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Bet on Soldier was the first game to use PhysX, while the most recent as of August 2015 is the controversial Hatred.
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{{short description|Realtime physics engine software}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox software
{{Infobox software
|logo=[[File:Nvidia physx official logo.png|200px]]
| logo = [[File:NVIDIA PhysX Logo.png|300px]]
|name=PhysX
| name = PhysX
|screenshot =
| screenshot =
|caption =
| caption =
|author = [[NovodeX]] ([[ETH Zurich]])
| author = NovodeX AG ([[ETH Zurich]])
|developer = [[Nvidia|NVIDIA Corporation]]
| developer = [[Nvidia|Nvidia Corporation]]<br/><small>(2008-present)</small><br />[[Ageia]]<br/><small>(2004-2008)</small><br />NovodeX AG<br/><small>(2001-2004)</small>
|latest_release_version = 9.14.0702, 344.11 Nvidia drivers
| latest_release_version = Blast 5.0.0; PhysX SDK 5.1.3; Flow 2.0.2
|latest_release_date = {{Release date|2014|09|19}}
| latest_release_date = {{Release date|2023|02|23}}
| repo = https://github.com/NVIDIA-Omniverse/PhysX (5.x) <br /> https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/PhysX (4.x)
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|operating_system = [[Linux]], [[OS X]], [[Windows]], [[Wii]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]] [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]
| programming language = [[C++]]
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|genre = [[Physics simulation]]
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| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]], [[Linux]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Xbox One]], [[Wii]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
|license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] and commercial
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| genre = [[Physics simulation]]
|website = [http://Developer.NVIDIA.Com/physx Nvidia PhysX developer site]
| license = [[BSD License|BSD-3]]
| website = [https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk Nvidia PhysX developer site] <br /> [https://nvidia-omniverse.github.io/PhysX Documentation]
}}
}}
[[File:BFG physx.jpg|thumb|A [[BFG Technologies|BFG]] Physx card]]
'''PhysX''' is a [[proprietary software|proprietary]] [[Real-time computer graphics|realtime]] [[physics engine]] [[middleware]] [[Software development kit|SDK]]. PhysX was authored at NovodeX, an [[ETH Zurich]] spin-off. In 2004 NovodeX
'''PhysX''' is an [[Open-source software|open-source]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/PhysX|title=NVIDIA PhysX SDK 4.1|work=Engadget|access-date=2022-04-05|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Real-time computer graphics|realtime]] [[physics engine]] [[middleware]] [[Software development kit|SDK]] developed by [[Nvidia]] as part of the [[Nvidia GameWorks]] [[software suite]].
was acquired by [[Ageia]], and in February 2008 Ageia was acquired by [[Nvidia]].<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=NVIDIA Corporation|accessdate=March 18, 2009| date=February 13, 2008|title=NVIDIA completes Acquisition of AGEIA Technologies|url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/io_1202895129984.html }}</ref>


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Initially, video games supporting PhysX were meant to be [[Hardware acceleration|accelerated]] by [[Physics processing unit#AGEIA PhysX|PhysX PPU]] ([[expansion card]]s designed by [[Ageia]]). However, after Ageia's acquisition by Nvidia, dedicated PhysX cards have been discontinued in favor of the [[API]] being run on [[CUDA]]-enabled [[GeForce]] [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]]s. In both cases, [[hardware acceleration]] allowed for the offloading of physics calculations from the [[Central processing unit|CPU]], allowing it to perform other tasks instead.
The term PhysX can also refer to the [[Physics processing unit|PPU]] [[expansion card]] designed by Ageia to accelerate PhysX-enabled [[video game]]s.


PhysX and other middleware physics engines are used in many video games today because they free [[game development|game developers]] from having to write their own code that implements [[classical mechanics]] (Newtonian physics) to do, for example, [[soft body dynamics]].<ref name="sdk3">{{cite web|url=http://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk-V30|title=NVIDIA announces the release of PhysX SDK V3|publisher=[[Nvidia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524145446/http://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk-v30|archive-date=May 24, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref>
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Video games supporting [[hardware acceleration]] by PhysX can be accelerated by either a PhysX PPU or a [[CUDA]]-enabled [[GeForce]] [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]] (if it has at least 256MB of dedicated VRAM), thus offloading physics calculations from the [[Central processing unit|CPU]], allowing it to perform other tasks instead.


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==History==
Middleware physics engines free [[game development|game developers]] from writing own code which implements [[classical mechanics]] (Newtonian physics) to do e.g. [[soft body dynamics]]. PhysX is one of the handful of physics engines used in the large majority of today's games.<ref name="sdk3"/>
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What is known today as PhysX originated as a physics simulation engine called NovodeX. The engine was developed by [[Switzerland|Swiss]] company NovodeX AG, an [[ETH Zurich]] spin-off.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethz.ch/en/industry-and-society/entrepreneurship/spin-offs/exits/novodex.html|title=NovodeX AG|website=ETH Zürich|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108063920/https://www.ethz.ch/en/industry-and-society/entrepreneurship/spin-offs/exits/novodex.html|archive-date=January 8, 2018|access-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref> In 2004, [[Ageia]] acquired NovodeX AG and began developing a hardware technology that could accelerate physics calculations, aiding the CPU. Ageia called the technology PhysX, the SDK was renamed from NovodeX to PhysX, and the accelerator cards were dubbed PPUs (Physics Processing Units).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1117/AGEIA-Technologies-Interview/p1 |title=AGEIA Technologies Interview |author=César A. Berardini |date=April 12, 2005 |access-date=June 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921011441/http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1117/AGEIA-Technologies-Interview/p1 |archive-date=September 21, 2011 }}</ref>


