Physics Processing Unit?

[bbot]

Some time ago, version talked about Xenon having a separate processor that handled the physics calculations. Today on theinquirer.net, I saw this artlcle:

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=21648

Version, were you talking aboout this?

So now the 3D graphics and physics calculations can be offloaded from the main cpu. Is there really a need for a powerful main cpu, like a cell processor?

 

[XavierS]

I just noticed that too, and was going to post about it.

The article I found it in was here: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/11071204.htm (free registration required.)

They seem pretty sure about a late '05 release date, I'm surprised they were able to keep it secret so long. Especially since they claim many big developers, they mention Epic and Ubisoft on their site, are already coding games to use the chip. And while the '05 release date makes it sound like it might go into Xenon, in the San Jose Mercury News article I linked to it says this chip gives PCs an advantage over next-gen consoles. I wonder if cost would be the issue there.

 

[3dcgi]

I wonder if this PPU has any advantages over Cell for physics processing. Either way I predict a tough road ahead in the gaming market if they're not in a next gen console. It will be hard to convince mainstream consumers to buy yet another card for their PC.

 

[Khronus]

It sounds awesome, I wonder what the chances are of having it integrated onto a graphics board?

 

[Trawler]

It sounds awesome, I wonder what the chances are of having it integrated onto a graphics board?

Or perhaps NV or ATI buying out the company/making their own IP and integrating the logic in next gen graphics cores?

 

[Qroach]

Wow that is really cool! but...

Key gaming middleware partners continue to support the XNA software development platform and have joined Microsoft in recognizing the need to bring stability and consistency to the game development process. Companies such as AGEIA Technologies Inc; Alias Systems Corp.; Discreet; Havok; and Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology Inc., see the value in the XNA Studio development environment.

hmmm... do you really think MS would use it?

 

[bbot]

Where are you, version?

 

[XavierS]

It does say AGEIA supports XNA, but isn't XNA also used by PC developers? And in this description of a session Sony is doing at the GDC:

" *COLLADA* is a *COLLA*borative *D*esign *A*ctivity for establishing an interchange format for interactive 3D applications. COLLADA is co-designed by the major DCC companies such as Alias , Discreet and Softimage , as well as many other middleware companies and game developers such as Emdigo , Ageia , Secret Level , and SCEE . "

Perhaps it will find a place in both consoles? If it does turn out to be truly revolutionary I can't see Microsoft or Sony being left behind. I guess we'll find out tomorrow, their site says the chip will be revealed then.

 

[Iron Tiger]

I feel like such a tool now! I had the idea to create licensable physics engines and libraries back in '99, and I shared it with a "friend" who was an "industry insider" who talked me out of it. I was going to call it PhysX. Now there's a handful of companies rolling with my physics engine idea and another company is using my name! I'm going to kick my own ass.

 

[Qroach]

most of these physics engines were available before 99

 

[ninelven]

erased

 

[bbot]

Wow that is really cool! but...

Key gaming middleware partners continue to support the XNA software development platform and have joined Microsoft in recognizing the need to bring stability and consistency to the game development process. Companies such as AGEIA Technologies Inc; Alias Systems Corp.; Discreet; Havok; and Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology Inc., see the value in the XNA Studio development environment.

hmmm... do you really think MS would use it?

Well, MS would be at a great disadvantage against a processor capable of 256gflops or greater, without using a physics processor.

 

[jvd]

wonder if this is what hte person that told me two cpus is takling about and not a second tri core cpu like i assumed

 

[ninelven]

erased

 

[digitalwanderer]

I love the idea, and I WANT one!

 

[Ty]

I worked with a guy in St. Louis who went on to write software demos for a company that was designing such a chip, wonder if it's this company. Originally they were looking at motherboard integration (not console).

 

[bbot]

Here's what version said at:

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=466676#466676

********************************************************
XENON:

- 2 core G5 at 3 GHZ with 2 MB cache
- 8 vectorprocessor in another chip at 3GHZ
- ati gpu with 32 unified shader, 500 MHZ

*********************************************************

And this diagram of "x2" at:

http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=446388#446388

*********************************************************

M$ use 3 processor in x2


CPU --- PhysicsUnit
|
GPU

*********************************************************

 

[Acert93]

I would think the best way for market penetration, outside being on a next gen console or two, would be for ATi and nVidia to incorperate this type of technology into their graphics cards.

Part of having great "graphics" is not just pretty static objects but objects that interact realistically. This would be a good use of PCIe too.

Only problem I see is that highly interactive environments do not work well in online games like BF But at least we are moving in the right direction!

 

[Shifty Geezer]

The article says they're looking for customers, not that they've already bagged a major player. I can't see this making it into XB in time, though it'd be a valuable addition. Add a Physic PU, Graphics PU, and a Raytracer PU and AIPU...we really want a half dozen custom processors!

 

[randycat99]

Where's the faith in the XB2 CPU??? 3 core SMT'ing won't be a good enough solution to get the physics calculated? What else do you expect such a monster to be doing besides general housekeeping? :?