Nvidia Physics Engine Almost Complete

Nvidia has stated that their translation of Ageia's physics engine to CUDA is almost complete. To showcase the capabilities of the new tech Nvidia ran a particle demonstration similar to Intel's Nehalem demo, at ten times the speed. "While Intel's Nehalem demo had 50,000-60,000 particles and ran at 15-20 fps (without a GPU), the particle demo on a GeForce 9800 card resulted in 300 fps. In the very likely event that Nvidia's next-gen parts (G100: GT100/200) will double their shader units, this number could top 600 fps, meaning that Nehalem at 2.53 GHz is lagging 20-40x behind 2006/2007/2008 high-end GPU hardware. However, you can't ignore the fact that Nehalem in fact can run physics."

Duke!

[wild_quinine]

The best news about this is that it implies that if hardcore kit kills with it, then at least budget hardware (that many people have already!) can do it acceptably. That means finally seeing games that REQUIRE physics acceleration.

It'll be like 1996 all over again, only from a physics not graphics perspective. That, and there might be a new Duke Nukem game due out within the next 12 years.

Re:It's just particles

[Dr. Eggman]

Super-soakers Online! Cloth and liquid simulations determine who got wet, how wet, and whether or not that means they're out!

Re:It's just particles

[Anonymous Coward]

because if Portal taught us anything, its that modern games have no need for physics!

Re:It's just particles

[grahamd0]

EA Presents: Cancun Wet T-Shirt Contest 2K9!

So

[Snuz]

PC Gaming is dead . . . right?

So...

[Anonymous Coward]

How much is this going to push back the release date on DNF, now that they can add in advanced physics stuff?

Oh really?

[bconway]

However, you can't ignore the fact that Nehalem in fact can run physics.

In fact, I can.

Re:Experts please explain something

[cerelib]

Wow, that has to be the worst car analogy I have ever read on Slasdot. Instead of comparing on specialization of hardware (minivan vs drag-racer might have been a winner), you went down some sort of bandwidth path. I don't even know what the "re-fuel", gas vs electric thing equates to.

Real Physics engine goal

[Anonymous Coward]

I want to see 10^88 particles simulated at 10^33 frames / second.

Re:It's just particles

[Mastadex]

With what is promised by this physics engine, you will be able to tell between all natural and fake boobs. Its all in the bounce!

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

FIrst you need a Windows version that won't crash.

[mmell]

Just sayin'. ;^)

Re:It's just particles

[Anonymous Coward]

Mod +6: This comment goes to 11.

Re:Real Physics engine goal

[Anonymous Coward]

How do you know you're not?

Spoiler

[spruce]

They're fake

Re:Experts please explain something

[hey!]

Well, analogies are a left brain function, and left brains probably prefer to generate cdr analogies.

640k particles are enough for everyone!

[FlashBuster3000]

nuff said

Re:It's just particles

[Solder Fumes]

Slow motion

(.)(.)

(')(')

(.)(.)

Much faster

(:)(:)

So fast they're a blur

(|){|)

Re:real physics?

[interstellar_donkey]

We expect bullets to hit with far more kinetic force then they do.

What are you talking about? I was just playing this game the other day where I shot a guy in the chest with my 9mm several times. He hardly moved when I shot him, and it took like 20 shots to finally take him down.

Just like real life.