Headlines - AMD sides with Intel over physics

[HEXUS]

Announcement that AMD is committing to Havok isolates NVIDIA over physics and possibly signals strategic shift.

Read more.

[dangel]

But also said they're open to the nVidia route too. Clever.

Havok is much more widespread though - so will devs go for phsyx for a more narrow market now?

[kalniel]

Yes if they're part of TWIMTBP scheme and nVIDIA have their way.

[this_is_gav]

I wouldn't doubt that AMD have the resources to do it. Surely both Havok and Ageia were formed out of little garden sheds in comparison to what even AMD have. As I understand it with my very limited knowledge (so this will probably be torn to shreds), the most efficient method is to tune a graphics GPU slightly differently and make drivers accordingly (probably the bigger of the 2 tasks in all honesty).

Whether it's worthwhile is another matter, and this announcement suggest AMD aren't exactly pushing it. I think it's more a case of dipping them their hand in case it suddenly takes off while they're unable to react. I think they're more than capable of creating their own PPU if they wanted to, and a damn sight more efficiently than both Havok and Ageia.

Yes if they're part of TWIMTBP scheme and nVIDIA have their way.

No one will commit to either at the moment, not with Intel coming along with Larrabee. Even TWIMTBP members wouldn't dare alienate Intel... NV are being made to look like very small fish at the moment, and I suspect they'll get smaller if they try to make companies commit.

Can't games work with any PPUs then? That's a bit silly, surely? What next - games that only work with NV cards? MP3s that only play on IPODs... hmm, thinking about it...

[dangel]

TWIMTBP scheme? A non-issue when we're talking about in competing with the combined force of Intel/AMD. nVidia don't have anywhere near that kind of pull frankly.

In all honesty this move means havok will be the 'standard' and the outsider will be physx.