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Nvidia Disables PhysX Support on Vendor Mixed GPU Setups – Driver Update 340.52 Onwards

Gregster

Gregster

Gregster

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The folks over at BSN made a pretty interesting discovery in the recent Nvidia driver update (340.52). Apparently, this driver update makes a very hidden but significant change to the drivers. Basically, if the drivers detect a second non-Nvidia GPU in the system, Physx support would be disabled and the program in question would fall back to CPU Physx. However, even though the change is significant, its impact would be almost negligible for the simple reason that mixed vendor setups are very rare. NVIDIA-Shield-Tablet-1-750x400

Installation of a Second Non-Nvidia GPU would Disable PhysX Support from 340.52
I can see that the heading itself is quite confusing, so I will begin with what exactly Nvidia means by a mixed vendor setup. Basically the only vendor that doesn’t interfere with the working of PhysX after this update is Intel HD graphics (and Nvidia itself ofcourse). But wait, that only leaves AMD doesn’t it? and why would someone mix red and green GPUs you ask? Well thing is, if you have an APU, I am pretty sure that would count as a Non-Nvidia graphic card; unless the hand over to the dedicated Graphic Card is perfectly clean. Another alternative scenario, something that BSN mentions, is those dedicated PhysX cards of old. Not sure if anyone is still rocking them but the numbers, if any, should be quite few.
Another important update is that PhysX will now work only on Geforce 8 Series and above. And if you misread the nomenclature that is 8 and not 800 so we are talking about the lineup which housed legends like the 8800GTS. Another requirement is a minimum of 256MB vRAM which once again shouldn’t affect any significant number of gamers, because if you are rocking 128MB vRAM or below, then you certainly can’t afford Physx effects. Ofcourse, all this happened out of plain sight. The main attraction of the 340.52 driver update was the inclusion of Nvidia SHIELD Tablet support. This will however serve as a warning to the odd fellow who is thinking of getting a vendor agnostic setup, the most probable scenario being one with an AMD APU and an Nvidia GPU. There is, however a catch. Nvidia didn’t make very clear, its criteria for turning Physx off apart from the usual statement of improving experience. That means we don’t know with complete certainty which of the above situations will actually result in PhysX being disabled.


Read more: http://wccftech.com/nvidia-disables-physx-support-vendor-mixed-setup-340-52/#ixzz39Z3QBAd6
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I thought this was par for the course already? I remember Tommybhoy saying that he could no longer use PhysX with his nVidia GPU alongside his AMD GPU.
 
Think its daft myself while I can understand the tie in between the rendering and simulation of physic effects they could at the very least leave it as an option in beta drivers.
 
I'm confused too, Nvidia removed the ability to run an Nvidia card for PhysX and a non-Nvidia card for the display in the 186 drivers (in 2009). Since then we've relied on hacks developed by users to work around this and fool the Nvidia drivers into thinking there's no AMD cards present. I've read the article briefly and I don't get what's changed and why this is news 5 years after it first happened? :confused:

EDIT - re-reading, I think the change is that previously the PhysX card wouldn't work if it was a secondary card with a non-Nvidia being the primary card. Now the PhysX part will shut off even if the Nvidia card is the primary one and the non-Nvidia is the secondary. Guess this is why they mention APUs a few times. So if you run an Nvidia primary card and an AMD secondary card/onboard you now won't have GPU PhysX at all? Weird.
 
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So the question is does this mean that anyone with an Nvidia card and an AMD APU cannot use GPU accelerated PhysX, or is it possible to not install the graphics portion of the drivers for an APU.

A bit off, if that is the case seeing as Nvidia don't actually make a CPU that you can use with one of ttheir graphics cards. And if I read that correctly it works with Intel APU,s.
 
Gregster said:
I thought this was par for the course already? I remember Tommybhoy saying that he could no longer use PhysX with his nVidia GPU alongside his AMD GPU.
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It is greg.

Gpu PhysX will not work with any PhysX 3.+ titles with an Amd Gpu present, PhysX 3.+ cannot be hacked-even with zero AMD drivers installed.

