AGEIA PhysX Graphics Accelerator from BFG Conclusion

Performance

For the limited titles that do support the PhysX PPU, the resulting level of detail and object interaction is quite impressive. As you fire a grenade into an enemy building, the explosion creates thousands of pieces of shrapnel that fly through the air all around you. The shrapnel ricochets off the surrounding buildings and can cause damage to you, or your squad mates, if you haven't taken sufficient cover.

The way the PhysX PPU renders liquids is as amazing as the explosion and particle effects. In one demo built using Unreal Engine 3, a projectile cracks open an oil tank and the black goo comes spilling out so realistically you might feel like wiping down your monitor.

The Verdict

Despite the impressive visuals enabled by the PhysX PPU, it is very hard to look past the fact that the technology is still in its infancy and has not been adopted by very many game developers. We are hopeful that some game companies might go back and offer new versions of hit games, but no companies have yet stepped forward, likely due to high development costs.

AGEIA PhysX Graphics Accelerator from BFG

Requirements: 1.4 GHz processor or faster; 128 MB of system RAM; Windows XP; 20 MB of available disk space; vacant PCI slot; add-in graphics card supporting Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 2.0 or higher.

Pros: Capability for more detailed and fully interactive gaming environments.

Cons: Expensive; few games available that support PhysX.

The Verdict: The PhysX PPU delivers the jaw-dropping effects it promises, but limited software support makes it difficult to justify spending $300 right now.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Price: $299