PhysXInfo.com - PhysX SDK FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

GENERAL:

What is PhysX ?

What is PhysX System Software and why do I need it ?

How enabling or disabling PhysX acceleration option in drivers will affect my games ?

Is PhysX working on GPU only ? Wouldn't it be better to have CPU + GPU scheme ?

I've found "PhysX by Nvidia" logo on game cover/start screen - does this mean it has GPU PhysX support ?

I've heard about PhysX on consoles - how is it possible ?

How PhysX refers to terms "Ageia" or "Novodex" ?

.: PHYSX SDK PROJECTS TABLE:

Where did you got all this information ? Is this table accurate ?

Can you explain icons legend at greater length ?

How this table is related with one at nzone.com ? You simply copied it ?

Is Ageia PPU supported by newest GPU PhysX titles ?

I have found a mistake or want add unlisted title - where can I post my feedback ?

.: GPU PHYSX GAMES INFO:

What is GPU PhysX effects rating ?

Some titles have console versions listed along with PC. Does this mean those have GPU PhysX effects too ?

.: PHYSX SOFTWARE:

How can I get rid of that annoying "PhysX CPU/GPU" logo appearing in some games ?

Can't install PhysX System Software due to a error during installation. What should I do ?

.: MISCELLANEOUS:

What is PC configuration on which you are making comparison video ?

How can I report browser compalility errors/spelling mistakes/other bugs or leave feedback for this website ?

Answer in FAQ seems completely wrong to me, or I want my question to be added - where can I find FAQ discusson thread ?

.: GENERAL:

:: Q What is PhysX ?
:: A There are two interpretation of this term:
- PhysX (PhysX SDK) is multi-platform, full featured, free to use physics middleware, used in more then 150 released game titles. Some features (to be precise - cloth, softbody, particles - not entire engine) were rewritten using CUDA language, that allows acceleration of those features on Nvidia's GPU. CPU component of the engine support both AMD/Intel CPU's and major console platforms (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii)

- PhysX is trademark used by Nvidia to designate ability of Nvidia GPU's to accelerate PhysX SDK features and games with extra GPU PhysX effects. Like "Graphics + PhysX" or "Gaming with PhysX".

Such dualism is causing many confusion for consumers. For example, when you are switching PhysX option in Mirror's Edge, you're just turning off additional effects, not PhysX physics engine itself. Many people think otherwise.

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:: Q What is PhysX System Software and why do I need it ?
:: A PhysX System Software is software package, that contains firmware required for hardware acceleration and, most important, vital PhysX SDK engine .dll's.
Those components are used even for CPU version of PhysX SDK, that's why you must install System Software even if you are ATI GPU owner.
You can download latest PhysX System Software here

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:: Q How enabling or disabling PhysX acceleration option in drivers will affect my games ?
:: A PhysX option affects only certain games and applications, based on PhysX SDK.
Enabling it won't give extra effects in Crysis, and disabling it won't boost your Armed Assault 2 framerate.

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:: Q Is PhysX working on GPU only ? Wouldn't it be better to have CPU + GPU scheme ?
:: A PhysX SDK has optimized multi-threaded CPU version from the start. GPU acceleration only boost speed of certain calculations, and doesn't have exclusive GPU only features.
As for CPU + GPU scheme, many titles are using it already. In Sacred 2, for example - heavy computational tasks are done on GPU (spell particles, leaves), more regular rigid body simulations (ragdolls) are calculated on CPU simultaneously.

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:: Q I've found "PhysX by Nvidia" logo on game cover/start screen - does this mean it has GPU PhysX support ?
:: A Since PhysX SDK is a middleware, it must be specified (except some cases) along with other middleware, like SpeedTree, Criware, Bink Video, Havok, etc.
All currently available titles with GPU PhysX support are listed in our PhysX SDK Projects Table and on GPU PhysX Games Info page.

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:: Q I've heard about PhysX on consoles - how is it possible ?
:: A Standalone console versions of PhysX SDK have nothing to do with GPU PhysX, and are optimized for target platforms. (Cell, Power PC, etc)
Of course, you can not achieve same speed/features on Wii as on PC. PhysX on iPhone/iPod is possible via Unity game engine.

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:: Q How PhysX refers to terms "Ageia" or "NovodeX" ?
:: A Originally, PhysX was known as NovodeX physics engine, developed by Swiss company Novodex AG in year 2002. Other company, Ageia (creators of dedicated physics processor board - PPU) acquired Novodex AG in 2004, with all the personnel and software developments. Novodex SDK v. 2.3 with PPU support (PPU board carried "PhysX" name too) was renamed to PhysX SDK.
Nvidia bought Ageia in February 2008, PhysX SDK was augmented to achieve hardware physics acceleration on Nvidia GPUs.

