The Dedicated PhysX card FAQ - Read this before asking any questions!

[ramintjoo]

thx broo

[Ray_Rogers2109]

Which PhysX card would work best with my entire set-up? I'll be buying the Sapphire 6950 2GB 100312-3L, unlocking to 6970, and using it on the 16x PCI-E 2.0 slot. The nVidia PhysX GPU will be used on the 8x PCI-E 2.0 slot. Any suggestions? Considering one for about $80.
I don't think I can use my 8400GS, it's the one with an S-Video port and not the HDMI one, as a PhysX dedicated card.
Would I even need a dedicated PhysX card with the GPU I'm buying soon? The Sapphire 6950 2GB 100312-3L will be the main card i.e. connected to the monitor.

[ZenZimZaliben]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers2109

Which PhysX card would work best with my entire set-up? I'll be buying the Sapphire 6950 2GB 100312-3L, unlocking to 6970, and using it on the 16x PCI-E 2.0 slot. The nVidia PhysX GPU will be used on the 8x PCI-E 2.0 slot. Any suggestions? Considering one for about $80.
I don't think I can use my 8400GS, it's the one with an S-Video port and not the HDMI one, as a PhysX dedicated card.
Would I even need a dedicated PhysX card with the GPU I'm buying soon? The Sapphire 6950 2GB 100312-3L will be the main card i.e. connected to the monitor.

IF you want to run Nvidias Physx, then you need a Nvidia card. The latest game to support PhysX is the latest Batman. Not a huge list of games incorporate PhysX, but I will say the added effects are nice.

[Ray_Rogers2109]

Originally Posted by ZenZimZaliben

IF you want to run Nvidias Physx, then you need a Nvidia card. The latest game to support PhysX is the latest Batman. Not a huge list of games incorporate PhysX, but I will say the added effects are nice.

I only have a very few games which support it. First of all MAFIA II, soon to buy BATMAN: Arkham Asylum (have only played the demo with the integrated 4290), BATMAN: Arkham City (after I've completed Arkham Asylum), METRO 2033 and possibly one other.
Would like to see some comparison images with the EXACT same settings for the above games with PhysX on and off. Guess it'd be most helpful but I'm still using a generic CRT and using a DVI to VGA adaptor. GPU first and then the monitor in my system specs guide next.

EDIT: So the 8400GS I'm assuming won't cut it for PhysX.
EDIT EDIT: Just looked through the forums and it's too weak for it.

[ZenZimZaliben]

http://physxinfo.com/data/vreview.html

Also I think it just needs to be a G92 core or newer.

I know I used my 8800GTS for PhysX and it worked great.

[Ray_Rogers2109]

Originally Posted by ZenZimZaliben

http://physxinfo.com/data/vreview.html

Also I think it just needs to be a G92 core or newer.

I know I used my 8800GTS for PhysX and it worked great.

Thanks! Browsing through the On and Off comparison shots, it appears with it on it makes these games more atmospheric. But I'll be using the Sapphire 6950 2GB 100312-3L with the 6970 BIOS before purchasing the stand-alone PhysX card.

[Ray_Rogers2109]

I'm considering the PNY VCGGT5201XPB GeForce GT 520 (Fermi) for the PhysX card but in the 8x PCI-E 2.0 slot. the Sapphire will be in the PCI-E 2.0 16x slot.

[newtekie1]

The GT520 will technically work, but I'd get something with more shaders than just 48. Something like the GT440 would do nicely.

[Ray_Rogers2109]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

The GT520 will technically work, but I'd get something with more shaders than just 48. Something like the GT440 would do nicely.

Would I really need more shaders if I don't have anything connected to the ports on the PhysX card? As stated I'm buying the Sapphire 6950 2GB with the 6970 bios switch as stated. It'll be my main graphics card. I don't think I'll even buy the PhysX card until after I buy the monitor.
So Sapphire 6950/unlocked fully to 6970 will be the main card and nVidia will just be for PhysX.

[Ray_Rogers2109]

Okay I looked at the program files and features with the start menu. Says I have PhysX version 9.10.0513 Should I still need a dedicated GPU for PhysX though? Asking before I install the GPU in my system specs tomorrow (hopefully it'll arrive then).

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers2109

Would I really need more shaders if I don't have anything connected to the ports on the PhysX card? As stated I'm buying the Sapphire 6950 2GB with the 6970 bios switch as stated. It'll be my main graphics card. I don't think I'll even buy the PhysX card until after I buy the monitor.
So Sapphire 6950/unlocked fully to 6970 will be the main card and nVidia will just be for PhysX.

The reason I suggest a card with more shaders is because nVidia likes raising the requirements. When the first released PhysX for their cards(after buying Ageia) there wasn't a minimum shader requirement. Then they made the minimum 16 shaders, then they raised it to 32 shaders sometime in the last year(I forget when). I wouldn't be surprised if they up it again to 64 shaders in the near future. So while 48 shaders will technically do now, I'd go with something with more just in case.

