Ageia PhysX cards, are they worth it

bratboy · Jun 26, 2008, 03:22 AM

With the current quad core CPU's and cards like the 3870 X 2 GPU's is there any real reason to even consider adding an Ageia PhysX Processing Unit to a new build? From what little I've read on the web seems like it would just be overkill with little to no real benefit compared to the cost.

**kris23** · Jun 26, 2008, 03:49 AM

nope..... if you want PhysX, wait for the 9800GTX+

Dark Lord · Jun 26, 2008, 05:06 AM

i believe the physix cards are gone now. Nvidia bought them out and started implementing them in their graphics cards.

mkk · Jun 26, 2008, 06:08 AM

And if you manage to find one you'll probably get no future driver support for the card. I don't see many game makers planning in PhysX support right now but if the on-card feature proves itself on the graphics card market then it should have a future.

Lowfat · Jun 26, 2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

nope..... if you want PhysX, wait for the 9800GTX+

He isn't going to be buying a 9800GTX+ if he is using an ATI card currently. And BTW all G92's can do PhysX with the right drivers.

Tipstaff · Jun 26, 2008, 12:04 PM

Benefits of getting a PhysX card:
- It's a PCI card, so anyone who has a slot open can use it
- You get PhysX support regardless of your primary card
- Now that nVidia is incorporating support into their drivers developers might begin to program more for it now that the user base has just went through the roof.
- For now drivers are available for operating systems up to Vista, and the newest version of the PhysX software, put out by nVidia btw, still has support for the card directly, just now you have 2 options: Geforce or Ageia.

The bad:
- A PhysX card is nowhere near as fast as a video card, such as an 8800GT which can support it via altered beta 177.35 or 177.39 drivers, and will eventually have official support in later offical drivers real soon
- Will nVidia put out drivers for it when Windows 7 comes along? Probably not, so there ends your support.

Frankly, if you want a PhysX card, buy a motherboard that has 2 PCIE video card slots, throw in whatever card you want as your primary, even an AMD card, and throw in a PhysX supported nVidia card into the second slot (btw, we still don't know how far back nVidia is going to be going with added support, so we may find that all nVidia cards could be used as a PhysX card). It's almost assured that the nVidia card will continue to have driver support for quite some time. It would be way more sellable later if PhysX dies off and you don't want it anymore.

**temeteus82** · Jun 26, 2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowfat

He isn't going to be buying a 9800GTX+ if he is using an ATI card currently. And BTW all G92's can do PhysX with the right drivers.

Nice I got G92 core so I'm happy in here

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jul 7, 2008, 07:21 AM

I wouldn't say its worth it period. Having the thing in there sucking up another 20 or 40 (or whatever) watts doing pretty much nothing wouldn't be worth it.

While the idea in theory was a good one, CPU's are powerful enough these days (as well as computing power) that even though it may be more efficient to run certain calculations on the PhysX versus a CPU or GPU, the fact that CPU's and GPU's have become so powerful these days negates that. And that's saying nothing of the cost of the card and the fact that they are 'obsolete'.

suske · Jul 31, 2008, 12:03 PM

ahem..

PhysX GPU Acceleration on Radeon Update - Page 13

**Mousey** · Jul 31, 2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suske

ahem..

PhysX GPU Acceleration on Radeon Update - Page 13

ahem..

Quote:

The bad news is we still don’t have access to any HD 4800 hardware yet. It is very important for this project to receive AMD’s support on both developer and PR levels. It seems that AMD still is not being cooperative, we get the feeling that they want this project to fail

procupine14 · Aug 1, 2008, 09:28 PM

Interesting piece of info mousey

suske · Aug 3, 2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

ahem..

Hi Guys,

Thanks to Palit, we finally got some HD 4800 hardware to play with. However, we will have to review it first - so it will take some time. Sadly, I’m also sick and having some eye sight issues, so I will provide more updates only next week.

Cheers,

sammorris · Aug 4, 2008, 03:31 PM

Whether or not PhysX is included in nvidia GPUs, I've rarely seen a title where it's put to good use. AMD aren't going to leave themselves out in the dust as far as Physics are concerned, I wouldn't worry yourself unduly with getting 'the right technology' yet, but one thing's for sure, a PCI PhysX is the only wrong way to do it.

