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Summary:
Until now multimedia developers had to program directly to hardware in order to maximize application performance. DirectX, RDX, RSX and MMX technology are new advancements that enable programmers to write applications that take advantage of hardware acceleration without direct hardware programming.

Written by Intel experts who are developing and applying these new technologies, DirectX®, RDX, RSX and MMX™ Technology: A Jumpstart Guide to High Performance APIs takes a hands-on approach to illustrate the latest technologies from Microsoft, Intel and RealNetworks.

This book:

Shows programmers how to get up to speed on each API and provides key hints, tips, and advice throughout the text
Covers DirectX (DirectDraw®, Direct3D®, DirectSound® and DirectShow (formerly ActiveMovie) APIs from Microsoft; RDX and RSX from Intel; and RealMedia from RealNetworks
Illustrates optimization techniques for Pentium, Pentium with MMX Technology, and Pentium II processors
Demonstrates how to use Intel's VTune and PMonitor for processor and memory optimization

Table of Contents:
Preface...xvii

Introduction: Organization and Conventions...xxi

Part I Surveying Multimedia 1
Chapter 1 Overview of Media on the PC...3
Chapter 2 Processor Architecture Overview...11

Part II Animated Graphics, Sprites, and Backgrounds...17
Chapter 3 Simple Sprites in GDI...19
Chapter 4 Sprites with DirectDraw Primary Surfaces...27
Chapter 5 Hardware Acceleration via DirectDraw...39
Chapter 6 RDx: High-Performance Mixing with a High-Level API...55

Part III Making the Media Mix
Chapter 7 Video Under Windows...71
Chapter 8 DirectShow Filters...79
Chapter 9 DirectShow Applications...109
Chapter 10 Mixing Sprites, Backgrounds, and Videos...131
Chapter 11 Streaming Down the Superhighway with RealMedia...139

Part IV Playing and Mixing Sound with DirectSound and RSX 3D
Chapter 12 Audio Mixing with DirectSound...171
Chapter 13 Realistic 3D Sound Experience: RSX 3D...183

Part V Welcome to the Third Dimension...195
Chapter 14 An Introduction to Direct3D...197
Chapter 15 Embellishing our Triangle with Backgrounds, Shading and Textures...225
Chapter 16 Understanding and Enhancing Direct3D Performance...247
Chapter 17 Mixing 3D with Sprites, Backgrounds, and Videos...263

Part VI Processors and Performance Optimization...273
Chapter 18 The Pentium Processor Family...277
Chapter 19 The Pentium Processor...289
Chapter 20 The Pentium Processor with MMX Technology...311
Chapter 21 VTune and Other Performance Optimization Tools...333
Chapter 22 The Pentium II Processor...349
Chapter 23 Memory optimization: Know Your Data...373

Epilogue: The Finale...389

Index...397

CD-ROM License Agreement Notice...418