   Can't run DirectX SDK 3D samples,  Black screen or run in REF mode.
  I download DirectX 2005 Oct SDK .The Samples in "Samples\C++\Direct3D\Bin\x86" can't run in my computer.Most are black screen, some will show MessageBox: "this will switch to ref, runs very slowly". But this sample "Instancing" do not have this problem. "Tutorials"also runs OK.My display card: ATI 9200   Have no problem running Age of empires 3 and WoW.Last year I download DirectX 2004 December, also have the same problem, after i did something, everything runs OK. but i do not remember what i did at that time.Any one knows? Thanks.   
  The Radeon 9200 series' maximum pixel shader version is 1.4. Since the new DirectX SDK samples mostly require 2.0 or up, most of the samples won't run on your hardware, thus having to use the reference rasterizer for rendering. The instancing sample has a high-performance software fallback technique for cards that cannot do true geometry instancing. This is why it runs correctly (but doesn't actually use hardware instancing with your card).Age of Empires 3 and WoW both use fallback techniques so you wouldn't have to obtain absolutely latest graphics cards just to play them. You cannot enable their maximum visual settings with your card, though :)My friend plays AoE3 with his Geforce 4 MX, and the game works just fine but looks like games that were published 6-7 years ago.   ;  Now I know why Quake4 Demo is like rubbish running on my computer.But Indeed I ran everything OK last year December just on this computer,ATI 9200, Now I download 2004 December - also black window. Maybe I modified some code in the sample framework at that time.   ;Quote:Original post by feichengNow I know why Quake4 Demo is like rubbish running on my computer.From what I've heard you'll need something substantially better than a 9200 to play Q4 in all it's glory [lol]Quote:Original post by feichengBut Indeed I ran everything OK last year December just on this computer,ATI 9200, Now I download 2004 December - also black window. Maybe I modified some code in the sample framework at that time.So, you're saying that the samples used to work? but now they've stopped working?If so, have you changed your hardware drivers - both ATI and NV are notorious for "optimizing" things and generally messing with features, which could possibly be what you're seeing.hthJack   