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[Insane Metal]

Microsoft published a blog post on DirectStorage yesterday, explaining that the technology will only support NVMe SSDs.

This API is the response to an evolving storage and IO landscape in PC gaming. DirectStorage will be supported on certain systems with NVMe drives and work to bring your gaming experience to the next level.

In a world where a game knows it needs to load and decompress thousands of blocks for the next frame, the one-at-a-time model results in loss of efficiency at various points in the data block’s journey. The DirectStorage API is architected in a way that takes all this into account and maximizes performance throughout the entire pipeline from NVMe drive all the way to the GPU.

It does this in several ways: by reducing per-request NVMe overhead, enabling batched many-at-a-time parallel IO requests which can be efficiently fed to the GPU, and giving games finer grain control over when they get notified of IO request completion instead of having to react to every tiny IO completion.

It sounds like both Microsoft and NVIDIA are working to address what Tim Sweeney called out when he said the PlayStation 5's storage architecture was way ahead of the standard one in place for PC games. That's great news, but there is a catch: Microsoft is 'targeting' a release for the DirectStorage API at some point next year in the hands of developers, and that's only as a preview. In all likelihood, we'll have to wait until 2022 before we see some games actually taking advantage of both RTX IO and DirectStorage.

RTX IO and DirectStorage Are Coming, But It'll Be a While Yet

NVIDIA and Microsoft revealed new details on RTX IO and DirectStorage, which will improve loading times and game asset decompression on PC.

wccftech.com

 

[Slings and Arrows]

I don't get it?

Microsoft are using AMD cards but are helping Nvidia? Wut? AMD can't be over-the-moon with the move from MS?

Is it a return to MS+Nvidia? Will we see MS+Nvidia vs Sony+AMD?!

So many questions

 

[martino]

yep we'll see how third party manage on pc until then

 

[Insane Metal]

I don't get it?

Microsoft are using AMD cards but are helping Nvidia? Wut? AMD can't be over-the-moon with the move from MS?

Is it a return to MS+Nvidia? Will we see MS+Nvidia vs Sony+AMD?!

So many questions

We don't even know if the same tech is coming to RDNA2 yet. Since it is coming on XSX it could be coming to their discrete GPUs as well.

 

[GHG]

I don't get it?

Microsoft are using AMD cards but are helping Nvidia? Wut? AMD can't be over-the-moon with the move from MS?

Is it a return to MS+Nvidia? Will we see MS+Nvidia vs Sony+AMD?!

So many questions

The DirectStorage API is part of DX12 Ultimate.

AMD will have access to this as well for their upcoming graphics cards.

But if this isn't ready as a whole then this has implications for Velocity Architecture since Directstorage is a key component of it.

I'd like to assume the article is only referring to DX12 ultimate for PC graphics cards and that this is fully sorted out for their consoles.

 

[Slings and Arrows]

We don't even know if the same tech is coming to RDNA2 yet. Since it is coming on XSX it could be coming to their discrete GPUs as well.

Is this a real post?

The DirectStorage API is part of DX12 Ultimate.

AMD will have access to this as well for their upcoming graphics cards.

But if this isn't ready as a whole then this has implications for Velocity Architecture since Directstorage is a key component of it.

Will Sony's solution for AMD be better than what MS/Nvidia offer?

 

[Dampf]

We don't even know if the same tech is coming to RDNA2 yet. Since it is coming on XSX it could be coming to their discrete GPUs as well.

It is absolutely coming to RDNA2.

XSX uses DirectStorage.

AMD will use DirectStorage on PC as well.

Whatever they call their solution based on DirectStorage, doesn't matter.

 

[Larvana]

Microsoft published a blog post on DirectStorage yesterday, explaining that the technology will only support NVMe SSDs.


It sounds like both Microsoft and NVIDIA are working to address what Tim Sweeney called out when he said the PlayStation 5's storage architecture was way ahead of the standard one in place for PC games. That's great news, but there is a catch: Microsoft is 'targeting' a release for the DirectStorage API at some point next year in the hands of developers, and that's only as a preview. In all likelihood, we'll have to wait until 2022 before we see some games actually taking advantage of both RTX IO and DirectStorage.

