OpenGL 4.2 Released

By Douglas Perry
published

Khronos released OpenGL 4.2 as a new version of the cross-platform 2D and 3D graphics API earlier today at Siggraph.

The new version integrates shaders with atomic counters as well as load, store and atomic read-modify-write operations to a single level of a texture. Additionally, there is support for GPU-tessellated geometry, the modification of an arbitrary subset of a compressed texture without having to re-download the whole texture to the GPU for significant performance improvements, and the ability to pack multiple 8 and 16 bit values into a single 32-bit value for efficient shader processing.

“OpenGL 4.2 has integrated feedback from developers that are shipping significant OpenGL-based applications and games, making for a faster, more capable API which will continue to evolve to meet market needs,” said Barthold Lichtenbelt, working group chair of the OpenGL ARB and director of Tegra graphics at Nvidia.

Both AMD and Nvidia said that their products will support OpenGL 4.2 in the immediate future.

Douglas Perry
34 Comments Comment from the forums
  • mister g
    Didn't Nvidia disable a bit of OpenGL so that their old tech demos won't work on their graphics cards anymore?
    Reply
  • 11796pcs
    mister gDidn't Nvidia disable a bit of OpenGL so that their old tech demos won't work on their graphics cards anymore?Um, why would they do that? Also has anyone heard anything about DX12? Microsoft always likes to release its new API along with their new operating system but of course since Windows 8 is going to be designed differently will MSFT keep that tradition?
    Reply
  • henydiah
    wow this would be great AMD and Nvidia will follow up as soon as possible, we wait for its development
    Reply
  • renz496
    11796pcsUm, why would they do that? Also has anyone heard anything about DX12? Microsoft always likes to release its new API along with their new operating system but of course since Windows 8 is going to be designed differently will MSFT keep that tradition?
    some rumor suggesting that windows 8 may come with DX11.1 instead of DX12. the rumor based on intel IGP that built-in for haswell based processor will featuring DX11.1 instead of DX12
    Reply
  • ralfthedog
    mister gDidn't Nvidia disable a bit of OpenGL so that their old tech demos won't work on their graphics cards anymore?
    They might have removed depreciated functions. You can't support legacy stuff forever or your code/hardware becomes bloated to the point of unsuitability.
    Reply
  • ralfthedog
    renz496some rumor suggesting that windows 8 may come with DX11.1 instead of DX12. the rumor based on intel IGP that built-in for haswell based processor will featuring DX11.1 instead of DX12
    What is the difference between DX11.1 and DX12 (other than DX0.9)? Sometimes a name or a number is just a name or a number.
    Reply
  • mister g
    renz496some rumor suggesting that windows 8 may come with DX11.1 instead of DX12. the rumor based on intel IGP that built-in for haswell based processor will featuring DX11.1 instead of DX12That could be like how Intel didn't update thier IGPs to support DX11 and instead went the DX10.1 route. They waited until their Sandy Bridge IGPs were released to support it. DX10.1 was just an incremental update to add some missing features until the new stuff came along.
    Reply
  • mister g
    ralfthedogThey might have removed depreciated functions. You can't support legacy stuff forever or your code/hardware becomes bloated to the point of unsuitability.Like x86?
    Reply
  • DjEaZy
    Both AMD and Nvidia said that their products will support OpenGL 4.2 in the immediate future.
    ... no intel GPU's?
    Reply
  • randomizer
    mister gLike x86?Haha, long live MMX!
    Reply