The board supposedly needs a maximum of 2.3 amps under maximal load (28W total via the 12V supply you feed it). The 40mm fan and heatsink combo reminds your author of those fitted to graphics boards in days gone by. It spins devoid of any thermostatic control and rotational regulation. It's loud enough to intrude on a silent PC and we estimate something in the order of 32-36dBA The PhysX PPU's memory controller supports the same GDDR3 memory that current graphics hardware does, and the BFG sample is equipped with four 32MiB 500MHz Samsung DRAMs. Each populates a 32-bit channel and they combine to give the chip a maximum read bandwidth of 16GB/sec and 128MiB total on-board storage.

HEXUS.net take a look at the BFG Tech's PhysX PPU, finding out how it works, how to develop games powered by it and of course how a PhysX enabled game plays. Here's a taster:

However, much like the early days of 3D graphics (take a moment to remember your first encounter with GLQuake, or the Tomb Raider patch if you were in to 3D graphics back then, for those are sweet moments), the PhysX PPU needs traction with a killer title or two to make the world sit up and notice. GR:AW that ain't. Bet on Soldier that ain't. Rise of Nations that ain't. I remember the feeling the first time I fired up GLQuake on my Voodoo Graphics accelerator.

I get almost the same feeling when I fire it up now. I don't get that feeling when I play PhysX-enabled titles, since the effects presented in the first wave of supporting titles isn't as overwhelming and persistent. And it remains to be seen where the first killer title will come from. Developer support is pretty strong, though, with Unreal Engine 3.0 the biggest current proponent in terms of game-building middleware that uses it. We wait and see.

GPU effects physics (just Havok FX right now) is the easier bet for a developer looking to tack on effects-based stuff to an existing engine, too, especially if they already license Havok Physics. That means we pretty much just wait and see what happens. Currently there's no reason to spend the £200+ to acquire one. The current effects in the supported games aren't worth the price and potential performance drop. Cell Factor and awesome UE3.0 games, where art thou? Without those the PhysX hardware is a curiosity for the gamer.

Another rather negative review can be found on RegHarware:

The limited number of titles and their disappointing use of the PhysX PPU means that, currently, there's no reason to spend the £200+ to acquire a PhysX card. The current effects in the supported games aren't worth the price and potential performance drop. Cell Factor and awesome Unreal Engine 3.0 games, where art thou? Without them, the PhysX hardware is merely a curiosity. But one to watch.

BFG confirmed that their first PhysX cards will hit e-tailers shelves next Monday, May 8th 2006.

My words exactly. :lol: