Windows 11 DirectStorage to Require 1 TB or Greater NVMe SSD

[Tsing]

Image: Microsoft



DirectStorage, a GPU-oriented file I/O API that should enable faster loading times and improved texture decompression speeds for PC gamers on Windows 11 (as well as Windows 10 version 1909 and up), will require an NVMe SSD with a storage capacity of 1 TB at minimum. This is according to updated specifications that Microsoft has published on its official Windows 11 page, which includes the requirements for various other new operating system features such as Auto HDR and DirectX 12 Ultimate. Microsoft previously listed 512 GB NVMe SSD drives as the minimum requirement for its DirectStorage feature.



Per Microsoft:



DirectStorage requires 1 TB or greater NVMe SSD to store and run games that uses the “Standard NVM Express Controller” driver and a DirectX 12 Ultimate GPU.



DirectStorage is an API in the DirectX family that was originally...

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[GunShot]

Such BS!

This is just MS micromanaging PC owners, again, due to MS is trying to aid hardware vendors' poor sales in storage devices.

The PS5 825GB (667.2GB avail), which stumps the XSX in performance, refutes MS BS, but I'm sure that MS loyalists will believe them, though.

 

[Stoly]

Seeing as how big games are coming today, it doesn't sound unreasonable.

 

[Riccochet]

Seeing as how big games are coming today, it doesn't sound unreasonable.

Yeah, 1 TB is like 4-6 big titles. Not really much in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Brian_B]

Seeing as how big games are coming today, it doesn't sound unreasonable.

I agree, however, I can also see @GunShot's point -- hard to argue a good reason to ~require~ 1TB, when the XBox Series S only comes with a 512G storage and seems to support it as well.

 

[Denpepe]

I do know that the more chips are on an SSD the higher read and write speeds usually go (in the same drive series) so I can see the size requirement as part of having a fast enough drive.

 

[Brian_B]

I do know that the more chips are on an SSD the higher read and write speeds usually go (in the same drive series) so I can see the size requirement as part of having a fast enough drive.

Again, Xbox specs suggest that isn't an issue. Xbox SSD raw speed isn't anything fancy - can reach it on any decent PCIe3 NVMe device. Although they do mention a "custom decompression block" - so maybe that's part of it... but I kinda think not, otherwise they could have very easily just said "PCI 4.0" or something and got around that.

I think they just put 1TB in there because they can. Same reason they capped Win11 at Intel Gen 8 and Ryzen Gen 3 - because they can. And probably got a kickback to do so from someplace.

From the Microsoft page:

I/O Throughput.

2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block)

 

[Elf_Boy]

Does the new API just require the game be sitting on a 1tb+ NVME? Or does it also require free space or anything else?

 

[Grimlakin]

Does the new API just require the game be sitting on a 1tb+ NVME? Or does it also require free space or anything else?

that's a solid question I run my entire system off of a 1 tb nvme drive and it does fine.

Can I use this direct storage API or enable it? Where can I check it... wait maybe I should look at the article, I'm sure it's documented there.

Nope... no dice.

I'm already on windows 11. I guess I'll just enjoy my enhanced loading times... right?