Jun 26, 2008, 03:22 AM	#1
bratboy HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Ageia PhysX cards, are they worth it With the current quad core CPU's and cards like the 3870 X 2 GPU's is there any real reason to even consider adding an Ageia PhysX Processing Unit to a new build? From what little I've read on the web seems like it would just be overkill with little to no real benefit compared to the cost.

Jun 26, 2008, 03:49 AM	#2
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	nope..... if you want PhysX, wait for the 9800GTX+ __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 26, 2008, 05:06 AM	#3
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	i believe the physix cards are gone now. Nvidia bought them out and started implementing them in their graphics cards. __________________

Jun 26, 2008, 12:04 PM	#6
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,658 Rep Power: 187 System Specs	Benefits of getting a PhysX card: - It's a PCI card, so anyone who has a slot open can use it - You get PhysX support regardless of your primary card - Now that nVidia is incorporating support into their drivers developers might begin to program more for it now that the user base has just went through the roof. - For now drivers are available for operating systems up to Vista, and the newest version of the PhysX software, put out by nVidia btw, still has support for the card directly, just now you have 2 options: Geforce or Ageia. The bad: - A PhysX card is nowhere near as fast as a video card, such as an 8800GT which can support it via altered beta 177.35 or 177.39 drivers, and will eventually have official support in later offical drivers real soon - Will nVidia put out drivers for it when Windows 7 comes along? Probably not, so there ends your support. Frankly, if you want a PhysX card, buy a motherboard that has 2 PCIE video card slots, throw in whatever card you want as your primary, even an AMD card, and throw in a PhysX supported nVidia card into the second slot (btw, we still don't know how far back nVidia is going to be going with added support, so we may find that all nVidia cards could be used as a PhysX card). It's almost assured that the nVidia card will continue to have driver support for quite some time. It would be way more sellable later if PhysX dies off and you don't want it anymore. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick. Last edited by Tipstaff; Jun 27, 2008 at 11:46 AM.

Aug 1, 2008, 09:28 PM	#11
procupine14 Why is it Beeping!?!?! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA, Missouri Posts: 1,400 Rep Power: 56 System Specs	Interesting piece of info mousey __________________ HTPC/file server: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom x4 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 (2x2GB) - 1TB WD Black - 4 x 1TB Hitachi DeskStar in RAID 5 - ATi TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - HIS Raedon 4850 512MB - ASRock N68C-S UCC mobo - OCZ ModExtreme Pro 500W PSU GF's Gaming PC: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 1066 - 500GB Western Digital GP - HIS Raedon 5770 1GB - ASUS M3A78-EM - Zalman 650W PSU Media Streamer: Win 7 Pro 64-bit - AMD Athlon x2 3200+ - 4GB SuperTalent DDR2 800 - 250GB SeaGate Barracuda - MSI K9N6PGM2-V2 - ASUS Raedon 5450 SILENT - FSP group 250W PSU

Jun 26, 2008, 06:08 AM	#4
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,383 Rep Power: 120 System Specs	And if you manage to find one you'll probably get no future driver support for the card. I don't see many game makers planning in PhysX support right now but if the on-card feature proves itself on the graphics card market then it should have a future.

Jul 7, 2008, 07:21 AM	#8
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	I wouldn't say its worth it period. Having the thing in there sucking up another 20 or 40 (or whatever) watts doing pretty much nothing wouldn't be worth it. While the idea in theory was a good one, CPU's are powerful enough these days (as well as computing power) that even though it may be more efficient to run certain calculations on the PhysX versus a CPU or GPU, the fact that CPU's and GPU's have become so powerful these days negates that. And that's saying nothing of the cost of the card and the fact that they are 'obsolete'.

Jul 31, 2008, 12:03 PM	#9
suske DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 0	ahem.. PhysX GPU Acceleration on Radeon Update - Page 13

Aug 4, 2008, 03:31 PM	#13
sammorris HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brentwood or York, UK Posts: 178 Rep Power: 24 System Specs	Whether or not PhysX is included in nvidia GPUs, I've rarely seen a title where it's put to good use. AMD aren't going to leave themselves out in the dust as far as Physics are concerned, I wouldn't worry yourself unduly with getting 'the right technology' yet, but one thing's for sure, a PCI PhysX is the only wrong way to do it.