Thursday, June 26 2008
Eran Badit of NGOHQ.com successfully modified NVIDIA CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) to operate on an ATI GPU and has been able to run the NVIDIA PhysX layer on an RV670, the Radeon HD 3850.

He tells that enabling PhysX support on Radeon cards is not particularly difficult, leading us to believe that physics on graphics cards may not so much be a technology problem but an issue of corporate dynamics.

On his first run, Eran got a 22,606 CPU score in 3D Mark Vantage, enhancing the overall score to P4262. A comparable system without PhysX-support will cross the finish line at about P3800.



Source: NGOHQ.com
posted by btarunr - 7:14 PM |  Related News

User comments
26 to 51 of 81 | Go to Page 1 2 3 4    Previous | Next
by newtekie1 (June 26th - 8:36 PM) - Reply
I like the idea that PhysX will run on all GPUs, this is what I have been saying from the beginning needs to happen for the technology to get use. It needs to be something that everyone can use and everyone will benefit from, or it won't get adopted.

As for the legality of this mod, I doubt it is legal, and I'm sure nVidia will put a stop to it, which sucks. I know it sucks that ATi would need to pay nVidia fees to use the technology, but it is only fair. NVidia put out a huge chunk of change to buy Ageia, why should ATi get the benefit of that for free? ATi should just buy the rights to use PhysX and be done with it.
by erocker (June 26th - 8:38 PM) - Reply
So, how do I get this to work? I have a 3850 and a 4850 here.
by btarunr (June 26th - 8:39 PM) - Reply
It's not legal.



It seems like he reverse engineered it?
by Darkrealms (June 26th - 8:40 PM) - Reply
by: newtekie1
I like the idea that PhysX will run on all GPUs, this is what I have been saying from the beginning needs to happen for the technology to get use. It needs to be something that everyone can use and everyone will benefit from, or it won't get adopted.

As for the legality of this mod, I doubt it is legal, and I'm sure nVidia will put a stop to it, which sucks. I know it sucks that ATi would need to pay nVidia fees to use the technology, but it is only fair. NVidia put out a huge chunk of change to buy Ageia, why should ATi get the benefit of that for free? ATi should just buy the rights to use PhysX and be done with it.
Agreed on both points. Nvidia paid for it and if they are willing to sell it ATI should pay for it. I'm not saying anything about Nvidias pricing being fair, doubt they are. LoL
by erocker (June 26th - 8:42 PM) - Reply
Yeah, with the word Radeon in there along with PhysX, I can envision laywers mouths watering. According to the report, the software may be up this weekend.
by ghost101 (June 26th - 8:42 PM) - Reply
by: Darkrealms
Looks like there won't be any 4800 support for a while.


Another example of ngohq being childish. It seems they hate both ati and nvidia. Remember when they asked for an nvidia boycott over nothing.
by selway89 (June 26th - 8:56 PM) - Reply
If this works on 2900 then I want these drivers lol :p
by Siluro (June 26th - 9:04 PM) - Reply
"This one did not take long: We already knew that Nvidia is working on a CUDA version for x86 CPUs, but said it would leave a modification for ATI GPUs to others."
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-physx-ati,5764.html

It's legal than...
by Megasty (June 26th - 9:13 PM) - Reply
Too bad the goofball is gonna let everyone & their mothers download this sweet stuff b4 it hits the fan. Just think what a 3870x2 will do with it :rolleyes:
by Kreij (June 26th - 9:18 PM) - Reply
I'm not so sure that Nvidia will make a big fuss about it.
The fact that it can be used on ATI cards or any others is a feather in their cap, not a detriment.
If they allow it, the open source community will hail them as heroes of the cause.
by Darkrealms (June 26th - 9:20 PM) - Reply
by: Kreij
I'm not so sure that Nvidia will make a big fuss about it.
The fact that it can be used on ATI cards or any others is a feather in their cap, not a detriment.
If they allow it, the open source community will hail them as heroes of the cause.
I don't think the community will hail them as much as blame them for not doing it themselves. Right now the community is more one sided in ATI's favor. Nvidia is the "big bad guy" just like Intel and MS right now.
by [I.R.A]_FBi (June 26th - 9:27 PM) - Reply
anybody gets it pm me.
by btarunr (June 26th - 9:29 PM) - Reply
AMD/ATI wouldn't want to lock horns with NVIDIA at this point. They'd much rather spend their time and resources on developing products. That's why I feel they've downplayed NGOHQ's attempt and refuse to supply a HD4800 sample. Had they done that, they would've triggered NVIDIA to step in. The only thing that can beat PhysX is Havoc. Not 3DMark, but real games that use Havoc, irrespective of whether it's run on a Core 2 Quad or Phenom X4, it certainly is a competitive API to PhysX.
by PrudentPrincess (June 26th - 9:34 PM) - Reply
This just further proves that Physx is bullshit. Its just a way for lazy game dev's to steal someone elses coding so they won't have to do it themselves. Sure, Crysis still can't run on anyone's machine but at least they took the time to make everything themselves. In all reality, who gives a flaming f*** about being able to shoot a cloth and have it rip accurately? The game can still suck, physics don't really change anything. If you need proof download the UT3 mod pack for Physx and play the re-made deathmatch level. (forget name) The only thing they changed is adding exploding barrels (woah!), hail (which looks exactly like the hail from Oblivion, but I'm sure its processing every piece) and random crates to screw you over when you just want to blow shit up. I thought that Physx support would be cool, but then I realized I'm just getting what all of us deserve, quality games. We should have been able to see "Physx" effects in the first place, it shouldn't be something that needs to be enabled by some random driver to work.
Thats all I have to say.
by Kreij (June 26th - 9:40 PM) - Reply
by: Darkrealms
I don't think the community will hail them as much as blame them for not doing it themselves. Right now the community is more one sided in ATI's favor. Nvidia is the "big bad guy" just like Intel and MS right now.
I disagree. Nvidia has no motivation whatsoever to do that. But if they allow others to do so without a fuss, they will not be trashed over it.

