Microsoft’s reveal of the Xbox Series X already makes the console appear to be a top-of-the-line gaming PC by way of its specs. But Microsoft mentioned Monday that at the least a part of its revolutionary new storage structure, DirectStorage, will likely be coming to actual PCs.
DirectStorage is the Windows API that will likely be used to regulate what Microsoft calls the Xbox Velocity Architecture. It’s Microsoft’s method to decreasing the storage capability that an Xbox Series X recreation would require, promising to load the sport and its belongings as shortly as potential.
It’s a small however key a part of the Xbox Series X recreation console, whose specs have been launched in full in a Monday weblog publish. In the publish, Microsoft mentioned, “This newest member of the DirectX family is being introduced with Xbox Series X and we plan to bring it to Windows as well.”
Microsoft Microsoft’s Velocity Engine Architecture even has its personal brand.
How the Xbox Velocity Architecture works
Before at present, Microsoft had already made a few of the particulars surrounding the Xbox Series X public, together with that it’s powered by a CPU based mostly on AMD’s newest Zen 2 core, in addition to a complicated Radeon GPU that helps hardware-based ray tracing. Microsoft additionally instructed us that an SSD could be included, in order to just about get rid of load instances. One of its mysteries, although, has been what a big, undefined slot on the again of the console will likely be used for.
Microsoft The new Seagate NVMe drives will plug into the again of the Xbox Series X.
Well, now we all know. The slot will obtain the Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X—a customized, removeable 1TB NVMe drive that can (clearly) be manufactured by Seagate. The NVMe interface, which connects on to the PCI Express bus, will likely be used to attenuate latency. It ensures 2.4GB/s of throughput that can enable the drive to function a form of digital reminiscence, in keeping with Digital Foundry’s behind-the-scenes look. The 1TB detachable reminiscence card will double the Xbox Series X’s current 1TB inside SSD storage, although there apparently will likely be different capability factors as effectively.
The SSD and the DirectStorage API will likely be two of the 4 components throughout the Xbox Series X Velocity Architecture, which additionally features a devoted {hardware} decompression block, and what Microsoft calls Sampler Feedback Streaming. All will work collectively to cut back latency in loading new video games and restoring outdated saved recreation states shortly. Microsoft calls this latter characteristic Quick Resume, and it’ll enable avid gamers to shortly resume saved video games throughout a number of video games, and never only one.
SeagateA better have a look at the brand new Seagate Expansion Card for the Xbox Series X.
“The CPU is the brain of our new console and the GPU is the heart, but the Xbox Velocity Architecture is the soul,” mentioned Andrew Goossen, the technical Fellow on Xbox Series X at Microsoft. “The Xbox Velocity Architecture is about so much more than fast last times. It’s one of the most innovative parts of our new console. It’s about revolutionizing how games can create vastly bigger, more compelling worlds.”
At this level, many questions on Xbox Velocity Architecture stay unanswered. For instance: whether or not it’s an open design that will likely be licensed to different storage producers to cut back costs; whether or not the interface will enable customers to daisy-chain or in any other case mix playing cards to keep away from having to exchange them; what worth Seagate will cost for these playing cards; and what efficiency penalty customers will face in the event that they use USB-connected drives with the Xbox Series X.
Or, put even one other method: “The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X options sooner loading instances than an ordinary exterior USB HDD and allows gamers to play video games instantly from the cardboard with out compromising efficiency,” Microsoft officers mentioned of their assertion.
How DirectStorage may enhance the PC
So what does this imply for the PC? We have some hints. Microsoft describes DirectStorage…
