AMD vs INTEL with a PPUs (for gaming)

[Cwiddy]

We have had GPUs for a while now and now comes the PPU and if it catches on what will be next? The AI PU?

With all these tasks being offloaded from the main CPU will the battle of AMD vs INTEL actually matter for gaming anymore? (I realise that developers need to support these technologies so I am assuming for this post that they are) And what would be left for the CPU really to do anyways?

[Xipher]

I don't think we can expect AI to be getting accelerated any time soon. The CPU still plays a part in a multitude of other areas. AI is one, but networking, and the interaction between all the different subsystems all has to go threw the CPU. I do think the choice of processor will be a big decision for some time, and will impact the game in some way shape or form.

[Low Roller]

Personally, I believe AMD/Intel are a much bigger threat to Ageia than ATI/Nvidia. Its not that a CPU can out perform a PPU, but that gameplay physics in games will likely evolve along side the CPU. This will be the case for at least a couple years until games start being designed from the ground up to use the PPU. They won't be out for a while.

The CPU makers sould not be taken lightly. Check out the footage from Crysis if you haven't already. Leaves bend, trees break and fall realisticly if they take enough damage, ect. All this is being done by the CPU.