Direct flip of video memory

The direct flip feature allows for special optimizations to the composition model to reduce power consumption. The optimizations benefit these scenarios:

  • To ensure optimal power consumption for video playback and other full screen scenarios, direct flip enables a minimum of memory bandwidth to display full-screen content and ensure smooth transitions between full-screen apps, other apps, and the desktop environment.
  • The user wants to view a video or run an app that covers the entire screen. When the user enters or exits the app, or notifications appear over the app, no mode change is required, and the experience is smooth. Furthermore, the user enjoys extended battery life on mobile devices because memory bandwidth requirements are reduced for full-screen apps such as video.
Minimum Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version 1.2
Minimum Windows version 8
Driver implementation—Full graphics Mandatory
WHCK requirements and tests

Device.Graphics ¦ DirectFlip

DirectFlip device driver interface (DDI)

These functions and structures are new or updated for Windows 8:

Hardware certification requirements

For info on requirements that hardware devices must meet when they implement this feature, refer to the relevant WHCK documentation on Device.Graphics ¦ DirectFlip.

See WDDM 1.2 features for a review of features added with Windows 8.