With AMD drivers installed, you need to physically remove the AMD Gpu from the system for gpu PhysX='perfectly clean'.

Perhaps it's just Nvidia going official that it won't work with AMD present, I don't think they ever have?

Or maybe it's the first time that the actual hidden AMD killswitch code has been found?

bru said:
So the question is does this mean that anyone with an Nvidia card and an AMD APU cannot use GPU accelerated PhysX, or is it possible to not install the graphics portion of the drivers for an APU.

A bit off, if that is the case seeing as Nvidia don't actually make a CPU that you can use with one of ttheir graphics cards. And if I read that correctly it works with Intel APU,s.
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I can't see that happening, they couldn't demand that you have to uninstall your 750K BE you use BF4 Mantle and AC BF with your GT740 for Gpu PhysX, could they?
1 x MSI GeForce GT 740 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £67.99
1 x AMD Athlon X4 750K Black Edition 3.40GHz (Socket FM2) Trinity Quad Core Processor (AD750KWOHJBOX) £55.99




^^^^
That is a decent spec for someone who wants to get started into PC gaming without throwing loads of cash at it.






Nvidia bought PhysX IP, it's 100% up to them that it only runs on Nvidia TWIMTBP and rightly so, it is an advantage over the competition whether an individual rates it or not-it's the gamers choice.

However, the 'perfectly clean' demand is a disgrace, it's the gamers choice if they want to run a custom Titan BE/295 X2 system and use ALL of AMD/Nvidia usp's.
 
I will be surprised if no-one tries to sue nvidia, quite rightly. As long as i have a physx capable gpu it should function as advertised; it's none of nvidias bloody business if i also want to install an AMD gpu.
 
Nobody is suing anyone, its nvidias paid for product and they can make it act how they like.

It does all sound very confusing, basically if amd display drivers are detected in any capacity then physx becomes forcibly moved to the cpu?
 
pgi947 said:
Nobody is suing anyone, its nvidias paid for product and they can make it act how they like.
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If only that really was the case, just ask the Microsoft Windows team that coded how IE 9/10 was installed as standard. Your not allowed to do that it's unfair.........whinge whinge .....cue the stupid browser choice screen.

Just imagine if a car manufacturer decided that their advertised fullHD reversing camera resorted to 480p if you use Mobil oil.

You would have every right to sue them unless their is a disclaimer on the advert.
 
bru said:
So the question is does this mean that anyone with an Nvidia card and an AMD APU cannot use GPU accelerated PhysX, or is it possible to not install the graphics portion of the drivers for an APU.
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Should be able to disable the APU's iGPU in the BIOS no?

Personally I usually disable iGPUs when running a dedicated card to avoid any potential issues as it's redundant anyway.


tommybhoy said:
I can't see that happening, they couldn't demand that you have to uninstall your 750K BE you use BF4 Mantle and AC BF with your GT740 for Gpu PhysX, could they?
1 x MSI GeForce GT 740 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £67.99
1 x AMD Athlon X4 750K Black Edition 3.40GHz (Socket FM2) Trinity Quad Core Processor (AD750KWOHJBOX) £55.99
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Isn't the 750K a CPU not an APU?
 
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The way the world is today, lawyers and politicians love butting in on the tech world. Only a matter of time before Brussels take aim at Nvidia's business practices, "it's our product" won't hold up in court. ;)
 
Orangey said:
The way the world is today, lawyers and politicians love butting in on the tech world. Only a matter of time before Brussels take aim at Nvidia's business practices, "it's our product" won't hold up in court. ;)
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Generally speaking they only target really big fish, and usually just to make an example not for any real reason, hence why they got their knickers twisted over Microsoft bundling a web browser (in integral part of an O/S) with their O/S, but have not said a word against Apple doing the exact same thing.

In real terms Nvidia are a very small fish compared to the big boys, I.E the likes of MS, Apple, Intel, etc. Hell their actually a slightly smaller fish than AMD it's just everyone forgets that as they were bigger than ATi in their final years.
 
Even so you wouldn't want to uninstall your APU drivers as that prevents HSA from working, which is the whole point of having an APU in the first place.
 
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