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Release the Hybrids ! Nvidia reconsiders ATI+NV PhysX setups ?

Zogrim — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:35:31 +0000

Users at NGOHQ Hybrid PhysX Mod 1.03 discussion have discovered awesome fact – with recent 257.15 GeForce/ION drivers combo ATI + NV PhysX setups are working without need to apply any modifications !

Quoting GenL, Hybrid PhysX mod creator

I’m seriously amazed… seems like you are right! I just didn’t test it yesterday because i saw a user report saying otherwise on another site, but now i’ve tested it by myself on Windows XP and Windows 7 x64 – it really works “out of the box” with 257.15.

In Windows XP i’ve just extended the fake desktop, and on Windows 7 i created one non-extended – that’s all i needed to get GPU-PhysX working. And even more surprising – timebomb issue is gone too, at least for its normal time interval (~30 seconds in FluidMark).

Originally, Hybrid PhysX configurations were officially blocked by Nvidia in Q4 2009.

Update: video from TweakPC, showing Hybrid system working with 257.15 drivers. In addition – tests by Geeks3D

What’s this – accidental mistake or permanent change, ticket to the bright future for Hybrid PhysX systems ?

Update #2: unfortunately, this was just a bug.

Yes, this is a bug in the latest build of PhysX that was packaged with the driver. We’ll be fixing this issue ASAP – the WHQL driver launching in early June won’t have this issue. – NVIDIA.

Shame on you, Nvidia. Anyway, we still have Hybrid PhysX mod.

Update #3: official statement from Nvidia

The fact remains that the investment to do a full QA cycle on this AMD/NVIDIA hybrid GPU configuration is beyond what NVIDIA can support at this time. The cost of maintaining AMD/NVIDIA hybrid configurations is larger than the development expense for PhysX, and I do expect that there are games and configurations where this type of system just won’t work.

Use comments to this post to provide your feedback.

Hybrid PhysX: 197.xx drivers and PhysX performance fix

Zogrim — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:30:05 +0000

Recent PhysX drivers 9.10.0222 and 197.xx NV GPU drivers are mostly incompatible with 1.02 GenL Mod for Hybrid PhysX systems (witch hunt, another round) – using this drivers set will results in Metro 2033 crashes, abnormal FluidMark behaviour and performance problems in other PhysX games.

However, user Containforum, known for his Hybrid PhysX installation guide and Catalyst 10.2 extended display fix, has come out with a solution – he created a “patch”, that resolves performance problems (at least for FluidMark) and allows you to use Hybrid PhysX without necessity to extend display.

Update: You can download containforum’s fix 1.02 here (25 mb). GenL mod must be applied firstly.

Update #2: comment from GenL

Result can’t be called a “patch” anyway. This package contains several unmodified (unpatched) files from PhysX SS v9.09.1112 and v9.10.0129. While this can’t be a proper solution for newer versions of PhysX SS, i’m surprised it worked for people

Update #3: Extended display fix only.

UPDATE: Hybrid PhysX mod 1.03 released – with timebomb fix and lastest drivers support.

It’s recommended to use it with 196.34 drivers and latest PhysX System Software.

Please use this post or comment at youtube to report if this fix is working with other GPU PhysX games, or any problems you will encounter.

How to set up Hybrid PhysX in 10 minutes: video guide

Zogrim — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:52:51 +0000

Another nice video guide to Hybrid PhysX systems emerges on YouTube recently. Drivers installation, patching process with GenL PhysX mod and final test in Fluidmark – all in one continuous 10-min video.

Despite the fact that guide is Italian, english version of Windows was used, so it’s easy to follow the process just by watching video carefully.

Catalyst 10.2 and extended display error fix.

Hybrid PhysX Test: by Fudzilla

Zogrim — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:36:38 +0000

Hybrid PhysX related article with provoking title “Nvidia helps the HD 5870 beat the GTX285 in PhysX” can be found at Fudzilla today.

Article itself is nothing particularly special, from our opinion – only one dedicated PhysX GPU was tested, old 1.01 PhysX mod (while 1.02 is available for several months) and old installation guide (while much more detailed can be found easily) were used – still, fact that Hybrid PhysX is now recognized by such popular website like Fudzilla, is memorable enough.

Other Hybrid PhysX links you may refer to:

Hybrid PhysX systems benchmarks: HD4870/5870+9500/9600GT | HD4850/5750+9800GT | HD5870+GT220 | 2xHD5870 + 9800GT

Lucid Hydra and ATI+NV PhysX: wrong way

Zogrim — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:40:54 +0000

Many of you know that so called Hybrid PhysX setups (using ATI GPU for graphics and Nvidia GPU for PhysX – in one system) are officially banned by Nvidia. Unofficially – available through GenL PhysX mod. However, all this hacking and patching isn’t appropriate for certain users, not to mention that Nvidia can find a way to block Hybrids completely one day.

