User-mode display drivers

Along with a kernel-mode display driver, graphics hardware vendors must also write a user-mode display driver (UMD) for their display adapters. The UMD is a dynamic-link library (DLL) that the Direct3D runtime loads.

The UMD can consist of one DLL that supports multiple Direct3D versions, or it can consist of separate DLLs. The following articles discuss various aspects of the UMD:

Returning Error Codes Received from Runtime Functions

Handling the E_INVALIDARG Return Value

Processing Shader Codes

Converting the Direct3D Fixed-Function State

Copying Depth-Stencil Values

Validating Index Values

Supporting Multiple Processors

Handling Multiple Locks

DirectX Video Acceleration 2.0

Supporting Direct3D Version 10

Supporting Direct3D Version 11

Processing High-Definition Video

Protecting Video Content

Verifying Overlay Support

Supporting OpenGL Enhancements

Managing Resources for Multiple GPU Scenarios