Difference between OpenGL & DirectX?

[jamesdietz]

I've been playing this sim for years & don't know the difference..Confusing me even more is that I have an old FX5800 card in my rig which seems to like OpenGL better than DirectX...Now that I am getting updated will it be a good idea to see if I should change settings & keep updated on DirectX? Confused,as stated above.

[Thunderbolt56]

Definitely keep updated on your DirectX, but use OpenGL for this sim. Even the newer hardware likes it better for this sim.

[K_Freddie]

The last time I looked sometime ago..
From a software perspective, OpenGL is suited for realtime graphics apps, like games whereas DX although more user friendly, makes it slower and more suitable for non-realtime stuff.

A real life comparison would be Linux and Windoze, each have their uses.

[Thunderbolt56]

DirectX is actually a simple wrapper for OGL thus using OpenGL for high-demand apps (like games) circumvents a series of processes and resultantly speeds things up.

[Feuerfalke]

It's not as simple as that. DX may be a wrapper for what is the basis of OpenGL, but it uses a different approach and optimizes rendering for effects and quality.

The outcome is, that with OpenGL you got to program many things manually that you get for free in DX. You can see the effect in IL2, as under DX the textures are smoother and look more real, though the engine was optimized for OpenGL!

So depending on the application you can be faster with OpenGL, leaving out some of the routines of DX, while on other applications and especially when working for games and such renders, it's often more practicable to use DX, as you will more easily see, what you'll get in the end.

OpenGL has just the advantage, that it is widely opensourced, while you make yourself a "slave" to M$ when using DX.

[96th_Nightshifter]

[QUOTE=Feuerfalke;44553] You can see the effect in IL2, as under DX the textures are smoother and look more real, though the engine was optimized for OpenGL!

QUOTE]

I know nothing about either of them but I do get entirely the opposite effect here; when I use OpenGL my game looks smoother and more real?

I get better fps with DX so I use that when online and I use OpenGL for flying offline and taking screenshots etc. since as far as I know you can only use "perfect" settings under OpenGL.

[Erzeal]

Like most have said. Both have their Pro's and Cons...
I prefer to use Opengl when i can...but unfortunately it seems i have to use Directx for IL-2 1946 cause i get severe slow downs in Opengl mode, i'm not sure why. The directx mode runs smooth except for occasional hiccups with large explosions. Probably just some quirk with my GPU.

[Qpassa]

il2 looks better in OGL

[Erzeal]

And it seems to run better too...fixed the severe slow down i was having...just had settings turned on that were too high. Runs fantastic now.

[JZG_Con]

i just get a black background with opengl in perfect mode ..shame