Microsoft KB Archive/180888

= Description of DirectX Support on MMX Processors =

Article ID: 180888

Article Last Modified on 1/22/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 128-Bit Edition
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 128-Bit Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition

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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.

Additional query words: 4.00

Keywords: kbfaq kbinfo KB180888

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