Celestia Forums

After the beta 2, here the RC1




Unfortunately, OpenGL is executed by an DirectX emulation, so the performance is very bad and there isn't Opengl 2.0.

Good news for users who use Nvidia graphic card, the driver include an ICD (Installable Client Driver) OpenGL and it is possible to execute OpenGL in hardware not by an DirectX emulation.
You can download it here:
For 32 bits: http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x86_96.33.html
For 64 bits: http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x64_96.33.html

At the moment, ATI driver is available for Vista RC1 but doesn't include a ICD OpenGl (probably available in some weeks):
You can download here (32 bits and/or 64 bits):
http://support.ati.com/ics/support/defa ... onID=19933

Before to download Windows Vista RC1, you need a key to activate the RC1. Here the link to get it:
Get the key now !
After to do it, you receive an email with the key and a link to download Windows Vista RC1.

If you have already Windows Vista Beta 2 with the key, you can download the RC1 and use this key to active it.
Here to download Windows Vista RC1:
English: http://download.windowsvista.com/previe ... wnload.htm
Deutch: http://download.windowsvista.com/previe ... wnload.htm
Japanese: http://download.windowsvista.com/previe ... wnload.htm
Others langages: probably very soon for public user ?

I am not sure if I would hold my collected breath about ATI at this time. They always had weak OpenGL support and now they are very tight wih Microsoft and the new WDDM driver model. ATI threw in very early with the Vista APIs and I really don't see them busting the collective butts to get OpenGL to work when Microsoft still wants everyone to port there software to Direct X. Its going to be a very interesting year to see how things pan out. Nvidia, I am sure will remain the king in OpenGL on Vista as it was on XP.

One more thing. I have used the new drivers from Nvidia on Vista RC-1 and the buzz around is that the IDC is broken again in this build. I had no problem launching Celestia in Beta 2 but with the new drivers and RC-1 it a flat out crash from the start. But again it is very early to be worring about this. At least Nvidia has the guts to implemant an IDC that is going to work. We will have to play wait and see about ATI/AMD.

Don. Ewards

If ATI wants to continue to compete in the professional 2D and 3D design markets, they'll have no choice. I don't know what the market is in the gaming community for OpenGL, so maybe they'll only do the drivers for their professional cards and not the consumer cards.

My understanding is that the pressure to allow direct OpenGL access came from the computerized design companies. Autodesk's mechanical design products, Autocad (2D) and Inventor (3D), both require certified OpenGL drivers for the professional graphics cards. (They'll work on consumer cards, but they won't accept problem reports.) Boeing and similar companies were going to be very unhappy if those packages didn't work under Vista.

Actually, under the pressure, Microsoft$ has announced that they will support OpenGl in Vista.
They had no choice given the list of big names who are supporting OpenGl, both in the professional and gaming industry.
Dropping OpenGl in Windows would be like opening a royal road to Osx and Linux ... and to open source implementations in Windows.
Nvidia, ID Software to name only two of the bigger names have done their homework.

using the latest Vista build(5600 / 32 bit) with the NVIDIA driver (96.33)
gives good results:




The reported framerate is somewhat slower then the XP version,
there is still room for optimization.

Ren?©

rra wrote:using the latest Vista build(5600 / 32 bit) with the NVIDIA driver (96.33)
gives good results:

Congratulation Nvidia driver with ICD OpenGL works fine

Since some days ago, you can get a key to activate Windows Vista RC1. In fact, you can download the RC1 without to get this key but you can use it for 14 days. Now, with the key, you can use it until the 1st June 2007.
Look my first post to have the link for getting a key.

NEW buid 5728 of Windows Vista Rc1 is available

English:
Windows Vista 32 bits
Windows Vista 64 bits

German:
Windows Vista 32 bits
Windows Vista 64 bits

Other langages are available for MSDN's subcribers.