Thursday, June 26th 2008

PhysX Runs On RV670, Scores 22,000 CPU Marks in 3DMark Vantage

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
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81 Comments on PhysX Runs On RV670, Scores 22,000 CPU Marks in 3DMark Vantage

#26
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
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.
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#27
erocker
*
So, how do I get this to work? I have a 3850 and a 4850 here.
Posted on Reply
#28
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
It's not legal.



It seems like he reverse engineered it?
Posted on Reply
#29
Darkrealms
newtekie1I 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
Posted on Reply
#30
erocker
*
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.
Posted on Reply
#31
ghost101
DarkrealmsLooks 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.
Posted on Reply
#32
selway89
If this works on 2900 then I want these drivers lol :p
Posted on Reply
#34
Megasty
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:
Posted on Reply
#35
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
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.
Posted on Reply
#36
Darkrealms
KreijI'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.
Posted on Reply
#38
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
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.
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#39
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.
Posted on Reply
#40
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
DarkrealmsI 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 ;)
Posted on Reply
#41
panchoman
Sold my stars!
isn't havoc intel only bta?
Posted on Reply
#42
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
panchomanisn'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.
Posted on Reply
#43
snuif09
PrudentPrincessThis 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:
Posted on Reply
#44
chron
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
Posted on Reply
#45
Kreij
Senior Monkey Moderator
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.
Posted on Reply
#46
Darkrealms
KreijI 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.
Posted on Reply
#47
vojc
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 :)
Posted on Reply
#48
mdm-adph
btarunrIt'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.
Posted on Reply
#50
imperialreign
newtekie1I 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: 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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