RTX IO and DirectStorage Are Coming, But It'll Be a While Yet

NVIDIA and Microsoft revealed new details on RTX IO and DirectStorage, which will improve loading times and game asset decompression on PC.

wccftech.com

Tim Sweeney nor Playstation 5 had nothing to do with this, it's literally the same thing they have in Xbox series X. Kinda sad that Playstation gets praised when they had no effect.

 

[kruis]

I still don't quite understand this slide from Nvidia about Direct Storage:

Why does the data stream from storage go through the NIC before it gets to the PCIe bus? Do we have to connect SSDs to the network interface card?

 

[martino]

The DirectStorage API is part of DX12 Ultimate.

AMD will have access to this as well for their upcoming graphics cards.

But if this isn't ready as a whole then this has implications for Velocity Architecture since Directstorage is a key component of it.

I'd like to assume the article is only referring to DX12 ultimate for PC graphics cards and that this is fully sorted out for their consoles.

i will bring the info to you :

Earlier this year, Microsoft showed the world how the Xbox Series X, with its portfolio of technology innovations, will introduce a new era of no-compromise gameplay. Alongside the actual console announcements, we unveiled the Xbox Velocity Architecture, a key part of how the Xbox Series X will deliver next generation gaming experiences.

We’re excited to bring DirectStorage, an API in the DirectX family originally designed for the Velocity Architecture to Windows PCs!

 

[GHG]

Will Sony's solution for AMD be better than what MS/Nvidia offer?

Sony's solution is not realistic in a Windows environment unless they can do something with Vulkan, in which case that would also run on Nvidia GPU's anyway.

Most games run on DirectX and AMD support that so basically if both solutions come to the PC then everyone will have access to them regardless of what GPU you are running.

 

[Allandor]

Microsoft published a blog post on DirectStorage yesterday, explaining that the technology will only support NVMe SSDs.


It sounds like both Microsoft and NVIDIA are working to address what Tim Sweeney called out when he said the PlayStation 5's storage architecture was way ahead of the standard one in place for PC games. That's great news, but there is a catch: Microsoft is 'targeting' a release for the DirectStorage API at some point next year in the hands of developers, and that's only as a preview. In all likelihood, we'll have to wait until 2022 before we see some games actually taking advantage of both RTX IO and DirectStorage.

RTX IO and DirectStorage Are Coming, But It'll Be a While Yet

NVIDIA and Microsoft revealed new details on RTX IO and DirectStorage, which will improve loading times and game asset decompression on PC.

wccftech.com

Something like DirectStorage isn't created over night. It is a thing of years before you even have something to show. This is just the API ready for the PC. For the next xbox it was "ready" a long time ago. But in the PC market, there is currently almost not base for something like this. NVMe SSDs are only in a small number of PCs. As a developer, you can currently be happy if a user has a "normal" SSD.

The only thing that changed is, that now NVMe SSDs are in price-regions where even prebuild systems sometimes have one and HDDs are slowly dieing in the market (even in servers).

This has nothing to do with Tim Sweeny, Cerny or anybody else. This was already planned a long time ago, but the marked was never ready for something like this. Now it looks like the marked can be ready in a few years. Just look how long DirectX 9, 10, 11 are used by developers. E.g. Directx12/Vulkan are now slowly used by more and more titles. Like everything in PC-business, it needs time.

 

[Entroyp]

Welp.... hype deflated : ( I guess I can wait until the 4000 series.

 

[mckmas8808]

Microsoft published a blog post on DirectStorage yesterday, explaining that the technology will only support NVMe SSDs.


It sounds like both Microsoft and NVIDIA are working to address what Tim Sweeney called out when he said the PlayStation 5's storage architecture was way ahead of the standard one in place for PC games. That's great news, but there is a catch: Microsoft is 'targeting' a release for the DirectStorage API at some point next year in the hands of developers, and that's only as a preview. In all likelihood, we'll have to wait until 2022 before we see some games actually taking advantage of both RTX IO and DirectStorage.

