围绕DirectStorage(DirectStorage)有很多炒作，开发人员可以使用这项新功能来消除加载时间并改善游戏玩家的整体体验。但什么是DirectStorage，它会辜负谣言吗？
在本文中，我们将介绍DirectStorage是什么、它的工作原理以及如何在Windows 11上使用它。
什么是微软的 DirectStorage？
DirectStorage 是最新DirectX 12迭代中包含的一项功能，旨在通过访问新一代SSD(SSDs)的全部功能来改善游戏体验。DirectStorage 最初是为Xbox 系列(Xbox Series)游戏机开发的，但现在可在Windows 11和 10 上使用。
DirectStorage 是如何工作的？
简而言之，DirectStorage允许较新的GPU(GPUs)通过跳过现在不必要的路径并使用更快的技术来更快地接收游戏数据，从而实现近乎即时的加载时间。
目前，当游戏从系统存储请求数据（如纹理、音频或模型）时，存储API会获取数据并将其移动到系统的随机存取存储器(Random Access Memory)( RAM )。从这里，它被传递到图形处理单元 (GPU) 的(Graphical Processing Unit’s (GPUs))VRAM 以进行渲染以供显示。
此数据被压缩以节省硬盘空间。问题是GPU(GPUs)通常无法读取压缩数据。因此，在发送到GPU之前，数据由您的中央处理单元 (CPU)(Central Processing Unit (CPU))解压缩。
这是当前流程的样子：
这个过程的缺点是解压需要很长时间并且会成为CPU的瓶颈，这意味着它无法用于GPU需要的任务。这意味着更长的游戏加载时间和更低的帧速率。
DirectStorage 是一种低级存储应用程序编程接口(Application Programming Interface)( API )，它包含全新的GPU解压缩技术，将解压缩工作从CPU转移到GPU。这意味着完全绕过了CPU ， GPU可以快速接收大量压缩数据。
DirectStorage 还使用较新的NVMe SSD( NVMe SSDs)，与旧存储设备相比，数据传输速率要快得多。
以前的API(APIs)仅用于处理有限数量的数据——一次输入/输出 (IO) 访问，通常是大块。DirectStorage支持许多并行 IO 请求，通过只允许为每个场景或关卡传输必要的数据来提高效率。从本质上讲，DirectStorage针对(DirectStorage)NVMe驱动器 中可用的大量带宽优化了 IO 性能。
Windows 11的系统要求(System Requirements)是什么？
Xbox Series X 和 Xbox Series S 主机(Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles)本机实现DirectStorage。它是Velocity 架构(Velocity Architecture)的一部分，这也是为什么必须在Xbox SSD上安装游戏的原因。
但是，Windows 10 和 11 操作系统对运行 DirectStorage 有特定的硬件要求。(specific hardware requirements)
DirectStorage 的硬件要求是：
- 您必须使用至少 1 TB 的 PCIe 3.0 NVMe 驱动器。(You must use a PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive at a minimum of 1 TB. )这是当前SSD(SSDs)的通信协议（取代以前的SATA接口）。NVMe SSD(NVMe SSDs)可以实现更快的速度，因为它们通过PCIe接口直接连接到CPU 。PCIe 4.0将提供最佳结果。
- 您必须拥有至少支持 Shader Model 6.0 的 DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU。(You must have a DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU with at least Shader Model 6.0 support. )这包括NVIDIA RTX 20xx系列及更高版本以及带有RDNA 2芯片的AMD显卡。
如何在 Windows 11 上启用 DirectStorage
DirectStorage 是包含在Xbox 系列(Xbox Series)控制台、Windows 11 和 Windows 10 版本 1909 及更高版本中的API 。这意味着它已经在这些系统上启用，但除非您满足系统要求并且游戏开发人员实现了API(API)，否则无法使用。
如果您满足要求，您的 PC 游戏应该比以往运行得更好。Forspoken（由Luminous Productions开发）可能是第一款支持DirectStorage的游戏，预计将于2022 年 10 月(October 2022)发布。
游戏的新时代
每年，新的发展都会突破图形和游戏性能的极限。新的DirectStorage存储堆栈优化应该会进一步推动视频游戏的发展。但我们必须等到10 月(October)才能看到这在实践中到底是什么样子。
What Is DirectStorage on Windows 11?
There is a lot of hуpe surrounding DirectStorage, a new feature that developers can use to eliminate loading times and improve the overall experience for gamers. But what is DirectStorage, and will it live up to the rumors?
In this article, we’ll cover what DirectStorage is, how it works, and how you can use it on Windows 11.
What Is Microsoft’s DirectStorage?
DirectStorage is a feature included in the latest DirectX 12 iterations designed to make the gaming experience better by accessing the full capabilities of newer generation SSDs. DirectStorage was initially developed for the Xbox Series consoles but is now available on Windows 11 and 10.
How Does DirectStorage Work?
Put simply, DirectStorage allows newer GPUs to receive game data faster by skipping now unnecessary pathways and using faster technology, resulting in near-instant load times.
Currently, when a game requests data (like textures, audio, or models) from the system storage, a storage API fetches the data and moves it to the system’s Random Access Memory (RAM). From here, it is passed on to the Graphical Processing Unit’s (GPUs) VRAM to be rendered for display.
This data is compressed to save space on your hard drive. The problem is that GPUs typically cannot read compressed data. So before being sent to the GPU, the data is decompressed by your Central Processing Unit (CPU).
This is what the process currently looks like:
The drawback of this process is that decompression takes a long time and bottlenecks the CPU, meaning that it’s unavailable for tasks that the GPU requires. This means longer game load times and lower frame rates.
DirectStorage is a low-level storage Application Programming Interface (API) that includes brand-new GPU decompression techniques to shift the decompression work from the CPU to the GPU. This means that the CPU is bypassed entirely, and the GPU can receive large streams of compressed data quickly.
DirectStorage also uses the newer NVMe SSDs, allowing much faster data transfer rates than on older storage devices.
Previous APIs were only written to handle a limited amount of data—one in/out (IO) access at a time, usually in large chunks. DirectStorage enables many parallel IO requests, increasing the efficiency by only allowing the necessary data to be transferred for each scene or level. Essentially, DirectStorage optimizes the IO performance for the massive bandwidth available in NVMe drives.
What Are the System Requirements for Windows 11?
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles implement DirectStorage natively. It was included as part of the Velocity Architecture and is why games must be installed on the Xbox SSD.
However, Windows 10 and 11 operating systems have specific hardware requirements to run DirectStorage.
The hardware requirements for DirectStorage are:
- You must use a PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive at a minimum of 1 TB. This is the current communication protocol for SSDs (replacing the previous SATA interfaces). NVMe SSDs can achieve much faster speeds because they connect directly to the CPU via a PCIe interface. PCIe 4.0 will offer the best results.
- You must have a DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU with at least Shader Model 6.0 support. This includes the NVIDIA RTX 20xx series and above and the AMD graphics cards with RDNA 2 chips.
How to Enable DirectStorage on Windows 11
DirectStorage is an API included in the Xbox Series consoles, Windows 11, and Windows 10 version 1909 and above. This means it’s already enabled on these systems but cannot be used unless you meet the system requirements and the game developers implement the API.
If you meet the requirements, your PC games should run better than ever. Forspoken (developed by Luminous Productions) may be the first game to feature DirectStorage support and is expected to be released in October 2022.
A New Age of Gaming
Every year, new developments push the limits of what is possible in graphics and gaming performance. The new DirectStorage storage stack optimizations should push the envelope for video games even further. But we’ll have to wait for October to see exactly what this looks like in practice.
