DirectX 11 – Free Download

DirectX is Microsoft’s proprietary video card driver. It’s used in many popular games to render 3D environments on Windows machines.

DirectX is only available on Windows and is developed exclusively by Microsoft. It’s a free download that is required by some games with advanced graphics. Essentially, it makes it easier for developers to unleash the full power of video cards (and virtual video cards) for the best gaming quality. It enhances picture as well as rendering time.

DirectX has received many complaints over the years, namely that it is not keeping up with competitors. This is subjective, but it generally is not just a voluntary download. Most games that use it mandate that game consumers download and install it. Luckily, it doesn’t take up more space than it needs, and it only is run when called. That means it doesn’t delay your computer’s startup time and it doesn’t slow down any other process. If anything, it stops your games from taking up more processing and rendering power than they already do.

If you do download DirectX, you need to double check that it’s the correct version. Some games only support DirectX through a certain version. Even if it’s the newest distribution, it may be incorrect. On the other side, some games only support a minimum version, and your hardware may also have a limitation. The only downside of this product is that it’s completely on the consumer to verify it works.

Pros:

• Guaranteed to be a safe download, as it’s from Microsoft
• Unleashes full power of your hardware
• Completely free and widely used by developers

Cons:

• Does not have a built-in version check
• Bad installations can harm all-around display until they’re fixed
• Incompatible with certain video cards (but not many)