In its implementation, the first video game to use PhysX technology is [[The Stalin Subway]], released in Russia-only game stores in September 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Physics Engine: PhysX |url=https://www.mobygames.com/group/7258/physics-engine-physx/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=MobyGames |language=en}}</ref>
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The PhysX engine and [[Software development kit|SDK]] are available for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]], [[Linux]], [[PlayStation 3]],<ref name="ps3-physx-license">{{cite press release|publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.|accessdate=August 23, 2006| date=July 21, 2005|title=Sony Computer Entertainment Enters Into Strategic Licensing Agreement With AGEIA|url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/050721be.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5172843/playstation-3-gets-free-physx-from-nvidia|title=Playstation 3 gets free PhysX from Nvidia|publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> [[PlayStation 4]],<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/07/nvidia-announces-physx-support-for-playstation-4</ref> [[Xbox 360]],<ref name="PhysX website">{{cite web|url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia_physx.html |title=PhysX – Overview – GeForce |publisher=Nvidia.com |date= |accessdate=November 30, 2011}}</ref> [[Xbox One]]<ref name="NVIDIA Announces PhysX Support for Microsoft Xbox One Game Console">{{cite web|url=http://nvidianews.nvidia.com/News/nvidia-announces-physx-support-for-microsoft-xbox-one-game-console-997.aspx |title=NVIDIA Announces PhysX Support for Microsoft Xbox One Game Console |publisher=Nvidia.com |date= |accessdate=November 9, 2014}}</ref> and the [[Wii]].<ref name="Gamasutra News">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22812 |title=News – Pre-GDC: Nvidia PhysX Approved For Wii Developers |publisher=Gamasutra |date=March 19, 2009 |accessdate=November 30, 2011}}</ref> The PhysX SDK is provided to developers for free for both commercial and non-commercial use on Windows. For Linux, OS X and Android platforms the PhysX SDK is free for educational and non-commercial use.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://developer.nvidia.com/physx-downloads |title=PhysX Downloads |publisher=[[Nvidia]] |accessdate=June 8, 2011}}</ref> At GDC 2015 Nvidia made PhysX free with source code available on GitHub <ref>{{cite web | url=https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-source-github |title=PhysX On GitHub |publisher=[[Nvidia]] |accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref>


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In 2008, Ageia was itself acquired by graphics technology manufacturer Nvidia.<ref>{{cite press release|title=NVIDIA completes Acquisition of AGEIA Technologies|date=February 13, 2008|publisher=NVIDIA Corporation|url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/io_1202895129984.html|access-date=March 18, 2009}}</ref> Nvidia started enabling PhysX [[hardware acceleration]] on its line of [[GeForce]] [[Graphics card|graphics cards]]<ref>{{cite web |title=PhysX For CUDA, Linux Support A Given? |url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NjMzNA |work=Phoronix |publisher=Phoronix Media |access-date=February 14, 2008 |date=February 14, 2008}}</ref> and eventually dropped support for Ageia PPUs.<ref name="NoSupport" />
The first game to use PhysX was ''[[Bet On Soldier: Blood Sport|Bet on Soldier]]'', and currently the most recent is Destructive Creations' controversial shooter, ''[[Hatred (video game)|Hatred]]''.


PhysX SDK 3.0 was released in May 2011 and represented a significant rewrite of the SDK, bringing improvements such as more efficient [[Multithreading (computer architecture)|multithreading]] and a unified code base for all supported platforms.<ref name="sdk3" />
Nvidia PhysX is part of [[Nvidia GameWorks]].


At [[Game Developers Conference|GDC 2015]], Nvidia made the [[source code]] for PhysX available on [[GitHub]], but required registration at developer.nvidia.com.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-source-github|title=PhysX On GitHub|publisher=[[Nvidia]]|access-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref> The [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] SDK was provided to developers for free for both commercial and non-commercial use on [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Linux]], [[macOS]], [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] platforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk|title=PhysX SDK as of January 7, 2017|publisher=[[Nvidia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107003159/https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk|access-date=September 3, 2017|archive-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref>
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==History==

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What is known today as PhysX originated as a physics simulation engine called [[NovodeX]]. The multi-threaded engine was developed by Swiss company NovodeX AG. In 2004, [[Ageia]] acquired NovodeX AG and began developing a hardware technology that could accelerate physics calculations, aiding the CPU. Ageia called the technology PhysX PPU ([[physics processing unit]]), and the SDK was renamed from NovodeX to PhysX.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1117/AGEIA-Technologies-Interview/p1 |title=AGEIA Technologies Interview |author=César A. Berardini |date=April 12, 2005 |accessdate=June 8, 2011}}</ref>
On December 3, 2018, PhysX was made open source under a [[BSD-3|3-clause BSD license]], but this change applied only to computer and mobile platforms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk|title=PhysX SDK|date=November 28, 2018|website=NVIDIA Developer|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205103131/https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk|archive-date=December 5, 2018|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref>


On November 8, 2022, the open source release was updated to PhysX 5, under the same [[BSD-3|3-clause BSD license]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/open-source-simulation-expands-with-nvidia-physx-5-release/|title=Open Source Simulation Expands with NVIDIA PhysX 5 Release|date=November 8, 2022 |publisher=[[Nvidia]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528035837/https://developer.nvidia.com/blog/open-source-simulation-expands-with-nvidia-physx-5-release/|access-date=June 15, 2023|archive-date=May 28, 2023}}</ref>
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In 2008, Ageia was itself acquired by graphics technology manufacturer [[Nvidia]]. Nvidia started enabling PhysX hardware acceleration on its line of GeForce graphics cards<ref>{{cite web |title=PhysX For CUDA, Linux Support A Given? |url=http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NjMzNA |work=Phoronix |publisher=Phoronix Media |accessdate=February 14, 2008 |date=February 14, 2008}}</ref> and eventually dropped support for Ageia PPUs.<ref name="NoSupport"/>


