Why isn't PhysX used more?
- Thread starter illuz
- Start date
Probably because of the performance hit on games.
Lot's of processing power required to run PhysX.
At the moment, if you don't have a pretty good rig or a dedicated GPU for PhysX most computers tend to struggle running with it.
That said, with technology getting better all the time we should see it being used more seamlessly in the future
Lot's of processing power required to run PhysX.
At the moment, if you don't have a pretty good rig or a dedicated GPU for PhysX most computers tend to struggle running with it.
That said, with technology getting better all the time we should see it being used more seamlessly in the future
Though this doesn't really stop AMD cards from using it. Usually a few changes in .ini files and AMD users can use it too.
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/physx/pc-games
Borderlands 2 (not that old)
Planetside 2 (a few weeks old)
Borderlands 2 (not that old)
Planetside 2 (a few weeks old)
Because it's a gimmick (objectively). The issue is that nVidia aren't using it properly, they are just using it as a checkbox feature to sell their cards.
They are effectively squandering the technology (at present). The PhysX effects in most games simply don't need a GPU to process them, the stuff in the Batman games doesn't need a GPU from a technical position. But the way nVidia have it working, they basically choke PhysX when it runs on the CPU to make it look like the GPU is so much more powerful and suited at running it that people will believe the hype and fall for it.
Fortunately, it seems they might be seeing some sense, because for PhysX 3.0 they are rebuilding the whole thing from the ground up to make sure it actually uses the CPU properly and isn't choked to using a fraction of its potential.
The point is really, what developer is going to seriously implement PhysX in to a game to the extent that it has a massive effect on gameplay when only those with nVidia cards can use it? Because of that, PhysX is restricted to gimmicky additions, but sadly they are usually at the expense of those who don't have an nVidia GPU.
They will make the "non-PhysX" physics look like arse, worse than it really should be to exaggerate how good "FIZZECKUSS" is.
nVidia don't want everyone to be able to run it either, no interest at all, it's all about sales otherwise they would allow people to use an nVidia GPU for PhysX even if the main GPU is an AMD/non-nVidia GPU, but at present they don't want you to be doing that so lock out the the functionality at a driver level. Basically if the drivers detect an AMD card, any hardware PhysX will be locked out.
There are hacked drivers available to overcome this though, but it's just more of an indication of nVidia's intentions and standpoint on "PhysX" itself.
nVidia does a lot to harm the gaming community and industry whilst pretending that they are helping it thrive with things like FIZZECKUSS and "The Way It's Meant to be Paid". Everything about nVidia is about being proprietary, locking you in to "nVidia" so you "have" to keep using their stuff, and that's just bad for everyone, even nVidia. They're sacrificing their longevity for short term gain.
They are effectively squandering the technology (at present). The PhysX effects in most games simply don't need a GPU to process them, the stuff in the Batman games doesn't need a GPU from a technical position. But the way nVidia have it working, they basically choke PhysX when it runs on the CPU to make it look like the GPU is so much more powerful and suited at running it that people will believe the hype and fall for it.
Fortunately, it seems they might be seeing some sense, because for PhysX 3.0 they are rebuilding the whole thing from the ground up to make sure it actually uses the CPU properly and isn't choked to using a fraction of its potential.
The point is really, what developer is going to seriously implement PhysX in to a game to the extent that it has a massive effect on gameplay when only those with nVidia cards can use it? Because of that, PhysX is restricted to gimmicky additions, but sadly they are usually at the expense of those who don't have an nVidia GPU.
They will make the "non-PhysX" physics look like arse, worse than it really should be to exaggerate how good "FIZZECKUSS" is.
nVidia don't want everyone to be able to run it either, no interest at all, it's all about sales otherwise they would allow people to use an nVidia GPU for PhysX even if the main GPU is an AMD/non-nVidia GPU, but at present they don't want you to be doing that so lock out the the functionality at a driver level. Basically if the drivers detect an AMD card, any hardware PhysX will be locked out.
There are hacked drivers available to overcome this though, but it's just more of an indication of nVidia's intentions and standpoint on "PhysX" itself.
nVidia does a lot to harm the gaming community and industry whilst pretending that they are helping it thrive with things like FIZZECKUSS and "The Way It's Meant to be Paid". Everything about nVidia is about being proprietary, locking you in to "nVidia" so you "have" to keep using their stuff, and that's just bad for everyone, even nVidia. They're sacrificing their longevity for short term gain.
Theres no way to currently run the GPU physics part of the API on an AMD GPU. Some tweaks often let you punch up the level of CPU simulation but still won't enable some of the more advanced effects that are done on the GPU.
Technically its developers who aren't using it properly (ignoring nVidia done implementations like Batman) the API itself is fully functional, available to use and matured theres nothing to stop a developer fully utilising it other than the issues like making use of GPU PhysX potentially chops off a large proportion of your potential audience which no developer/publisher likes.
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Doesn't it fall under the definition of the word gimmick fairly well?
So that's the reason, why waste time on developing slight nvidia-only gimmick feature?
Since upgrade I actually have dedicated gtx470 for physx just ain't got no games that have feature AND I would like to play
So that's the reason, why waste time on developing slight nvidia-only gimmick feature?
Since upgrade I actually have dedicated gtx470 for physx just ain't got no games that have feature AND I would like to play
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Part of the issue here is that nVidia are quite vague when they talk about PhysX in games. PhysX advocates would have you think loads of games run PhysX on the GPU.
Which is of course wrong. There's basically two variants of PhysX, one that is just a normal API for physics, and the one that runs on the GPU.
The vast majority of PhysX games don't run on the GPU at all, not one bit but I wouldn't trust nVidia to tell you that because it's in their bests interests for you to think that it does run on the GPU and that you need "NVIDIA" to use it.
Depends how you look at it - advanced physics simulations themselves are no gimmick and PhysX is fully capable of processing them. Unfortunatly until people actually see it for themselves they tend to rubbish stuff like this.
Do you think it's a good idea for me to go green for this then?
All it ever does in games is make sparks bounce more realistically. Played Metro 2033 with it and Mafia II and I don't think I ever saw a difference, it doesn't add anything substantial or noticeable, I wish it did, I got the horsepower to take full advantage of it.
It's nice, but only really noticeable in Borderlands 2, otherwise it's just an fps hitter for something you won't pay attention to. It's also a monumentally poorly coded engine, takes so much more grunt and resources to run than it should, it's also Nvidia's straw clutch in the same way Blu Ray is Sony's, except Sony's is much more significant obviously. Dying for AMD to create something similar or tweak their cards to work the tech, just as a nice ..!.. to Nvitler.
only on the cpu though? and it still not optimised for that or amd cards
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Thats not all the API is capable of tho when actually used properly rather than just to add some incidental effects that don't break the game when they aren't running.