Platform/GFX/Direct2DDemo: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with '= Demoing Direct2D = Since there are occasions where people might want to demonstrate Direct2D browser hardware acceleration. I'll briefly describe here how to do this. '''Requ…')
 
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'''Installing a Build'''
'''Installing a Build'''


Right now I have the latest build stored [http://www.bassified.nl/firefox-3.7a1pre.en-US.win32.d2d.2009.12.3.zip on my server]. Until we have the DirectX SDK installed on the try servers. This is a build without PGO, with a simple --disable-debug --enable-release mozconfig. Its performance should not be compared to normal build server builds at this point.
Mozilla 1.9.3 (mozilla-central) builds as of Friday, February 26, 2010, contain support for Direct2D and DirectWrite. This also includes Mozilla 1.9.3 alpha 2.


'''Starting the build'''
'''Starting the build'''
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The best way to start is is to just run the firefox executable with a special d2d profile. (i.e. firefox -no-remote -P d2d) A second instance can then be ran in order to make comparisons on a different profile.
The best way to start is is to just run the firefox executable with a special d2d profile. (i.e. firefox -no-remote -P d2d) A second instance can then be ran in order to make comparisons on a different profile.


'''Using GDI'''
'''Using Direct2D'''


To compare or demo the performance difference it's possible to use GDI in one of my builds. Create a separate profile for your GDI version. And for that profile set the 'font.engine.forcegdi' pref to true. Note that if you do this from about:config it will need a restart before it starts using GDI.
By default, Direct2D and DirectWrite are turned off. Steps to turn it on:
 
# Enter 'about:config'
# Click through the warning, if necessary
# Enter gfx.font in the 'Filter' box
# Double-click on 'gfx.font_rendering.directwrite.enabled' to set it to true
# Below this, right click and select New > Integer to add a pref setting
# Enter 'mozilla.widget.render-mode' for the preference name, 6 for the value
# Restart


'''Some good sites'''
'''Some good sites'''

Revision as of 18:59, 1 March 2010

Demoing Direct2D

Since there are occasions where people might want to demonstrate Direct2D browser hardware acceleration. I'll briefly describe here how to do this.

Required Software

You need to be running either Windows 7 or Windows Vista with the Vista Platform update. Windows 7 is preferred because of it using WDDM1.1

Required Hardware

You'll need to make sure you have DX10 compatible hardware or higher. DX9 hardware may work, but performance will vary significantly. Onboard graphics chipsets may also not function quite as you'd like them to. nVidia or ATI hardware is at this point the best hardware to demo this on. In order to check for recent enough drivers and DX 10 support, go to Run, and execute 'dxdiag'. Under the 'display' tab it should display DDI: 10 (or higher), and on windows 7 it should display WDDM: 1.1

Installing a Build

Mozilla 1.9.3 (mozilla-central) builds as of Friday, February 26, 2010, contain support for Direct2D and DirectWrite. This also includes Mozilla 1.9.3 alpha 2.

Starting the build

The best way to start is is to just run the firefox executable with a special d2d profile. (i.e. firefox -no-remote -P d2d) A second instance can then be ran in order to make comparisons on a different profile.

Using Direct2D

By default, Direct2D and DirectWrite are turned off. Steps to turn it on:

  1. Enter 'about:config'
  2. Click through the warning, if necessary
  3. Enter gfx.font in the 'Filter' box
  4. Double-click on 'gfx.font_rendering.directwrite.enabled' to set it to true
  5. Below this, right click and select New > Integer to add a pref setting
  6. Enter 'mozilla.widget.render-mode' for the preference name, 6 for the value
  7. Restart

Some good sites

Some good sites that show off the advantages of hardware acceleration well are the following: