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

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.

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.

Other guides you may refer to: Link#1 | Link#2 | Link#3 (Please note that most of them refer to old PhysX mod 1.01 – use 1.02 mod instead, download link above) | Link#4 | Link#5 (video guide) | Link#6 (specific details) | Link#7

Catalyst 10.2 and extended display error fix.

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

Other guides you may refer to: Link#1 | Link#2 | Link#3 | Link#4 (video guide) | Link#5 (Italian video guide) | Link#6

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.

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

GenL has released updated mod for hybrid PhysX systems – now it works with recent 195.xx GeForce drivers and supports Windows XP/2003

- added support for new checks in 195.xx drivers
- added support for XP/2003 drivers
- both x86 and x64 are supported by a single mod now

Notes about the mod:
- Both x86 and x64 are supported by a single file now. If you are using x86 OS, you should just skip patching 64-bit binaries (press No when asked for a search).
- Don’t forget that you must be able to access nvidia control panel. For this connect nvidia GPU to the second input port of your monitor – physically or virtually (i don’t know if this is possible), or any other way you find. There are community-generated tutorials for this, i can’t tell anything because i own only 1 GPU.
- Lite version may come later, if needed. Additionally, i can fix errors if you find them and release it with an update.

Notes about XP/2003 support:
- Only 195.62 drivers are tested for XP/2003 case. I can’t say anything about earlier versions, i didn’t even try them.
- It should work for XP/2003 x64 editions too, would be great if anyone will confirm.
- It will work for 2000 only if original XP/2003 package supports it.

You can download PhysX mod 1.02 directly from our server (2.19 mb)

Mirror #1 (thanks to Alexandr82)

Update #2: 1.02 mod is working with new 196.21 drivers.

Update: #4: 1.02 mod is not working properly with 196.75 drivers.

In addition, original post contains mod for PhysX drivers 9.09.30, that allows to use original Ageia PPU with ATI cards.

Please use commentaries to this post or thread at NGHQ forums to report errors, if they’ll occur. Reports with positive results are also appreciated.

Update: Installation instructions – Link#1 | Link#2 | Link#3 (Please note that most of them refer to old PhysX mod 1.01 – use 1.02 mod instead, download link above) | Link#4 | Link#5 (video guide) | Link#6 (specific details) | Link#7 (Italian video guide) | Link#8

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

Dedicated PhysX GPU performance dependence on PCI-E bandwidth

Update #3: 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.

PhysX System Software 9.09.30, available only for PhysX developers previously, leaks out. As anyone else, were were not authorised to provide public download, but as concerned gamers gained access to Developer Support center, download link emerges.

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

OCteam.fr has prepared nice video, showcasing how hybrid PhysX configuration (ATI Radeon HD 5870 for graphics and Nvidia GeForce 8800GT for PhysX) is handling latest GPU PhysX games using drivers, modified by GenL. Surprisingly it’s working pretty well – Batman Arkham Asylum, Cryostasis, Mirror’s Edge, Star Tales, demos from PowerPacks, even badaboom transcoding are running without serious glitches.

Update: the way with modified drivers looks wrong to you ? Try to convince Nvidia by signing “Returning PhysX to Nvidia customers“ petition.

Source: OCteam.fr

It seems that some enthusiasts are trying to bypass ATI (for Graphics) + Nvidia (for PhysX) hybrid configurations blockage using modified drivers.

We’ll try to keep an eye on all developments and update this post accordingly.

Probe #1: Modded 190.62 WinXP 32-bit drivers (useless)

Report: “Someone just took old files (from 185.68) and changed their resources and version info, to make it look similar to real 190.62. Needless to say, this doesn’t give you real 190.62 with all fixes and changes.”
GenL, NGOHQ forums.

Probe #2: PhysX Mod 1.01 x86 (working) and PhysX Mod 1.01 x64 (working) by GenL

(no support for 195.xx drivers currently)

NVIDIA GeForce driver 19x.xx PhysX mod [x86/x64] v1.01

* DESCRIPTION:
This mod will enable hardware PhysX support for NVIDIA GPU, when non-NVIDIA GPU
is used as a primary display device.
- intended only for WDDM 1.1 OS (Windows 7).
- only for multi-vendor multi-GPU configurations.

Mod discussion at NGOHQ forums.

Update: Video, showcasing this Mod in the work.

Update #2: Officical Nvidia position on hybrid ATI+NV PhysX configurations.

Update #3: How to set ATI+NV hybrid setup guide

Update #4: New 1.02 mod – now with 195.xx drivers and WinXP support

Please use comments if you want to report certain driver’s efficiency/uselessness