What is the difference between OpenGL, DirectX, and software 3D renderer?

What is the difference which is better? Which is faster?

 

I think you'd want to go for DirectX whenever available. "Software 3D Renderer" lets the software do the graphical work, which shouldn't be chosen unless you want to debug graphical issues or something.

 

Direct 3d: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct3D
Open GL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opengl
Direct 3d vs Open GL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Direct3D_and_OpenGL
Sofware renderer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_renderer

Lotsa reading.

 

I think OpenGL would be better for my unstable Dell system since it does not accelerate the hardware (or at least in the same way). I will have to experiment to see the real difference.

BTW, My XPS 200 seems more stable in the past few weeks, I may have found the right combination of drivers for my HDD, video card, etc.

 

What do u mean it doesn't accelerate the hardware. When you are rendering video, the hardware accelerates the rendering. OpenGL and DirectX are both good, I would say dx is better, although OpenGL seems to run really well on nvidia cards from my experience.