PhysX PPU

[The Brick]

It's released

http://www.behardware.com/html/news/#8089


http://physx.ageia.com/footage.html



I'm at school atm, so I can't check the video's out yet but I can't wait

 

[DigiQ8]

wow just saw the footage
it really makes things hot !

im buying it for sure
anybody know where can i find it ?

 

[Vegeta897]

$300 US, not bad.

I'll be getting one eventually.

 

[JNightshade]

I'm sure I'll end up getting one.

 

[Darkside55]

Very impressive footage, but I wonder why the difference was so big between the non-physX video and the physX video. Isn't it just supposed to handle all the physics calculations instead of the CPU? If so, why is there such a large (albeit completely friggin' awesome) difference between the two? I wasn't aware that it was supposed to ENHANCE the physics going on. Is this thing actually altering the game in some way, or is it just allowing developers the ability to add more "wow" to their games for people who have the processor?

Edit: found the answer in another thread. I figured it was the latter answer anyway.

 

[VirusType2]

Looks great and I want it.

Let me ask you this; does this work as a supliment to a ATI or NVIDIA GPU?

or does this card replace other graphics cards?


I assume you use them in tandem.


This is looking expensive for someone like me who needs new everything for my next upgrade - but the physics and particle processing is effortless, looks really cool too

 

[Vegeta897]

Looks great and I want it.

Let me ask you this; does this work as a supliment to a ATI or NVIDIA GPU?

or does this card replace other graphics cards?


I assume you use them in tandem.


This is looking expensive for someone like me who needs new everything for my next upgrade - but the physics and particle processing is effortless, looks really cool too

It's a new card entirely. It doesn't replace any components. It only greatly lightens the load of your CPU and of course adds massive physics calculation power to your computer.

Eventually it will be a standard component with gaming PCs. Along with CPU, GPU, and RAM.

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

So what slot does the card require? I haven't found any info about that.

 

[Vegeta897]

I'm pretty sure it will just be your standard PCI Express on your mobo, like a sound card or network card.

 

[Raziaar]

Wow, that's pretty ****ing sweet!

I wonder how many changes will go through with it by the end of this year... And I wonder how long a card like this will last you before you have to upgrade to a newer, better card for the latest games.

 

[Naudian]

I think you mean just PCI, not PCI express, vegeta...cuz if this is PCI-E then that's kinda dumb...

 

[Asuka]

Ill be picking one up. About how long these will last you. The company said forever. Its 1 card after that they said its all software updates.

 

[Vegeta897]

I think you mean just PCI, not PCI express, vegeta...cuz if this is PCI-E then that's kinda dumb...

I'm not really too smart when it comes to hardware, so you are most likely right.

 

[Raziaar]

Ill be picking one up. About how long these will last you. The company said forever. Its 1 card after that they said its all software updates.

Yeah... but all hardware is like that. However, there are limitations on what the hardware can handle in terms of sheer performance power, that later games may demand of it.

 

[Vegeta897]

Perhaps if we knew exactly how they worked, we could know how often upgrades would be necessary, if any.

I wonder if you could overclock it

 

[Cole]

The first release is a PCI
Then a PCI Express 1X.

 

[VirusType2]

This is what I've been waiting for. The PPU's to come out. Now that it's here where is the big splash? Is this it? a few comments? Is this in the wrong section of the forum? *looks up* yes. why yes it is.


This should be in Hardware/Software


back on topic, I don't read these nerd sites and geek.com's stuff.

Is this PPU going to catch on? Is this it? or is there some other competitor technology on the brink of an explosion and set to be a house-hold name?



I think technology like this can off-set any hardware advantage that consoles have, and can fill a void!

It's almost like a home stereo floorstanding speaker; there is the Woofer, the Tweeter, and what many speakers don't have and they are missing something. The Midrange speaker.

The PPU to me is like the Midrange speaker. It fixes a gap.



well I had to translate this

About how long these will last you:
The company said forever. 1 more card after that they said its all software updates.

Is this a supporting statement? OK i get it know.

The first release is a PCI
Then a PCI Express 1X.

So there will not be PCI express x4 x8 and all that?


Basically, if you wait for the best thing, something better will be coming out. You eventually have to take the plunge; If you don't, you will end up waiting forever for the cutting-edge hardware which means you will have missed out on all the fun!



Are you guys going to take the plunge right away?

If everyone jumps off the bridge, count me in, but I can't jump yet I don't have the money yet!

 

[Javert]

That type of effect is possible without this "PhysX" stuff. Guess it just makes it easier now.

 

[Vegeta897]

That type of effect is possible without this "PhysX" stuff.

Not at anywhere near playable speeds.

 

[Adabiviak]

Will the game software need to be written to incorporate this, or will the card's own drivers automatically allow any game with physics calculations to offload them to the PPU? It seems like the software would need to be written with this in mind, the same way that to get the most out of Hyperthreading or other multi-thread solutions, the software really needs to be written for it.

 

[Javert]

Will the game software need to be written to incorporate this, or will the card's own drivers automatically allow any game with physics calculations to offload them to the PPU? It seems like the software would need to be written with this in mind, the same way that to get the most out of Hyperthreading or other multi-thread solutions, the software really needs to be written for it.

Yes, not only would the game need code, but also the artwork (smoke, parts, visuals).

 

[Lemonking]

Im a newb yes,does this card makes games better? or only games that aint even out yet?

 

[The Brick]

Only games that are built for it will significantly use it.

 

[OCybrManO]

Not at anywhere near playable speeds.

You must have never heard of "faking it." You can have canned animations for particles and objects in an explosion and it won't require physics. You could even pre-calculate the forces on surrounding objects and toss them in at the appropriate time. That's just for the explosions.

EDIT: It does help a lo when you're actually interacting with the physics as they're playing out... like messing with a bunch of barrels.

 

[Ravioli]

Is this like a graphic card also, or just Physic card? How do i know if i have another slot for it? Do it completely replace my current graphic card?


so confused...

 

[Vegeta897]

Is this like a graphic card also, or just Physic card? How do i know if i have another slot for it? Do it completely replace my current graphic card?


so confused...

It's a new card entirely mate, it doesn't replace anything. All you need is a free white slot on your mobo, like where a sound or network card would plug into.

CybrMan, I didn't think he was including the possibility of faking it, seeing as faking it is completely different than actually physically calculating, unless ofcourse you are talking about an explosion that is in an area you couldn't go into. But for something like that Cell factor game, premade animations are completely impossible to do