Conclusion
So would we use the DirectX 11 option if our graphics card were equipped with the requisite support? The answer is: sure, as long as the card can handle it at the resolution we're using. When playing the game with a Radeon HD 5750, we probably wouldn't use the DirectX 11 code path unless we had a 1680x1050 or a lower-resolution monitor because we like 4x AA. Armed with a Radeon HD 5850, on the other hand, we'd use DirectX 11 enabled all the way to 2560x1600 with 4x AA, as long as we didn't experience a slowdown in performance (and our experience suggests we would not). But everyone will have their own taste as to what frame rate is comfortable.
Having said that, should you wait for a DirectX 11 card to play DiRT 2? Decidedly, no. The DirectX 9 code path is so slick and beautiful that it's almost impossible to notice the DirectX 11 enhancements while playing. I consider these enhancements a nice subtle bonus if the hardware is there to enjoy it, but the game is practically just as stunning when running in DirectX 9 mode.
Are we saying that DirectX 11 will be useless? Absolutely not. In fact, hardware tessellation and DirectCompute 11 offer potentially massive visual and computational upgrades over DirectX 10. The problem is that, as a racing game, DiRT 2 isn't an ideal title to show off what these features can do. Hardware tessellation is particularly suited to show off organic shapes, but the stars in DiRT 2 are the cars, not the people in the stands. Anyone who wants to see what DirectX 11 hardware tessellation can potentially offer games should look for screenshots of the upcoming Aliens Vs. Predator game by Rebellion--the use of hardware tessellation in the alien models is absolutely drool-worthy.
In the final analysis, DiRT 2 is a great game with fantastic visuals and a very entertaining approach to off-road racing. However, it turns out that folks looking for the definitive DirectX 11 killer app will have to wait a bit longer, as the visual enhancements it offers aren't particularly noticeable in this title. But the option to use this new API certainly doesn't detract from DiRT 2, which is a laudable game that offers an enjoyable, compelling, and unique experience in the racing genre.
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quite difficult to find a difference on the vid.but i heard DX11 improves the effects on the water.using cpu resources
TBH it plays better in DX9 than in DX11. Full settings in DX9 look fantastic at a high resolution whilst DX11 stutters at times.
Soon be a patch out we hope
have tried the game in both modes - simulation with the hardest settings and the arcade style... using Logitech wheel and the keyboard and the xbox controller - the game is just crap... it's not a simulator and it's not an arcade... just something in between for people wanting to look at cars rather than drive them... NFS Shift is much more realistic than this... Grid is much more enjoyable than this. I do realize it's rally racing versus normal racing games I have mentioned... but if you really want a proper rally game and don't care about the graphics - Colin McRae Rally 2 is the way to go...
The blur IS in fact caused by the postprocessing. The same goes for GRID - if you alter the engine with:
postprocessing "false" instead of "true" the game becomes beautiful and clear. With postprocessing enabled, GRID looks like someone smeared lard all over your monitor.
Now give me GRID 2 Codemasters
Its a Codemasters game and therefore utter crap for some reason. Never been able to place why they are so bad; but every thing from them is so boil in the bad processed factory trip. They have no finesse. I think there must be one manager high up that likes to put his stamp on things and is just an awful guy the poisons other peoples hard work.
i love the gameeeee
I must assume that most of the people here have either not played Dirt 2 or simply hate off road titles so much they blindly won't even try getting into this beautiful and addictive game.
I'm personally not much of a fan of off road games and find the control of the cars in most of these games to much like sliding on ice than driving on gravel/mud/tarmac but I feel the handling in Dirt 2 is phenomenal for an off road title, well done Codemasters and the programmers and not forgetting the developers of such an awesome engine, Hurry up and bring out Grid 2!!!! :-)
I've played this in DX9 and DX11 modes and I love the water effects as well as the way the flags/banners flap around in the wind. I would not advise anyone to get a DX11 card just for this game though because it looks superb in DX9 too, just not quite as many bells and whistles.
Enjoy this game, I do! :-)
JKay6969
thats what i want,Grid 2.would be the best ever..
I have to agree with jkay69,this is a very addictive game and very nice to look at,iam more of a sim than arcade gamer,i love GTR Evolution,just waiting for Codemasters F1 title.Playing Dirt 2 with a G25 wheel brings the game to life,you feel more involved than playing with a pad or keyboard. There is a downside,but i think its more to do with drivers than the game,iam running two 4870`s in cross fire,now they are directx 10.1 cards,so i get to play the game in directx 9,i have also played it on a rig with a 5870 card,directx 11 and it runs really bad,it stutters and does not run smooth at all,so at the moment not alot to be said about directx 11 drivers.
Anyone looking a driving simulator... forget about your Gran Tourismos and GTRs... both are lawnmower simulators.
Get rFactor. Get a force feedback wheel. Get racing. :-)
Got rFactor,i did not think much of it tbh,its all about modding andyou have to put the mods in all the right folders,screw that for a game,ive played a little bit of f1 on there and i have to say the graphics where very good,but that game just does not float my boat sry.
the thing with driving games is that while im goimg 150 mph i dont stop to smell the rosses or check out the graphics cause its all a blur to me
at least till i crash
Does this mean that the ATI HD 5850 is the best? I don't understand the comparison...
Can you force it to use the DX code path if you have a DX11 card? (In my case a 5850?)
I am sure that if your card supports DX11 then the game will automatically run in it,my bro has a 5870 and when i played his he could adjust settings that i could not and iam running 2x 4870 which are DX10.1,so that means mine automatically runs in DX9.