Is a dedicated physics card worth the money

[Quester115]

I've been upgrading my pc slowly as the months go by and Ageia's physX processor caught my eye. I was wondering i anyone knows if a card like this will be worth it in the upcoming years. UE3 has the potential to use it, and so does the ps3 and 360, but having a hard time finding real info on the card.

[virussick]

Physics card, really I wouldnt buy one because I already have a powerfull card and secondly, sure it can boost your performance slightly but not much, but I would recommend and just wait for the UT3 spec to come out and then find out if its worth it or not.

[Ortega]

I do believe UT3 is going to be able to run it. It works like it should if the game supports it. That is the problem. I'm not sure how much UT3 will work with it but. Its something that I wouldn't get now. Its like Vista. No support but works great when you get the program that runs it. They also need to get a Pci-E version to help the Graphics cards speed. But the quad core might put it into extention of old gaming real quick, not sure yet though. I'm thinking about it and if I do I will let you know.

[BaronVonRotterdam]

I've been upgrading my pc slowly as the months go by and Ageia's physX processor caught my eye. I was wondering i anyone knows if a card like this will be worth it in the upcoming years. UE3 has the potential to use it, and so does the ps3 and 360, but having a hard time finding real info on the card.

maybe the particle gun can use this card hahahahahahhahahaha.

[31337h4ck3r]

I just saw this article on AnandTech: Where's The Physics: The State of Hardware Accelerated Physics - http://tinyurl.com/3xt3z5

Also I found this thread at [H]ard|Forum: Unreal Tourney 3 (2007) Physx - http://tinyurl.com/36sywk

Overall I dont think Physx is worth it, but maybe that will chnage later. Time will tell.

[BoneofMalkav]

it'll change later on,it's still in it's teething stages atm so of course it won't be bug free.I'm just getting one this year cause already and for most of the games I see coming out are requiring a physx card (Bioshock,I'm sure UT3 will need it,I know Mass Effect will,ect.)

[Quester115]

well thanks all for your input,think i'm going with this...
play ut3 w/o card
get it
if it does make a difference i won't return it

i'm thinking that multi core processing may make this card obsolete(thinking of nVidia's tesla card, man that things a behemoth if your company can develop for it) , but maybe not since aegia and others will be looking at the same tech to add even more to their chips

[Big_Meat]

I wouldn't buy one. It just seems like another attempt to squeeze yet more cash out of the lucrative gaming industry. Most multi-core gaming rigs have more than enough power to handle the tasks that a physics processor is meant to take over. It's a waste of money, not to mention the extra drain on your power supply and a waste of a perfectly good expansion slot.

[hwsb]

well thanks all for your input,think i'm going with this...
play ut3 w/o card
get it
if it does make a difference i won't return it

i'm thinking that multi core processing may make this card obsolete(thinking of nVidia's tesla card, man that things a behemoth if your company can develop for it) , but maybe not since aegia and others will be looking at the same tech to add even more to their chips

this is what most people have come to say, especially on places like techpowerup.com etc... way too expensive for what it does, multi-core cpus can do the same, and when dedicated gpu-physics sli setups become popular the aegia will be an expensive paperweight.


though it will be interesting what effect it has on UT3, you'll have to post some screenies when the time finally rolls around. :drinkers:

[Ortega]

yeah I agree with umm ^^..

But By the time UT3 comes out they could be a octo-core and beyong SLI. (Just sarcasim, dont take this serioues!)