Dedicated Physx thread

Shane

Shane

Super Moderator
Staff member
Okay so i got my rig up and running now,GTX 460 (overclocked) + a 8800GT (stock) for Dedicated Physx,I enabled the 8800GT as dedicated Physx in the Nvidia Control panel and all is well,I tried it out on Mafia 2 with Apex Physx enabled and on High.

However watching both my Gpus activity in Msi Afterburner my 460 is doing about 86% activity,and the 8800GT is only doing about 5% activity...does this not seem right?..im also getting occasional random lag during the gameplay which lasts a few seconds then returns to normal...fps is around 60fps..something does not seem right.

Physx is working,because theres alot more detail in the game,Screens below...there was not this much debris with no Physx card.

mafia22010-12-1819-06-44-251600x1200.jpg


mafia22010-12-1819-07-19-571600x1200.jpg


mafia22010-12-1819-07-31-181600x1200.jpg


I ran 3D Mark 06 with my system all stock with the 460 only,Then i ran 3D Mark 06 with the 8800GT as Physx,again system all stock and my score actually went down by 3 marks :confused: :D
 
i was under the impression that physx just added some particle effects, and may slightly take load off the main gpu, tho would it offer a huge increase? i am not certain... someone able to add some thought to this?
 
FuryRosewood said:
i was under the impression that physx just added some particle effects, and may slightly take load off the main gpu, tho would it offer a huge increase? i am not certain... someone able to add some thought to this?
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Physx will take the load of processing physics off the CPU, and so should drastically improve FPS if the CPU is under very heavy load processing physics, otherwise it might have a small effect on performance, buty will mainly be there just to add extras such as more debris, better cloth physics, better water physics etc.

@Shane, what sort of load do you have when your GTX460 is doing the Physx processing?
 
Aastii said:
@Shane, what sort of load do you have when your GTX460 is doing the Physx processing?
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With just the GTX 460 doing the Physx aswell the activity is 91%...however the gameplay is silky smooth,No random lag and still getting 60fps..all maxed @ 1680x1050 (Apex Physx High) :P

Im just wondering if the 8800GT is bottlenecking my 460 causing lag.

Its no biggie,i can just take out the 8800 and leave the 460 alone,But id have thought the 8800GT would be more than powerfull enough to handle just Physx.

Im downloading Metro 2033 & Batman Arkam atm on Steam,Il test those when theyre done as they are both Physx enabled games.
 
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Your CPU will be better at processing physics than a 8800GT IMHO as the interface has lower latency.
 
bigfellla said:
Your CPU will be better at processing physics than a 8800GT IMHO as the interface has lower latency.
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I also just found out that my second Pci-e slot only runs at x4 speed if you use both Pci-e slots at the same time,I suspect thats holding back the 8800GT aswell causing bottleneck.
 
Nevakonaza said:
I also just found out that my second Pci-e slot only runs at x4 speed if you use both Pci-e slots at the same time,I suspect thats holding back the 8800GT aswell causing bottleneck.
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x4 is still plenty fast enough for an 8800GT and for a Physx card, it shouldn't be causeing the problem
 
Im wondering if its just Mafia 2,i mean ive not tried any other Physx games yet,Im still waiting for Metro 2033 & Batman Arkam to download on Steam,Il run the Physx Benchmarks in both of those games,and see what scores im getting with just the 460 and with the 460 + 8800gt doing the Physx.

Another think to consider aswell,My I7 is stock and 2.8Ghz is not much really is it? maybe thats holding something back...i do intend to overclock when i have more time to test the stability etc.
 
Nevakonaza said:
Im wondering if its just Mafia 2,i mean ive not tried any other Physx games yet,Im still waiting for Metro 2033 & Batman Arkam to download on Steam,Il run the Physx Benchmarks in both of those games,and see what scores im getting with just the 460 and with the 460 + 8800gt doing the Physx.

Another think to consider aswell,My I7 is stock and 2.8Ghz is not much really is it? maybe thats holding something back...i do intend to overclock when i have more time to test the stability etc.
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Once you get it with even a small overclock to maybe 3.2-3.4, which should be more than doable on stock cooling/voltages, your FPS and smoothness of the game should improve a lot
 
Right here the Arkham Asylum bench...This game runs very smooth,No lag like in Mafia 2 (I think Vsync was on)

All settings maxed @ 1680x1050 -Physx HIGH.

GTX 460 alone (Doing rendering + Physx)

460phys.jpg


GTX 460 (Rendering) + 8800 (Physx)

8800gtphy.jpg


Looks to me like the 8800 is holding back slightly.

ive noticed though now,In Mafia 2 it only lags at the start when i move its jerky...then after a few seconds its fine.
 
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What if you used a second gtx460 for physx? Perhaps the 8800gt is a bit too slow for noticeable improvements, and not able to keep up with the gtx460.
 
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Russ88765 said:
What if you used a second gtx460 for physx? Perhaps the 8800gt is a bit too slow for noticeable improvements, and not able to keep up with the gtx460.
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Well if i was to get a second 460 id have it as SLI...forget Physx :P

But from what ive been trying,The 8800 has not made one bit of diffrence as a dedicated Physx card so il just remove it and be done with the 460 alone :)
 
Being only at 1680x1050, the GPU isn't super stressed so it's able to handle the PhysX along with the graphics easily.

PhysX will improve with higher shader clocks and more stream processors, an 8800gt doesn't have them which is why the gtx460 alone does better.
 
Yep. You need a relatively beefy card to use it solely for PhysX. Also depends on the clocks and amount of shaders etc.
 
What about if i managed to get a 200 series card cheap like a GT 220 or GT240 and have that as a dedicated Physx?...would i see much boost?

See i really wanted a dedicated Physx card for Mafia 2 more than anything for that boost.

Mafia 2,Metro 2033 & Batman are all recent games and use Physx,so give it time alot more games will use Physx i think and i would benifit from having a dedicated card.
 
A gts450 is pretty much the perfect PhysX card right now, if I were to name one. gtx460 being better, but more expensive to use just for PhysX. Although just get a 768mb if it's for PhysX....but I'd rather just use a gts450 because it only uses 1 6 pin connector and runs much cooler.
 
Il see if i can get hold of a gts450 cheap then,But if not would a lower GT 220 or GT240 cut it?

I dont think the 220 even requires a 6 pin...not sure.
 
87dtna said:
The 8800gt is better than a 220 or 240!
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Yeah but would 240 be more effective as a Physx card? than the 8800GT as its newer tech?

Anyway now im having huge problems with Mafia 2,im getting 16fps and lagging like hell!!!

This is just the 460 alone,ive removed the 8800gt.

all settings high,Physx off.

Very frustrated atm. :mad:
 
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