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Improving performance by using VertexBuffers and IndexBuffers

Your terrain is fully working, Each frame again, all vertices and indices are being sent over to our graphics card. This means each frame we are sending over exactly the same data. Obviously, this should be optimized.

We want to send the data over to the graphics card only once, after which the graphics card should store it in it’s own superfast memory. This can be done by storing our vertices in a VertexBuffer, and our indices in an IndexBuffer.

Recipes 5-4 and 5-5 give explain these buffers in a lot more detail.

Start by declaring these 2 variables at the top of your code:

 VertexBuffer myVertexBuffer;
 IndexBuffer myIndexBuffer;

We will initialize and fill the VertexBuffer and IndexBuffer in a new method, CopyToBuffers. This code does the trick for the VertexBuffer:

 private void CopyToBuffers()
 {
     myVertexBuffer = new VertexBuffer(device, VertexPositionColorNormal.VertexDeclaration, vertices.Length, BufferUsage.WriteOnly);
     myVertexBuffer.SetData(vertices);
 }

The first line creates the VertexBuffer, which comes down to allocating a piece of memory on the graphics card that is large enough to store all our vertices. Therefore, you need to specify how many bytes we need. This is done by specifying the number of vertices in our array, as well the VertexDeclaration (which contains the size in bytes for one vertex, as we’ll see in Series 3).

The second line actually copies the data from our local vertices array into the memory on our graphics card.

We need to do the same for our indices, so put this code at the end of the method:

 myIndexBuffer = new IndexBuffer(device, typeof(int), indices.Length, BufferUsage.WriteOnly);
 myIndexBuffer.SetData(indices);

To find out how many bytes to allocate, we pass in the type of each index as well as how many of them we want to store. The second line copies the indices over to the graphics card.

Don’t forget to call this method at the end of our LoadContent method:

 CopyToBuffers();

With that being done, you only need to instruct your graphics card to fetch the vertex and index data from its own memory using the DrawIndexedPrimitives method instead of the DrawUserIndexedPrimitives method. Before our call this method, we need to let your graphics card know it should read from the buffers stored in its own memory:

 device.Indices = myIndexBuffer;
 device.SetVertexBuffer(myVertexBuffer);
 device.DrawIndexedPrimitives(PrimitiveType.TriangleList, 0, 0, vertices.Length, 0, indices.Length / 3);                

We indicate where the graphics card should get its indices and vertices from and render the triangles.

Running this code will give you the same result as in last chapter. This time however, all vertex and index data is transferred only once to your graphics card!




DirectX Tutorial 14 - VertexBuffer & IndexBuffer

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Click here to go to the forum on this chapter!

Or click on one of the topics on this chapter to go there:
  • Changes and VertexBuffer
          Hi, I am using the VertexBuffer but I got one q...
  • Where to set the buffers...
          Great tutorial! I do have a suggestion unless the...
  • Code for XNA 4.0
          There are some minor changes in setting up the buf...
  • Normal.Normalize() problem (C#)
          I have a problem with Normal.Normalize() method in...
  • 3D Series 1 rendering bug
          Hi! First of all ThanX to Riemer for these realy ...
  • Index-Vertex buffers for .X type models
          Hello there! I've been looking all over the net f...
  • Device does not support 32-bit index
          Hello Riemer When I ran your code I got this ex...
  • Problem with larger heightmaps
          Hello, First off, I'd like to thank you for all ...



    You can try these exercises to practice what you've learned:
  • In this code, we’re still keeping the vertices and indices arrays as global variables, only because we need to know their lengths in the DrawIndexesPrimitives call. So if you remember their lengths you can get rid of them and free some memore.

    The final code:
     using System;
     using System.Collections.Generic;
     using System.Linq;
     using Microsoft.Xna.Framework;
     using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Audio;
     using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Content;
     using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.GamerServices;
     using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Graphics;
     using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Input;
     using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Media;
     
     namespace Series3D1
     {
         public class Game1 : Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Game
         {
             public struct VertexPositionColorNormal
             {
                 public Vector3 Position;
                 public Color Color;
                 public Vector3 Normal;
     
                 public readonly static VertexDeclaration VertexDeclaration = new VertexDeclaration
                 (
                     new VertexElement(0, VertexElementFormat.Vector3, VertexElementUsage.Position, 0),
                     new VertexElement(sizeof(float) * 3, VertexElementFormat.Color, VertexElementUsage.Color, 0),
                     new VertexElement(sizeof(float) * 3 + 4, VertexElementFormat.Vector3, VertexElementUsage.Normal, 0)
                 );
             }
     
