# Is there anyway to get XP to use GLopen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-xp-to-use-glopen/192733 "2003-08-03T17:06:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-xp-to-use-glopen/192733/1 "2003-08-03T17:06:15Z")
Or am I stuck only playing games that use directx? ---
**Author:** ![Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dreaming_of_Maria_Callas)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-xp-to-use-glopen/192733/2 "2003-08-03T17:24:24Z")
What kind of video card do you have? All decent video cards support OpenGL, both the standard and their own proprietary extensions. I wiped my computer’s drive and installed Linux nearly immediately after buying it, but I do remember from the one time I booted it up that the Display control panel listed OpenGL details of my video card (ATI Radeon). UnuMondo ---
**Author:** ![homercles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed8c4c/32.png) [@homercles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homercles)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-xp-to-use-glopen/192733/3 "2003-08-03T17:27:47Z")
Yes, as UnuMondo said all current graphics cards will run both openGL and directX software. However, this is based on the software and in case you dont know, directX is MS. So all MS apps will run directX, theres no way to “override” this. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-xp-to-use-glopen/192733/4 "2003-08-03T17:32:47Z")
Can’t answer your question directly, but here’s a discussion on [opengl.org](http://opengl.org) that might help: [http://www.opengl.org/discussion\_boards/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002949.html](http://www.opengl.org/discussion_boards/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002949.html) and, [http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/r1057132841](http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/r1057132841) ---
**Author:** ![homercles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed8c4c/32.png) [@homercles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homercles)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-xp-to-use-glopen/192733/5 "2003-08-03T17:42:03Z")
Ooops, more to add, sorry i didnt read your text, just the subject defore replying. Yes, if you have a new graphics card you can play openGL games. The de facto standard these days is to build graphics cards that will run directX AND openGL. For example, Doom III is openGL only. But if you dont have the best of the best by its release i really wouldnt expect to see all the eye candy. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-xp-to-use-glopen/192733/6 "2003-08-03T23:45:38Z")
Windows XP does not natively support OpenGL. In order to run OpenGL applications or use the OpenGL support on your videocard, you need to install updated drivers from your video chipset manufacturer. These will most likely be found at either [nvidia.com](http://www.nvidia.com) or [ati.com](http://www.ati.acom).