Physics processing unit: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:31, 14 June 2016

Revision as of 03:57, 1 September 2016

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Examples of calculations involving a PPU might include [[rigid body dynamics]], [[soft body dynamics]], [[collision detection]], [[fluid dynamics]], hair and clothing simulation, [[finite element analysis]], and fracturing of objects.

The idea is that specialized processors offload time consuming tasks from a computer's CPU, much like how a [[GPU]] performs graphics operations in the main CPU's place. The term was coined by [[Ageia]] to describe its [[PhysX]] chip. Several other technologies in the CPU-GPU spectrum have some features in common with it, although Ageia's solutionproduct was the only complete one designed, marketed, supported, and placed within a system exclusively as a PPU.

==History==

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To compete with the PhysX PPU, an edition known as [[Havok (software)|Havok FX]] was to take advantage of multi-GPU technology from [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] ([[CrossFire]]) and [[NVIDIA]] ([[Scalable Link Interface|SLI]]) using existing cards to accelerate certain physics calculations.<ref>[http://www.havok.com/content/view/187/77/ Havok FX product information]</ref>

Havok's solution divides the physics simulation into ''effect'' and ''gameplay'' physics, with effect physics being offloaded (if possible) to the GPU as [[Shader Model 3.0]] instructions and gameplay physics being processed on the CPU as normal. The important distinction between the two is that ''effect'' physics do not affect gameplay (dust or small debris from an explosion, for example); the vast majority of physics operations are still performed in software. This approach differs significantly from the PhysX SDK, which moves all calculations to the PhysX card if it is present.

Since Havok's acquisition by [[Intel]], Havok FX appears to have been shelved or cancelled.<ref name="Shilov2007">{{cite web |title=GPU Physics Dead for Now, Says AMD’s Developer Relations Chief |last=Shilov |first=Anton |date=2007-11-19 |accessdate=2007-11-26 |publisher=Xbit Laboratories |url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20071119065621_GPU_Physics_Dead_for_Now_Says_AMD_s_Developer_Relations_Chief.html}}</ref>