- DirectStorage revolutionizes data access in modern games by eliminating CPU bottlenecks.
- NVMe PCIe 3.0 or higher SSDs are required to take full advantage of DirectStorage.
- The combination of DirectStorage and NVMe SSDs reduces loading times and improves fluidity in current and future games.
The irruption of DirectStorage and NVMe SSDs has changed the way we experience PC gaming. Little by little, we've gone from enduring endless loading times and wait times to barely noticing them, but it's still normal for questions to arise: What are the differences between Direct Storage and regular NVMe?
In this article, we analyze this issue, also explaining how both technologies complement each other. Of great interest to those seeking the best experience on their PC.
What is DirectStorage and how does it affect gaming?
In recent years, a brutal expectation has been generated around Direct Storage, an API developed by Microsoft and first included in Xbox Series X/S and now in Windows 10 and 11. Its purpose is maximize data access speed in games, allowing for larger worlds, more detailed textures, and most importantly, reduce loading times to almost zero.
How does it achieve this? Well, by drastically changing the resource loading process. The traditional route involved the CPU extracting data from storage (SSD or HDD), decompressing it in RAM, and finally delivering it to the graphics card (GPU). This generated bottleneck, especially when the graphics and textures began to grow exponentially in size and detail.
The key to DirectStorage is to remove the CPU from the equation for transferring and decompressing this data. Now the information is passed directly from the NVMe SSD to the GPU much more efficiently. And in the latest versions, the GPU is even capable of performing the decompression itself. All of this translates into ultra-fast loading and greater fluidity in our games.
In simple words: Direct Storage It is the key to unleashing the full potential of modern NVMe SSDs in gaming, something that until recently was exclusive to next-gen consoles.
What differentiates NVMe SSDs from other drives?
When we talk about storage unit, not all are the same. The SSD NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) use the PCI Express interface, allowing read and write speeds much higher than those of traditional SATA SSDs (and of course, older mechanical HDDs).
To give you an idea, a SATA SSD typically offers speeds between 500 and 600 MB/s, while a PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD can reach 3500 MB/s and the newer PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 can even exceed 7.000 MB/s. This difference is abysmal and opens the door to new possibilities, especially when combined with a technology like DirectStorage.
That said, despite having an ultra-fast NVMe SSD, until the arrival of Direct Storage, games couldn't really take advantage of these numbers as there were still bottlenecks in data transfer from storage to the graphics card.
How DirectStorage Works with NVMe SSDs: The Perfect Pair
The greatest qualitative leap that has been Direct Storage is changing the flow of data in your games. Now, resources (3D models, ultra-detailed textures, animations) that previously went through the CPU and RAM, They come almost directly from the NVMe SSD to the GPU, allowing the entire process to be much faster and more efficient.
In the latest revisions of DirectStorage (such as the recently released version 1.2), it has even been optimized for relieve CPU load, thanks to data decompression directly on the GPU. This not only reduces loading time but also helps free up CPU resources for other tasks, such as artificial intelligence, game physics, or any other complex calculations.
This technical advancement is beginning to be seen in several recent games, although the catalog is still small. forspoken was one of the first to adopt it, alongside titles like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Forza Motorsport, or future promises like patches for Diablo IV and other major releases. In all of these titles, it's already noticeable that, With an NVMe SSD and DirectStorage enabled, the loading times are minimal and the gaming experience feels smoother.
What does it take to take advantage of DirectStorage?
To take advantage of Direct Storage, your PC needs to meet a few minimum requirements:
- Windows 11 operating system (Windows 10 supports a limited version, but 11 is recommended for full use.)
- NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD or higherSATA drives are out of the question for this technology.
- DirectX 12 Ultimate compatible graphics cardMicrosoft particularly recommends NVIDIA's RTX 20/30 and AMD's RX 6000 GPUs, which feature hardware decompression accelerators.
Until recently, Microsoft required SSDs to have at least 1 TB of capacity, although this requirement has since been removed. NVMe drives with a PCIe 3.0 or higher interface are sufficient.
Real advantages: loading times and performance
It's common to ask: Is there really a difference? The short answer is yes, although it depends on the game and the hardware. In tests with compatible titles like Forspoken, the difference between disc types is notable:
- NVMe PCIe 4.0/3.0 SSD: Loading times from 1,3 to 2,5 seconds.
- SATA SSD: Loads in about 5,8 to 7,5 seconds.
- Traditional HDD: Up to 50 seconds!
The difference is even more pronounced when it comes to loading open worlds or huge textures, although in some early games the impact was less than expected (for example, in Forspoken, loading times on different generations of SSDs were sometimes similar). The key is that as developers optimize their games for DirectStorage, these differences will continue to grow.
But there is another aspect that is becoming increasingly important: the impact on FPS and fluidity. With GPU decompression and reduced CPU load, a significant improvement has been observed. 6% improvement in average FPS and up to 12% in minimum FPS when moving from a SATA SSD to a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, especially in complex scenes or fast open-world loads.
Compatibility, configurations and new improvements
DirectStorage 1.2, the latest version, includes options to improve compatibility with older hard drives through the Force Buffered IOHowever, Microsoft only recommends enabling it if you're using very slow HDDs, as performance is still far behind modern SSDs.
Another novelty is the API GetCompressionSupport, which allows the developer to know whether decompression is being done by the GPU or the CPU, helping to optimize performance. Additionally, each update includes bug fixes and optimizations that further improve the relationship between DirectStorage and different hardware configurations.
Something to keep in mind: using DirectStorage means you'll need a bit more RAM, as the system reserves additional memory to move data between the SSD and the GPU. This isn't usually an issue on modern systems, but it's worth keeping in mind if you have a tighter setup.
Potential Limitations and Challenges of DirectStorage
While DirectStorage promises to unleash the power of SSDs and transform the gaming experience, the reality is that mass adoption is still a long way off. There are technical challenges in implementation, and in some cases, it has been reported that GPU decompression itself can interfere with other heavy tasks if the graphics are heavily loaded (for example, in games with a lot of ray tracing or DLSS enabled).
Developers also face the challenge of redesign how they manage gaming assetsCreating richer, more detailed worlds—with high-polygon models and ultra-realistic textures—requires a new mindset and tools that leverage the direct SSD-to-GPU path.
Despite these initial minor setbacks, the potential is still there. The numbers for CPU usage reduction (up to 85% less in some tests), the increase in FPS and the almost elimination of loading times are compelling arguments for the gaming industry to move forward in this direction.
The future of gaming lies in the integration of technologies like DirectStorage and the use of NVMe SSDs, which will open the door to more detailed, faster, and surprisingly fluid worlds. Enabling this technology is, without a doubt, one of the best investments you can make to improve your gaming experience in the coming years.
Editor specialized in technology and internet issues with more than ten years of experience in different digital media. I have worked as an editor and content creator for e-commerce, communication, online marketing and advertising companies. I have also written on economics, finance and other sectors websites. My work is also my passion. Now, through my articles in Tecnobits, I try to explore all the news and new opportunities that the world of technology offers us every day to improve our lives.