Ageia PhysX PCI-Express Processing Unit w/ 128MB GDDR3 Worth it?

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CrimsonTears

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Are the extras like Ageia PhysX PCI-Express Processing Unit w/ 128MB GDDR3 and the Killer K1 Gaming Network Interface Card really worth the extra money you spend on them? I'm just wondering before I blow the money. I was thinknig of putting the Ageia in my SLI pc.
 
At the moment unless you play more than one PhysX accelerated game (and actually care about the stuff it adds -- mostly, more debris from explosions and slightly better cloth effects, nothing I'm personally very impressed with) I'd say the PhysX card is a total waste. There will doubtlessly be people who own the cards that post to say how great they are, or how the next killer app is right around the corner, but the fact is you can always add it later, and right now there's very little going for these things.

The Killer NIC I'm a little slower to condemn, but in the end unless you play a ton of online games and feel that your ping is somehow holding you back (and I'd be quicker to look for a new ISP than a new NIC) it's probably not for you.
 
I was not aware that the pci-express version of the PhysX card was available yet.. Either way their list of supported games is really small and from everything I have read both cards are a waste of money..

I would spend my money elsewhere to be honest..
 
I have an ageia ppu, I bought it now because they are cheaper and I like to test new hardware. The application list is still very small, and there's no reason to buy one now. But I must add that GRAW2 and Cellfactor:Revolution runs very nice with the card and the added effects are very good.
Ageia haven't released the ppu for pci-e for the same reason sound cards aren't pci-e, the added latency will slow the card down.
 
Paulo Narciso said:
Ageia haven't released the ppu for pci-e for the same reason sound cards aren't pci-e, the added latency will slow the card down.
Click to expand...

This is out-right wrong. Sound cards don't saturate the PCI bus, so there's no reason to switch yet. Ageia has simply yet to get their new revision cards finished and to market.
 
Do some research, and see why soundcards haven't jumped to pci-e. And right now you don't now if ageia saturates the pci bus or not. There's nothing written about it.
 
Crimson think about it this way, you got your SLi, where do you go from there?

-Soundcard
-Ethernet card
-PPU

Soundcard to me is a must, but I'm a gamer at heart and sound is very important to me, lots of people will tell you onboard is enough for gaming, sure is, but soundcard gets you a little further...

Ethernet card, I don't host games, I tested a couple of NIC PCI card in the past, haven't noticed anything gameplay wise, I'd say too much variables, latency along the route, a node hogging, maybe they get you to 11, but the internet is so huge, I don't think a NIC card will fix anything from your LAN connection up to that server wherever it is, miles away, from your home, then again I've seen pretty crappy onboard cards...

PPU, your rig is setup, where do you go from there? IMHO it is a decent upgrade to an already complete system, I wouldn't suggest a PPU over a new CPU or high end graphic card, but if you can afford both, I say:"Why not?"

You see no matter which forums you'll browse there'll always be someone who doesn't own a product bashing on it for no good reason, they have no monetary resons to do so but to express their lack of knowledge or money or just need to tell the whole world that we should all see the world through theirs eyes, that only one vision will take you there.

Any reason is a good reason, as long as it yours.
 
First thanks for the info! After reading everything here I am not going to bust out the extra money, instead I was thinking of a better monitor. I figured if they made a huge difference, it was a must have it'd be a good investment. But since its not ^^ I'll just stick to putting the $400 somewhere else ( estimated )
 
That's what I did, I bought a new monitor, before I got my PPU, it's at the bottom of my priority list, it's not a bad product.

BTW I got the 20 inches Acer Ferrari monitor, I have to admit it's a nice monitor but I'm pretty sure one could find a comparable quality for 75$ less.
 
You're right boudhaxl, I have a complete system and decided to give ageia a shot.
I think the technology have potencial but it's taking the first steeps.
With the lack of inovations in today's games I think physics is the way to go. Everybody bashes AGEIA because of the card, but let's not forget that AGEIA PHYSX is a physics SDK, and it's free. It can either use the multiple cores of the cpu or the ppu. We are free to chose from buying a better CPU to do the calcs or a PPU.
 
Good idea Crimson. My PPU has sat on my desk for the last 3 months not being used, because there is no software that supports it at all. Sure, it may end up in my next system (which is greater then 6 months away), but right now my $400AUD 'investment' in gaming experience has fallen flat.

