BTW:
"...the graphics seem to degrade when I get further from a model..."
I think this isn't DX7's fault, but your MipMapping settings. Go to your GFX cards settings panel and set mipmapping to hi quality. It will be slower, but less blur when you get further from the meshes.
"...the graphics seem to degrade when I get further from a model..."
I think this isn't DX7's fault, but your MipMapping settings. Go to your GFX cards settings panel and set mipmapping to hi quality. It will be slower, but less blur when you get further from the meshes.