Newest PhysX SDK 2.8.4.2 is ready for public beta testing – this is last and most stable current generation SDK, next one is going to be 3.0.

In addition, SDK 2.8.4. will be used as basis for upcoming APEX 1.0 toolset.

[18.08.10] Update: Release notes were supplemented with “driverless” mode description.

[19.08.10] Update #2: bug in the PhysXLoader code, that was preventing it from loading the local DLLs in 2.8.4, is now fixed. Replace the PhysXLoader.dll and PhysXLoader64.dll in your SDK installation with the new files from the archive “2.8.4_Loader_patch.rar“, found in the 2.8.4 folder on the developer download site.

[20.08.10] Update #3: PhysX SDK 2.8.4.3 with fixed PhysXLoader .dlls and included (previously missing) PhysXDevice.dll – is ready.

Currently, binary builds are available for 32- and 64-bit PC Windows, and Xbox 360

RELEASE NOTES:

General

• Removed PhysX Loader source code from source distribution. THIS WILL BE REVERTED FOR RELEASE. PhysXLoader code will be supplied to source licensees.
• Discontinued the Training Programs.
• Added source code of NxTetra (tet-maker) utility to source distribution.
• Removed spin waits from sample code.
• Added API to permit the user to specify the order in which compartments are simulated.
• Added compression limits to cloth.
• Cloth simulation no longer performs prediction for kinematic rigid bodies for improved interaction behavior.
• New driverless loader option for PC CPU distribution. In 2.8.4, application developers must ship PhysXCore.dll, PhysXCooking.dll, the cudarXX_XX_X.dll and physxdevice.dll with the application ‘locally’, in the directory where the .exe is located:

1. The application requests PhysXCore or PhysXCooking (v 2.8.4) from the PhysXLoader.

2. PhysXLoader searches for another DLL called ‘PhysXUpdateLoader’.

3. If PhysXUpdateLoader is not found, PhysXLoader will load the local PhysXCore or PhysXCooking.

4. If PhysXUpdateLoader is found, it looks for an updated replacement for the PhysXCore or PhysXCooking dlls.

5. If PhysXUpdateLoader cannot find the specified replacement DLL, PhysXLoader will load the local PhysXCore or PhysXCooking dlls.

6. If PhysXUpdateLoader can find the replacement DLLs, these will be loaded in place of the local PhysCore or PhysXCooking dlls.

7. The net result is that the developer has more control over the game installation process, doesn't have to worry about shipping a large System Software with the game, doesn't have to worry that the player will break his System Software somehow, etc.

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Nvidia has revealed new PhysX System Software package – 9.10.0513

According to release notes, main difference from previous PhysX drivers is

• Bug fixes for Mafia 2

You can download 9.10.0513 PSS from here

Update: We can’t notice any performance increase in Mafia II.

Nvidia has revealed new PhysX System Software 9.10.0224. Main difference from 9.10.0223 System Software is:

• Fixes a bug that prevented PhysX from being accelerated on Optimus PCs.

You can download PhysX System Software 9.10.0224 from our server (34 mb – download currently unavailable)

Also, it seems that naming sheme has changed completely – from dates to version numbers of some kind.

Recent whql release of GeForce/ION 257.21 GPU drivers has brought us updated PhysX System Software v. 9.10.0223.

If naming sheme is still following same pattern, .0223 drivers are dated just day after previous 9.10.0222 System Software, and their feature set is also unknown currently (at least, SDK .dlls haven’t changed).

Update: System Software 9.10.0223 is now available for official download

• Bug fixes for Metro 2033 in SDKs version 2.8.3.
• Clothing bug fix in SDKs version 2.8.3 with respect to max distance clamping.
• GPU PhysX Performance optimizations for GeForce 400-series GPUs in all GPU PhysX enabled SDKs versions.
• Better error handling for GPU PhysX in the unlikely event of a CUDA error in SDKs version 2.8.3.
• Other miscellaneous bug fixes.

Anyway, you can download PhysX System Software 9.10.0223 from our server (27 mb – download currently unavailable)

Today, Nvidia has presented new 256 Family of GeForce/ION drivers. Among from other features, like improved performance for GTX 400 Series GPUs, Blu-Ray 3D, CUDA 3.1 and OpenGL 4.0 support, new drivers are introducing enhanced configuration panel for Multi-GPU and PhysX configurations, with more intuitive interface.