             GraphicsDeviceManager graphics;
             SpriteBatch spriteBatch;
             GraphicsDevice device;
             VertexBuffer myVertexBuffer;
             IndexBuffer myIndexBuffer;
     
             Effect effect;
             VertexPositionColorNormal[] vertices;
             Matrix viewMatrix;
             Matrix projectionMatrix;
             int[] indices;
     
             private float angle = 0f;
             private int terrainWidth = 4;
             private int terrainHeight = 3;
             private float[,] heightData;
     
             public Game1()
             {
                 graphics = new GraphicsDeviceManager(this);
                 Content.RootDirectory = "Content";
             }
     
             protected override void Initialize()
             {
                 graphics.PreferredBackBufferWidth = 500;
                 graphics.PreferredBackBufferHeight = 500;
                 graphics.IsFullScreen = false;
                 graphics.ApplyChanges();
                 Window.Title = "Riemer's XNA Tutorials -- 3D Series 1";
     
                 base.Initialize();
             }
     
             protected override void LoadContent()
             {
                 spriteBatch = new SpriteBatch(GraphicsDevice);
     
                 device = graphics.GraphicsDevice;

                effect = Content.Load<Effect> ("effects");            SetUpCamera();


                Texture2D heightMap = Content.Load<Texture2D> ("heightmap");            LoadHeightData(heightMap);
                SetUpVertices();
                SetUpIndices();
                CalculateNormals();

                 CopyToBuffers();
             }
     
             protected override void UnloadContent()
             {
             }
     
             private void SetUpVertices()
             {
                 float minHeight = float.MaxValue;
                 float maxHeight = float.MinValue;
                 for (int x = 0; x < terrainWidth; x++)
                 {
                     for (int y = 0; y < terrainHeight; y++)
                     {
                         if (heightData[x, y] < minHeight)
                             minHeight = heightData[x, y];
                         if (heightData[x, y] > maxHeight)
                             maxHeight = heightData[x, y];
                     }
                 }
     
                 vertices = new VertexPositionColorNormal[terrainWidth * terrainHeight];
                 for (int x = 0; x < terrainWidth; x++)
                 {
                     for (int y = 0; y < terrainHeight; y++)
                     {
                         vertices[x + y * terrainWidth].Position = new Vector3(x, heightData[x, y], -y);
     
                         if (heightData[x, y] < minHeight + (maxHeight - minHeight) / 4)
                             vertices[x + y * terrainWidth].Color = Color.Blue;
                         else if (heightData[x, y] < minHeight + (maxHeight - minHeight) * 2 / 4)
                             vertices[x + y * terrainWidth].Color = Color.Green;
                         else if (heightData[x, y] < minHeight + (maxHeight - minHeight) * 3 / 4)
                             vertices[x + y * terrainWidth].Color = Color.Brown;
                         else
                             vertices[x + y * terrainWidth].Color = Color.White;
                     }
                 }
             }
     
             private void SetUpIndices()
             {
                 indices = new int[(terrainWidth - 1) * (terrainHeight - 1) * 6];
                 int counter = 0;
                 for (int y = 0; y < terrainHeight - 1; y++)
                 {
                     for (int x = 0; x < terrainWidth - 1; x++)
                     {
                         int lowerLeft = x + y * terrainWidth;
                         int lowerRight = (x + 1) + y * terrainWidth;
                         int topLeft = x + (y + 1) * terrainWidth;
                         int topRight = (x + 1) + (y + 1) * terrainWidth;
     
                         indices[counter++] = topLeft;
                         indices[counter++] = lowerRight;
                         indices[counter++] = lowerLeft;
     
                         indices[counter++] = topLeft;
                         indices[counter++] = topRight;
                         indices[counter++] = lowerRight;
                     }
                 }
             }
     
             private void CalculateNormals()
             {
                 for (int i = 0; i < vertices.Length; i++)
                     vertices[i].Normal = new Vector3(0, 0, 0);
     
                 for (int i = 0; i < indices.Length / 3; i++)
                 {
                     int index1 = indices[i * 3];
                     int index2 = indices[i * 3 + 1];
                     int index3 = indices[i * 3 + 2];
     
