Performance Optimization

Every developer who creates real-time applications that use 3-D graphics is concerned about performance optimization. This section provides you with guidelines about getting the best performance from your code.

You can use the guidelines in the following sections for any Direct3D application:

• PC Hardware Accelerators
• Databases and Culling
• Batching Primitives
• Lighting Tips
• Texture Size
• Software versus Hardware
• Triangle Flags
• Clip Tests on Execution
• General Performance Tips

Direct3D applications can use either the ramp driver (for the monochromatic color model) or the RGB driver. The performance notes in the following sections apply to the ramp driver:

• Ramp Textures
• Copy Texture-blending Mode
• Ramp Performance Tips
• Z-Buffer Performance