In addition, it’s now posible to specify which GPU use for each CUDA (and PhysX) application via Manage 3D settings page.

You can download beta version of 257.15 Drivers here. PhysX System software 9.10.0222 included.

Recent news coming from NGOHQ website with statement “performance on non-Cuda cards got dropped even further (from 20 fps to 5 fps [Mirror's Edge]) in the recent PhysX software” have forced us to perform more detailed testing procedures, to discover how actually valid such claims are.

Update: From NGOHQ:

After deeper investigation, this issue has identified as a rare overflow bug. Looks like Nvidia PhysX System Software 9.10.0222 doesn’t cripple performance, but I’ll run more tests just to be sure

In following article we are comparing both GPU and CPU performance of PhysX effects, using most recent PhysX System Software 9.10.0222 (blamed for “ruining game experience”), previous 9.10.0129 version and several games – Mirror’s Edge 1.01 and Cryostasis Tech Demo.

System: C2Q 9400 @2.66 GHz CPU, GTX 275 GPU, 4GB RAM, Windows 7 Professional x64

MIRROR’S EDGE.

Standart “Flight Fly By” sequence was used (can be activated by “- FlybyFlight” parameter), in-game setting; 1680×1050, all high, 4xAA. Framerate measured by FRAPS 3.0.1.

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New PhysX System Software 9.10.0222, which comes with recently released Metro 2033 title, emerges on the web.

This release includes updated engine .dll’s for SDK from 2.7.3..  to 2.8.3  and is dated 22 February 2010.

Download PhysX System Software 9.10.0222 from our server (34 mb – download currently unavailable)

Source: Guru3D forums

Recent Geforce 196.75 GPU drivers from Nvidia have brought us something interesting – they include new PhysX System Software 9.10.0129.

This release is smaller than previous 9.09.1112 drivers – only 27 mb vs 34 mb previously, and is dated 29 January 2010, according to PhysX drivers naming system.

Download PhysX System Software 9.10.0129 from our server (download currently unavailable)

Update: Simple look at drivers installation folder reveals that engine .dll’s for SDK 2.7.3, 2.7.4.. all to 2.8.3 were updated with new subversions. No major changes except this.

Update #2: PhysX System software 9.10.0129 is now available as separate download from Nvidia website.

Includes the latest PhysX runtime builds to support all released PhysX content including Dark Void and others.

Supports NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on all GeForce 8-series, 9-series, 100-series, 200-series, and 300-series GPUs with a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory and 32 CUDA cores. Note: Some applications may have higher minimum requirements.

Supports NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on GeForce via CUDA 3.0 for SDK versions 2.7.1, 2.7.3, 2.7.4, 2.7.5, 2.7.6, 2.8.0, 2.8.1 and 2.8.3 (requires graphics driver v196.21 or later).

Supports control of your GPU PhysX configuration from the NVIDIA display driver control panel. (requires graphics driver v196.21 or later).

New PhysX System Software 9.09.1112, that was leaked from Dev. Support center few days ago, is now available for download from NVIDIA website.

Official Release Notes are also available:

• Includes the latest PhysX runtime builds to support all released PhysX content including Batman Arkham Asylum and others.
• This release also resolves issues with Arabic language installations and occasional simulation interruption on some machines and titles.
• New runtimes for the PhysX SDK 2.8.3.
• Supports NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on all GeForce 8-series, 9-series, 100-series and 200-series GPUs with a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory and 32 CUDA cores. Note: Some applications may have higher minimum requirements.

Newest PhysX System Software 9.09.1112 was uploaded to Developer Support Center. It contains updated runtimes for some upcoming APEX tools, but most of users and developers won’t see any differences from 9.09.30 System Software.

In addition, according to our sources, PhysX System Software 9.09.1112 will be included into next release of public GeForce drivers.

If you are experiencing trouble with registration of PhysX Developer account, please refer to our registration guide.

Update: as expected, this System Software leaked too – download | Mirror #1 | Mirror #2

Update #2: official WHQL version is available