RTX IO and DirectStorage Are Coming, But It'll Be a While Yet

NVIDIA and Microsoft revealed new details on RTX IO and DirectStorage, which will improve loading times and game asset decompression on PC.

wccftech.com

WHOA! O_O I thought the DirectStorage API was already in the hands of devs and that this whole Nvidia RTX I/O revolution would start this Holiday season.

Something like DirectStorage isn't created over night. It is a thing of years before you even have something to show. This is just the API ready for the PC. For the next xbox it was "ready" a long time ago. But in the PC market, there is currently almost not base for something like this. NVMe SSDs are only in a small number of PCs. As a developer, you can currently be happy if a user has a "normal" SSD.

The only thing that changed is, that now NVMe SSDs are in price-regions where even prebuild systems sometimes have one and HDDs are slowly dieing in the market (even in servers).

This has nothing to do with Tim Sweeny, Cerny or anybody else. This was already planned a long time ago, but the marked was never ready for something like this. Now it looks like the marked can be ready in a few years. Just look how long DirectX 9, 10, 11 are used by developers. E.g. Directx12/Vulkan are now slowly used by more and more titles. Like everything in PC-business, it needs time.

This has A LOT to do with what Tim Sweeny and Cerny talked about. It's literally the exact same issue that they said is now solved in the PS5 (back when they were demoing the PS5 and the Unreal 5 Engine).

 

[Insane Metal]

WHOA! O_O I thought the DirectStorage API was already in the hands of devs and that this whole Nvidia RTX I/O revolution would start this Holiday season.

Yeah that sucks

 

[mckmas8808]

Yeah that sucks

So it doesn't make sense to "really" buy a 30XX card until next Holiday season then.

 

[00_Zer0]

Yeah that sucks

Yeah, it does! I was just in the "bulid a PC 2020" thread talking about this feature and my upgrade path. I was thinking of replacing my Inland NMVe PCIE 4.0 SSD with the newer higher speed 7GB variants coming out later this year. The read/write to that NVMe on my x570 motherboard is 5000MB/4300MB. I won't even bother changing anything out since this won't be coming till 2022, plus when it does come out my NVMe will still take advantage of this feature anyway. Till then my 3080 will be ready and waiting.

 

[Night.Ninja]

I don't get it?

Microsoft are using AMD cards but are helping Nvidia? Wut? AMD can't be over-the-moon with the move from MS?

Is it a return to MS+Nvidia? Will we see MS+Nvidia vs Sony+AMD?!

So many questions

Business is business, money is money
Hustle is hustle, stupid is stupid
You the dumbest of dummies, Killa

 

[llien]

I don't get it?

Microsoft are using AMD cards but are helping Nvidia? Wut? AMD can't be over-the-moon with the move from MS?

Is it a return to MS+Nvidia? Will we see MS+Nvidia vs Sony+AMD?!

So many questions

We know "SSD to GPU" is on consoles (and, frankly, I doubt it's about just moving mem blocks, that should be very fast and not much strain on CPUs, but decompression on the way, perhaps?).
We know Microsoft would prefer for its API to work on Windows too.

Which company is not aware of what is going in major (sorry Nintendo) console world? Right, nVidia.

The hilarious part of the show is Huang presenting it as NVs groundbreaking idea.

 

[Self_Destructive]

We know "SSD to GPU" is on consoles (and, frankly, I doubt it's about just moving mem blocks, that should be very fast and not much strain on CPUs, but decompression on the way, perhaps?).
We know Microsoft would prefer for its API to work on Windows too.

Which company is not aware of what is going in major (sorry Nintendo) console world? Right, nVidia.

The hilarious part of the show is Huang presenting it as NVs groundbreaking idea.

Do you ever get tired of spewing BS? Ampere was in development before anything about these consoles was even known.

 

[onesvenus]

This has A LOT to do with what Tim Sweeny and Cerny talked about. It's literally the exact same issue that they said is now solved in the PS5 (back when they were demoing the PS5 and the Unreal 5 Engine).

It's a different solution to the same problem but painting like it's a reaction to what Sony and Epic talked about is just wrong. Architecting things take a lot of time. It seems everybody felt the need for more quick access from the disk to the GPU was needed.

