AMD's new 'Mantle' API?

Dashiva

http://www.techspot.com/news/54134-amd-unveils-revolutionary-mantle-api-to-optimize-gpu-performance.html

Apparently BF4 is going to run on Mantle as well as DX11(?). Anyone know what's going on there? It just seems to be another way to fragment the market.

o2car

I think the idea is to remove software limitations from the PC platform, as Mantle can handle 9 times more drawcalls.

Busterizer

I hope Mantle API gets to set new standard in graphics programming. As they say it is able to compete directly with DirectX 11.1; BF4 will probably showcase it in best light. What they are trying to do is to provide graphics programmers with more powerfull software so they could can choose between OpenGL, Direct X, and Mantle. Where Mantle is advertised as far superior.

ZacD

I wonder how much of it is just marketing hype at this point, I don't see OpenGL, Direct X (Microsoft), and Nvidia letting AMD getting a 9 times drawcall advantage.

3ShirtlessMen

Some graphic programming silverbacks in the industry have shown considerable interest in this technology already, so I doubt it's all hype. A lower level PC layered API is what a lot of engine designers have been asking for and it now looks like a real possibility.

ZacD

Either way it should drive a lot of innovation from those other companies.

o2car

3ShirtlessMen wrote: »

Some graphic programming silverbacks in the industry have shown considerable interest in this technology already, so I doubt it's all hype. A lower level PC layered API is what a lot of engine designers have been asking for and it now looks like a real possibility.

John Carmack (@ID_AA_Carmack) tweeted at 9:36 AM on Thu, Sep 26, 2013:
@repi I'll see you and Tim next month. That should start some speculation. :-)
(https://twitter.com/ID_AA_Carmack/status/383268932498374656)

Skamander

Some benchmarks are available. They look promising, even though the driver was not really optimized if I remember a tweet correctly. I hope this pushes Microsoft and the Khronos Group to optimize DirectX and OpenGL heavily.

To quote a crydev.net user:

-- some crydev.net user wrote:

Some websites have the new driver and could test the performance boost a bit:

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/amd_mantle_preview,1.html

BF4 Single Player (hardwareluxx): http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hardwareluxx.de%2Findex.php%2Fartikel%2Fhardware%2Fgrafikkarten%2F29682-erste-ergebnisse-im-kampf-mantle-vs-directx.html&act=url
BF4 Multiplayer (hardwareluxx): http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hardwareluxx.de%2Findex.php%2Fartikel%2Fhardware%2Fgrafikkarten%2F29682-erste-ergebnisse-im-kampf-mantle-vs-directx.html%3Fstart%3D1
BF4 Multiplayer (golem): http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golem.de%2Fnews%2Famds-mantle-api-im-test-der-prozessor-katalysator-1402-104261-3.html
Star Swarm (golem - massive amount of units): http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golem.de%2Fnews%2Famds-mantle-api-im-test-der-prozessor-katalysator-1402-104261-4.html&sandbox=1

CrazyButcher

Obviously biased, but there is a bunch of OpenGL features + NVIDIA extensions (bindless family) that allow to give you very high amount of drawcalls + different constant data/textures per call as well (which do not exist in DX land).

artquest

o2car wrote: »

I think the idea is to remove software limitations from the PC platform, as Mantle can handle 9 times more drawcalls.

It may very well be a lot more then 9 times

The project I recently worked on goes up to 25,000 batches while using mantle.

http://www.oxidegames.com/

From what little I understand as an artist from talking to the programmers is... This is very similar to what consoles have had for years. Low level API allows programmers to do amazing things and have more control over what happens when. Dan Baker has been talking about re-structuring the way we think when it comes to making engines for pc games and Mantle is just one piece of that puzzle.

I really can't wait to see what kind of games come out of this new tech