                     Vector3 side1 = vertices[index1].Position - vertices[index3].Position;
                     Vector3 side2 = vertices[index1].Position - vertices[index2].Position;
                     Vector3 normal = Vector3.Cross(side1, side2);
     
                     vertices[index1].Normal += normal;
                     vertices[index2].Normal += normal;
                     vertices[index3].Normal += normal;
                 }
     
                 for (int i = 0; i < vertices.Length; i++)
                     vertices[i].Normal.Normalize();
             }
     
     
             private void LoadHeightData(Texture2D heightMap)
             {
                 terrainWidth = heightMap.Width;
                 terrainHeight = heightMap.Height;
     
                 Color[] heightMapColors = new Color[terrainWidth * terrainHeight];
                 heightMap.GetData(heightMapColors);
     
                 heightData = new float[terrainWidth, terrainHeight];
                 for (int x = 0; x < terrainWidth; x++)
                     for (int y = 0; y < terrainHeight; y++)
                         heightData[x, y] = heightMapColors[x + y * terrainWidth].R / 5.0f;
             }
     
             private void SetUpCamera()
             {
                 viewMatrix = Matrix.CreateLookAt(new Vector3(60, 80, -80), new Vector3(0, 0, 0), new Vector3(0, 1, 0));
                 projectionMatrix = Matrix.CreatePerspectiveFieldOfView(MathHelper.PiOver4, device.Viewport.AspectRatio, 1.0f, 300.0f);
             }
     
             private void CopyToBuffers()
             {
                 myVertexBuffer = new VertexBuffer(device, VertexPositionColorNormal.VertexDeclaration, vertices.Length, BufferUsage.WriteOnly);
                 myVertexBuffer.SetData(vertices);
     
                 myIndexBuffer = new IndexBuffer(device, typeof(int), indices.Length, BufferUsage.WriteOnly);
                 myIndexBuffer.SetData(indices);
             }
     
             protected override void Update(GameTime gameTime)
             {
                 if (GamePad.GetState(PlayerIndex.One).Buttons.Back == ButtonState.Pressed)
                     this.Exit();
     
                 KeyboardState keyState = Keyboard.GetState();
                 if (keyState.IsKeyDown(Keys.Delete))
                     angle += 0.05f;
                 if (keyState.IsKeyDown(Keys.PageDown))
                     angle -= 0.05f;
     
                 base.Update(gameTime);
             }
     
             protected override void Draw(GameTime gameTime)
             {
                 device.Clear(ClearOptions.Target | ClearOptions.DepthBuffer, Color.Black, 1.0f, 0);
     
                 RasterizerState rs = new RasterizerState();
                 rs.CullMode = CullMode.None;
                 device.RasterizerState = rs;
     
                 Matrix worldMatrix = Matrix.CreateTranslation(-terrainWidth / 2.0f, 0, terrainHeight / 2.0f) * Matrix.CreateRotationY(angle);
                 effect.CurrentTechnique = effect.Techniques["Colored"];
                 effect.Parameters["xView"].SetValue(viewMatrix);
                 effect.Parameters["xProjection"].SetValue(projectionMatrix);
                 effect.Parameters["xWorld"].SetValue(worldMatrix);
                 Vector3 lightDirection = new Vector3(1.0f, -1.0f, -1.0f);
                 lightDirection.Normalize();
                 effect.Parameters["xLightDirection"].SetValue(lightDirection);
                 effect.Parameters["xAmbient"].SetValue(0.1f);
                 effect.Parameters["xEnableLighting"].SetValue(true);            
     
                 foreach (EffectPass pass in effect.CurrentTechnique.Passes)
                 {
                     pass.Apply();
     
                     device.Indices = myIndexBuffer;
                     device.SetVertexBuffer(myVertexBuffer);
                     device.DrawIndexedPrimitives(PrimitiveType.TriangleList, 0, 0, vertices.Length, 0, indices.Length / 3);                
                 }
     
                 base.Draw(gameTime);
             }
         }
     }
     
     


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    2007 - 2011 MVP Award
    DirectX - XNA

