SemiCycle
06-14-02, 09:16 PM
I've been thinking about the Cg language Nvidia pulled out the bag yesterday. I know it will have it's benifits, but this the quote from the ZDnet article that made me start this thread :
"The Cg Toolkit, which includes programming libraries and a compiler for writing specific instructions for Nvidia chips, is available now for developers to download. Seitz said Nvidia will make the basic Cg code available for other makers of graphics chips to write their own compilers."
Here is the complete areticle
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-935626.html
I know it says that they will make the code available to other chip manufactures, but the first part of the quote above could be taken many ways.
--One way that scares me is that the libraries are will be so highly optimized for nvidia hardware that they may not even work, or if they do work, it may be at reduced performance levels on all other graphics chips except Nvidias.
--In the second sentence above, it says they will make the **BASIC** code available. It doesn't sound like they will be giving out the good stuff.
--There is another way to take the second sentence too. If ATI for example uses these libraries, it may take them 3-6 driver releases before the extra code really gives any type of boost in performance. Nvidia on the other hand created it, so they will always have the upper hand in optimizing the use of it.
--If this language really catches on, will Nvidia be too powerful? Will they be able to dictate what specs hardware manufactures have to put in their next chip if they want the boost that compiled Nvidia languge could give?
--And lastly, this seems like an atempt to bring back the API. That really wouldn't be good. Do you guys remeber how the 3dfx version of MechWarrior 2 looked compared to the other versions. We'll start seeing games boxes saying "Best Played with a GeForce4"
If you stop by to read the thread, please leave a comment. Hopefully, I'm just paranoid of Nvidia and none of this will come to pass.
"The Cg Toolkit, which includes programming libraries and a compiler for writing specific instructions for Nvidia chips, is available now for developers to download. Seitz said Nvidia will make the basic Cg code available for other makers of graphics chips to write their own compilers."
Here is the complete areticle
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-935626.html
I know it says that they will make the code available to other chip manufactures, but the first part of the quote above could be taken many ways.
--One way that scares me is that the libraries are will be so highly optimized for nvidia hardware that they may not even work, or if they do work, it may be at reduced performance levels on all other graphics chips except Nvidias.
--In the second sentence above, it says they will make the **BASIC** code available. It doesn't sound like they will be giving out the good stuff.
--There is another way to take the second sentence too. If ATI for example uses these libraries, it may take them 3-6 driver releases before the extra code really gives any type of boost in performance. Nvidia on the other hand created it, so they will always have the upper hand in optimizing the use of it.
--If this language really catches on, will Nvidia be too powerful? Will they be able to dictate what specs hardware manufactures have to put in their next chip if they want the boost that compiled Nvidia languge could give?
--And lastly, this seems like an atempt to bring back the API. That really wouldn't be good. Do you guys remeber how the 3dfx version of MechWarrior 2 looked compared to the other versions. We'll start seeing games boxes saying "Best Played with a GeForce4"
If you stop by to read the thread, please leave a comment. Hopefully, I'm just paranoid of Nvidia and none of this will come to pass.