Full set of PPU benchmarks in UT 3 on normal maps and PhysX maps

[Pottsey]

At long last benchmarks on both the PhysX maps and normal maps. Why no one else did normal maps is beyond me as that’s what most people will play.

I can see why it’s not worth it due to the cost and lack of games but if you have one there’s no reason not to use it. I see the current PPU as a luxury item that’s not needed, but nice to have for the extra FPS.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3171&p=1

I wonder what difference its makes if you use a slow old CPU?

 

[Pottsey]

“Am I right in thinking that on a Phsx Maps, you get all of the physics effects regardless if you have a Physics processing unit or not, the PPU is primary there to boost the frames per second?”
That is correct.

 

[Pottsey]

“another failed attempt to try and claim the PPU is worth it.
Seriously give up pottsey.“
It’s not a failed attempt to try and claim the PPU is worth it, as it’s not an attempt to say the PPU is worth it. It was to show the PPU is not worthless and that it doesn’t slow down FPS. Its not a must have item for UT, its just nice to have.

Can we just once have a decent conversation on the idea behind hardware physics. Without silly pictures and stupid comments?

 

[Pottsey]

“The cpu isn't beig maxed out, instead the game has been made to use a ppu instead so that it can be marketed in some way as mildly useful when in truth its not needed and could ahve been done on the cpu if coded properly without any back hand deals with ppu.”
Code can only be optimised so far. No matter how much you optimised, the CPU should always be slower then hardware. Saying ”could ahve been done on the cpu if coded properly” is just a very poor argument with no basis in fact.

The CPU is sometimes being maxed out see http://www.pcper.com/images/reviews/491/cpuusage_physxmapwithphysx.gif
http://www.pcper.com/images/reviews/491/cpuusage_nonphysxmap.gif





“When are you going to give up and relise that the effects being made for ppu only maps arn't very good, they look bad and developers dont put good enough textures on them. The "scripted" physics looks a lot nicer and thats what we care about.”
First there are no PPU only maps just like there are no PhysX PPU only effects.
Before telling me "give up and relise that the effects being made for ppu only maps arn't very good" you should really read my posts. I said lots of times the PhysX maps are rubbish. In fact I never said anything different then the PhysX maps are rubbish UT.

Scripted physics don’t look as nice and cannot do half the physics the PPU does. Scripted events only go so far. Things like not enough textures has nothing to do with PPU’s and some things just dont work with scripts.





“Infact there is only a boost when playing at 800x600 when its from 100 to 120... gee il really notice that difference. At 1900x1200 i doubt ther would be any difference as there isn't much at 1600x1200”
There is a large difference between 100 and 120fps if your monitor can display that many FPS. Most LCD monitors cannot. As for 1600x1200 that’s because at higher resolutions your GPU limited not CPU limited. So freeing up the CPU by offloading physics isn’t going make much of a difference. The PPU is more helpful for those with slower CPU’s when you’re more CPU limited or at normal resolutions. Also 1600x1200 is rare only a very small number of gamers play that high. Most are 1024x768 or around about that. At common resolutions the PPU does boost FPS as your not as GPU limited.




“Infact there is only a boost when playing at 800x600 when its from 100 to 120...”
Only at 800x600! what about the 1600x1200 score at almost 15fps faster? Also with the PPU your minimum FPS are going be higher then with just the CPU, that’s always a good thing.