How powerful does a dedicated Physx card need to be?

[Crashgate3]

On my new system I'm planning on running a single GTX285 as the main card, and also want to use SoftTH to run triple monitors. This needs a second card but the card doesn't actually do any processing, it's purely there to output an image to the monitor so it can be a little tiddly one.

As I'm using a second card I thought I might as well use it as a dedictated physx card (it's fine to run both Physx and SoftTH off the same auxiliary card) - how powerful do these need to be to make any difference? I was looking at a Palit 512MB GeForce 9500 as they're passively cooled but have no idea if this is either useless or overkill.

Also, with massive resolutions does memory become an issue with physics processing the same as normal 3D image rendering? I can get a 1GB version of the 9500 I want for only about 3 quid more.

 

[Sipha]

Nothing very special, a 9600GT would be perfect.

 

[thepeganator]

9600GT/GS would be best.

 

[EvilOne]

Quicker running it on the single GTX285, along with normal graphics from what i understand about it. (instead of a cheap dedicated card).

 

[Crashgate3]

Are there any benchmarks anywhere that compare different cards as a physx card? The only ones I can find just compare one card.

 

[almighty15]

A simgle 8400GS is more then enough and cheap too!!

Then overclock it

You dont need a massive card for PhysX as theres not any games that process that much physics that they need a 9600GT+

 

[reflux]

There are no measurable gains in any games on the market from having a dedicated card running PhysX. Not to mention no games worth buying for it either.

If you just need a card to output an image, an 8400GS will suffice.

 

[Monkeynut]

A simgle 8400GS is more then enough and cheap too!!

Then overclock it

You dont need a massive card for PhysX as theres not any games that process that much physics that they need a 9600GT+

An 8400GS doing PhysX will be no faster than the CPU doign the PhysX work, maybe slower. 8600/9500GT minimum for any gain.

 

[thevet]

games that are supported by physx are here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhysX#Software_support

 

[Crashgate3]

Decided to go for the 9500. Spending the extra (plus I'd have probably ended up watercooling it too as here aren't any passive 9600s, so another £40 for a block ) is just a bit silly.

 

[braveheart]

yes 9600GT would suit you prefect