second GPU for Phsyx, worth it ???

[ayorkshirelad]

So atm im running my system with a single ASUS GTX 580, never had any problems and it wipes the floor with any current game i can try it with... but i got to thinking after seeing other people doing this whole '2nd GPU just for phsyx' thing...

> will it free up performance at all (let the main card do more or do things faster, or even both *shrug*)

> is it going to lower the stress much from the main card

> is it a cost effective way of more graphical power OR just a better all round system without jumping upto SLI

Essentially im only interested as a cheap way to better my system and prolong the life of the 580 without going overboard and buying another.

My machine is pretty much only for games, so while i understand the programs might limit how much is going on and what settings i use in certian games will effect any potential bennefit even more, fact is im on it a lot and always playing something

(?is anyone actually doing this with a 580 out there?)


EDIT - I also play a few games with 3D vision so there is some added stress there.



Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit

Intel Core i7 950 @ 3.71GHz
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Asus Rampage III Extreme Intel X58
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OCZ Vertex 2E Bigfoot 120GB SATA-II SSD
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Nvidia 'ASUS' GTX 580 772Mhz GPU
BeQuiet Dark Power Pro P8 1200W Modular PSU
ASUS VG236HE 120Hz 3D TFT 23"
Nvidia 3D Vision Kit
Antec Dark Fleet Series DF58 Gaming Enclosure
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Roccat Kone V2 Mouse / Roccat SOTA Mat
Logitech G19 Keyboard
Locitech Z-5500 5.1 Speakers
Logitech G930 7.1 Surround Sound Wireless Headset

 

[shuzzbutt]

I personally wouldn't bother having a card for physx. For example when Mafia 2 was launched the recommended specs were a gtx 480 with at gtx 280 for physx! Now the gtx280 is a bloody hot and power hungry card to have running just for the benefit of a few games. I'd stick with what you have now as I'm sure its more than ample and get another gtx 580 for sli if you ever decide on 3d vision surround or when crysis 2 comes out

 

[RichardH754]

I had a 9800gt for Physx with 1 480 and it slowed the 480 down in Physx games.

1 480 ran them a lot faster with full physx!

 

[Confused]

I've stuck my old 8800GT in my machine so that I can switch PhysX on, and fudged it so that I can use it with my HD6850 as the main card.

In the 3 games that have PhysX (Batman: Arkham Asylum, Mafia 2 and Metro:2033) it seems to be working OK.

I certainly wouldn't have spent any extra money on buying any cards (I'd rather have spent the money on either a better primary card, or a second, for Crossfire/SLI), but I had the 8800GT lying around doing nothing, so thought I'd try it.

 

[ayorkshirelad]

Well my first thought was actually a GTX460, maybe those 2 cards wouldnt get a slowed speed on the main GPU... was it your cards or the type of cards specifically or is this just what generally happens?

In a game that is using phsyx a lot/frequently, how stressful is it to a GPU?

 

[HangTime]

Don't bother buying specifically for PhysX, just use old nvidia cards you have lying around for it (e.g. when you next upgrade, keep the GTX580 for PhysX).

 

[Orcvader]

Don't bother buying specifically for PhysX, just use old nvidia cards you have lying around for it (e.g. when you next upgrade, keep the GTX580 for PhysX).

A 580 for PhysX .

I wouldn't try it, your 580 is already a fast card and depending on what PhysX card you use it could slow down the 580 instead.

 

[Xelene]

Wouldn't bother, there's only 2 or 3 games that have PhysX and my 240GT handles them all.