PPU PhysX disabled for ATI too?

[HurleyBird]

From NGOHQ:

As you may or may not know, Windows 7 allows two display drivers to be used at once - like in Windows XP. Therefore, it is possible to use an Nvidia card for PhysX and ATI card for graphics rendering. Sadly, since the release of 186 graphics drivers, Nvidia has decided to block this feature anytime a Non-Nvidia GPU is present in the system (Even IGPs). In addition, for some incomprehensible reasons, the latest version of PhysX System Software also prevents PPU cards (such as BFG PPU) from working if a Non-Nvidia GPU is present.

Can anyone with a PPU and a Radeon confirm this? For all I know, this could be just a rumor, but if it's true then Nvidia's actions are truly disgusting. At the very least this kind of behaviour demands a class action from consumers, and maybe even a trial for anti-competitive practices. Again, I think we should wait for confirmation before ripping Nvidia a new one, but if true.... damn.

Edit: Confirmed!

 

[crackshot91]

:disgust:

 

[T2k]

Dunno, I didn't notice any difference recently - I haven't updated my PPU drivers since ages though.

The word on the street since last year that you should

1. install the last fully PPU-enabled system driver set: http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_8.09.04_whql.html

2. then upgrade it with the latest one: http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_8.09.04_whql.html

3. then download this DLL and copy (overwrite if exist) into your %SystemRoot%\System32\ folder (this is a pre-180 Forceware version.)

 

[thilanliyan]

nV is really on a roll lately (if true).

 

[T2k]

Originally posted by: thilanliyan
nV is really on a troll lately (if true).

Fixed it for ya...

 

[dguy6789]

This shouldn't surprise anyone.

 

[Tempered81]

Ya pretty soon if you play Batman with an ati card, it will just blow your computer up. We'll probably have to wait until the first game patch for that to happen.

 

[yusux]

I just hope nVidiaClassAction.com comes up soon

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: Tempered81
Ya pretty soon if you play Batman with an ati card, it will just blow your computer up. We'll probably have to wait until the first game patch for that to happen.

Lol indeed.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: Sylvanas

Originally posted by: Tempered81
Ya pretty soon if you play Batman with an ati card, it will just blow your computer up. We'll probably have to wait until the first game patch for that to happen.

Lol indeed.

Apologists will say ATI should have paid the developers to not have the game blow up when using their cards.

 

[thilanliyan]

Keysplayr or anyone else with some contact at nVidia...could one of you talk to nVidia and get a confirmation/denial of this accusation?

 

[schneiderguy]

Physx will be completely irrelevant (not that it's relevant now) in 2 years regardless of what nvidia does to try to "convince" people to buy their cards.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy
Physx will be completely irrelevant (not that it's relevant now) in 2 years regardless of what nvidia does to try to "convince" people to buy their cards.

I feel similarly about PhysX (in contrast to physics) and that is why I don't get too motivated to participate in the recent discussions regarding PhysX. (Though the Batman AA thread did cause me a bit of concern, it's still minor)

Back on topic: I had this question before, but how is IGP affected by this? There are tons of Intel 3/4 series IGP chipsets and AMD 6/7 series chipsets out there. And Intel will very soon launch CPUs with on-package IGPs. I am not sure how NV will/can sort through all these.

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: dguy6789

Originally posted by: Sylvanas

Originally posted by: Tempered81
Ya pretty soon if you play Batman with an ati card, it will just blow your computer up. We'll probably have to wait until the first game patch for that to happen.

Lol indeed.

Apologists will say ATI should have paid the developers to not have the game blow up when using their cards.

hahah!

 

[nismotigerwvu]

4 hours and no response from the nvidia squad here? Sounds like the PR big shots get sunday's off and they don't have a pre-written statement to post now....

 

[zebrax2]

Aren't those sold before NV acquired Ageia? They are seriously looking for a case for their lawyers to work with if this is true

 

[JSt0rm]

Originally posted by: nismotigerwvu
4 hours and no response from the nvidia squad here? Sounds like the PR big shots get sunday's off and they don't have a pre-written statement to post now....

they dont work on the weekend yo :laugh:

 

[Keysplayr]

Ah, the Demerjian clan.
How can I help?
PhysX has been disabled when ATI cards are present in the system. Why are any of you surprised? What would be the point of disabling only Nvidia GPU's running PhysX alongside an ATI card and still let PhysX PPU's do it? If they had, might as well have never blocked PhsyX in the first place.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: Keysplayr
Ah, the Demerjian clan.
How can I help?
PhysX has been disabled when ATI cards are present in the system. Why are any of you surprised? What would be the point of disabling only Nvidia GPU's running PhysX alongside an ATI card and still let PhysX PPU's do it? If they had, might as well have never blocked PhsyX in the first place.