There's plenty of other worthy components that should find their way into your system before a PPU. Its like putting a DVD player in a Corvette; sure it adds to the features of the car, and its cool, but it doesn't make the car faster or work better overall.
 
Paulo Narciso said:
Do some research, and see why soundcards haven't jumped to pci-e. And right now you don't now if ageia saturates the pci bus or not. There's nothing written about it.
Click to expand...
Yes there is.
From http://ageia.com/physx/faqs.html:
The PCI interface is more than adequate for handling complex physics calculations, so changing the design to PCI Express would be simply to address slot availability on the motherboard, not to enhance raw performance.
 
the pci-express physx card will come eventually.... as ageia will have to meet the demands of most mobos and gamers, it will come eventually, atleast i hope :rolleyes:
 
I'd buy it if it was in pci-e. I have a spare pci-e x1 slot, and a spare pci-e x16 slot.

Releasing it in pci was silly. Most of the people whou'd plunk for it are the SLI types, which already kills off your few remaining pci slots after a sound card.
 
[21CW]killerofall;1031308332 said:
Yes there is.
From http://ageia.com/physx/faqs.html:
The PCI interface is more than adequate for handling complex physics calculations, so changing the design to PCI Express would be simply to address slot availability on the motherboard, not to enhance raw performance.
Click to expand...

The question isn't about saturation but about latencies. You can have all the bandwidth you want, but if there's a long delay between reads and writes to said bus, it'll be wasted. end of story.
 
Arcygenical said:
The question isn't about saturation but about latencies. You can have all the bandwidth you want, but if there's a long delay between reads and writes to said bus, it'll be wasted. end of story.
Click to expand...

Very true. The problem are motheboard manufacters. They are cutting pci slots and replacing them by pci-e that nobody uses.
Let's face it, how many of you use pcie slots beside vga?
 
Wenn I do upgrade my gamerig'(s) the most difficult choice is the Motherboard.
As most or all Motherboard arent aperfect choice for the wish I have. So it's often a trade of.

So choice is important. So mine 2 lates have 2 PCI slot at the far end.
And with CF support. altho I wont use CF I keep it around for dedicated GpGPU use. Some where in the future.
And hopefully it's compatible with Desktop barcelona flavors
So if your have any spare PCI slot it was your choice or that of the PC assambler
 
Paulo Narciso said:
Very true. The problem are motheboard manufacters. They are cutting pci slots and replacing them by pci-e that nobody uses.
Let's face it, how many of you use pcie slots beside vga?
Click to expand...

Agree. I dont even use 1 pcie slot in any of my computers (other then vga like you said).
 
actually, the only thing you cant get for PCI-E right now is sound cards, and those are coming.
 
^^ And PPUs, the next two things you really need in a hardcore gaming rig. To second a poster above, this too is my main issue when looking at motherboard upgrades. With a second VGA card on the way for crossfire, and a 2x PCI soundcard (and formerly a PCI TV Tuner which I just sold for this very reason), it's almost impossible to find a motherboard that it all fits onto. But lo and behold, I've got 2 accessable PCIe ports (a 1x and a 16x/electical 4x) that aren't being used.

These companies need to get on the bandwagon.

Oh, and to whoever mentioned "bus saturation", you're an idiot. Saturation isn't the only reason to upgrade. Thinking like that would never push the envelope. We see now how much of a bottleneck AGP is (the AGP x1950 Pro anyone?), but when PCIe first came out everyone was clamoring that "we havn't used up the AGP bus' saturation" and the move is useless. With that attitude we'd never upgrade the technology; what we have is "good enough for now". PCIe is a more efficient and for all intents and purposes a better protocol than PCI. Just because Creative is too lazy to actually WORK on a new chipset, doesn't mean PCIe is useless.
 
Their only way for survival is PCIE solutions. I hope they come out with it fast.... that will be my first taste of the PPU in my machine.
 
I read an article recently about intel acquiring havok might be good for the development in the future, also any news on using the 2nd or 3rd video card for the physics processing?
 
The main problem I see with the whole mobo slots and layout is that hardcore gamer videocards only come in dual slot solutions anymore. Which often wastes at least one of your PCI slots and usually covers a semi useless PCIe slot if you're not running SLI. the vid card manufacturers just need to invest some research in effective single slot coolers.
 
liquid metals would solve the problems of videocards having too large of coolers.. specifically gallium coolers. Unfortunatly, those suckers are expensive.
 
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