BFG 260s Sli'd with 9800GT as physics card possible?

[MainframeTM]

Any 1 know if I can do this?

 

[mlee49]

Yeah if your motherboard has 3 PCI-E slots that evenly spaced out you can run 2 cards in SLI and a 3rd for Physx.

 

[MoonPig]

Im pretty sure 2 GTX260s have enough power to do physX on their own. No real need for the 9800GT, IMO.

 

[MainframeTM]

So the card wouldn't have any impact @ all?

 

[Kenshai]

Very little, honestly it probably wouldn't even be worth it.

 

[MainframeTM]

Thanks guys!

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Im pretty sure 2 GTX260s have enough power to do physX on their own. No real need for the 9800GT, IMO.

There's a big performance difference between using a dedicated GPU for PhysX and using the same GPU that's being used for rendering. The shader schedulers take quite a big hit if they have to distribute pixel shading and physics calculations among the cores.


A year ago, I'd say the SLI'd GTX260s were enough but nowadays, that's not really high-end anymore. Plus, the total 896MB memory isn't big enough to spare some for physics.


I say use the 9800GT.

 

[Kenshai]

There's a big performance difference between using a dedicated GPU for PhysX and using the same GPU that's being used for rendering. The shader schedulers take quite a big hit if they have to distribute pixel shading and physics calculations among the cores.


A year ago, I'd say the SLI'd GTX260s were enough but nowadays, that's not really high-end anymore. Plus, the total 896MB memory isn't big enough to spare some for physics.


I say use the 9800GT.

There's not that many games that use Physx, it's not really worth it to even bother.

Here is the official list.

 

[JATownes]

There's not that many games that use Physx, it's not really worth it to even bother.

Here is the official list.

Link is broken.

 

[MainframeTM]

I may just drop a evga 250gts into the mix & run all 3 cards trislied. I wonder if I'm going to help the computer? lol

 

[Kenshai]

Link is broken.

Fixed, not in your quote obviously.

I may just drop a evga 250gts into the mix & run all 3 cards trislied. I wonder if I'm going to help the computer? lol

Don't think you can do that 250gts is a G92b core, if you need the extra power just drop another GTX 260 in or get rid of the 260 you have and pick up a 5850 if you feel you need the extra power.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

There's not that many games that use Physx, it's not really worth it to even bother.

Here is the official list.

Even if PhysX is nearing death, the 9800GT could still be used for DX Compute Shader or OpenCL tasks in the future, and that involves physics, AI and other stuff.

I say if he needs the money, go ahead and just sell it. If he doesn't need the money, use the card.

 

[Kenshai]

Even if PhysX is nearing death, the 9800GT could still be used for DX Compute Shader or OpenCL tasks in the future, and that involves physics, AI and other stuff.

I say if he needs the money, go ahead and just sell it. If he doesn't need the money, use the card.

We don't even know if OP has the 9800gt handy, the fact really is how much help will it really be?

 

[jasper1605]

yeah the 9800 I'd say is not worth buying but if it's there get it. And while you have the 3 of them start doin' some F@H and get TPU some points!!! (also save some lives in the process)

 

[MainframeTM]

Yeah I seem to have a plethera of video cards lol I had a total of 3 9800gts - 2 260gts & a 250gts - thankfully I've sold 1 9800gt & am about to sell another I think.

 

[brandonwh64]

i have a Visiontek 5850 with a 9600GT as physx and the only game that benefits from it that i play is metro 2033.

 

[Kenshai]

i have a Visiontek 5850 with a 9600GT as physx and the only game that benefits from it that i play is metro 2033.

Exactly my point here.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_480_Fermi/29.html

Even the almighty GTX480 takes a 50% hit if it's also doing the PhysX stuff.
Believe me, having a separate gpu for PhysX makes a big difference.

The OP already has the 9800GT with him, it's only a matter of selling it now or later.

I say, if you're playing or intend to play:
- Mirror's Edge
- Batman AA
- Dark Void
- Metro 2033
- Cryostasis

Then keep the 9800GT for a while longer and use it for these games. You'll only be able to crank the settings up to max if you're using the 9800GT for PhysX.
When you're done with them, just sell the card -> unless it becomes useful for DirectX CS and OpenCL in future games.