NVIDIA Introduces RTX IO: GPU Accelerated Storage Technology For Next-Gen Games

NVIDIA has introduced a new technology named RTX IO which enables accelerated storage technology and debuts this month in both Portal: Prelude RTX and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

RTX IO

RTX IO is a technology which enables fast GPU-based loading and game asset acceleration and is massively faster than hard drives and traditional storage APIs. RTX IO uses GPU decompression for smaller data packages and enables faster load times and reduced CPU utilization. Traditionally data is sent from the disk drive to the CPU and decompressed through the system memory but this technology lets compressed data be sent to the GPU with minimal staging in the CPU system memory. To put all the technical words simply, load times are faster with RTX IO.

Portal Prelude RTX IO

This new technology has launched now with Portal Prelude RTX as well as Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart which launches July 26th. Focusing on Portal: Prelude which is a remaster of the Portal mod of the same name. This remaster is available now and uses RTX IO technology for a 5X faster texture load time as well as 44% less disk space as shown in the charts below. Additionally, this technology isn’t exclusive to RTX 40 series cards which is a plus.

Portal: Prelude is available now and comes alongside a new Game Ready Driver release and is advisable for the most optimal experience in the game which is with shiny reflections and low FPS. I’m going to go give it a go and see what all the fuss is about, though I haven’t even tried normal Portal RTX yet.