New Lucid Hydra, technology that can split graphics rendering even between ATI and Nvidia GPUs in Multi-GPU setups, was rumored as compromising solution for Hybrid PhysX problem. (can’t say we believed in that).

Unfortunatelly, recent tests of MSI Big Bang Fuzion, first motherboard with Hydra Engine inside, have shown finally – No. It’s not working this way.

According to Big Bang Fuzion review by GURU 3D

What if you want to enjoy PhysX in X-mode? – well you can’t, as the minute the NVIDIA driver sees an ATI card, it will disable it.

Batman Arkham Asylum benchmarks from Big Bang overview by tomshardware.com are showing that there is no benefit from ATI+NV combo setup

Thus, PhysX mod by GenL is the only way currently to get Hybrid PhysX setup working.

Hybrid PhysX: 2x HD5870 + 9800GT in Batman Arkham Asylum

Zogrim — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:35:19 +0000

Pretty interesting video emerges on YouTube today. Batman: Arkham Asylum built-in benchmark was used to demostrate that Crossfire setup (2x HD5870) is actually working along with Nvidia GPU (9800GT), dedicated for PhysX calculations (author was using GenL PhysX mod, I guess).

However, with PhysX effects set to High, fps is bottlenecked with PhysX simulation, as it went from average 301 (with PhysX disabled), to average 125. Still, more than enough to play the game without any inconvenience.

How to set up Hybrid PhysX system: video guide

Zogrim — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:46:40 +0000

User Containforum has uploaded video guide on how to set up Hybrid ATI+NV PhysX system. It contains overview of all necessary drivers and mods, where to download them, and how to make them working together.

Hybrid PhysX systems benchmarks: HD4870/5870+9500/9600GT | HD4850/5750+9800GT | HD5870+GT220 | 2xHD5870 + 9800GT | HD5870/GTX285 + 9800GT

Update: Catalyst 10.2 and extended display error fix – in addition, you’ll be able to use dedicated NV GPU for PhysX without necessity to extend display.

How to enable Hybrid PhysX on single monitor: Guide

Zogrim — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:14:45 +0000

User pipnasty from Overclock.net forums has presented fine guide on how to enable Hybrid ATI+NV PhysX setup on single monitor, using dummy VGA plug.

This guide is detailed enough, takes new version of GenL mod into account, and is probably one of the best Hybrid PhysX related articles we’ve seen so far.

Proceed to the Guide

Update: Catalyst 10.2 and extended display error fix – in addition, you’ll be able to use dedicated NV GPU for PhysX without necessity to extend display.

Recent PhysX benchmarks overview

Zogrim — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:12:55 +0000

Recently, bunch of PhysX related articles have emerged on several chinese websites, like yesky.com or EXPreview.com. They all have similar structure and idea – benchmarks of Nvidia GPUs vs ATI GPUs in games with hardware accelerated PhysX content. Typical result is looking like this..

.. and can mislead inexperienced user – “How can it be, that low-end GT240 outperforms hi-end HD5850 ?! Is GT240 better thus ? I’ll buy it as Christmas present instead“. Answer is simple – in ATI’s case supplementary PhysX content is calculated on CPU, while accelerated on GPU in Nvidia case. Therefore, playing with extra GPU PhysX effects enabled on ATI GPU will result in low fps regardless what setup you have – old X1800XT or two HD5970 in crossfire.

Appropriate Nvidia GPU – it’s the only way currently to enjoy games with GPU PhysX support. Is it worth ? It’s up to you to decide. And don’t forget compromising solution - officially unsupported, but popular Hybrid PhysX systems.

Back to Hybrid PhysX systems: new benchmarks

Zogrim — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:48:18 +0000

It seems that today Hybrid ATI+NV PhysX systems (ATI GPU for graphics, Nvidia GPU for PhysX) are even more popular than Ageia PPUs in their time. Not officially supported (and chased) by Nvidia, such configurations are possible using custom patch.

This time, our colleagues from PCgamesHardware.de have published results of Hybrid PhysX tests in Batman: Arkham Asylum built-in benchmark.

To built a Hybrid PhysX System, you’ll need mobo with two PCI-E slots (regardless to SLI/Crossife support; PCI-Ex8/x4 is enough for PhysX), appropriate Nvidia GPU (something like 9600/GT240), Win XP/Win 7 OS and PhysX mod 1.02, which you can download here.