What Are Direct3DX Devices?

A Direct3DX device expands upon the functionality offered by a Direct3D device. The Direct3DX utility library defines and implements a device construct, a D3DXDevice object, that encapsulates the functionality of a DirectDraw object and a Direct3DDevice object together. This design provides both convenience and flexibility for developers.

For example, if your system has one Direct3D capable graphics adapter, then there may be up to four D3DXDevice objects on your system:

• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DRGBDevice
• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DHALDevice
• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DTnLHALDevice (if your adapter supports TnL Hal)
• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DreferenceDevice

In addition, if your system has a 3-D accelerator card, then up to five D3DXDevice objects may be present on your system.

Direct3DX also supports multiple monitor configurations. So, if your system has two graphics adapters, you may have up to eight D3DXDevice objects on your system:

• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DRGBDevice
• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DHALDevice
• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DTnLHALDevice (if your adapter supports TnL Hal)
• DirectDraw on the primary display device + Direct3DReferenceDevice
• DirectDraw on the secondary display device + Direct3DRGBDevice
• DirectDraw on the secondary display device + Direct3DRGBDevice
• DirectDraw on the secondary display device + Direct3DTnLHALDevice (if your adapter supports TnL Hal)
• DirectDraw on the secondary display device + Direct3DReferenceDevice

For general information on Direct3D devices, see Direct3D Devices.