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers2109

Okay I looked at the program files and features with the start menu. Says I have PhysX version 9.10.0513 Should I still need a dedicated GPU for PhysX though? Asking before I install the GPU in my system specs tomorrow (hopefully it'll arrive then).

You do not need a PhysX card to use PhysX. Games that use PhysX will run in "Software" mode if a PhysX card is not detected. The physics details of the game will be run on the CPU and the physics details will be lowered so it doesn't overload the CPU. The quality without a dedicated PhysX card is equal to what you would get with other software physics engines, such as Havok or Bullet. Some games allow you to actually increase the physics details back to their full levels even when running PhysX on the CPU, however framerates tend to suck due to PhysX never being designed to run on a CPU.

[theoneandonlymrk]

due to a recent mobo upgrade see rig and the recent aquisition of batman AC ive dug out my old gt240 and thrown it into this admittedly test stage rig, its installed right gpuz sees it and its being used ,though not by all physx apps (fluidmark) and the physx isnt the prob as i think it is working

my issue is my crossfired 5800's, ive reinstalled their drivers a few times ,first due to swapping them round jic and then a few more times with uninstalls to rectify my problem ,which is

their visible and deffinately crossfired (benches prove this) but the crossfire tabs not shown in CCC or ati tray tools for that matter ,its like their one card as unistalling a monitor from either stops them both displaying , v odd any ideas

[entropy13]

Originally Posted by jacob.lara79

Hopefully I can explain what is going on here,

The 9800 is too slow to keep up with your newer 560 Ti card.

Your 560 Ti is able to render frames much faster then the 9800, so it has to wait for the 9800 to finish calculating the Phys X before it can display those frames. If you were to use two similar cars like two 560Ti (1x Normal GPU and 1x dedicated Phys X) You will probably see an increase in frames because both cards are able to work at similar speeds.

Nope, no increase in framerates. Just "removed" the bottleneck. But then again if you have two 560 Ti's just SLI them and ignore "dedicated PhysX".

[theoneandonlymrk]

i got my physx working thanks to erocker's headsup on the driver i shouldnt have used, after messing with batman a bit ive decided personally you now need something with 192 plus shaders in, so im hopeing a gt640 might appear soon and have whats needed

[erocker]

Originally Posted by theoneandonlymrk

i got my physx working thanks to erocker's headsup on the driver i shouldnt have used, after messing with batman a bit ive decided personally you now need something with 192 plus shaders in, so im hopeing a gt640 might appear soon and have whats needed

What card are you using for PhysX?

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by theoneandonlymrk

i got my physx working thanks to erocker's headsup on the driver i shouldnt have used, after messing with batman a bit ive decided personally you now need something with 192 plus shaders in, so im hopeing a gt640 might appear soon and have whats needed

What makes you say that? With my GT240 doing dedicated PhysX in with the SLI GTX470's the GPU load on the GT240 barely breaks 50%.

Remember, performance loss(as in lower FPS) when adding a dedicated PhysX card is guaranteed.

[khanfauza]

due to a recent mobo upgrade see rig and the recent aquisition of batman AC ive dug out my old gt240 and thrown it into this admittedly test stage rig, its installed right gpuz sees it and its being used ,though not by all physx apps (fluidmark) and the physx isnt the prob as i think it is working.What card are you using for PhysX?

[Velvet Wafer]

So, with Borderlands 2 coming out soon, i would like to inform myself here, if there is still a way to physx an ATI card with an Nvidia card via hack... still have a 9800gt green that i could use for that

[ZenZimZaliben]

Haha, yup. I just reinstalled my 8800GTS for the very same reason. Everything seems to work in FluidMark.

[Velvet Wafer]

which drivers did you use for that?

[ZenZimZaliben]

Originally Posted by Velvet Wafer

which drivers did you use for that?

http://www.ngohq.com/graphic-cards/1...3-v1-05ff.html

Just followed above revisions. 1st post should probably be updated with latest info.

[Black Mesa]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

I'll be interested in your results. When I did the same experiment with my GTX470 and a 9600GT I found no difference in performance.

Touche ^ I found the same with my GTX560SE and a GTX275 I found no difference in performance although heat and noise output went threw the roof. I quickly uninstalled the Physx* card after all Physx* games were tested.

[Velvet Wafer]

huh strange... the system doesnt recognize the nvidia card at all, when i dont use it in the primary slot, and if i put it in the primary slot, the 6970 gets no video output (sadly no way to distinguish the post order between pcie slots in bios)

[Random Murderer]

Originally Posted by Velvet Wafer

huh strange... the system doesnt recognize the nvidia card at all, when i dont use it in the primary slot, and if i put it in the primary slot, the 6970 gets no video output (sadly no way to distinguish the post order between pcie slots in bios)

Sounds like a borked PCIE slot to me. can you try them in another system?

[Velvet Wafer]

Originally Posted by Random Murderer

Sounds like a borked PCIE slot to me. can you try them in another system?

slot is fine, my 6970 works flawless in both...i could put both cards into another system, but that would be a MAJOR hassle, i would love to circumvent