Physics Processing Chip

[JustinMcG67]

I noticed this PPU (Physics Processing Unit) chip awhile back, and I decided to share it now with you guys. I'm sure that some of you are aware that this PhysX Chip created by Ageia will be a sweet thing to own once it debuts.

http://www.ageia.com/products/physx.html

Anywho, I think that this is really sweet, because I'm a gamer and I like to see new technolgy that will make games even better and seem more realistic. So just wanted to share this with you guys and see what you guys had to say about it.

Screenshots:

http://www.ageia.com/downloads/physx_car_shots.zip
http://www.ageia.com/downloads/novodex_grabs.zip
http://www.ageia.com/downloads/robot_screens.zip
http://www.ageia.com/downloads/stoked_rider.zip

Videos:

http://www.ageia.com/downloads/physx_avalanche/physx_boulders.wmv
http://www.ageia.com/downloads/InGameFluids/1.1.wmv
http://www.ageia.com/downloads/physx_carwash_video/physx_carwash_fog.wmv
http://www.ageia.com/downloads/physx_castle/physx_castle.wmv

***NOTE TO MODS***


I think that this belongs in the "Processors" because this product is in a way, its own processor.

 

[alvino]

It's pretty nice, but it'll be expensive, I can tell. I can also tell that for the price they'll retail it at won't be worth it. The Havok Physics Engine is good enough for me (it's also "free" since it's part of a game).

 

[TreeHugger]

So will this be incooperated in like direct 9 or will this be seperate....or am i missing the point.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

That car wash looks fake. I mean, it looks like they're shooting out smoke or using a fog machine instead of actual water. I like the car though. Everything still looks pretty good.

 

[alvino]

So will this be incooperated in like direct 9 or will this be seperate....or am i missing the point.

The PhysX PPU isn't software. It's a actual card that you plug in (I think PCI-E 4X). Developers can use the PhysX SDK to make their games work with the PPU, but it's not like Havok where everything is in the software.

 

[JustinMcG67]

Yup. It's a PCI card that you plug in and it processes all of the physics that a game generates. Most people will use it on their PCI slot, but some others may use it on their PCI-E x1 slot for better performance.

 

[alvino]

Yeah. It'll probably be expensive though...and Havok is still good enough.

Oh and with no relation to anything or any topic...It's my 8,000th post! YAY! W00t! Go me! Go me! Haha...yeah...

 

[JustinMcG67]

haha. Anywho...

Well this card isn't as expensive as you would think. It's only going to be roughly $200. About the same as a mid-range video card. But surely it will be worth it.

 

[alvino]

Eh...I'll wait for the reviews to pour in, then I'll make my judgement.

 

[JustinMcG67]

Well did you look at any of the videos? Because the videos, especially the boulder one, really show what this chip can do. The effects the boulders had, as well as the particles flying off of them, were amazing. No video card on it's own can process those physics the way that did.

Once this PPU chip becomes available, I think I would liek to see someone get one and pair it off with dual 7800GTXs or an ATi X800XT. That would possibly be the most realistic image ever seen. )