Just my 2 cents ;)
by panchoman (June 26th - 9:43 PM) - Reply
isn't havoc intel only bta?
by btarunr (June 26th - 9:46 PM) - Reply
by: panchoman
isn't havoc intel only bta?
No. Any SSE2 supportive CPU can run it. Intel only optimised it for the C2Q, where one core is dedicated for Havoc's process. Intel showcased it at IDF 2007 (and with Remedy's Alan Wake). Recently, AMD worked closely with Havoc for the same.
by snuif09 (June 26th - 9:48 PM) - Reply
by: PrudentPrincess
This just further proves that Physx is bullshit. Its just a way for lazy game dev's to steal someone elses coding so they won't have to do it themselves. Sure, Crysis still can't run on anyone's machine but at least they took the time to make everything themselves. In all reality, who gives a flaming f*** about being able to shoot a cloth and have it rip accurately? The game can still suck, physics don't really change anything. If you need proof download the UT3 mod pack for Physx and play the re-made deathmatch level. (forget name) The only thing they changed is adding exploding barrels (woah!), hail (which looks exactly like the hail from Oblivion, but I'm sure its processing every piece) and random crates to screw you over when you just want to blow shit up. I thought that Physx support would be cool, but then I realized I'm just getting what all of us deserve, quality games. We should have been able to see "Physx" effects in the first place, it shouldn't be something that needs to be enabled by some random driver to work.
Thats all I have to say.
cant agree more:respect:
by chron (June 26th - 9:48 PM) - Reply
OMG I just about died laughing. I suppose nvidia isn't stupid for buying the rights to it, but they sure will be stupid to think they can control the flow of data on the internet with a lawsuit. If this dude does get in trouble, it seems like he did this in a relatively short ammount of time, so someone else will eventually do the same thing again.

Can't wait for my 4850 crossfire setup + radeon physX LMFAO
by Kreij (June 26th - 9:51 PM) - Reply
Physics (havok, PhysX) is not BS. It's just in it's infancy at the moment.
Just think what an RPG would be like if you could blow a dam and flood a town that was downstream. Or the inverse, you build a dam and create a lake upstream.
The possibilities are endless.
At the moment it is just being used for a little eye candy, but that will change.
by Darkrealms (June 26th - 10:23 PM) - Reply
by: Kreij
I disagree. Nvidia has no motivation whatsoever to do that. But if they allow others to do so without a fuss, they will not be trashed over it.

Just my 2 cents ;)
I'm an AMD/Nvidia fan but I've seen so much blame against Nvidia I expect it. I've liked Nvidia since shortly after 3dfx went under.
by vojc (June 26th - 10:24 PM) - Reply
PhysX features is not open source, CUDA is :)
when i want to play GRAW or UT3 i must install agea drivers, ewen if i don`t have agea physx.....so if drivers are installed and CUDA open source supported, we can play PhysX legal :)
by mdm-adph (June 26th - 10:39 PM) - Reply
by: btarunr
It's not legal.



It seems like he reverse engineered it?


Actually, if what he did was reverse engineer it, that's technically legal, even in America (though you'll still get sued, of course).

Unfortunately, this sounds more like a case of modified drivers.
by marsey99 (June 26th - 10:40 PM) - Reply
does it say which proc it was running?

i can score 32k on the cpu with this new driver for my g92 and a 4ghz duo

http://service.futuremark.com/home.action?resultId=181944&resultType=19
by imperialreign (June 26th - 11:35 PM) - Reply
by: newtekie1
I like the idea that PhysX will run on all GPUs, this is what I have been saying from the beginning needs to happen for the technology to get use. It needs to be something that everyone can use and everyone will benefit from, or it won't get adopted.

As for the legality of this mod, I doubt it is legal, and I'm sure nVidia will put a stop to it, which sucks. I know it sucks that ATi would need to pay nVidia fees to use the technology, but it is only fair. NVidia put out a huge chunk of change to buy Ageia, why should ATi get the benefit of that for free? ATi should just buy the rights to use PhysX and be done with it.
I agree as well, and I'm sure even if this mod wer legal, or open source by any means, I'm sure there's some kind of needle-hole that nVidia can squirm through and put a stop to it.

Besides, I can't forsee ATI being willing to pay for, nor support, CUDA or PhsyX at the moment, considering how closely AMD have been working with Havok recently (for a reference: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=62755&highlight=havok), and I'm sure a joint collaboration with ATI and Havok is not too much further off, either. The red camp knows they've got their hand in the candy dish being able to work with Havok, they're not going to fudge that up.
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