Multicores the way to go?

404NotFound404NotFound Join Date: 2006-10-31 Member: 58103Members
edited November 2006 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Will we finally have the volumetric flamethrower?</div><a href="http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2006/11/02/Multi_core_in_the_Source_Engin/1.html" target="_blank">Article here</a>

In it valve talks about different methods of offloading work to multiple cores in games and what can be done with this technology. The most interesting is the particle physics being independant from game calculations and the like. Real interesting stuff. It seems a bit analagous to whatt i'm doing in my classes now, Pipeline techniques, where you try to fill multiple structures to the best of your ability without conflict. Neat stuff.

Comments

  • [WHO]Them[WHO]Them You can call me Dave Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10593Members, Constellation
    Indeed, very cool stuff.
  • RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
    I really want to see a high resolution video of that rain effect. Looks pretty awesome from what I can tell.
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1573858:date=Nov 5 2006, 09:52 PM:name=T_h_e_m)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(T_h_e_m @ Nov 5 2006, 09:52 PM) [snapback]1573858[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Indeed, very cool stuff.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yeah, like you're allowed to say that. I bet John Carmack doesn't go on message boards and post "wow anyone see that Megatexture stuff? Wickeeeeed."
  • NeroNero Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11236Members
    Gabe Newell is taking from John Carmack the title of 3D Engine God. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
  • 404NotFound404NotFound Join Date: 2006-10-31 Member: 58103Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1573994:date=Nov 6 2006, 12:20 PM:name=Nero)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nero @ Nov 6 2006, 12:20 PM) [snapback]1573994[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Gabe Newell is taking from John Carmack the title of 3D Engine God. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    I'd really have to agree... Although Doom3 is very nice looking (and at the time seemed to have better lighting), the modularity of the Source engine is just amazing.

    I've honestly never heard of such a smooth running dev process in conjunction with such a great final product. Not to mention how the framework of the engine allowed for HDR, and now multicore and particle effects.

    The Source engine just has a much more organic feel to it. Just as HalfLife did over say.. Unreal.
  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1574065:date=Nov 6 2006, 09:05 PM:name=404NotFound)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(404NotFound @ Nov 6 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]1574065[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I'd really have to agree... Although Doom3 is very nice looking (and at the time seemed to have better lighting), the modularity of the Source engine is just amazing.

    I've honestly never heard of such a smooth running dev process in conjunction with such a great final product. Not to mention how the framework of the engine allowed for HDR, and now multicore and particle effects.

    The Source engine just has a much more organic feel to it. Just as HalfLife did over say.. Unreal.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Which version of Unreal? I think the latest engine looks as though it has a very organic feel as you put it.
  • 404NotFound404NotFound Join Date: 2006-10-31 Member: 58103Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1574079:date=Nov 6 2006, 04:53 PM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thaldarin @ Nov 6 2006, 04:53 PM) [snapback]1574079[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Which version of Unreal? I think the latest engine looks as though it has a very organic feel as you put it.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I'd say Unreal1 through Unreal2k4. They all have a plastic-glossy kinda look. Like real life covered in a thin film of vasoline.

    Half Life seems to have a certain texture and weight to it that keeps it from being cartoonish.
  • IronIron Join Date: 2006-11-02 Member: 58221Members
    Wonder if Valve has any plans to support PhysX Cards?
  • 404NotFound404NotFound Join Date: 2006-10-31 Member: 58103Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1574122:date=Nov 6 2006, 06:52 PM:name=Iron)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Iron @ Nov 6 2006, 06:52 PM) [snapback]1574122[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Wonder if Valve has any plans to support PhysX Cards?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    One of the articles I saw insinuated that they would if they caught on. At the same time they also seem to be using a multicore CPU as the physics coprocessor.
  • CoolCookieCooksCoolCookieCooks Pretty Girl Join Date: 2003-05-18 Member: 16446Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1573964:date=Nov 6 2006, 04:00 PM:name=RuBy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RuBy @ Nov 6 2006, 04:00 PM) [snapback]1573964[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I really want to see a high resolution video of that rain effect. Looks pretty awesome from what I can tell.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I second that, its very hard to tell what the rain effect looks like with such a low quality video.
  • BelgarionBelgarion Join Date: 2002-07-19 Member: 973Members
    edited November 2006
    I could be wrong about this, but I don't think I am so I'm goig to say it.

    Later in that article they compare the multi-core performance by simply turning off one of the cores in their cpu.

    As I understand it, a 4000+ X2 cpu actually has two cores running at 2000+ speeds, but combined make 4000+. So while their benchmark shows a nearly 50% increase in speed with two cores enabled vs one core enabled, haven't they also cut off 50% of their computing power, thereby negating the purpose of the test?

    :edit: i just realized they're using a Core 2 Duo, but wouldn't the above still apply?
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1574748:date=Nov 8 2006, 08:03 AM:name=Belgarion)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Belgarion @ Nov 8 2006, 08:03 AM) [snapback]1574748[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I could be wrong about this, but I don't think I am so I'm goig to say it.

    Later in that article they compare the multi-core performance by simply turning off one of the cores in their cpu.

    As I understand it, a 4000+ X2 cpu actually has two cores running at 2000+ speeds, but combined make 4000+. So while their benchmark shows a nearly 50% increase in speed with two cores enabled vs one core enabled, haven't they also cut off 50% of their computing power, thereby negating the purpose of the test?

    :edit: i just realized they're using a Core 2 Duo, but wouldn't the above still apply?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Not really, no.
  • ShoeboxShoebox Join Date: 2004-11-15 Member: 32817Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1574079:date=Nov 6 2006, 01:53 PM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thaldarin @ Nov 6 2006, 01:53 PM) [snapback]1574079[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Which version of Unreal? I think the latest engine looks as though it has a very organic feel as you put it.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Isnt't the Unreal 3 engine better than the Source engine?
  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1574912:date=Nov 8 2006, 11:55 PM:name=Shoebox)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Shoebox @ Nov 8 2006, 11:55 PM) [snapback]1574912[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Isnt't the Unreal 3 engine better than the Source engine?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I would say so on paper. Although the Source engine appears so dynamic, without playing on the U3 engine and working with it you can't be too hastey with judgement. Although I reckon it will be alot better
  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    Let's just hope it does the physics right rather than "touch that box of trash and it goes flying at 200 mph".
    On the other hand, the Source engine gets updates.
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1573994:date=Nov 6 2006, 12:20 PM:name=Nero)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nero @ Nov 6 2006, 12:20 PM) [snapback]1573994[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Gabe Newell is taking from John Carmack the title of 3D Engine God. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yeah, except Source is a buggy piece of poo and Windows-only and everyone who likes it is a jerk
  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1575556:date=Nov 10 2006, 07:43 PM:name=Crono5)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Crono5 @ Nov 10 2006, 07:43 PM) [snapback]1575556[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Yeah, except Source is a buggy piece of poo and Windows-only and everyone who likes it is a jerk
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You forgot to call his mother a prostitute while you were at the insult-slinging.

    <!--quoteo(post=1575556:date=Nov 10 2006, 07:43 PM:name=Crono5)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Crono5 @ Nov 10 2006, 07:43 PM) [snapback]1575556[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Yeah, except Source is a buggy piece of poo and Windows-only and everyone who likes it is a jerk
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You forgot to call his mother a prostitute while you were at the insult-slinging.
Sign In or Register to comment.