Should I Use DX8 Instead Of DX9.0c?

I have just read somewhere that the video card I'm using at the moment (256mb ATI Sapphire Radeon 9200 Atlantis) is a DirectX 8 card whereas I'm using DirectX 9.0c

Now I've no idea what difference it makes but should I downgrade to DX8 instead of staying on DX9.0c?


HK

 

The Radeon 9200 is an older card. When the card was released, DirectX 8 was the latest, greatest thing. Just 'cuz the card says it supports DX8 doesn't mean you should run it. It says that 'cuz at the time it was cutting edge technology. No need to run DX8. Stick with DX9c. All the newer games (and software in general) is geared for DX9; so use it for best results....

hopperdave2000

 

hopperdave2000 is right, but I'd like to add some information that might help anyone else who reads this thread...

The truth is, you CAN'T uninstall ANY version of DirectX; once you install a newer version, you're stuck with it, unless you want to wipe the drive and lose all of your data... Microsoft doesn't update ALL the components of DX at once; if you run DXDIAG, then open the "DirectX Files" tab, you'll notice that different components, such as DDRAW.DLL and QASF.DLL, have radically different version numbers. Components are updated only as needed, mainly to support new features in sound and video devices. If the existing component file works well with the new feature, there is no need to reinvent the wheel...

The good news is, DX9 won't hurt your videocard (or any other hardware in your system) in any way, and various programs can benefit from using the latest version of DirectX, so you're doing fine just as you are.

Hope this helps to clarify things a bit...