Windows 7: A Graphics Powerhouse

One of the least-heralded new features of the software, however, is support for a once-obscure technology that promises to unleash the power of graphics processors to accelerate everything from virus scanners to the speed at which you can move music and videos to your iPod.
The technology is hidden away in Microsoft's ( MSFT - news - people ) DirectX 11 package of multimedia application programming interfaces, which will be released with the new operating system and also made available for users of Microsoft's Vista operating system.

Link: http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/19/graphics-computing-software-technology-enterprise-windows7.html