PCI accelerator

[hanza]

helloeveryone,

i m presently looking for a new computer. would like to change mine before the end of the year and planning to make it run WAR end of next year.

as we dont really know what prerequisit for WAR will be i m guessing some brand new computer today should be able to run it with no prob.


just one thing i need advice on:

in addition to the graphic card (7900 GS or 7900 gtx (not sure yet of what it most worth it)) i have the chance to add a PCI (phisical accelerator / physical speeder ... not really sure about the translation) card 128MB Ageia™ PhysX

well my guess would be that it is some silly card that helps the graphic card to handle the graphics and screen resolution .... but in fact i have no clue of

1) what it is exactly

2) does it worth the 200 euros it will cost me

if anyone has a clue, pls tell me

thx in advance

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

helloeveryone,

i m presently looking for a new computer. would like to change mine before the end of the year and planning to make it run WAR end of next year.

as we dont really know what prerequisit for WAR will be i m guessing some brand new computer today should be able to run it with no prob.


just one thing i need advice on:

in addition to the graphic card (7900 GS or 7900 gtx (not sure yet of what it most worth it)) i have the chance to add a PCI (phisical accelerator / physical speeder ... not really sure about the translation) card 128MB Ageia™ PhysX

well my guess would be that it is some silly card that helps the graphic card to handle the graphics and screen resolution .... but in fact i have no clue of

1) what it is exactly

2) does it worth the 200 euros it will cost me

if anyone has a clue, pls tell me

thx in advance

The physx card helps your computer calculate paths and reactions of fluid dynamics and particle dynamics in games etc, so you'll get fog and water that looks extremely real.
It's purely a looks thing., If you're content with less realistic fog, rain, water, snow, and everything else that floats and bumps and floats, you'll be cool without

that was the short explanation.. coming up with a link for the more thorough explanation

And the links:
Wikipedia's explanation of the Physx accelerator
and Ageia's explanation on what this add-on processor actually does.
Ageia is the manufacturer / Developer of this processor

 

[hanza]

thx mate u made it very clear

soif my understanding is correct the "game" itself has to include some "special feature" that will be run with physix right ?

will it it anyway assist the graphic card / CPU in running a game ? (split the burden between graphic card, CPU and this physix) or will the graphic card /cpu will be as much appealed ?

 

[Darzil]

Doesn't really look worth it at the mo:

Article here : http://tomshardware.co.uk/2006/07/19/is_ageias_physx_failing_uk/

Darzil

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

thx mate u made it very clear

soif my understanding is correct the "game" itself has to include some "special feature" that will be run with physix right ?

will it it anyway assist the graphic card / CPU in running a game ? (split the burden between graphic card, CPU and this physix) or will the graphic card /cpu will be as much appealed ?

it augments the graphics card. doesn't split the load in any way and yes, the game has to support it. Else it'll just sit there and do nothing.

 

[Sparda]

from what ive read the next generation GFX cards will contain a physx chip on them, as part of DX10 compatability. Some of themn if using SLI, will use 1 card like that physx card you have there when needed too, if not they will just work in normal sli / xfire mode.

imo dont bother... yet

 

[hanza]

fully read the article posted by Drazil ...

and definatly u r all right, don't think it s worth investing ... i d rather upgrade my graphic card

thx for your replies guys