==Features==
==Features==
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The PhysX engine and SDK are available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux,<ref name=":1" /> [[PlayStation 3]],<ref name="ps3-physx-license">{{cite press release|title=Sony Computer Entertainment Enters Into Strategic Licensing Agreement With AGEIA|date=July 21, 2005|publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.|url=http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/050721be.pdf|access-date=August 23, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060311061054/http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/050721be.pdf|archive-date=March 11, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5172843/playstation-3-gets-free-physx-from-nvidia|title=Playstation 3 gets free PhysX from Nvidia|date=March 18, 2009 |publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> [[PlayStation 4]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/07/nvidia-announces-physx-support-for-playstation-4|title=Nvidia Announces PhysX Support for PlayStation 4|last=Lowe|first=Scott|date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> [[Xbox 360]],<ref name="PhysX website">{{cite web|url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia_physx.html|title=PhysX – Overview – GeForce|publisher=Nvidia.com|access-date=November 30, 2011|archive-date=April 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429032417/http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia_physx.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Xbox One]],<ref name="NVIDIA Announces PhysX Support for Microsoft Xbox One Game Console">{{cite web|url=http://nvidianews.nvidia.com/News/nvidia-announces-physx-support-for-microsoft-xbox-one-game-console-997.aspx|title=NVIDIA Announces PhysX Support for Microsoft Xbox One Game Console|publisher=Nvidia.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109040434/http://nvidianews.nvidia.com/News/nvidia-announces-physx-support-for-microsoft-xbox-one-game-console-997.aspx|archive-date=November 9, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=November 9, 2014}}</ref> [[Wii]],<ref name="Gamasutra News">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22812|title=News – Pre-GDC: Nvidia PhysX Approved For Wii Developers|date=March 19, 2009|publisher=Gamasutra|access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> iOS and Android.<ref name=":1" />
PhysX is a multi-threaded physics simulation [[Software development kit|SDK]] available for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Linux]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]] and [[Wii]]. It supports rigid body dynamics, soft body dynamics, [[Ragdoll physics|ragdolls]] and character controllers, vehicle dynamics, particles, volumetric fluid simulation and cloth simulation including tearing and pressurized cloth.

PhysX is a multi-threaded physics simulation SDK. It supports [[rigid body dynamics]], [[Soft-body dynamics|soft body dynamics]] (like [[cloth simulation]], including tearing and pressurized cloth), [[Ragdoll physics|ragdolls]] and character controllers, [[vehicle dynamics]], [[Particle system|particles]] and [[Computational fluid dynamics|volumetric fluid simulation]].


==Hardware acceleration==
==Hardware acceleration==
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===PPU===
===PPU===
A [[physics processing unit]] (PPU) is a processor specially designed to alleviate the calculation burden on the CPU, specifically calculations involving physics. PPU cards with PhysX support were available from the manufacturers [[ASUS]], [[BFG Technologies]]<ref>[http://www.bfgtech.com/news_8.31.05.html] {{dead link|date=October 2013}}</ref> and [[ELSA Technology]]. Beginning with version 2.8.3 of the PhysX SDK, support for PPU cards was dropped, and PPU cards are no longer manufactured.<ref name="NoSupport">{{cite web|url=http://physxinfo.com/news/4697/how-to-restore-ppu-support-with-latest-physx-drivers/ |title=How to restore PPU support with latest PhysX Drivers &#124; PhysXInfo.com – PhysX News |publisher=PhysXInfo.com |date=January 17, 2011 |accessdate=November 30, 2011}}</ref>
A [[physics processing unit]] (PPU) is a processor specially designed to alleviate the calculation burden on the CPU, specifically calculations involving physics. PhysX PPUs were offered to consumers in the forms of [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] or [[PCI Express|PCIe]] cards by [[ASUS]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/asus_128mb_physx_card_reviewpreview/1|title=Asus 128mb PhysX Card Review/Preview|date=July 12, 2006}}</ref> [[BFG Technologies]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfgtech.com/news_8.31.05.html|title=AGEIA And BFG Technologies Enter Into Retail Distribution Agreement|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426124859/http://www.bfgtech.com/news_8.31.05.html|archive-date=April 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techpowerup.com/review/bfg-ageia-physx-card/|title=BFG Ageia PhysX Card Review|date=2007-10-01}}</ref> [[Dell]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/products/ageia-physx-graphics-card-ageia-physx-128-mb/|title=AGEIA PhysX - graphics card - AGEIA PhysX - 128 MB Specs|publisher=Cnet}}</ref> and [[ELSA Technology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fudzilla.com/news/1893-elsa-teams-up-with-ageia|title=ELSA teams up with Ageia}}</ref>

Beginning with version 2.8.3 of the PhysX SDK, support for PPU cards was dropped, and PPU cards are no longer manufactured.<ref name="NoSupport">{{cite web |url=http://physxinfo.com/news/4697/how-to-restore-ppu-support-with-latest-physx-drivers/ |title=How to restore PPU support with latest PhysX Drivers &#124; PhysXInfo.com – PhysX News |publisher=PhysXInfo.com |date=January 17, 2011 |access-date=November 30, 2011 |archive-date=November 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124044806/http://physxinfo.com/news/4697/how-to-restore-ppu-support-with-latest-physx-drivers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The&nbsp;last incarnation of PhysX PPU standalone card designed by Ageia had roughly the same PhysX performance as a dedicated [[9800GTX]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgameshardware.com/&menu=browser&image_id=967623&article_id=674175&page=1&show=original|title=English articles from PC Games Hardware|website=www.pcgameshardware.com|date=January 26, 2009}}</ref>


===GPU===
===GPU===
After Nvidia's acquisition of Ageia, PhysX development turned away from PPU expansion cards and focused instead on the [[GPGPU]] capabilities of modern GPUs.
After [[Nvidia]]'s acquisition of [[Ageia]], PhysX development turned away from PPU extension cards and focused instead on the [[GPGPU]] capabilities of modern [[Graphics processing unit|GPUs]]. A graphics processing unit or GPU (also occasionally called visual processing unit or VPU) is a dedicated graphics rendering device for a personal computer, workstation or game console. Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating and displaying computer graphics, and their highly parallel structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for a range of complex algorithms, such as accelerating physical simulations using PhysX. A GPU can be located on a dedicated video card, or it can be integrated directly into the motherboard. More than 90% of new desktop and notebook computers have integrated GPUs.


Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating and displaying computer graphics, and their [[Parallel computing|highly parallel]] structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for accelerating physical simulations using PhysX.
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Any [[CUDA]]-ready GeForce graphics card (series 8 and newer, with a minimum of 256MB of video memory<ref name="nvidia.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_faq.html |title=PhysX FAQ |publisher=Nvidia.com |date= |accessdate=November 30, 2011}}</ref>) can take advantage of PhysX without the need to install a dedicated PhysX card.

