Civ6, Windows 10 and DirectX12 dilemma

[Lucius_]

Don't want to get Windows 10. I am well aware that I am getting spied on right now with my cell phone gps, iPad, etc. Still, it's a cruddy excuse to say, "I don't mind being spied on with Windows 10 since I am getting spied on already."
I am looking into getting a Steam Machine for my next gaming machine. Probably have to "settle" for DX11 but hopefully that'll be good enough.

Steam machines run on SteamOS, which is a Linux based OS. DX11, etc, are Windows exclusive graphics API. If Civ VI isn't coming out for Linux, you'd have to wait for a port in the future like they did with Civ V.

 

[MadDjinn]

But loading only happens once, not per turn. Once it's in graphic memory it's all about render times which should be handled by your GPU. Turn time is mostly waiting for the AI to make it's moves which should be mostly CPU bound with the exception of all the move animations, and that's all GPU time. Screen resolution and map size should have the biggest impact on frame rate and DX12 might be smoother if you overload your rig. Bigger maps mean more AIs and more units meaning more CPU load to calculate their moves, DX12 will not help with that.

I didn't say it would help with load times, but suggested a way they would probably be using it.

And just because something is handled by the gpu doesn't mean it doesn't take CPU time. The CPU has to tell the gpu what to do. By dx12 being multithreaded, and using multi cores, that reduces overall thread lock and individual CPU load given that dx11 uses a single thread.

 

[Thormodr]

Steam machines run on SteamOS, which is a Linux based OS. DX11, etc, are Windows exclusive graphics API. If Civ VI isn't coming out for Linux, you'd have to wait for a port in the future like they did with Civ V.

Well, ok then. It'll be compatible with my decision not to preorder

 

[stealth_nsk]

Windows 10 is 45% of Steam users. No same developers with throw off more than half of the customers. Relax http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/directx/

 

[anandus]

Hello fellow Civ fans. Long time lurker, first time poster here.

As you probably know the free Windows 10 promotion is almost over. Given all the bad press regarding the massive spyware embedded in the OS I had decided not to upgrade.

However I recently read that Civ6 will be optimized for directx 12. And directx 12 is only available for Windows 10.

So, should I keep my Windows 8.1 on my Asus ROG rig, or should I upgrade? Will Windows10/ directx 12 be essential to fully enjoy Civ6?

I doubt it'll be essential. Remember Civ 5?

But regarding the free Windows promotion:
Upgrade your Windows 8, so you have a registered Windows 10 for your computer, and then just reinstall Windows 8.
Then you've got your free copy of Windows 10 for future use.

 

[AriochIV]

If you're afraid of Win10, then you probably don't need any DX12 optimizations. Stay with what you have until it doesn't work anymore.

 

[wayneb64]

I didn't say it would help with load times, but suggested a way they would probably be using it.

And just because something is handled by the gpu doesn't mean it doesn't take CPU time. The CPU has to tell the gpu what to do. By dx12 being multithreaded, and using multi cores, that reduces overall thread lock and individual CPU load given that dx11 uses a single thread.

My point about loading was to make it clear turn times would not be improved by DX12, only rendering times which just makes for somewhat better frame rates. If you have decent hardware, DX12 will not make much of a difference.

 

[darko82]

Windows 10 will be indirectly forced on everyone who want to use Windows, not Mac or Linux etc, so to speak. It's just a matter of time.

 

[Gorbles]

Don't want to get Windows 10. I am well aware that I am getting spied on right now with my cell phone gps, iPad, etc. Still, it's a cruddy excuse to say, "I don't mind being spied on with Windows 10 since I am getting spied on already."
I am looking into getting a Steam Machine for my next gaming machine. Probably have to "settle" for DX11 but hopefully that'll be good enough.

Enjoy handing over all your personal data to Valve instead!

(all companies do what only MS seems to be accused of doing)

 

[spfun]

This is where Vulkan support would be great as it works on everything. Its a real shame it won't be majorly adopted like mantle before it.

 

[Thormodr]

Enjoy handing over all your personal data to Valve instead!

(all companies do what only MS seems to be accused of doing)

I am aware that all companies do this to an extent. MS goes to a whole new level, however.

 

[smartcanuck1988]

Privacy is a very sensitive issue to many people, but I think MS has done a poor job dealing with the worries of Win10.

Basically, you can avoid all the privacy issues by simply using a local account and not a Microsoft account. If you already made an account, just open the "Manage your account" settings page and choose "Sign In with a local account".

Even with a Microsoft account, you can go to Settings > Privacy .. and there you will find all the options that could be considered invasive. Simply disable them.

Cortana is another source of data collection, so some might prefer to disable it too.

In the end though you can easily get a "blocked off" Win10, enjoy the DX12 benefits and also the faster OS, but without the privacy concerns

 

[LoriKe]

Also some rigs have serious hard drive issues running windows 10, its usage being constantly around 100%.

 

[MadDjinn]

Also some rigs have serious hard drive issues running windows 10, its usage being constantly around 100%.

I have literally never seen that and I have some not so brilliant HDD setups.