It sounds like you're supportive of this!?? I hope not because then you think it's okay that NV just bricked the PPU cards that people bought when they have/had an ATI card? This PhysX thing is becoming a mess...if it can't survive without being artificially propped up by nV then I hope something better (better implemented and not limited in the way PhysX is currently being) will replace it.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Keysplayr
Ah, the Demerjian clan.
How can I help?
PhysX has been disabled when ATI cards are present in the system. Why are any of you surprised? What would be the point of disabling only Nvidia GPU's running PhysX alongside an ATI card and still let PhysX PPU's do it? If they had, might as well have never blocked PhsyX in the first place.

It is called "Customer Service",its clear Nvidia don't have a clue in this area,if somebody pays/has a PhysX card they should be able to use it,the fact is Nvidia don't care about their customers not matter how you sugar coat it,all they are doing is alienating gamers out there and a lot of their customers that want to use their PhysX cards,I know this is going over very old ground but the point remains.

Physx will be completely irrelevant (not that it's relevant now) in 2 years regardless of what nvidia does to try to "convince" people to buy their cards.

I hope so since Nvidia are not helping matters in this area.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: thilanliyan

Originally posted by: Keysplayr
Ah, the Demerjian clan.
How can I help?
PhysX has been disabled when ATI cards are present in the system. Why are any of you surprised? What would be the point of disabling only Nvidia GPU's running PhysX alongside an ATI card and still let PhysX PPU's do it? If they had, might as well have never blocked PhsyX in the first place.

It sounds like you're supportive of this!?? I hope not because then you think it's okay that NV just bricked the PPU cards that people bought when they have/had an ATI card? This PhysX thing is becoming a mess...if it can't survive without being artificially propped up by nV then I hope something better (better implemented and not limited in the way PhysX is currently being) will replace it.

It's a double edged sword really. There are some aspects about it that I do support, and others that I don't. I can understand it because I don't think ATI should benefit from Nvidia's labors and expense in PhysX development, and Nvidia and ATI "are" competitors. And at the same time, I have trouble with it because the end users who intended on using Nvidia GPU's to run PhysX with their ATI cards as the primary, no longer can.

PhysX PPU's don't offer near the performance of even the 8600GT/9500GT. Most times, the PPU would be a bottleneck. At least that is what I have seen in the last PPU vs. GPU performance benchmarks.

"I hope not because then you think it's okay that NV just bricked the PPU cards that people bought when they have/had an ATI card?"

Just? I thought this was since the 190 drivers debuted? Just shows you how many people own PPU's if they think this was only done now. T2k seems to be using his still. Albeit with older drivers.

And who knows what the future will bring. There are so many variables to consider that you and I just don't know about. What goes on in board rooms of any company isn't really accessible to the likes of you and I.

 

[crazylegs]

How can this be good from a PR point of view for NV? :S

It just seems spitefull and if anything will result in a backlash from consumers, choosing to support a perceivably 'more open' ATI/AMD.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: Keysplayr
Ah, the Demerjian clan.
How can I help?
PhysX has been disabled when ATI cards are present in the system. Why are any of you surprised? What would be the point of disabling only Nvidia GPU's running PhysX alongside an ATI card and still let PhysX PPU's do it? If they had, might as well have never blocked PhsyX in the first place.

It is called "Customer Service",its clear Nvidia don't have a clue in this area,if somebody pays/has a PhysX card they should be able to use it,the fact is Nvidia don't care about their customers not matter how you sugar coat it,all they are doing is alienating gamers out there and a lot of their customers that want to use their PhysX cards,I know this is going over very old ground but the point remains.

They can use them, Mem. With an Nvidia card as the primary. That is the drawback. I know what you mean. Not sugar coating anything. It is what it is and who knows what will come of it.
I'm no analyst, so it's not really possible for me to conclude the outcome of all this.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: crazylegs
How can this be good from a PR point of view for NV? :S

It just seems spitefull and if anything will result in a backlash from consumers, choosing to support a perceivably 'more open' ATI/AMD.

There are plenty of reasons to be aggravated at both of the companies decisions. People who are plainly aggravated/frustrated at the PhysX lock out should be equally as aggravated that AMD decided not to support PhysX. Business decisions are not always clearly understood by us because we do not have all the data.

We can look at something and say, "This sucks big time" but not know all the criteria that went into the decision. AMD made a business decision to not support PhysX. You can give very good arguments as to "why" they did this. Maybe AMD felt it would be harmful to their company in the long term. Or that Nvidia would make PhysX run worse on AMD hardware than it does on their own? Whatever. They are businesses. They compete. We are the consumers. We see the end results of the competition. This is where we are now, and there isn't a whole lot we can do to change it at this point in time.

You can vote with your dollars, but there is a line to cross. Do you buy what you want because it's truly what you want? Or do you buy just to spite one company over the other?
In that sense, some are truly the same as the corporations they despise.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I think it's hilarious how customers get thrown under a bus by Nvidia. Customers who paid for a part to serve a task that it was designed and sold for. Whether it be a PPU or Nvidia GPU. Then Nvidia changes the rules after they already have your money making those parts worthless for those who also run a AMD card.