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Any [[CUDA]]-ready GeForce graphics card (8-series or later GPU with a minimum of 32 cores and a minimum of 256 MB dedicated graphics memory<ref name="PhysX FAQ">{{cite web|url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_faq.html|title=PhysX FAQ|publisher=Nvidia.com|access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref>) can take advantage of PhysX without the need to install a dedicated PhysX card.


==APEX==
==APEX==
Nvidia APEX technology is a multi-platform scalable dynamics framework build around the PhysX SDK. It was first introduced in ''[[Mafia II]]'' in August 2010.<ref name = APEX>{{cite web | url = http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=582&Itemid=64 | title = Mafia-II Video Game Performance Review | accessdate = August 23, 2010 | author = Olin Coles | publisher = BenchmarkReviews.com}}</ref> Nvidia's APEX comprises the following modules: APEX Destruction, APEX Clothing, APEX Particles, APEX Turbulence, APEX ForceField and formerly APEX Vegetation which was suspended in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://developer.nvidia.com/apex |title=APEX |accessdate=June 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Category:APEX - PhysX Wiki |url=http://physxinfo.com/wiki/Category:APEX |publisher=PhysXInfo.com |accessdate=21 July 2013}}</ref>
Nvidia APEX technology is a multi-platform scalable dynamics framework build around the PhysX SDK. It was first introduced in ''[[Mafia II]]'' in August 2010.<ref name = APEX>{{cite web | url = http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=582&Itemid=64 | title = Mafia-II Video Game Performance Review | access-date = August 23, 2010 | author = Olin Coles | publisher = BenchmarkReviews.com}}</ref> Nvidia's APEX comprises the following modules: APEX Destruction, APEX Clothing, APEX Particles, APEX Turbulence, APEX ForceField and formerly APEX Vegetation which was suspended in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://developer.nvidia.com/apex |title=APEX |access-date=June 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Category:APEX - PhysX Wiki |url=http://physxinfo.com/wiki/Category:APEX |publisher=PhysXInfo.com |access-date=21 July 2013}}</ref>

From version 1.4.1 APEX SDK is deprecated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gameworksdocs.nvidia.com/APEX/1.4/release_notes/ReleaseNotes.html|title=APEX 1.4.1 - Release Notes (APEX has been deprecated)|website=gameworksdocs.nvidia.com|access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref>

==Nvidia FleX==
FleX is a particle based simulation technique for real-time [[visual effects]]. Traditionally, visual effects are made using a combination of elements created using specialized solvers for [[rigid bodies]], fluids, clothing, etc. Because FleX uses a unified particle representation for all object types, it enables new effects where different simulated substances can interact with each other seamlessly. Such unified physics solvers are a staple of the [[3D rendering#Non real-time|offline computer graphics]] world, where tools such as [[Autodesk Maya]]'s nCloth, and [[Autodesk Softimage|Softimage]]'s Lagoa are widely used. The goal for FleX is to use the power of GPUs to bring the capabilities of these offline applications to real-time computer graphics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.nvidia.com/flex|title=NVIDIA FleX|date=2015-08-13|website=NVIDIA Developer|language=en|access-date=2019-04-17}}</ref>


==Real World Technologies analysis==
== Criticism from Real World Technologies ==
On July 5, 2010, Real World Technologies published an analysis<ref>[http://www.realworldtech.com/page.cfm?ArticleID=RWT070510142143 Real World Technologies – PhysX87: Software Deficiency]</ref> of the PhysX architecture. According to this analysis, most of the code used in PhysX applications at the time was based on [[x87]] instructions without any multi-threading optimization. This could cause significant performance drops when running PhysX code on the CPU. The article suggested that a PhysX rewrite using [[Streaming SIMD Extensions|SSE]] instructions may substantially lessen the performance discrepancy between CPU PhysX and GPU PhysX.
On July 5, 2010, Real World Technologies published an analysis<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldtech.com/page.cfm?ArticleID=RWT070510142143|title=PhysX87: Software Deficiency|website=www.realworldtech.com}}</ref> of the PhysX architecture. According to this analysis, most of the code used in PhysX applications at the time was based on [[x87]] [[CPU instruction|instructions]] without any [[Multithreading (computer architecture)|multithreading]] [[Code optimization|optimization]]. This could cause significant performance drops when running PhysX code on the CPU. The article suggested that a PhysX rewrite using [[Streaming SIMD Extensions|SSE]] instructions may substantially lessen the performance discrepancy between CPU PhysX and GPU PhysX.


In response to the Real World Technologies analysis, Mike Skolones, product manager of PhysX, said<ref>{{cite web|last=Stokes |first=Jon |url=http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/07/did-nvidia-cripple-its-cpu-gaming-physics-library-to-spite-intel.ars |title=Did NVIDIA cripple its CPU gaming physics library to spite Intel? |publisher=Arstechnica.com |date=July 8, 2010 |accessdate=November 30, 2011}}</ref> that SSE support had been left behind because most games are developed for [[Video game console|consoles]] first and then ported to the PC. As a result, modern computers run these games faster and better than the consoles even with little or no optimization.
In response to the Real World Technologies analysis, Mike Skolones, [[product manager]] of PhysX, said<ref>{{cite web|last=Stokes |first=Jon |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/07/did-nvidia-cripple-its-cpu-gaming-physics-library-to-spite-intel.ars |title=Did NVIDIA cripple its CPU gaming physics library to spite Intel? |publisher=Arstechnica.com |date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> that SSE support had been left behind because most games are developed for [[Video game console|consoles]] first and then ported to the PC. As a result, modern computers run these games faster and better than the consoles even with little or no optimization.
Senior PR manager of Nvidia, Bryan Del Rizzo, explained that multi-threading had already been available with CPU PhysX 2.x and that it had been up to the developer to make use of it. He also stated that automatic multithreading and SSE would be introduced with version 3 of the PhysX SDK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thinq.co.uk/2010/7/8/nvidia-were-not-hobbling-cpu-physx/ |title=Nvidia: We're not hobbling CPU PhysX &#124; thinq_ &#124; Page 1 |publisher=Thinq.co.uk |date= |accessdate=November 30, 2011}}</ref>
Senior [[Public relations|PR manager]] of Nvidia, Bryan Del Rizzo, explained that multithreading had already been available with CPU PhysX 2.x and that it had been up to the developer to make use of it. He also stated that automatic multithreading and SSE would be introduced with version 3 of the PhysX SDK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thinq.co.uk/2010/7/8/nvidia-were-not-hobbling-cpu-physx/ |title=Nvidia: We're not hobbling CPU PhysX &#124; thinq_ &#124; Page 1 |publisher=Thinq.co.uk |access-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref>


