Gamers rejoice! Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology, designed to supercharge game loading times, is getting even better. UL Solutions, a leading provider of performance testing software, has announced a new feature for its 3DMark benchmark that will allow users to measure the effectiveness of DirectStorage on their SSDs.
DirectStorage, which debuted with Windows 11, aims to minimize the CPU’s involvement in loading game assets, allowing the GPU to handle decompression tasks directly. This results in substantially faster loading times and smoother gameplay. “Monster Hunter: Wildlands,” slated for release on February 28, 2025, is one of the latest titles to embrace DirectStorage, and more are expected to follow.
The technology works by leveraging the PCIe channel to transfer game data directly to the GPU for decompression. this bypasses the customary method of transferring data to the CPU for decompression, then to the display memory for rendering. By streamlining this process,DirectStorage dramatically reduces loading times and enhances overall performance.
With the addition of DirectStorage scoring to 3DMark,gamers can now easily assess the performance of their SSDs and ensure they’re getting the most out of this cutting-edge technology. As more games adopt DirectStorage and SSDs continue to evolve,we can expect even faster and more immersive gaming experiences in the future.
Gamers rejoice! UL Solutions, the company behind the popular 3DMark benchmarking software, has announced a meaningful update that will allow users to measure the performance of Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology on their SSDs. This technology, designed to accelerate game loading times and improve overall performance, is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern games.
The new DirectStorage functional efficiency score will be integrated into the 3DMark storage test project, providing gamers with a clear indication of how effectively their SSD utilizes DirectStorage. “Under the operation of this technology, the workload of the CPU game execution process can be greatly reduced, thereby improving the overall access efficiency of the game,” explains UL Solutions.
However, there’s a catch. The performance boost offered by DirectStorage is most noticeable on SSDs that adhere to the PCIe Gen 4 specification. While PCIe Gen 5 offers even faster data transfer speeds, the overall advancement in gaming performance when using DirectStorage is not as significant compared to the jump from PCIe Gen 3 to gen 4.
The good news is that the DirectStorage function test will be available as a free upgrade for all 3DMark users. The test results will clearly show the performance difference between using DirectStorage and not using it, allowing gamers to see the tangible benefits of this technology.
In addition to the DirectStorage update, UL Solutions has also made some other improvements to 3DMark. The software now supports French, making it accessible to a wider audience. New background music has also been added to the “Speed Way,” “Wild Life,” and “Wild Life Extreme” test projects, enhancing the overall user experience.
These updates demonstrate UL Solutions’ commitment to providing gamers with the tools they need to benchmark and optimize their systems. With the addition of DirectStorage testing, 3DMark becomes an even more valuable resource for anyone looking to get the most out of their gaming PC.
Anduril Industries,a cutting-edge U.S. defense startup co-founded by Palmer Luckey,the inventor of the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset,has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI,the artificial intelligence research company behind ChatGPT.
This collaboration aims to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionize national security and defense capabilities. While specific details about the partnership remain under wraps, both companies have expressed their commitment to developing innovative solutions that address pressing challenges in the defense sector.
“We are thrilled to partner with OpenAI, a leader in artificial intelligence research,” said Palmer Luckey, CEO of Anduril industries. “Their expertise in AI will be instrumental in helping us develop next-generation defense technologies that will keep our nation safe.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman echoed Luckey’s enthusiasm,stating,”We believe that AI has the potential to transform many industries,including defense.We are excited to work with Anduril Industries to explore the possibilities of AI in this critical domain.”
The partnership between Anduril Industries and OpenAI is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of AI-powered defense systems, potentially leading to advancements in areas such as autonomous vehicles, threat detection, and cybersecurity.
This collaboration highlights the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the defense industry and the potential for groundbreaking innovations in the years to come.
## directstorage Gaming Boost: Expert Interview with UL Solutions
**World-Today-News**: The gaming world is buzzing about DirectStorage, Microsoft’s new technology aimed at speeding up load times and enhancing overall performance. UL Solutions, known for its 3DMark benchmarking software, has added a feature too measure DirectStorage efficiency on SSDs. Today,we’re joined by [**Expert Name**] from UL Solutions to discuss the implications of this advancement for gamers.
Welcome, [**Expert Name**]!
**[Expert Name]** : Thanks for having me!
**World-Today-News**: Let’s start with the basics. What exactly does DirectStorage do, and how does it benefit gamers?
**[Expert Name]** : Imagine a gameplay bottleneck where your CPU is struggling to process game asset data from storage before sending it to the GPU for rendering. DirectStorage bypasses this bottleneck by directly transferring data from your SSD to the GPU for decompression.
Essentially, it lets the GPU handle more of the heavy lifting, resulting in ridiculously fast loading times and smoother gameplay, especially in large, open-world games.
**World-Today-News**: this sounds like a game-changer! What prompted UL Solutions to add DirectStorage scoring to 3DMark?
**[Expert name]** : as DirectStorage adoption grows, it’s essential for gamers to understand how effectively their SSDs leverage this technology.
Our new feature gives them a clear, quantifiable measure of their SSD’s DirectStorage performance. This empowers them to make informed decisions when choosing SSDs and optimizing their gaming setup.
**World-Today-News**:
You mentioned that DirectStorage benefits are most notable with PCIe Gen 4 SSDs. Could you elaborate on that?
**[Expert Name]** : Think of it like a highway system: DirectStorage is a high-speed lane on that highway.
PCIe Gen 4 provides the bandwidth necessary for DirectStorage to really shine. While Gen 5 offers even faster speeds, the jump in gaming performance from Gen 3 to Gen 4 when using DirectStorage is quite substantial.
**World-Today-News**:
This definitely makes sense. Looking ahead, how do you see directstorage evolving and impacting the gaming landscape?
**[Expert Name]** : DirectStorage is poised to become the gold standard for game loading and performance. We expect to see more and more games, especially AAA titles, integrate DirectStorage. Imagine a future with near-instant loading screens and a seamlessly immersive gaming experience. That’s the promise of DirectStorage.
**World-Today-News**: Thank you, [**Expert Name**], for shedding light on this exciting development. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for gaming with DirectStorage.