    Contents

    News
    Home
    Forum
    XNA 2.0 Recipes Book (8)
    Chapter 1
    Chapter 2
    Chapter 3
    Chapter 4
    Chapter 5
    Chapter 6
    Chapter 7
    Chapter 8
    XNA 3.0 Recipes Book (8)
    Chapter 1
    Chapter 2
    Chapter 3
    Chapter 4
    Chapter 5
    Chapter 6
    Chapter 7
    Chapter 8
    Downloads
    Extra Reading (3)
    Matrices: geometrical
    Matrix Mathematics
    Homogenous matrices
    Community Projects (1)
    Team Project (1)
    News
    Tutorials (160)
    XNA 4.0 using C# (89)
    2D Series: Shooters (22)
    Starting a project
    Drawing fullscreen images
    Positioning images
    SpriteBatch.Draw()
    Rotation
    Keyboard input
    Writing text
    Angle to Direction
    Direction to Angle
    Smoke trail
    Manual texture creation
    Random terrain
    Texture to Colors
    Coll Detection Overview
    Coll Detection Matrices
    Putting CD into practice
    Particles
    Additive alpha blending
    Particle engine
    Adding craters
    Sound in XNA
    Resolution independency
    3D Series 1: Terrain (13)
    Starting a project
    The effect file
    The first triangle
    World space
    Rotation - translation
    Indices
    Terrain basics
    Terrain from file
    Keyboard
    Adding colors
    Lighting basics
    Terrain lighting
    VertexBuffer & IndexBuffer
    3D Series 2: Flightsim (14)
    Starting point
    Textures
    Loading the floorplan
    Creating the 3D city
    Loading a Model
    Ambient and diffuse
    Quaternion camera
    Flight kinematics
    Collision detection
    Adding targets
    Point sprites
    Alpha blending
    Skybox
    Camera delay
    3D Series 3: HLSL (18)
    Starting point
    HLSL introduction
    Vertex format
    Vertex shader
    Pixel shader
    Per-pixel colors
    Textured triangle
    Triangle strip
    World transform
    World normals
    Per-pixel lighting
    Shadow map
    Render to texture
    Projective texturing
    Real shadow
    Shaping the light
    Preshaders
    3D Series 4: Adv. terrain (19)
    Starting code
    Mouse camera
    Textured terrain
    Multitexturing
    Adding detail
    Skydome
    The water technique
    Refraction map
    Reflection map
    Perfect mirror
    Ripples
    The Fresnel term
    Moving water
    Specular highlights
    Billboarding
    Region growing
    Billboarding renderstates
    Perlin noise
    Gradient skybox
    Short Tuts (3)
    Run XNA on older pcs
    MessageBox in XNA
    Normal generation
    DirectX using C# (54)
    Series 1:Terrain (14)
    Opening a window
    Linking to the Device
    Drawing a triangle
    Camera
    Rotation - Translation
    Indices
    Terrain creation
    Terrain from file
    DirectInput
    Importing bmp files
    Colored vertices
    DirectX Light basics
    Mesh creation
    Mesh lighting
    Series 2: Flightsim (19)
    Starting code
    Textures
    The floorplan
    Creating the 3D City
    Meshloading from file
    Ambient light
    Action
    Flight kinematics
    Collision detection
    Skybox
    Texture filtering
    Adding targets
    Point sprites
    Alpha blending
    DirectSound
    Sounds in 3D
    Playing MP3 files
    Displaying text
    Going fullscreen
    Series 3: HLSL (19)
    Starting point
    HLSL Introduction
    Vertex Shader
    Shaded triangle
    Pixel Shader
    Textured Triangle
    Triangle Strip
    World transform
    Adding normals
    The first light
    Shadow mapping
    Render To Texture
    Projective texturing
    The first shadow
    Shaping the light
    Preshaders
    Multiple lights
    Adjusting Z values
    Finishing touch
    Short Tuts (2)
    Resizing problem
    Checking Device caps
    DirectX using C++ (15)
    Series 1: Terrain (15)
    Opening a window
    Ending the game loop
    Linking to the Device
    Clearing your window
    Drawing a triangle
    Culling
    Camera
    Rotation - Translation
    Indices
    Terrain creation
    Terrain from file
    DirectInput
    Importing .bmp files
    Adding colors
    DirectX Light basics
    DirectX using VB (2)
    Series 1: Intro (2)
    The first triangle
    Rotation - translation
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