PhysX SDK 3.0 was released in May 2011 and represented a significant rewrite of the SDK, bringing improvements such as more efficient multithreading and a unified code base for all supported platforms.<ref name="sdk3">{{cite web |url=http://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk-V30 |title=NVIDIA announces the release of PhysX SDK V3 |publisher=[[Nvidia]] |accessdate=June 3, 2011}}</ref>
PhysX SDK 3.0 was released in May 2011 and represented a significant rewrite of the SDK, bringing improvements such as more efficient multithreading and a unified code base for all supported platforms.<ref name="sdk3" />


==Usage==
==Usage==


=== PhysX in video games ===
=== PhysX in video games ===
⚫
PhysX technology is used by [[game engine]]s such as [[Unreal Engine]] (version 3 onwards), [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]], [[Gamebryo]], [[Vision Engine|Vision]] (version 6 onwards), Instinct Engine,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.instinctengine.com/index.php/products/instinct-studio-sdk |title=Instinct Software - Instinct Engine SDK |publisher=Instinctengine.com |access-date=2013-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213215822/http://instinctengine.com/index.php/products/instinct-studio-sdk |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Panda3D]], [[Diesel (game engine)|Diesel]], [[Torque (game engine)|Torque]], [[HeroEngine]], and [[BigWorld]].<ref name="PhysX FAQ"/>
{{see also|List of games with hardware-accelerated PhysX support}}
⚫
PhysX technology is used by [[game engine]]s such as [[Unreal Engine]] (version 3 onwards), [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]], [[Gamebryo]], [[Vision Engine|Vision]] (version 6 onwards), Instinct Engine,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.instinctengine.com/index.php/products/instinct-studio-sdk |title=Instinct Software - Instinct Engine SDK |publisher=Instinctengine.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-04}}</ref> [[Panda3D]], [[Diesel (game engine)|Diesel]], [[Torque (game engine)|Torque]], [[HeroEngine]] and [[BigWorld]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_faq.html |title=PhysX FAQ |publisher=[[Nvidia]] |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref>


As one of the handful of major physics engines, it is used in many games, such as ''[[Mirror's Edge]]'', ''[[Bulletstorm]]'', ''[[Need for Speed: Shift]]'', ''[[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]]'', ''[[Mafia II]]'', ''[[Alice: Madness Returns]]'', ''[[Batman: Arkham City]]'', ''[[Borderlands 2]]'', ''[[Kerbal Space Program]]'', etc. Most of these games use the CPU to process the physics simulations.
As one of the handful of major physics engines, it is used in many games, such as ''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt]]'', ''[[Warframe]]'', ''[[Killing Floor 2]]'', ''[[Fallout 4]]'', ''[[Batman: Arkham Knight]]'', ''[[Planetside 2]], ''and ''[[Borderlands 2]]''. Most of these games use the CPU to process the physics simulations.


Video games with optional support for hardware-accelerated PhysX often include additional effects such as tearable cloth, dynamic smoke or simulated particle debris.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://techreport.com/articles.x/16392 |title=A look at PhysX in Mirror's Edge |author=Matt Butrovich |publisher=[[The Tech Report]] |date=February 12, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10355716-1.html |title=Nvidia's PhysX makes PC Batman: Arkham Asylum worth the wait |author=Rich Brown |publisher=[[cNET.com]] |date=September 21, 2009 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2368499,00.asp |title=Mafia II: Is Applied PhysX Worth It? |author=Matthew Murray |publisher=[[ExtremeTech]] |date=September 2, 2010 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref>
Video games with optional support for hardware-accelerated PhysX often include additional effects such as tearable cloth, dynamic smoke or simulated particle debris.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://techreport.com/articles.x/16392 |title=A look at PhysX in Mirror's Edge |author=Matt Butrovich |publisher=[[The Tech Report]] |date=February 12, 2009 |access-date=April 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10355716-1.html |title=Nvidia's PhysX makes PC Batman: Arkham Asylum worth the wait |author=Rich Brown |publisher=[[cNET.com]] |date=September 21, 2009 |access-date=April 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2368499,00.asp |title=Mafia II: Is Applied PhysX Worth It? |author=Matthew Murray |publisher=[[ExtremeTech]] |date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=April 6, 2011 |archive-date=December 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230135015/http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2368499,00.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>


