Friday, March 20th 2009
AMD to Demonstrate GPU Havok Physics Acceleration at GDC
GPU-accelerated physics is turning out to be the one part of specifications AMD is yearning for. One of NVIDIA's most profitable acquisitions in recent times, has been that of Ageia technologies, and its PhysX middleware API. NVIDIA went on to port the API to its proprietary CUDA GPGPU architecture, and is now using it as a significant PR-tool apart from a feature that is genuinely grabbing game developers' attention. In response to this move, AMD's initial reaction was to build strategic technology alliance with the main competitor of PhysX: Havok, despite its acquisition by Intel.
In the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) event, AMD may materialize its plans to bring a GPU-accelerated version of Havok, which has till now been CPU-accelerated. The API has featured in several popular game titles such as Half Life 2, Max Payne II, and some other Valve Source-based titles. ATI's Terry Makedon, in his Twitter-feed has revealed that AMD would put forth its "ATI GPU Physics strategy." He also added that the company would present a tech-demonstration of Havok technology working in conjunction with ATI hardware. The physics API is expected to utilize OpenCL and AMD Stream.
Source:
bit-tech.net
In the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) event, AMD may materialize its plans to bring a GPU-accelerated version of Havok, which has till now been CPU-accelerated. The API has featured in several popular game titles such as Half Life 2, Max Payne II, and some other Valve Source-based titles. ATI's Terry Makedon, in his Twitter-feed has revealed that AMD would put forth its "ATI GPU Physics strategy." He also added that the company would present a tech-demonstration of Havok technology working in conjunction with ATI hardware. The physics API is expected to utilize OpenCL and AMD Stream.
226 Comments on AMD to Demonstrate GPU Havok Physics Acceleration at GDC
So yeah, it's just a matter of time before Intel standardizes something based on Havok.
But obiviously the hardware and drivers arent out yet. My next rig is gonna be a DX11/ i5 rig.
I'm betting it will coincide with the launch of windows 7 later this year. Bring on GT300 and RV8xx
ms is just using OpenCL to try and pull the 2 sides(havoc and physx or stream/cuda) togather to get things unified, d3d 11 will have specs for that (using opencl)
all this bickering needs to END, its getting OLD and helps NOBODY, amd could add support for physx to their drivers, just as nvidia could add havoc support using cuda, its just a matter of them being willing to accept that their way isnt the only way and doing whats best for the customer insted of what looks best for their image in their minds.....
blah!!!
ATI did demonstrate that on the gpu ages ago. If I remember correctly.
The industry needs to pick a single physics standard that runs on all hardware, and move on with that. That is the only way we will see developers start to truly pick up detailed physics in games.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLgb9AdnaBI&fmt=18
This is getting interesting in the sense that 'wonder what will happen' and bad at the same time, if this turns to another HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray thing.
I don't want an end result where every other game is ATI physics and every other NVIDIA. Either some sort of emulation for both parties, or one physics to rule them all.
but for the time being.
I enjoy playing my games, with the physics, 1920x1200 all maxed out, and with 8X MSAA.
I just dont see where physx should help me, and comparison with ppu and without, isnt that big of an deal that i would throw money into getting that little extra.
Unless all can run it, no matter what, and i dont have to install an stupid application.