AMD back on the Havok physics engine bandwagon

After a relationship drama that belongs on daytime television, AMD is snuggling up to Intel to add Havok physics acceleration to their CPUs and GPUs. AMD likely buckled under pressure to come up with a better physics program for its chips and just went with what Rick Bergman of AMD called "the clear market leader in physics software." AMD will add the Havok Physics engine to both its multi-core CPUs and GPUs, but AMD managing director noted that the focus is on CPUs given feedback from gaming developers who like the idea of offsetting physics computation to CPU cores. Good news for game developers, indeed.

[Niki @ Jun 13th 2008 11:58AM]

that's lovely and all...
but when do we actually get it?

first?

[Danakin @ Jun 12th 2008 12:12PM]

not for a while...specific enough for you?

[Niki @ Jun 12th 2008 12:16PM]

I'm just waiting for the :
"to be released in chips starting 2013" announcement...
meh

[schagg @ Jun 12th 2008 12:16PM]

why do you persist in failing, with the first comments?

[Adam @ Jun 12th 2008 12:17PM]

That's strange, considering Havok is owned by Intel

[404 @ Jun 12th 2008 12:28PM]

Ageia/PhysX are owned by Nvidia, so they could either snuggle up to their (ATI's) GPU competitor or their their CPU competitor. As much as I love AMD it's not like they could pull off making their own solution from scratch.

[Wwhat @ Jun 12th 2008 1:15PM]

I don't see why AMD could not get their own physics off the ground from scratch, if there's one thing they have it's mathematicians that can do some basic geometry, then you just put it in a dll and make it use assembler for speed and make it use the hardware features of their own hardware, which they are very familiar with, and bob's your uncle.
.
Basically that's what any gamecoder already does, he's just using C++ and not that familiar with the (often secret) details of the hardware, and he can't bake new functions in the CPU/GPU like AMD can.

AMD actually already supplies code samples for using the math efficiently on AMD CPU's to coders, on their developers site.

[Skry @ Jun 12th 2008 1:39PM]

Although AMD could build their own physics engine, getting it to mainstream would be extremely difficult with Havok playing the major role in the market, and Ageia/Physx to a lesser extent. They be entering into a market that is already saturated, and where developers are more familar with Havok and Ageia. Howver much mathematics prowess AMD has, it would take a hell of an engine plus a huge amount of advertising and training to get it more then 0.5% market share

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Jun 12th 2008 12:19PM]

El jobso has said the apple are going to start to develop their own chipsets for ipods and iphones and multi-touch devices so they are not available to other companies. Me thinks this might have to do with the new voodoo envy using the core 2 duo chips thats in the air. I know that the chip was open to any manufacturer.

(decided to post this here because engadge don't listen to me)

[schagg @ Jun 12th 2008 12:21PM]

this has nothing to do with Apple.


I'm surrounded by epic failures today. sheesh.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Jun 12th 2008 12:24PM]

someones on her period

[schagg @ Jun 12th 2008 12:27PM]

and someone posted something irrelevant to the story ;)

[Matthew Hilario @ Jun 12th 2008 12:29PM]

why would they do that ?
doesn't apple's new shit have intel chips anywaY?
like how the new snow leopard works for intel chips only.

[Niki @ Jun 12th 2008 12:30PM]

ok, epic fail or not, I'm agreeing with schagg here...
This has nothing at all to do with apple.

[roach @ Jun 12th 2008 12:49PM]

As much as Apple like to say other companies are followers of Apple products, it is Apple who has to adapt what is pretty much a "window" centric hardware industry...unless they contribute development money.

[fourthletter @ Jun 12th 2008 12:57PM]

Yuk ! who cares ! Intel designed the insides of the MBA and were completely in their right to sell it to anyone else you technically ignorant idiot, they are designing in house chips for iPods and Jesus Phones not laptops D'OH

[bjrcboy @ Jun 12th 2008 12:59PM]

Haha Jesus Phone haha =D

[Ryan @ Jun 12th 2008 12:29PM]

There are some good comments on WHY AMD would partner with Intel on physics in this editorial. Worth a read!

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=574

[Wwhat @ Jun 12th 2008 2:05PM]

Agreed, it's an interesting editorial.

[Ryan @ Jun 12th 2008 2:51PM]

Havoc is good, until you play any Euphoria games (gta4) and realize that havoc physics officially suck balls now.