GPU physics on SLi models?

Has anyone got physx drivers to work. I have the the 177.44 installed, but I didn't add the PhysX driver. I was wondering what's the prospects since taking the physics away from the 2GHz T7250 probably is a good thing.

 

I don't have an SLI setup or an nVidia card for that matter but here's my thoughts. Why do you need to move physics to the GPU? To get better frames? Think of it this way, games max out the GPU more easily than the CPU, correct (except for games like Supreme Commander*, does that support physics?)? So, when you're already maxing your SLI setup, why would you want to put more strain on it and lower your overall FPS? Instead of doing this, you should let physics be done on your CPU since it likely isn't being maxed out anyways.

*for games that heavily utilize the CPU and little of the GPU, like SC (assuming it supports physics); it would be a good idea to move physics to the GPU, however, there aren't many cases like this.

Final note: why would you want to lower your FPS with physics when your CPU is likely not fully utilized anyways?

 

Greatsquare,

Be patient for Nvidia to release the updates for us.

Notyou,

I guess you've never played on a game that was Physx enabled that had the add on Ageia Physx board, have you?

If Nvidia's implementation is even 1/2 of that the board gives you, it'll be a big improvement.

the GPU will be alot more efficient doing the calculations than the cpu would be.

If you want to see the difference and you have a later model Nvidia card with the latest drivers, try the Nvidia F@H client, run it for a day, then run only the CPU F@H client and see which does better processing of graphics content. Same graphics type computations.

 

Wow please keep this thread running and update me when a driver that does come out with that feature is available. I'm very interested especially if it keeps my SLI1 running modern games at 60 fps with all the eye candy. Right now I'm using 175.19 got 7555 on 3dmark06 basic version. Prior to that was using 174.31 which gave me 7249 on 3dmark and before that the stock drivers which gave me 6987 so with each driver I'm getting faster performance. I did download 177.41 to my desktop and tried the have disk method but didn't find my 8600m gt as an available option, so I aborted. If it does have the physics and meant for our x205sli1 rigs please run me through on how to install it. Or are they coming out with drivers specifically made for the 8600m gt's?

 

PhysX pieces are separate from the actual drivers.

 

everything I've heard about the PhysX on GPU indicates you take a serious overall performance hit to get the improved physics.....Maximum PC podcast etc.

I'd hold out for a 3rd or 4th gpu before trying it.

 

I admit, I don't have a PhysX processor, but when you have a decent CPU it doesn't really matter since there are idle cycles that could be used for physics. I also get that the GPU is more efficient at physics calculations than a CPU. However, my point was saying that with cheap GPUs (just for saying now, the 8400m gs, though this would carry through to most other mid to low-high range cards) have little to no benefit to having it enabled. Let me point it out in an example, let say the 8400 can just play (~30fps) hl2 at medium settings at 800x600. Now, in order to have physics enabled, that would require horsepower that the GPU can't provide on account of it's weak performance. Thus, instead of playing at 800x600 w/ medium settings, you'd now have to play at 800x600 w/ low settings because physics is enabled.

I also will agree that when a GPU is powerful enough to handle the game at higher settings than you can play (lets say max @ 1280x800 [limited by resolution]), yet the GPU can play that game at max @ 1680x1050; then it would be beneficial to add physics since you have that extra headroom.

This make sense?

 

So how's that? how are you suppose to run this physx stuff then? I kinda read somewhere on the gaming section that this guy named The Forerunner was waiting for I guess a driver for our 8 series nvidia cards that had this physx. He was the one that posted the 175.19 drivers so I was excited reading his post but forgot the details. If your willing please elaborate.

 

PhysX is a separate add on that must be installed after the driver set. It is NOT released yet for our cards, so for us, is a matter of waiting. the current release is pretty much a beta and is horribly optimized.