DirectX Tools
From DirectXWiki
Performance Tools
You can find performance tools at the developer sites of nVidia and ATI(AMD):
NVIDIAs site: http://developer.nvidia.com/page/home.html
AMDs site: http://ati.amd.com/developer/tools.html
3D Modeler Software
Caligari Truespace
Truespace was bought from Microsoft. Since that it is Freeware! Of course with a good .X File exporter!
+ Freeware
+ Many Features
Cyber Motion 3D Designer
+ Cheap
+ Easy to use
- Not as advanced as other tools
Blender
+ Freeware
+ Many Features
- Not so easy to handle
Cinema 4D
+ Many Features
+ Good to handle
3DS MAX / Maya
+ Many Features
+ Very good to handle
- Expensive
This is a simple overview. If the Versions of these programs change the advantages or disadvantages will also change! All the links lead to a trial download. So try before you buy!
