DX10 Exclusive games: Will my DX9 non upgradeable laptop be screwed when they come out?

I know there's been plenty of DX9 versus DX10 threads, but I still can't find one that will just say whether DX9 will be unable to play DX10 games when they reach "maturity".

I'm just about to press the green call button and order the 1710 from Dell (yes, two weeks time there will be the 1730 but I cannot wait for those details...and I have no idea how the dual 8700 in SLI mode will perform...I have several solid results from the 1710)

The jist that I'm getting is that for a while, DX10 games can be playes by DX9 card lappies just without the extra effects/features that goes into DX10? Is that right?

Or will I just be screwed in a year or two's time when such games come out and I'm stuck with the likes of C&C3?

Thanks.

(Sorry if this is a double post. Firefox decided to just pause this page into a blank white screen after I pressed Submit)

 

If a game it's DX10 exclusive, your DX9 card won't play it.

However, I wouldn't worry to much: the next couple of years, DX9 and DX10 will both be supported

 

Yes, when something says DX10 exclusive, that does imply DX10 GPUs only. This is because DX10 itself is not backwards compatible and is separate from DX9.

That said, you really won't expect any DX10 exclusive games for the next year and a half (2 years post Vista launch). The main reason is insignificant market share. Vista only has about 5% of total computer users right now, less than all the Mac OS X users (all versions, Tiger, etc.), and you can assume that only a portion of those 5% have DX10 GPUs to match. Vista will obviously grow in leaps and bounds, but in 2 years even if it's 50% of the market, less than that will have DX10 GPUs, and that still leaves XP with 30-40% of the market which is too significant to ignore. (The rest of the market will be 2000, Mac, Linux, etc.)

If your estimated laptop life expectancy is about 3 years I wouldn't worry. By the time there are DX10 exclusive games, you'll be about ready to replace your laptop anyways. Or if you are a hardcore gamer and always want the best performance, even if you went with 8700M GT SLI, by the time DX10 exclusive games come out, your standards may be too high to want to play those games at reduced settings on first gen DX10 hardware.

 

As far as I know, there are no DX10 exclusive games in development yet. So don't expect any to be released within the next 3 years, at least.

 

For my sake I hope your right.

 

Actually, given what one 8700m can do, two in SLI might be just what the doctor ordered.

I wonder if the SLI design of splitting the rendering would actually ease the 8700m's dual-rank 128-bit memory bus...


DX10 is not just added widgets... its a different and more efficient way to render things.

For exmaple, Bioshock DX10 gives the capability to run more detailed textures and better particles but also runs what looks like antialiasing AND keeps a minimum frame rate a LOT better than the DX9 version.

That being said, DX9 is not dying for some time.
Any game developer who creates a DX10-only title at this point is shooting themselves in the foot by choosing to create an exclusive title to a tiny percentage of the available market.

 

Ah, well I'm just waiting now for the confirmation email of my order.

Since you guys are right, the longevity of this lappy will only be about 2-3 years at most so I won't get the T7600 if I'm gonna be getting a replacement after two years.

Thanks for the info guys.

I tried to get the £1299 spec on the Dell UK Site. I said I will buy today if we can negotiate a good deal.

1. I started off saying I only want to spend £900.

2. I got the base model 1710 which was at £1049

3. They offered BT module for £18.

I tried asking for student discount but they never listen and just say "Yes sir, we'll do the best deal...blah blah

4. After getting my card details I proceeded to ask for the upgrades identical to their £1299 offer of

T7400 2.16Ghz
512mb 7950gtx
2gb RAM
160GB 5400RPM

Silly Dell, they went and added that on top of the base unit making the price soar up to £1600.

5. I told them I'm aware of the 1730 which will devalue their current 1710, as it has already on the US website. I said a price of £1200 including the BT module, and the current specs...

6. They came back to me with £1218. Score! LOL, didn't think they would give me a discount.

7. I continued being cheeky and asked them to simply increase to speed of the drive to 7200RPM but same size 160GB. This upgrade would cost £82.

8. I said I would get it today if they can give me that for the same £1218. 10 minutes later, we were up to £1250. I couldn't be arsed to ask any more as we kept going around in circles about how the 1710 will be devalued in two weeks time by the 1730 as new products often do to their predecessors.

T7400 2.16
512 7950gtx
2gb RAM
160GB 7200RPM
Internal BT module

In total that would normally cost £1400 but I will pay £1254.37. £145.63 off.

It's cheaper on eBay but I'm not sending 1300 over paypal.

BTW, guys, last important bit if you can answer, is XP media centre better to get than Vista Home Premium?

I've currently got my set up with XP as I don't want any compatibility issues. Not sure there's anything worthwhile in Vista. Plus this forum seems to say XP's better for gaming?

Thanks you guys.

(lol, or I may just be cheeky again and ask for both OS disks j/k)

Thanks again!

Hopefully I will not cancel this order. They said 5 days delivery but it should arrive by the 20th. 7 days to return should I not like it (Damn 1730 better not have any changes to make it more attractive)

 

Unless someone else says anything different I've gotten XP media centre instead of Vista Home Premium.

At least this way I know 100% of my software/peripherals and whatnot will be compatible with my new Lappy.

Thanks all for all your help over all my posts (not just this thread).
I always wanted the 1710, I just needed a heck of a load of reassurance to get it. Geek disco lights, here I come!