 

[Jose92]

I still don't quite understand this slide from Nvidia about Direct Storage:

Why does the data stream from storage go through the NIC before it gets to the PCIe bus? Do we have to connect SSDs to the network interface card?

I Belive the articule linked has the answer.

NVIDIA RTX IO the Hidden Gem
Perhaps the hidden gem in this announcement is NVIDIA RTX IO.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000 Launch NVIDIA RTX IO
Effectively as games become bigger, NVIDIA is thinking about how it moves data from storage to GPU memory. The diagram NVIDIA used was very telling. Storage did not sit directly on the PCIe bus like a Gen4 SSD. Instead, NVIDIA is showing what almost looks like a GPUDirect storage solution to the workstation space.

NVIDIA GPU Direct Storage 2
What is interesting is that NVIDIA is specifically showing the flow through a NIC in their diagram, especially interesting given the NVIDIA-Mellanox Acquisition. For those wondering, NVIDIA has a GPUDirect Storage diagram without going through the NIC as well.

NVIDIA GPU Direct Storage 2

NVIDIA GPU Direct Storage

We wonder if this is a foreshadowing of NVIDIA moving into the high-performance networking segment for not just the traditional data center as well. NVIDIA did not say “GPUDirect Storage” and it was focused on compression offload, but the flow is very familiar to what is happening on the data side.

https://www.servethehome.com/nvidia-geforce-rtx-3000-series-launch/

 

[kuncol02]

Do you ever get tired of spewing BS? Ampere was in development before anything about these consoles was even known.

They were even talking about that year ago:

GPUDirect Storage: A Direct Path Between Storage and GPU Memory | NVIDIA Technical Blog

As AI and HPC datasets continue to increase in size, the time spent loading data for a given application begins to place a strain on the total application’s performance. When considering end-to-end…

developer.nvidia.com

 

[Compsiox]

I wasn't going to be building anything new for a year at least anyway.

I hope we'll at least know what hardware will be compatible in 2021

 

[lukilladog]

I hope it´s not a soft launch as DX12 and HDR on PC lol.

 

[Snake29]

I don't get it?

Microsoft are using AMD cards but are helping Nvidia? Wut? AMD can't be over-the-moon with the move from MS?

Is it a return to MS+Nvidia? Will we see MS+Nvidia vs Sony+AMD?!

So many questions

Something something DX12 maybe? It's all part of the DX12 (ultimate) package. It has nothing to do with Xbox or something, but just about the DX12 api.

 

[FranXico]

Sony's solution is not realistic in a Windows environment unless they can do something with Vulkan, in which case that would also run on Nvidia GPU's anyway.

Most games run on DirectX and AMD support that so basically if both solutions come to the PC then everyone will have access to them regardless of what GPU you are running.

Sony's solution requires a custom hardware unit not present anywhere other than the PS5 system at the moment.

 

[Papacheeks]

Microsoft published a blog post on DirectStorage yesterday, explaining that the technology will only support NVMe SSDs.


It sounds like both Microsoft and NVIDIA are working to address what Tim Sweeney called out when he said the PlayStation 5's storage architecture was way ahead of the standard one in place for PC games. That's great news, but there is a catch: Microsoft is 'targeting' a release for the DirectStorage API at some point next year in the hands of developers, and that's only as a preview. In all likelihood, we'll have to wait until 2022 before we see some games actually taking advantage of both RTX IO and DirectStorage.

RTX IO and DirectStorage Are Coming, But It'll Be a While Yet

NVIDIA and Microsoft revealed new details on RTX IO and DirectStorage, which will improve loading times and game asset decompression on PC.

wccftech.com

Wow, then why the hell did Nvidia show that in their slides if it's so far out? They acted like when these cards launch they will be using the direct storage?

Something something DX12 maybe? It's all part of the DX12 (ultimate) package. It has nothing to do with Xbox or something, but just about the DX12 api.

Xbox uses the same API.

Just that xbox does have some form of dedicated hardware for decompression and I/O.

