Second vid card as a physics processor?

[cantbprince]

Hey guys, a buddy of mine mentioned that it's possible to use a second graphics card (doesn't have to be the same make or model) as a physics processor. Anyone heard of this? If it exists what is required to run it.

 

[Rabbits]

A physical processor? As a CPU?
No its not possible, GPU is meant to compute graphics not the PC itself.

 

[stipalgl]

He's talking about Physx for Nvidia cards. Yes, you can use any 8 series or higher card in addition to your main card as a Physx card accelerator.

 

[Absolution75]

Has anyone tried running something like an HD4870 for video and then say an nVidia 8XXX card for PhysX? Do they get along well?

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Absolution75
Has anyone tried running something like an HD4870 for video and then say an nVidia 8XXX card for PhysX? Do they get along well?

The 180 series drivers have support for using a second NVIDIA based card as a PhysX card, but I don't believe either the ATi or NVIDIA drivers support a mix.

I will verify this.

It was good to see EA and 2K games announce PhysX as their physics programming choice this week, more games with more immersion is a step forward for gaming.

 

[cantbprince]

Anyone know of any benchmarks of secondary cards with a decent card? ie. like a 8800 vanilla with a 9800 gt as a primary? Does this work for all motherboards?or only certain ones?

Any model 8 series cards?

Where can i find more information about this?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: cantbprince
Anyone know of any benchmarks of secondary cards with a decent card? ie. like a 8800 vanilla with a 9800 gt as a primary? Does this work for all motherboards?or only certain ones?

Any model 8 series cards?

Where can i find more information about this?

Firingsquad did this and they even tried GTX280+GTX280 for physx and it offered no FPS increase at all, none. The older cards like 9800GTX and lower did show improvement with some offloading of the physx calculations, but the new GTX200 series cards didn't have any benefit from running a secondary card for physx.

Here's the link, and keep in mind this isnt the newest driverset but it has a lot of information I found interesting. http://firingsquad.com/hardwar...rce_physx_performance/

 

[adlep]

I would buy, install, and run any Geforce 8600 series cards for physx. Should be more than enough and it is possibl to pick one up for around $40.00 or so...

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: nRollo

Originally posted by: Absolution75
Has anyone tried running something like an HD4870 for video and then say an nVidia 8XXX card for PhysX? Do they get along well?

The 180 series drivers have support for using a second NVIDIA based card as a PhysX card, but I don't believe either the ATi or NVIDIA drivers support a mix.

I will verify this.

I think it's a Windows limitation. I don't think Vista (at least) allows you to run both nV and ATI video drivers at the same time.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: thilan29

Originally posted by: nRollo

Originally posted by: Absolution75
Has anyone tried running something like an HD4870 for video and then say an nVidia 8XXX card for PhysX? Do they get along well?

The 180 series drivers have support for using a second NVIDIA based card as a PhysX card, but I don't believe either the ATi or NVIDIA drivers support a mix.

I will verify this.

I think it's a Windows limitation. I don't think Vista (at least) allows you to run both nV and ATI video drivers at the same time.

You are correct.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: adlep
I would buy, install, and run any Geforce 8600 series cards for physx. Should be more than enough and it is possibl to pick one up for around $40.00 or so...

I remember seeing some benchmarks a while back and in some cases using the 8600gt for physx was slower than just using the graphics card by itself for both graphics and physx.

 

[cantbprince]

Doesn't look like it's worth the money. Too bad I have a 7950 gx2..... sooo close to 8 series.... I guess i'll have to wait until it gives up then EVGA can send me a newer 8 series card.

 

[dguy6789]

If PhysX actually does become something more than a gimmick, I would consider purchasing an 8800 or something to use for it. Both companies better get on the ball for being able to AMD and Nvidia drivers on the same machine.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
If PhysX actually does become something more than a gimmick, I would consider purchasing an 8800 or something to use for it. Both companies better get on the ball for being able to AMD and Nvidia drivers on the same machine.

It's not AMD or Nvidia. It's Vista. Windows 7 is supposed to alleviate this limitation. But who knows what other nightmares that will bring.