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-   -   OT: Physics Cards (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=29827)

Atrocities August 14th, 2006 08:57 PM

OT: Physics Cards
 
What exactly do phsycis accelerator cards such as AGEIA® PhysX® physics accelerator do and do we really need them?

Phoenix-D August 14th, 2006 09:53 PM

Re: OT: Physics Cards
 
They are supposed to speed up physics calculations (bouncing grenades, rolling barrels, collapsing hillsides, breaking glass..). The idea is to take load off the CPU by dumping it to a dedicated chip, leaving the CPU free for AI and such.

NullAshton August 14th, 2006 10:18 PM

Re: OT: Physics Cards
 
Yup. That's basically what they do. The same thing a graphics card does for graphics. You don't need them, but they're supposed to allow newer games to have mind-bending physics or something, and improve the graphics by doing things such as calculating where each and every piece of that glass you just grenaded lands.

Combat Wombat August 14th, 2006 10:48 PM

Re: OT: Physics Cards
 
They are worthless, at least now. Maybe in a few years when games support them and the price comes down. But until then I wouldn't spend my money on one.

Caduceus August 14th, 2006 11:24 PM

Re: OT: Physics Cards
 
I would hope at some point they would put both chips on a single card.

Atrocities August 15th, 2006 01:50 AM

Re: OT: Physics Cards
 
thanks guys for the info. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Caduceus August 15th, 2006 10:12 AM

Re: OT: Physics Cards
 
Here is an article from Tom's Hardware talking about video cards v physics cards.

The tech isn't there yet for the cost, in my opinion.

This is an older article from a month or two ago talking about the card.

Xrati August 15th, 2006 02:22 PM

Re: OT: Physics Cards
 
For about $260, it's an expensive way to bend ones mind... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/egg.gif


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