=== PhysX in other software ===
=== PhysX in other software ===
Other software with PhysX support includes:
Other software with PhysX support includes:
*[[Active Worlds]] (AW), a 3D virtual reality platform with its client running on Windows
*[[Active Worlds]] (AW), a 3D virtual reality platform with its client running on Windows{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}}
*[[Amazon Lumberyard]], a 3D game development engine developed by [[Amazon_(company)|Amazon]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/latest/userguide/gems-system-gem-physx.html|title=PhysX - Lumberyard User Guide|access-date=April 15, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922021924/https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lumberyard/latest/userguide/gems-system-gem-physx.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Autodesk 3ds Max]], [[Autodesk Maya]] and [[Autodesk Softimage]], [[computer animation]] suites<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cgchannel.com/2011/03/videos-autodesk-reveals-new-features-in-maya-2012/ |title=Videos: Autodesk reveals new features in Maya 2012 |author=Jim Thacker |publisher=cgchannel.com |date=March 1, 2011 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beyond3d.com/content/news/765 |title=3ds Max 2012 and Maya 2012 adds PhysX support |publisher=Beyond3D.com |date=March 1, 2011 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vizworld.com/2010/05/nvidia-physx-cuda-softimage-2011/ |title=NVidia PhysX and CUDA in Softimage 2011 |author=Randall Hand |publisher=Vizworld.com |date=May 5, 2010 |accessdate=April 6, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Autodesk 3ds Max]], [[Autodesk Maya]] and [[Autodesk Softimage]], [[computer animation]] suites<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cgchannel.com/2011/03/videos-autodesk-reveals-new-features-in-maya-2012/ |title=Videos: Autodesk reveals new features in Maya 2012 |author=Jim Thacker |publisher=cgchannel.com |date=March 1, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beyond3d.com/content/news/765 |title=3ds Max 2012 and Maya 2012 adds PhysX support |publisher=Beyond3D.com |date=March 1, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708155351/https://www.beyond3d.com/content/news/765 |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vizworld.com/2010/05/nvidia-physx-cuda-softimage-2011/ |title=NVidia PhysX and CUDA in Softimage 2011 |author=Randall Hand |publisher=Vizworld.com |date=May 5, 2010 |access-date=April 6, 2011}}</ref>
*[[DarkBASIC Professional]] (with DarkPHYSICS upgrade), a [[programming language]] targeted at game development<ref name="darkbasic-pro-physx">{{cite press release|publisher=[[The Game Creators]]|accessdate=September 23, 2006|date=March 22, 2006|title=The Game Creators Integrate AGEIA PhysX Technology into DarkBASIC Professional|url=http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=382741}}</ref>
*[[DarkBASIC Professional]] (with DarkPHYSICS upgrade), a [[programming language]] targeted at game development<ref name="darkbasic-pro-physx">{{cite press release|publisher=The Game Creators |access-date=September 23, 2006 |date=March 22, 2006 |title=The Game Creators Integrate AGEIA PhysX Technology into DarkBASIC Professional |url=http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=382741 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427020754/http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=382741 |archive-date=April 27, 2006 }}</ref>
*[[DX Studio]], an integrated development environment for creating interactive 3D graphics<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dxstudio.com/features.aspx|title=Overview|work=DX Studio|publisher=Worldweaver|accessdate=November 2, 2008}}</ref>
*[[DX Studio]], an integrated development environment for creating interactive 3D graphics<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dxstudio.com/features.aspx|title=Overview|work=DX Studio|publisher=Worldweaver|access-date=November 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705092517/http://www.dxstudio.com/features.aspx|archive-date=July 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
⚫
*[[Futuremark]]'s [[3DMark#Versions|3DMark06]] and [[3DMark#3DMark Vantage|Vantage]] [[benchmark (computing)|benchmarking tools]]<ref>{{cite news|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_Sept_27/ai_n16836909 |title=AGEIA Joins Futuremark's 3DMark Benchmark Development Program|date=September 27, 2006|agency=[[BusinessWire]]|work=[[FindArticles]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=November 3, 2008}}</ref>
*[[ForgeLight]], a game engine developed by the former [[Sony Online Entertainment]].
⚫
*[[Microsoft Robotics Studio]], an environment for robot control and simulation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb483076.aspx|title=Simulation Overview| work=Microsoft Robotics Developer Center|publisher=Microsoft}}</ref>
⚫
*[[Futuremark]]'s [[3DMark#Versions|3DMark06]] and [[3DMark#3DMark Vantage|Vantage]] [[benchmark (computing)|benchmarking tools]]<ref>{{cite news|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2006_Sept_27/ai_n16836909 |title=AGEIA Joins Futuremark's 3DMark Benchmark Development Program|date=September 27, 2006|agency=[[BusinessWire]]|work=[[FindArticles]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=November 3, 2008}}</ref>
⚫
*[[Nvidia]] [[Nvidia demos#SuperSonic Sled|SuperSonic Sled]] and [[Nvidia demos#Raging Rapids Ride|Raging Rapids Ride]], technology demos
⚫
*[[Microsoft Robotics Studio]], an environment for robot control and simulation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb483076.aspx|title=Simulation Overview| work=Microsoft Robotics Developer Center|date=March 2012 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref>
⚫
*[[OGRE]] (via the NxOgre wrapper), an [[open source software|open source]] [[Rendering (computer graphics)|rendering engine]]
⚫
*[[Nvidia]]'s SuperSonic Sled and Raging Rapids Ride, technology demos
⚫
*The [[PAL (software)|Physics Abstraction Layer]], a physical simulation [[Application programming interface|API]] abstraction system (it provides [[COLLADA]] and [[Scythe Physics Editor]] support for PhysX)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adrianboeing.com/pal/engines.html| title=Engines|publisher=Physics Abstraction Layer|first=Adrian|last=Boeing|accessdate=November 18, 2007}}</ref>
⚫
*[[OGRE]] (via the NxOgre wrapper), an [[open source software|open source]] [[Rendering (computer graphics)|rendering engine]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}}
⚫
*Rayfire, a plug-in for [[Autodesk 3ds Max]] that allows fracturing and other physics simulations
⚫
*The [[PAL (software)|Physics Abstraction Layer]], a physical simulation [[Application programming interface|API]] abstraction system (it provides [[COLLADA]] and [[Scythe Physics Editor]] support for PhysX)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adrianboeing.com/pal/engines.html| title=Engines|publisher=Physics Abstraction Layer|first=Adrian|last=Boeing|access-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref>
⚫
*Rayfire, a plug-in for [[Autodesk 3ds Max]] that allows fracturing and other physics simulations{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}}
*The Physics Engine Evaluation Lab, a tool designed to evaluate, compare and benchmark physics engines.<ref>{{Citation|last=Pierre-Terdiman|title=GitHub - Pierre-Terdiman/PEEL: Physics Engine Evaluation Lab.|date=2019-03-22|url=https://github.com/Pierre-Terdiman/PEEL|access-date=2019-03-22}}</ref>
*[[Unreal Engine]] game development software by [[Epic Games]]. Unreal Engine 4.26 and onwards has officially deprecated PhysX.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forums.unrealengine.com/unreal-engine/announcements-and-releases/1814986-unreal-engine-4-26-preview|title = Unreal Engine 4.26 Preview|date = September 24, 2020}}</ref>
*[[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] by Unity ApS. Unity's Data-Oriented Technology Stack does not use PhysX.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/PhysicsSection.html|title=Unity - Manual: Physics}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 89: Line 109:
* [[Newton Game Dynamics]]
* [[Newton Game Dynamics]]
* [[OpenGL]]
* [[OpenGL]]
* [[Unreal Engine]]
* [[Unity (game engine)]]
* [[Vortex (software)]]
* [[Vortex (software)]]
* [[AGX Multiphysics]]
* [[AGX Multiphysics]]
Line 98: Line 116:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia_physx.html Official Product Site]
*[https://developer.nvidia.com/physx-sdk Official Product Site]
*[http://www.techgage.com/article/ageia_physx_first_impressions/ Techgage: AGEIA PhysX.. First Impressions]
*[http://www.techgage.com/article/ageia_physx_first_impressions/ Techgage: AGEIA PhysX.. First Impressions]
*[http://techgage.com/article/nvidias_physx_performance_and_status_report/ Techgage: NVIDIA's PhysX: Performance and Status Report]
*[http://techgage.com/article/nvidias_physx_performance_and_status_report/ Techgage: NVIDIA's PhysX: Performance and Status Report]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Physx}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Physx}}
[[Category:Computer physics engines]]
[[Category:Computer physics engines]]
[[Category:Proprietary freeware for Linux]]
[[Category:MacOS programming tools]]
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[[Category:Proprietary commercial software for Linux]]
[[Category:OS X programming tools]]
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[[Category:Science software for OS X]]
[[Category:Nvidia software]]
[[Category:Nvidia software]]
[[Category:PlayStation 3 software]]
[[Category:PlayStation 3 software]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 software]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 software]]
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[[Category:Virtual reality]]
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[[Category:Wii software]]
[[Category:Programming tools for Windows]]
[[Category:Programming tools for Windows]]
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[[Category:Science software for Linux]]
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[[Category:Science software for macOS]]
[[Category:Science software for Windows]]
[[Category:Science software for Windows]]
[[Category:Software using the BSD license]]
[[Category:Video game development software for Linux]]
[[Category:Video game development]]
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[[Category:Xbox 360 software]]