 

[Psychotronics]

I've been thinking about upgrading my old PC to play Civ VI as best as possible until it comes for Mac, but I'm unsure since said computer is 6 years old.

 

[racha]

* -Most Linux distros are guilty of spying too. Canonical's Ubuntu, in addition to being the most popular, is the most infamous. It sells personal data to Amazon.

Canonical recently stopped with the spying due to the outrage (you can now opt-in to those "features". It's also worth noting that Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu and lord knows what other variations there are never did this.

I can't think of any other distros that are known for spying on users, but if you can name any I'd sure be interested. While I'm primarily a Windoze user I like to poke around with various linux OSes and would love to know which ones to avoid.

The only thing anybody is ever going to use that data for is to target ads to me that I'm going to ignore anyway.

Yeah, no, that's not all it's going to be used for.

 

[joncnunn]

Windows 10 will be indirectly forced on everyone who want to use Windows, not Mac or Linux etc, so to speak. It's just a matter of time.

That would be January 9, 2018; which is end of life for mainstream support of Windows 8.
(End of life for mainstream support of Windows 7 has already passed.)

But note that currently MS is currently intending on October 13, 2020 being end of life for mainstream support of Windows 10.

 

[darko82]

That would be January 9, 2018; which is end of life for mainstream support of Windows 8.
(End of life for mainstream support of Windows 7 has already passed.)

But note that currently MS is currently intending on October 13, 2020 being end of life for mainstream support of Windows 10.

Indeed, but whatever comes next will include Windows 10 into it (and things people complain about here). So either way, Microsoft will catch most users sooner or later. As someone said, Microsoft just follows the trends of other companies, but it is quite easy to block it by third party apps, especially now.

BTW, Google may be even worse; it is basically able to trace your every little move on the net or your android smartphone (it's like a little hidden bug).

What about Facebook and others? The only way to protect yourself is to stop using the internet

OK, you might use some apps to protect yourself, but still... is this enough? I just don't care. It is a pure trade. You sell your privacy for the pleasures of 21st century. That's the price you need to pay for their services.

For instance, China currently blocks Facebook or Google services having their own equivalents. These are the American servers and the data they receive about the users after all.

 

[Stilgar08]

If you're really concerned about spyware, you shouldn't use a computer or smartphone

true. nevertheless not a solution. How about this: https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

I upgraded and never looked back, using antispy-stuff, neglecting edge-browser and trying to give all of the data-miners (MS, Google,amazon,FB, blablabla) just bits of my data, i.e. not using FB-app on smartphone - nor the messenger - now they try to force me by not showing messages on my mobile browser anymore - nope!

Does it work? No, of course not, but at least I try!

Not getting Windows 10 because of that cannot be the solution! Buy a typewriter and a boardgame instead! THAT would be a solution. And fight on the other side, being aware of what you do and support your local and global data-security fighters!

 

[Makavcio]

The meek shall inherit nothing! (or something like that; I suck at citing the Scripture)
Guys, it's obvious that it's impossible to survive without being poached for data all the time, but do we really want this to go to the extreme? With Windows10, we're allowing Microsoft to go through all of our data on our drives if only they detect something fishy on our systems. There's a movie clip with a copyrighted song included? Okie dokie, time to scan the whole drive, make a list of files, and share it with all 3rd party companies MS deems appropriate. After all, that's what the user agreed to when he was confirming that he had read the license agreement he certainly haven't read.

We all dislike the direction of changes. I'm just surprised that most people shrug and submit to them willingly anyway. Even the guy who uses the maximum paranoia browsing option, ie TOR+VPN. Buddy, when you use either of these, especially when you are an American citizen, you're automatically suspicious, and it's enough for MS to legally scan your drive. It doesn't matter that it's encrypted. You need to decrypt your system partition just to turn on your pc, and when you access your files, they can be cataloged. With W10, encryption is a waste of time in this scenario.

I'll move to conclusion before this changes to a wall of text...
dx12, as for today, is a heap of promises. All arguments for W10 here are purely speculative because we don't really know how it will work in reality. dx11/dx12 tests undertaken by tech portals in those few titles that support both modes, yield varying results and generally burst the bubble of huge expectations. It seems that only 4xx Radeons (already available) and 11xx gtxs (to be released next year, i think) will offer substantial improvements thanks to dx12, and mostly in resolutions beyond 1080p.

I'd suggest that you follow in my steps, which in practice means defying every intrusion into privacy as long as possible. Don't upgrade to W10 unless it's really necessary (and it certainly isn't now). Don't use google search engine when you don't have to. DuckDuckGo can handle 9/10 of queries just fine. Leave Facebook/Twitter/ect. Don't use Gmail as your main email address. There are countless email providers that do not scan your mail. There are even paranoia-tier solutions but standard ones work just fine.

I strongly doubt that W10 will significantly improve your Civ6 experience. But if you really want your first free dose of the drug from the dealer, make a full system backup of your current system, improve to W10, make a full system backup of the new system, and then restore your current system from the backup. You'll have a fully functional W10 backup waiting for you to test Civ6 in dx12. You can use EaseUS Todo Backup free software for that or any other piece of software you like or simply already have.