How fast is Direct X

[bartybasher]

Hi I am like many programmers, being at dos programming with C++ for ages and finally about a month ago I started out in windows. I can create windows, menus, rectangles, pixels, sound cursors and so on. As you can imagine with this under my belt I couldn't wait to get started on my first real program. So I did and as soon as I started I began tor ealise how slow the Windows GDI really is.
Now I have heard that direct X is supposed to be a lot faster and I have got books on it. Its just I don't want to be spending another life time reading up on that if it isn't going to make that much difference to a novice like me.

[darksaidin]

It depends

What do you want to do with DirectX? Games? 3D graphics? Animated 2D stuff? In that case it's a lot faster then the GDI. But if you for some strange reason want to use DirectX to draw your own window elements, I think you should stick with the GDI =)

[confuted]

DX is fast enough for almost anything that you'll need to do. It can handle your graphics, input, and sound easily Well... not exactly easily, but it can handle them Anyway... what Darksaidin said. Use DX (or GL) for your graphics.

[bartybasher]

I just want to be able to make a nice 2d game. Nothing too exciting. I suppose if what you say is true I will have to hit the books again .
Thanks Guys

[frenchfry164]

You probably won't need an API as advanced as DirectGraphics to make a 2D game, unless you are planning on putting in some killer effects. Same with OpenGL. I am making some 2D stuff with OGL, but that is because I want to use the 3D effects available, as well as just learn OpenGL. Unless you really want to get started in a advanced API, I would recommend Allegro. It is simple as crap, and platform-independent. A lot of people like SDL, but I don't really like it myself. ClanLib is available too, but I don't know much anything about it.

www.allegro.cc
www.libsdl.org