 

[Insane Metal]

Wow, then why the hell did Nvidia show that in their slides if it's so far out? They acted like when these cards launch they will be using the direct storage?



Xbox uses the same API.

Just that xbox does have some form of dedicated hardware for decompression and I/O.

Because they didn't want to "stay behind next gen consoles" in any regard. So it didn't matter it's not coming at launch, it had to 'look good'.

 

[Papacheeks]

Because they didn't want to "stay behind next gen consoles" in any regard. So it didn't matter it's not coming at launch, it had to 'look good'.

Wow, moores law was right. These were rushed.

 

[Illiterate Actual]

I still don't quite understand this slide from Nvidia about Direct Storage:

Why does the data stream from storage go through the NIC before it gets to the PCIe bus? Do we have to connect SSDs to the network interface card?

The way I'm reading that is you can stream data in over the network directly to the GPU as well.

 

[Dr_Salt]

Welp.... hype deflated : ( I guess I can wait until the 4000 series.

Why? Its not as if any current PC game needs it right now. I guess this will become useful once multiplat games start requiring ssds.

 

[Snake29]

Wow, then why the hell did Nvidia show that in their slides if it's so far out? They acted like when these cards launch they will be using the direct storage?



Xbox uses the same API.

Just that xbox does have some form of dedicated hardware for decompression and I/O.

Yes, but every GPU is using the DX api for many many years, so at this point..it has nothing to do with Xbox.

 

[Papacheeks]

Yes, but every GPU is using the DX api for many many years, so at this point..it has nothing to do with Xbox.

Sony is using their own API.

Microsoft is beholden to direct x. Which is still being worked on and why Ray tracing is behind in their software kits.

 

[mckmas8808]

It's a different solution to the same problem but painting like it's a reaction to what Sony and Epic talked about is just wrong. Architecting things take a lot of time. It seems everybody felt the need for more quick access from the disk to the GPU was needed.

I don't think anybody is saying this is a "reaction" to Sony and Epic. The bolded is literally the only thing I was talking about. There were MANY people that said the bolded was not the future of video game tech.

 

[geordiemp]

Microsoft published a blog post on DirectStorage yesterday, explaining that the technology will only support NVMe SSDs.


It sounds like both Microsoft and NVIDIA are working to address what Tim Sweeney called out when he said the PlayStation 5's storage architecture was way ahead of the standard one in place for PC games. That's great news, but there is a catch: Microsoft is 'targeting' a release for the DirectStorage API at some point next year in the hands of developers, and that's only as a preview. In all likelihood, we'll have to wait until 2022 before we see some games actually taking advantage of both RTX IO and DirectStorage.

RTX IO and DirectStorage Are Coming, But It'll Be a While Yet

NVIDIA and Microsoft revealed new details on RTX IO and DirectStorage, which will improve loading times and game asset decompression on PC.

wccftech.com

And no surprises at all, been saying this for 3 months its obvious to a backward pygmy.

Its so easy to distinguish PR from reality, but some cant.

I will be pushing up daisys before 100 GB is instantly accessible through a windows file IO system lol, good PR though...

 

[Shmunter]

What? This is disappointing.

What a shitshow, not expecting 3rd party to drop any next gen io games for 3-4 years now. Idiots, just a knee jerk reaction to consoles without any real planning & foresight.

 

[Snake29]

Sony is using their own API.

Microsoft is beholden to direct x. Which is still being worked on and why Ray tracing is behind in their software kits.

I'm not even talking about Sony and i know they are using their GNMx Api for PlayStation consoles.

I only don't get why people are surprised Nvidia is working with MS? Well duuhh..Windows, DX maybe.

That's my whole point ;-)

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Is this a real post?



Will Sony's solution for AMD be better than what MS/Nvidia offer?

I highly doubt AMD are taking Sony's solution wholesale. What they might end up with is a hybrid taking aspects of both Sony's and Microsoft's that is compatible with DirectStorage.

At least, if their Big Navi cards have the support. Here's to hoping they do.

 

[notseqi]

I still don't quite understand this slide from Nvidia about Direct Storage:

Why does the data stream from storage go through the NIC before it gets to the PCIe bus? Do we have to connect SSDs to the network interface card?

