Microsoft is making strides with its upcoming feature update, Windows 11 version 24H2, which is already available for Copilot+ PCs and is anticipated to roll out to additional systems shortly. A comprehensive review of its features has been published for those eager to explore what this update entails.
Final Testing and Certification
The journey towards this update began in May when Microsoft initiated the final testing and certification process for eligible systems. This meticulous approach ensures that PCs equipped for Windows 11 24H2 are primed to support the array of new features it promises to deliver.
Introducing WDDM 3.2
This feature update introduces the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version 3.2, which, as is customary, brings a host of enhancements and new functionalities. Notably, WDDM 3.2 includes improved driver timeout detection and recovery (TDR) debugging, a development that could significantly reduce the frequency of display and graphics driver crashes. A more in-depth exploration of this topic can be found in our dedicated article.
Enhanced Video Encoding Capabilities
In addition to the improvements in driver stability, WDDM 3.2 enhances Direct3D 12 video encoding by incorporating support for the AV1 codec. This advancement signifies a leap forward in GPU-accelerated video encoding on Windows, particularly with the arrival of Windows 11 version 24H2.
Microsoft states:
“The Direct3D12 video encoding feature is extended to support AV1 encoding starting in Windows 11, version 24H2 (WDDM 3.2). The existing video-related framework is extended to allow drivers to report AV1 video encoding support and capabilities. The video encode framework provides access to the video encode hardware acceleration capabilities for different scenarios such as Internet of Things (IoT), cloud, media APIs, machine learning, and game streaming.”
For those unfamiliar, Direct3D 12 Video empowers Windows applications to leverage the GPU for hardware-accelerated video decoding, encoding, processing, and motion estimation. This capability marks a significant evolution in video processing on the platform.
It’s worth noting that prior to the launch of Windows 11 version 21H2, Microsoft had not included support for hardware-accelerated encoding. However, the introduction of WDDM 3.0 with that version marked a pivotal moment, as it finally brought encoding support into the fold.
