AMD+NVidia(PhysX)

[wannabedamned]

I've always been under the impression that ATI\AMD are top dog for Graphics cards to the point I've never even considered buying Nvidia for anything more than PhysX. I have created a spec that has an ATI card as the master and a Cheaper Nvidia card just for PhysX(Using hacked drivers, As Nvidia are now disabling it officially)

Anyways, I've seen what gaming looks like when Phys-X is used vs an ATI card without, and it can be horrific. So I really really must have a Phys-X card in place.

So here's the question, Should I go with my initial idea of an AMD card with a Nvidia card+hacked drivers.

OR, Should I just scrap AMD altogether and get a top of the range Nvidia card.

The rig will be based around a 2500k minimum, possibly ivybridge.

 

[straxusii]

I tried using an nvidia card with my 5870 and it was just hassle, it did work though.

Whilst there aren't many games that use physx let alone benefit from it, Batman AA & AC are very much improved by both and as I have just started playing Batman AC it was the decider for me between 680 and 7970

 

[wannabedamned]

Yeah, I've just been looking at AA and AC. Parts of the environment and effects are missing without PhysX being enabled =\ I know the games are few and far between, but I dont want to be spending all this money on a new rig knowing some games could be better

I think I may be looking at a 680 aswell, Just a shame there aren't any 3GB versions available.

 

[[WU-TANG]GZA]

Yeah, I've just been looking at AA and AC. Parts of the environment and effects are missing without PhysX being enabled =\ I know the games are few and far between, but I dont want to be spending all this money on a new rig knowing some games could be better

I think I may be looking at a 680 aswell, Just a shame there aren't any 3GB versions available.

Wait for other kepler releases imo then just get the best single Nvidia card you can afford. Which may end up being the 680. FYI they are releasing a 4GB version but you can only imagine the insane money they will charge for it

 

[no_1_dave]

I've always been under the impression that ATI\AMD are top dog for Graphics cards to the point I've never even considered buying Nvidia

This has changed from generation to generation.

ATI 9800pro was better then Nvidia FX range
Nvidia 6800s were better then ATI x800 range

It has got a lot closer over the last year or 2 where it has now come down to user preference. I prefer Nvidia simply for the drivers. I find they are far easier to use and do everything I need with little hassle. Some people prefer AMD for equal reasons. At the end of the day, performance is always going to be roughly on par. If you want physx then it's best just to use a Nvidia card and save fussing about with hacked drivers. If your aren't bothered about physx and prefer AMD then stick with them. Actual game difference is so minimal it's almost non existent.

 

[tommybhoy]

Pros and cons to both setups:

680 with PhysX enabled= massive performance hit, recommended to add another Nvidia card for PhysX.

AMD+Nvidia gpu= hassles of sorts due to PhysX requiring a valid hack.

Used 5870+9800Gt and also a single 6950>70+9800Gt in the past for PhysX and loved it, hassle free for me but currently can't use it due to massive AC coolers on my 6950>70 Crossfire setup.

Can't have my cake and eat it without spending obscene amounts of cash on a mb to suit, simply not justifiable for the very few games that use PhsyX properly.

 

[Cool Breeze]

The Impressive thing about an AMD+Nvidia for physx is that it works very very well, I tried a few combo's of this a 6850 and gtx 460 and a 7950 and gtx 460 and the FPS were very good, tried a 460 and a dedicated 460 for physx and is was shocking worse than the 6850 + 460 setup. I've heard also that even a 480 with a dedicated Physx card performs worse than just the 480 on it's own! Personally I think Nvidia is just sand bagging in the drivers as you can see when used in conjunction with AMD it shines.

 

[Sin_Chase]

680 with PhysX enabled= massive performance hit, recommended to add another Nvidia card for PhysX.

What?

It is commonly agreed adding a second card for PhysX is a performance hit and it is better to just use the primary card.....

The 680 is a beast, PhysX is not going to cripple it.

 

[Gerard]

Nvidia 6800s were better then ATI x800 range

Im pretty sure thats up for debate, i don't recall there being that much between them, they traded blows in most games.

 

[FMTopfan]

I simply like gaming without all this faffing on but annoyed at Nvidia for punishing us, we've bought the hardware and so what if it works with a rivals display cards. You can mix and match with Nvidia hardware for dedicated Physx GPUs and so what if the primary display is AMD! If Nvidia didn't buy Ageia and enable technology on Nvidia GPUs then I wouldn't have bought/tried Physx. If AMD has something similar then the same applies since I'm loyal to no one company. Quite obviously a company has the right to protect their investments but this change can render our second GPUs useless.

I've been using my 5970 + cheap single-slot 440GT for 18 months and apart from a couple of hiccups with driver updates, it's worked resonably well bar some occasional very noticeable slowdowns (70fps to 30fps) on High Physx settings on Mafia II. Fraps framerate is like a nasty jagged saw because the GT features only 96 shaders but gives it a movie-like feel.

On Batman:AA I achieved 110fps maxed @1200p with max Physx, mins of about 44. I don't have Batman:AC where the recent 1080p reviews were done from the GTX680 but fps did drop from 91fps average no-Physx, to a playable 42fps average. That review is here. Dropping by half is expected therefore buying a couple GTX680 in SLI for Physx would be my ideal hassle-free upgrade having been with AMD for 5 years. Where games don't use Physx you can max out games across multiple displays.

Apart from sticking with older Nvidia/Physx software - will become harder as the months/years go by before your forced to upgrade - unless someone builds on the 1.05ff mod there will be no hybrid setups. Its a legal issue too but keep an eye on the tips for relatively easy game workarounds for now - link.

 

[straxusii]

The 680 is a beast, PhysX is not going to cripple it.

It does in Batman AC actually

I have found that the 680 overclocked with an overclocked decent CPU is the minimum spec needed to play BAC with max settings plus normal physx.

 

[insejn]

It does in Batman AC actually

I have found that the 680 overclocked with an overclocked decent CPU is the minimum spec needed to play BAC with max settings plus normal physx.

That's because Batman AC sucks on the PC, they needed a patch to make it work in the first place and then they still said as a WORKAROUND for the problems people were experiencing with the flagship game that was shipped with all new Nvidia DX11 cards "play the game in DX9 mode with DX11 features turned off"...

It's not the drivers or the cards, it's the game.

Also for OP, Batman is the only game you'll play with PhysX, wouldn't personally make a choice for the next years based purely on one game you play now.