Latest revision as of 19:53, 9 October 2024

PhysX
Original author(s)NovodeX AG (ETH Zurich)
Developer(s)Nvidia Corporation
(2008-present)
Ageia
(2004-2008)
NovodeX AG
(2001-2004)
Stable release
Blast 5.0.0; PhysX SDK 5.1.3; Flow 2.0.2 / February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23)
Repositoryhttps://github.com/NVIDIA-Omniverse/PhysX (5.x)
https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/PhysX (4.x)
Written inC++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, iOS, Android
TypePhysics simulation
LicenseBSD-3
WebsiteNvidia PhysX developer site
Documentation
A BFG Physx card

PhysX is an open-source[1] realtime physics engine middleware SDK developed by Nvidia as part of the Nvidia GameWorks software suite.

Initially, video games supporting PhysX were meant to be accelerated by PhysX PPU (expansion cards designed by Ageia). However, after Ageia's acquisition by Nvidia, dedicated PhysX cards have been discontinued in favor of the API being run on CUDA-enabled GeForce GPUs. In both cases, hardware acceleration allowed for the offloading of physics calculations from the CPU, allowing it to perform other tasks instead.

PhysX and other middleware physics engines are used in many video games today because they free game developers from having to write their own code that implements classical mechanics (Newtonian physics) to do, for example, soft body dynamics.[2]

History

[edit]

What is known today as PhysX originated as a physics simulation engine called NovodeX. The engine was developed by Swiss company NovodeX AG, an ETH Zurich spin-off.[3] In 2004, Ageia acquired NovodeX AG and began developing a hardware technology that could accelerate physics calculations, aiding the CPU. Ageia called the technology PhysX, the SDK was renamed from NovodeX to PhysX, and the accelerator cards were dubbed PPUs (Physics Processing Units).[4]

In its implementation, the first video game to use PhysX technology is The Stalin Subway, released in Russia-only game stores in September 2005.[5]

In 2008, Ageia was itself acquired by graphics technology manufacturer Nvidia.[6] Nvidia started enabling PhysX hardware acceleration on its line of GeForce graphics cards[7] and eventually dropped support for Ageia PPUs.[8]

PhysX SDK 3.0 was released in May 2011 and represented a significant rewrite of the SDK, bringing improvements such as more efficient multithreading and a unified code base for all supported platforms.[2]

At GDC 2015, Nvidia made the source code for PhysX available on GitHub, but required registration at developer.nvidia.com.[9] The proprietary SDK was provided to developers for free for both commercial and non-commercial use on Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android platforms.[10]

On December 3, 2018, PhysX was made open source under a 3-clause BSD license, but this change applied only to computer and mobile platforms.[11]

On November 8, 2022, the open source release was updated to PhysX 5, under the same 3-clause BSD license.[12]

Features

[edit]

The PhysX engine and SDK are available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux,[11] PlayStation 3,[13][14] PlayStation 4,[15] Xbox 360,[16] Xbox One,[17] Wii,[18] iOS and Android.[11]

PhysX is a multi-threaded physics simulation SDK. It supports rigid body dynamics, soft body dynamics (like cloth simulation, including tearing and pressurized cloth), ragdolls and character controllers, vehicle dynamics, particles and volumetric fluid simulation.

Hardware acceleration

[edit]
Comparison of physics levels in Mafia II.
(PC) The top screenshot shows how debris is simulated in Mafia II when PhysX is turned to the highest level in the game settings. The bottom screenshot shows a similar scene with PhysX turned to the lowest level.

PPU

[edit]

A physics processing unit (PPU) is a processor specially designed to alleviate the calculation burden on the CPU, specifically calculations involving physics. PhysX PPUs were offered to consumers in the forms of PCI or PCIe cards by ASUS,[19] BFG Technologies,[20][21] Dell[22] and ELSA Technology.[23]

Beginning with version 2.8.3 of the PhysX SDK, support for PPU cards was dropped, and PPU cards are no longer manufactured.[8] The last incarnation of PhysX PPU standalone card designed by Ageia had roughly the same PhysX performance as a dedicated 9800GTX.[24]

GPU

[edit]

After Nvidia's acquisition of Ageia, PhysX development turned away from PPU expansion cards and focused instead on the GPGPU capabilities of modern GPUs.

Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating and displaying computer graphics, and their highly parallel structure makes them more effective than general-purpose CPUs for accelerating physical simulations using PhysX.

Any CUDA-ready GeForce graphics card (8-series or later GPU with a minimum of 32 cores and a minimum of 256 MB dedicated graphics memory[25]) can take advantage of PhysX without the need to install a dedicated PhysX card.

APEX

[edit]

Nvidia APEX technology is a multi-platform scalable dynamics framework build around the PhysX SDK. It was first introduced in Mafia II in August 2010.[26] Nvidia's APEX comprises the following modules: APEX Destruction, APEX Clothing, APEX Particles, APEX Turbulence, APEX ForceField and formerly APEX Vegetation which was suspended in 2011.[27][28]

From version 1.4.1 APEX SDK is deprecated.[29]

Nvidia FleX

[edit]

FleX is a particle based simulation technique for real-time visual effects. Traditionally, visual effects are made using a combination of elements created using specialized solvers for rigid bodies, fluids, clothing, etc. Because FleX uses a unified particle representation for all object types, it enables new effects where different simulated substances can interact with each other seamlessly. Such unified physics solvers are a staple of the offline computer graphics world, where tools such as Autodesk Maya's nCloth, and Softimage's Lagoa are widely used. The goal for FleX is to use the power of GPUs to bring the capabilities of these offline applications to real-time computer graphics.[30]

Criticism from Real World Technologies

[edit]

On July 5, 2010, Real World Technologies published an analysis[31] of the PhysX architecture. According to this analysis, most of the code used in PhysX applications at the time was based on x87 instructions without any multithreading optimization. This could cause significant performance drops when running PhysX code on the CPU. The article suggested that a PhysX rewrite using SSE instructions may substantially lessen the performance discrepancy between CPU PhysX and GPU PhysX.

In response to the Real World Technologies analysis, Mike Skolones, product manager of PhysX, said[32] that SSE support had been left behind because most games are developed for consoles first and then ported to the PC. As a result, modern computers run these games faster and better than the consoles even with little or no optimization. Senior PR manager of Nvidia, Bryan Del Rizzo, explained that multithreading had already been available with CPU PhysX 2.x and that it had been up to the developer to make use of it. He also stated that automatic multithreading and SSE would be introduced with version 3 of the PhysX SDK.[33]

PhysX SDK 3.0 was released in May 2011 and represented a significant rewrite of the SDK, bringing improvements such as more efficient multithreading and a unified code base for all supported platforms.[2]

Usage

[edit]

PhysX in video games

[edit]

PhysX technology is used by game engines such as Unreal Engine (version 3 onwards), Unity, Gamebryo, Vision (version 6 onwards), Instinct Engine,[34] Panda3D, Diesel, Torque, HeroEngine, and BigWorld.[25]

As one of the handful of major physics engines, it is used in many games, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Warframe, Killing Floor 2, Fallout 4, Batman: Arkham Knight, Planetside 2, and Borderlands 2. Most of these games use the CPU to process the physics simulations.

Video games with optional support for hardware-accelerated PhysX often include additional effects such as tearable cloth, dynamic smoke or simulated particle debris.[35][36][37]

PhysX in other software

[edit]

Other software with PhysX support includes:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NVIDIA PhysX SDK 4.1". Engadget. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "NVIDIA announces the release of PhysX SDK V3". Nvidia. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  3. ^ "NovodeX AG". ETH Zürich. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  4. ^ César A. Berardini (April 12, 2005). "AGEIA Technologies Interview". Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  5. ^ "Physics Engine: PhysX". MobyGames. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "NVIDIA completes Acquisition of AGEIA Technologies" (Press release). NVIDIA Corporation. February 13, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  7. ^ "PhysX For CUDA, Linux Support A Given?". Phoronix. Phoronix Media. February 14, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2008.
  8. ^ a b "How to restore PPU support with latest PhysX Drivers | PhysXInfo.com – PhysX News". PhysXInfo.com. January 17, 2011. Archived from the original on November 24, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  9. ^ "PhysX On GitHub". Nvidia. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  10. ^ "PhysX SDK as of January 7, 2017". Nvidia. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "PhysX SDK". NVIDIA Developer. November 28, 2018. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  12. ^ "Open Source Simulation Expands with NVIDIA PhysX 5 Release". Nvidia. November 8, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Sony Computer Entertainment Enters Into Strategic Licensing Agreement With AGEIA" (PDF) (Press release). Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. July 21, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2006. Retrieved August 23, 2006.
  14. ^ "Playstation 3 gets free PhysX from Nvidia". Kotaku. March 18, 2009.
  15. ^ Lowe, Scott (March 7, 2013). "Nvidia Announces PhysX Support for PlayStation 4".
  16. ^ "PhysX – Overview – GeForce". Nvidia.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  17. ^ "NVIDIA Announces PhysX Support for Microsoft Xbox One Game Console". Nvidia.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  18. ^ "News – Pre-GDC: Nvidia PhysX Approved For Wii Developers". Gamasutra. March 19, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  19. ^ "Asus 128mb PhysX Card Review/Preview". July 12, 2006.
  20. ^ "AGEIA And BFG Technologies Enter Into Retail Distribution Agreement". Archived from the original on April 26, 2006.
  21. ^ "BFG Ageia PhysX Card Review". October 1, 2007.
  22. ^ "AGEIA PhysX - graphics card - AGEIA PhysX - 128 MB Specs". Cnet.
  23. ^ "ELSA teams up with Ageia".
  24. ^ "English articles from PC Games Hardware". www.pcgameshardware.com. January 26, 2009.
  25. ^ a b "PhysX FAQ". Nvidia.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  26. ^ Olin Coles. "Mafia-II Video Game Performance Review". BenchmarkReviews.com. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  27. ^ "APEX". Retrieved June 8, 2011.
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