Havok Intros Havok FX Engine.

[MrBored]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20051028224421.html

Weeks after graphics company ATI Technologies claimed that its graphics processing units (GPUs) were suitable for physics and even had some advantages when compared to dedicated physics processing units, Havok, a developer of physics and animation engines, unveiled its Havok FX – a physics engine capable of running physics effects calculations on hardware that supports Shader Model 3.0. The technology from Havok addresses the same needs – effects physics – that is targeted by AGEIA, a developer of PPUs.

Looks promising and makes sense, keep the effects on the GPU and the gameplay on the CPU. It will at least will be cheaper than AGIEAs solution.

[no_nonsense4857]

I want NVIDIA to counter this by choosing the other path, dedicated PPU. Both NVIDIA and ATI trying to prove the same point in different ways will be interesting and profitable for the consumer.

[Chimera[NL]]

I disagree. What this industry needs more than "competition" is a unified standard. I mean both NVIDIA and ATI have their own SLI solutions but I don't see prices dropping because of that.

[no_nonsense4857]

Then one of the two companies need to die. So its up to the consumers to choose whether they want an extra card or pay extra money for the same GPU with driver support.

I bet Aegia cannot do that single handedly. They will either need the support of ATI or NVIDIA. Given ATIs investment in PPU on GPU itself, the only other option left is NVIDIA. Forget about matrox or any other company for that matter since we dont give a shit to what they sell. Do we?

Todays technology (or the know how) does not provide a level ground for competition based on unified standards alone. Blue Ray v/s HD DVD, Intel v/s AMD, ATI v/s Nvidia.

The only standards I see right now is in directX, ATX form factor (and you already have intel pushing for BTX) and monitors?

[MrBored]

I agree with Chimera, the consumer is taking it in the ass with regards to SLI and I hope physics doesn't go the same way. At least they could standardize the goddamn motherboards.

I like Havoks solution because once Nvidia gets their PS3.0 up to working correctly it will work on both cards and it will be hardware independent.