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.: PHYSX SDK PROJECTS TABLE:

:: Q Where did you got all this information ? Is this table accurate ?
:: A We are gathering information mostly from all over the web, and tracking games by
game reviews, interviews, blogs, game engines description, demos and PhysX drivers installations (for PC), cover and credit screens (for consoles), etc. Also, we have some insider channels along with direct reports from developers. We are trying to check and re-check every title before adding, so we can call projects table accurate. Of course we cannot cover all variations (like PPU support in newest titles).
If your information differ from ours, just send it to us, we'll check.

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:: Q Can you explain icons legend at greater length ?
:: A Detailed legend:

- hardware PhysX support status for this project is unknown.

- this title doesn't have any extra GPU/PPU hardware PhysX content. PhysX SDK is used for physics calculations on CPU.
Note: This icon doesn't mean that physics in the game is bad. Pure console titles recieve it a priori.

- this title has additional content designed for Ageia PhysX PPU board (PC version only).
Nvidia GPU aren't capable to run such content in hardware.

- this title has supplementary hardware PhysX content, and you can access it on Nvidia GPU and/or Ageia PPU (PC version only).

- such title support GPU PhysX hardware acceleration (PC version only).
Note: Take icon's color into account - this one is dark-green, it represent's titles GPU PhysX support in which is decisive.

- this title support GPU PhysX hardware acceleration (PC version only).
Note: This icon is light-green, it represent's titles in development with GPU PhysX support up in the air.

- GPU PhysX info mini-site is vailable for this title (click on icon to view)

- this title was added recently

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:: Q How this table is related with one at nzone.com ? You simply copied it ?
:: A Actually, origin of PhysX titles table at nzone.com is data, which we have sent to Ageia in 2007.
With all due respect to Nvidia, nzone.com PhysX table still has some mistakes and is not accurate, in spite of recent update procedures.

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:: Q Is Ageia PPU supported by newest GPU PhysX titles ?
:: A Technically - yes, since all PhysX SDK features are supported on PPU in hardware.
Meanwhile, PPU capabilities (in terms of calculation speed) are limited in comparison with modern GPU's, so PPU won't be able to run most new GPU PhysX games with decent framerate and/or effects quality.
Unfortunatelly, I'm not able to check new titles for PPU compatibility, Asus PhysX P1 PPU unit of mine is inoperative.

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:: Q I have found a mistake or want add unlisted title - where can I post my feedback ?
:: A You can post your feedback at this section of our forums.

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.: GPU PHYSX GAMES INFO:

:: Q What is GPU PhysX effects rating ?
:: A GPU PhysX effects rating is subjective assessment of hardware PhysX content in certain game titles.
PhysX content is appraised in four categories by five-point system:
AMOUNT - quantity and variety of GPU PhysX effects through game process.
QUALITY - quality of additional PhysX content and how naturally it fit into game environment.
GAMEPLAY - represent how PhysX content affects actual gameplay.
IMMERSION - shows how PhysX effects augments game immersion and overall impression.

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:: Q Some titles have console versions listed along with PC. Does this mean those have GPU PhysX effects too ?
:: A If PhysX SDK was used in console versions of certain titles, than it's reflected.
GPU PhysX content, meanwhile, is available only on PC.

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.: PHYSX SOFTWARE:

:: Q How can I get rid of that annoying "PhysX CPU/GPU" logo appearing in some games ?
:: A That's PhysX Visual Indicator. You can easily disable it from NVIDIA Control Panel.

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:: Q Can't install PhysX System Software due to a error during installation. What should I do ?
:: A Try to run installer with "/quiet" key.

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.: MISCELLANEOUS:

:: Q What is PC configuration on which you are making comparison video ?
:: A PC specs:

CPU	Core 2 Quad 9400
MOTHERBOARD	Gigabyte X48-DS5
GPU	XFX GTX275 + XFX GTX260 (192 sp)
RAM	4x1Gb Patriot DDR-2 1066 Mhz
SOUND	Realtek ALC889
HDD	320 + 160 Gb WD Caviar
PSU	Thermaltake Toughpower 850 W
OS	Win XP/Win 7

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:: Q How can I report browser compalility errors/spelling mistakes/other bugs or leave feedback for this website ?
:: A You can post your suggestions and/or bug reports in website feedback board on our forum
or just send them to support@physxinfo.com or physx_cwx@yahoo.com.

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:: Q Answer in FAQ seems completely wrong to me, or I want my question to be added - where can I find FAQ discusson thread ?
:: A FAQ discussion thread is located here

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