NVIDIA’s Pixel Shaders 3.0, ATI’s Geometry Instancing Don’t Pass DCT
At least some NVIDIA’s ForceWare drivers cannot pass certain WHQL tests as Microsoft’s Display Compatibility Test does not pass pixel shaders 3.0 along with some other pixel shaders tests on the drivers version 66.81. Earlier this year Microsoft’s test rejected another important technology – Geometry Instancing, but on ATI’s CATALYST drivers.
Source: X-Bit LabsThe Microsoft Display Compatibility Test kit is intended for testing display adapters and chipsets along with their drivers in order to verify their compliance with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems and Microsoft DirectX 7, DirectX 8.1a and DirectX 9.0c specifications, which means that the test determines whether one or another hardware/software feature functions properly. Typically DCT is required to pass WHQL validation, which is important for OEMs and large system builders as well as end-users. Technically, it is required to pass all tests, but there may be exceptions and any given vendor may run into a situation where it may not pass because of the following reasons, explained Martina Sourada, Director, Software Certification for NVIDIA Corporation:
Test as published by Microsoft is flawed and fails, in this case, Microsoft will publish an errata which allows a vendor to submit for a logo without passing said test. Prior to making the errata public, Microsoft will issue an Incident ID which allows vendors to submit while waiting for errata to be published.
Test may fail because vendor in question has implemented the functionality/behavior as tested by WHQL in a different manner. In this case, the vendor works with Microsoft to understand the impact of the failure. Microsoft does a very complete/thorough investigation of such failures, and if they deem that user impact is negligible, and the WHQL logo is not compromised, they will issue a Waiver.
The most recent version of the Microsoft Display Compatibility Test (DCT 5.2) puts quite a lot of attention on innovative graphics capabilities of the latest graphics processors from ATI Technologies and NVIDIA Corporation. For some reasons, at least on certain drivers and hardware the test cannot pass successfully.
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