AMD to Demonstrate GPU Havok Physics Acceleration at GDC

[btarunr]

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.



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[[I.R.A]_FBi]

wow .... so quick ...

 

[ucanmandaa]

at last

 

[alexp999]

Thanks to InnocentCriminal for sending this in.

 

[iStink]

uhohhhhhh lol

 

[Skywalker12345]

thats sweet now we can run vantage hopefully with phsyx like nvidia

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This is getting stupid. Someone (most likely Intel) needs to step forward and standardize instructions for physics processing. Game developers won't take the time to develop for PhysX and Havok--you'll only get one at most.

 

[csendesmark]

Rip PhyzX...

 

[alexp999]

This is getting stupid. Someone (most likely Intel) needs to step forward and standardize instructions for physics processing. Game developers won't take the time to develop for PhysX and Havok--you'll only get one at most.

Intel owns Havok

 

[iStink]

Intel owns Havok

That's interesting. Perhaps havok will end up being bigger than we thought.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Intel owns Havok

How could I forget that?

So yeah, it's just a matter of time before Intel standardizes something based on Havok.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I'm pretty sure both havok and physx are going to become pointless with dx11. There's supposed to be a unified physics processing related to compute shaders or w/e... so what developer would pick havok or physx when they could pick this new standard that will work on ati, nvidia, and future intel cards?

 

[iStink]

I'm pretty sure both havok and physx are going to become pointless with dx11. There's supposed to be a unified physics processing related to compute shaders or w/e... so what developer would pick havok or physx when they could pick this new standard that will work on ati, nvidia, and future intel cards?

good point, but how far away is dx11?

 

[alexp999]

good point, but how far away is dx11?

Windows 7

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

 

[FryingWeesel]

This is getting stupid. Someone (most likely Intel) needs to step forward and standardize instructions for physics processing. Game developers won't take the time to develop for PhysX and Havok--you'll only get one at most.

physx is open, havoc isnt,(anybody can support physx, intel owns havoc, intel isnt really intrested in anything being gpu accelerated, they feel everthing will be on cpu, just as nvidia insist everything will move to gpu....

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!!!

 

[ShRoOmAlIsTiC]

all I know is im jealous of nvidia users, I would love to turn my 4850 into a ppu and just run my 4850x2 for graphics. I cant even run a ppu is I wanted to right now(vista issue). ATI really should do something about that. Right now with them not being able to do physics is just making nvidia more money. People are reverting back to XP and jumping to windows 7 just so they can run physic and still have ATI as a main gpu.

 

[Binge]

And ATi earlier said chasing PhsyX was a terrible idea for graphics... now this, which was previously rumored, materializes? Maybe nV had something with buying Ageia

 

[sfp1987]

Hmm so this must be Havok FX atlast or something else?

ATI did demonstrate that on the gpu ages ago. If I remember correctly.

 

[newtekie1]

I really don't care what standard is used, as long as one is picked as the standard. Right now, this going back and forth, trying to split the industry between PhysX and Havok is only leading to developers not wanting to use either.

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.

 

[jagass]

Wow...A very good news...

 

[h3llb3nd4]

flip a coin ppl!

 

[sfp1987]

idd newtekie1

 

[OnBoard]

Hmm so this must be Havok FX atlast or something else?

ATI did demonstrate that on the gpu ages ago. If I remember correctly.

I remember the ATI demos too, here's something from youtube

http://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.

 

[ShadowFold]

Awesomeness. Finally a good physics engine gets some GPU acceleration! I would love to see Valve flagship this with Ep3 or what ever they have coming out!

 

[PCpraiser100]

Awesomeness. Finally a good physics engine gets some GPU acceleration! I would love to see Valve flagship this with Ep3 or what ever they have coming out!

Yeah, Valve has associated with ATI a lot lately in the Half-Life 2 series, as you can tell when you get an ATI symbol when using the HD 2000 series in settings. ATI needs this badly if they can force it in titles like Crysis, as Physics has mostly been an enemy for low ROPs GPUs especially if used in conjunction with the rather exclusive PhysX engine. This can increase scores on ATI cards as well in F@H sessions, better email Stanford to get on that.