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DirectDraw
Last modified: Thursday, September 06, 2001
A software interface standard for transferring video processing from a PC'sCPU to the video adapter. The standard was first developed by Intel and called the Display Control Interface (DCI) and is now supported by Microsoft with the name DirectDraw as a registered trademark.
When the CPU is not busy, the Windows Graphics Display Interface (GDI) updates the video display. If the CPU is busy, the DCI driver allows an application to send update information directly to the video adapter. DirectDraw can also provide applications such as games direct access to features of particular display devices.