John Carmack reckons PhysX is useless

I've been surfing around the web reading hundreds upon hundreds of comments about whether the PhysX chip is good or bad. Everyone, and I really mean everyone, seems to be missing the point that PhysX is more than just a piece of hardware. PhysX is actually a physics API, with the PhysX chip offering only some added value to the API itself. (The product is the API, not the card.) PhysX is a direct competitor to Havok physics engine. Using PhysX in Unreal Engine 3 simply means that it uses the PhysX API to produce physics simulation, instead of some proprietary physics lib or Havok physics. PhysX as a chip may die, but personally I think there's still an open market for physics API's. If the guys at Ageia are pushing to promote the physics API instead of the chip itself, then there may be developing some serious cash in-flow to Ageia. You have to admit, that the PhysX chip has been an excellent way of rising the name Ageia to challenge the long-time ruled Havok in the field of games physics.

Comment by developer at 4:50pm 5th August 2007

well whatever the reason forking out about 100 pounds for something tht can drop performance in games for about 20 more pieces from my hand grenade is pretty bad.... i mean.... they say all these millions pieces show up.... Yeh so ? We want to see body parts rather than simple polygons flying around.... Bring fourth the 6-core CPU\'s that IBM\'s been hiding :)

Comment by Lightning_Pete at 4:50pm 22nd July 2007

the reason it lowers the FPS is because the GPU usually does most, if not all, of the physics processing. When you throw in another piece of hardware that is trying to do it for the GPU, and the games arent programed for it, or programed well for it, that causes the lower FPS, think of it as confusing the GPU. Im not trying to defend the PPU though, just wanted to clarify that point :D. I do agree that with multi-core CPU\'s, the PPU is pretty much useless, though im sure they can make it beneficial to games. On that note, companies will consider the cost (in time and money) for the additional programming needed to take advantage of the PPU. Admittedly there is additional cost involved in programming for a multi core CPU, BUT what are people most likely to have of the two....... A multi core CPU, as they are becoming the standard.

Comment by nrich at 5:44am 22nd July 2007

the reason it lowers the FPS is because the GPU usually does most, if not all, of the physics processing. When you throw in another piece of hardware that is trying to do it for the GPU, and the games arent programed for it, or programed well for it, that causes the lower FPS, think of it as confusing the GPU. Im not trying to defend the PPU though, just wanted to clarify that point :D. I do agree that with multi-core CPU\'s, the PPU is pretty much useless, though im sure they can make it beneficial to games. On that note, companies will consider the cost (in time and money) for the additional programming needed to take advantage of the PPU. Admittedly there is additional cost involved in programming for a multi core CPU, BUT what are people most likely to have of the two....... A multi core CPU, as they are becoming the standard.

Comment by nrich at 5:44am 22nd July 2007

Duel Core + GPU + PPU... Then the PPU is working well, since during major explosions where around 1000 pieces fly everywhere, FPS will drop but with the PPU it can help that problem and keep it stable.

Comment by David at 1:49am 22nd July 2007

It's a bit behind really

Comment by mrjimmyos at 5:47pm 19th July 2007

Well as this review basicly said, a PPU is just a waste of space.... It ''lowers'' your fps, and does exactly what a multithreaded-multi cpu does anyway and amplify effects of pieces in games and other apps.... So what is the point? Just basicly to say you have you to your LAN buddies... (i.e. its better to opt for a decent core2duo, and use all its capabilities in 100% a*** kicking at your next LAN party)

Comment by Lightning_Pete at 1:53pm 19th July 2007

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