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)

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.

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.

As you may see, there is almost no difference in PhysX performance with different System Software versions. Moreover, our framerate pattern correlates with early benchmarks, published more than a year ago, like  Overclockers Club or Tech Report.

CRYOSTASIS TECH DEMO

In-game settings (click to view). Framerate measured by internal benchmark system.

Again, framerate with 9.10.0222 and 9.10.0129 drivers is equal. CPU PhysX performance is similar to other tests.

SUM: according to our tests, there is no difference in performance between 9.10.0222 and 9.10.0129 System Software, either for CPU or GPU calculations. We can not also verify any performance degradation compared to previous benchmarking results.

Thus, we see two explanations of original statement:

1) Performance impairment really does exist, but does occur only when non-Nvidia GPU is spotted in the system.

2) Mr. Eran “Regeneration” Badit has provided not very accurate information, either without malicious intent or with it.

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).

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.

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

Main difference in this release from 9.09.14 Drivers is updated .dlls for 2.8.3 PhysX SDK.

You can grab 9.09.30 PhysX Drivers here, while download is still available.

Update: Mirror #2;

Back again on banned ATI+Nvidia PhysX configurations situation.  Initially, all the hype was based on e-mail from customer care support, while Nvidia official motives were undisclosed.  In order to bring some clarity, we’ve asked Nvidia for commentaries a while ago and finally recieved some answers:

PhysXInfo: Is it true that PhysX capabilities of NVIDIA GPUs and/or Ageia PPUs are disabled with newest drivers when a Non-NVIDIA (AMD) graphics card is present in the system?
Nvidia: It is true that running an NVIDIA GPU for PhysX with an AMD GPU for graphics is not a supported configuration. This mode was inadvertently turned on in a beta version of our Win7 drivers and on some older XP drivers. AMD does not support PhysX for their customers, and we don’t QA this configuration. With no QA, it is risky to run this configuration so we removed this capability in a recent driver release.

PhysXInfo: Can you please explain to us what factors have led to such decision?
Nvidia: Today NVIDIA’s GPU and PhysX drivers are interconnected to optimize performance. In the future we expect this interdependence to deepen. This alone makes it difficult to support a third party GPU.

In order to make sure our customers have a great experience, we QA every release of our PhysX or Graphics drivers by testing approximately 14 NVIDIA GPUs for graphics processing with 8 GPUs for PhysX processing on 6 common platforms with 6 OS’s using 6 combinations of CPU and memory. This is over 24000 possible configurations. While we don’t test every possible combination, it should be clear that the work and cost to NVIDIA is substantial. AMD does not support PhysX for their customers. Adding AMD GPUs would significantly increase the necessary work and cost for NVIDIA. We prefer to invest in inventing new technologies that give our customers great new experiences.

PhysXInfo: But to achieve hardware PhysX acceleration, ATI users still need to buy appropriate NVIDIA GPU, and there is no hack or tick here. So what are the benefits for NVIDIA and for NVIDIA consumers in this situation?
Nvidia: For the reasons explained above we only support configurations that we know work. This ensures that our customers will have a great experience. But the real issue is that AMD needs to get serious about their own specific investments in GPU accelerated physics and in GPU computing technologies in general. It is time for them to stop complaining about the things we offer that they do not.

PhysXInfo: Do you have any plans to change your mind in the near future, or even release a dedicated GPU-based pure PhysX card?
Nvidia: Not at this time, given the reasons we mentioned above.

PhysXInfo: What are your plans to support the Ageia PPU?
Nvidia: The AGEIA PPU is supported for Windows XP and Vista. We will continue to support the AGEIA PPUs in these OS’s, but not in Windows 7. For example, we are looking at a bug now for PPU support on XP and expect to have an updated driver for that shortly.

Support for hybrid configurations was restored by enthusiast’s mod recently, but it seems it won’t live long, according to Nvidia position.