Looks like the GPU has gotten more complex, think as if it has gotten a CPU that can call data from storage directly to GPU RAM making it available a lot quicker than it used to be. Combine that with the thought that next gen console APUs having integrated decoding for Kraken texture packs, which are way smaller than usual, and the 3080 only having 10GB of RAM which was a point of contention for a lot of people here, and you are seeing data handled in a more efficient way.

Could be talking out of my arse but that's what I'm getting out of this.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Microsoft published a blog post on DirectStorage yesterday, explaining that the technology will only support NVMe SSDs.


It sounds like both Microsoft and NVIDIA are working to address what Tim Sweeney called out when he said the PlayStation 5's storage architecture was way ahead of the standard one in place for PC games. That's great news, but there is a catch: Microsoft is 'targeting' a release for the DirectStorage API at some point next year in the hands of developers, and that's only as a preview. In all likelihood, we'll have to wait until 2022 before we see some games actually taking advantage of both RTX IO and DirectStorage.

RTX IO and DirectStorage Are Coming, But It'll Be a While Yet

NVIDIA and Microsoft revealed new details on RTX IO and DirectStorage, which will improve loading times and game asset decompression on PC.

wccftech.com

Good luck running UE5 demo.

 

[Insane Metal]

Good luck running UE5 demo.

I mean... with 30+ TF they will run it one way or the other lol.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

I mean... with 30+ TF they will run it one way or the other lol.

It's a memory thing, not power.

 

[TheTechnician]

of course they can run UE5 Demo - it is anoucned to support everything right down to Switch. The big oof is now that only PS5 will have the Setting " Polygoncount " set to Ultra.
I was recently remebered in the german PCgameshardware.de Forum about this Demo..

It is for Console Lovers actually a interesting situation - Until Direct Storage API will be ready it will be at least to years. More until the first games will use it. So we are looking into a vakuum in that regards on PC, for the next 2 Years.
Plenty of time to prove the PCMS Defense Force here and elsewhere that Cerny Vision is indeed a Worldclass Storagesolution with real gaming merits besides fromfaster loading only..

 

[Self_Destructive]

It's a memory thing, not power.

Oh, then it's great PCs have far more memory too.... and faster memory... SUBSTANTIALLY FASTER MEMORY...

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Oh, then it's great PCs have far more memory too.... and faster memory... SUBSTANTIALLY FASTER MEMORY...

Try tweeting that to Sweeney. I got a PC, dude, and 3.5GB/s Samsung Pro. But it's not that simple. Anyway, might not reply further. Enjoy.

 

[VFXVeteran]

Why? Its not as if any current PC game needs it right now. I guess this will become useful once multiplat games start requiring ssds.

And that's a ways off. The console SSDs will be used for loading and so will the PC SSDs. I don't think we'll start seeing streaming games requiring RTX IO for a couple of years.

 

[quest]

Try tweeting that to Sweeney. I got a PC, dude, and 3.5GB/s Samsung Pro. But it's not that simple. Anyway, might not reply further. Enjoy.

Why should anybody tweet that liar. He flat out lied about a deal with Sony. Then flat out lied about what direct storage would do to make Sony look better. He damn well knew what was coming in direct storage but made a bunch of out dated tweets for his business partner Sony. Sony IO is awesome but PC wins the day again should just admit defeat a little storage efficiency is not over coming 20tf tensor cores and 2-3 times Ray Tracing performance.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

Why should anybody tweet that liar. He flat out lied about a deal with Sony. Then flat out lied about what direct storage would do to make Sony look better. He damn well knew what was coming in direct storage but made a bunch of out dated tweets for his business partner Sony. Sony IO is awesome but PC wins the day again should just admit defeat a little storage efficiency is not over coming 20tf tensor cores and 2-3 times Ray Tracing performance.

Did I say something about power? Why are you so mad? Relax, and I won't take your word over experts.

 

[quest]

Did I say something about power? Why are you so mad? Relax, and I won't take your word over experts.

Won't have to take my word for it 3rd party games will run twice as good.