API to work well, Microsoft will have to tightly integrate the same with DirectX 12 Ultimate. Hence, the company is reportedly working closely with partners to ensure that the integration of the new API in Windows 10 is properly completed.
