Valve talks about Multi-Core CPU Processing in Source

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http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/976/1/page_1_introduction/index.html
TweakTown has an interesting article about an upcoming major upgrade to the Source engine. The Source engine was developed with modularity in mind so that new technologies can be implemented rather easily. The next big upgrade will take advantage of multi-core processors, a rather new advancement in personal computing. The future is looking mighty nice indeed:
In upcoming games using the Steam engine and even possibly some older games such as Half Life 2, you'll see smoke which not only drifts around the room but hits the roof and floats out the door in a true-to-life manor. You'll see individual rain drops which put out fire one by one. You'll see advanced AI which delivers more advanced computer enemies. Since the game has more processing power through the additional supported cores, computer enemies will be smarter and even be able to perform tactical analysis against you - for instance, working out the best place to hide because it has the processing power to work out where you are in the world and even where you might go to next. Maybe sometime in the future the US government will contact Valve to create some practice tactical military software for them?

Dual Core improved frame rate, Quad Core will add new experiences to the game such as life-like realism. Valve are bored (somewhat) with the GPU now - as they said, they can already create a model on the GPU to look like a real person but that model cannot act like a real person, yet. Now they want to focus on the CPU and create extreme realism. People ask when Half Life 3 will be ready but as Valve correctly state, the changes that they've made (or are currently making) are as good as a new version of the game.

These Multi-Core enhancements will be gradually added into the Steam engine and existing and future games using the engine, such as Episode 2 sometime early next year of Q1. There will be no single patch / update with the changes - they will be added over time.
Bit-Tech has recently posted similar article. Included in the six page preview were two videos that showed just a tiny hint of what the Source engine with multi-core support can truly do.
 
It's been posted a good couple of times before.

Seems the article writer doesn't know too much about it if they call Source Steam.
 
kdd said:
Glad to see no mention of physx ppu's (spit).
They wouldnt be mentioned if developers are jumping on multiple core CPU architecture to offload AI and Physics rather than a dedicated card.

So thats
Alan Wake Developer
Valve
Is Crytek offloading onto different cores? I know they arnt using PPUs.
 
gord said:
They wouldnt be mentioned if developers are jumping on multiple core CPU architecture to offload AI and Physics rather than a dedicated card.

So thats
Alan Wake Developer
Valve
Is Crytek offloading onto different cores? I know they arnt using PPUs.

I'm sure it's been confirmed that crysis will offload onto other cores, the recommended specs mention a dual core cpu. I think it's kinda silly for games being developed right now, not to have some kind of multi-core implementation. Thankfully UT2003 is having it too.
 
Crysis-Online has just posted some updated minimum and suggested system specs (thanks VE) you'll need to run Crysis that were given to them by one of the Crytek developers. Word is: "Once again, these are estimates only and are no way official. I just want to makesure that is clear. However, if you have a graphics card similiar in performance to, or better than a 7800GTX, then expect to play Crysis quite nicely ( presuming your other system specs are up to scratch ). "
Here is a list of confirmed information:
- Crysis will run on both DX9 & DX10 as well as Windows XP and Windows Vista.
- A graphics card that supports Shader Model 2 or higher is required.
- CryEngine2 is estimated to scale back 2 years, and scale ahead 1.5 years.
- A single 7800GTX will run the game quite well on fairly high settings according to Crysis Art Director, Michael Khaimzon.
- Crysis will dynamically utilize all processing threads available. Meaning quad-core processors will be supported.

Minimum Requirements: CPU: Athlon 64 3000+/Intel 2.8ghz, Graphics: Nvidia 6200 or ATI X1300 - Shader Model 2.0, RAM: 768MB on Windows XP or 1GB on Windows Vista, HDD: 6GB, Internet: 256k+, Optical Drive: DVD, Software: DX9.0c with Windows XP

Recommended Requirements: CPU: Dual-core CPU (Athlon X2/Pentium D), Graphics: Nvidia 7600GTX or ATI X1800GTO (SM 3.0) or DX10 equivalent, RAM: 1.5GB+,
HDD: 6GB, Internet: 512k+ (128k+ upstream), Optical Drive: DVD, Software: DX9.0c with Windows XP
 
Those specs are some damn fine work by crytek engine peoples :)

Rincewind said:
2003? :p good find anyway, the bit-tech article is quite a good read...

Meant 2007 :o . Unreal 3 engine thoughts in my head causing me not to think straight.
 
Last edited:
manoz said:
Those specs are some damn fine work by crytek engine peoples :)

Meant 2007 :o . Unreal 3 engine thoughts in my head causing me not to think straight.

get roboblitz for the first hit of unreal3 engine goodness (even if it's not the best way to appreciate it :p - i'm downloading now) and .:MBK:. - i'm getting my new system in january now, in time for my birthday to help it along :D
 
Hey thanks, hadn't fired up steam for a couple of days so don't know what's on. DLing the demo now.
 
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