Nvidia disables PhysX when ATI card is present

lumo · July 31st, 2009, 02:37 PM

as you say i can use ati and nvidia....
hmm i have an old nvidia card around, i could physix this too...
but... i will not waste 100W+ for crap physix which is rarely needed

(at least never needed in my games :P)

i still hope that ati brings up some neat stuff with havoc and/or adds support for physix

ghost_zero5 · July 31st, 2009, 04:27 PM

Ah. I forgot one thing:
Actually, they don't "just" block ATi with dedicated nVidia card as PhysX BUT actually block GPU PhysX completely once an ATi card is present. I once tried to use the 9600GT Green Edition as MAIN and only card. I didn't even connect a monitor to the ATi one, nor did I use an extended monitor option.
HOWEVER, this also resulted in me NOT being able to ACTIVATE PhysX. Only after deactivating the ATi driver I was able to do so.
So actually, it is not just the dedicated option the block but more or less say that once you use an ATi card they WON'T allow PhysX at all.

Regarding 100+ W that is why I use a 9600GT Green Edition but as said also mainly for Linux, for PhysX there is only one game I might would want to use it but because of performance I am not so sure either.

Actually, if nVidia won't port PhysX to OpenCL, I guess it will soon disappear anyway.

darthcyclonis · July 31st, 2009, 04:49 PM

Your right Ghost_Zero5. They disable PhysX at the driver level when another GPU is present so their is no functionality at all. Again their excuse was they spend a lot of money and R&D and Q&A that they want their cards used for everthing.

My answer to them was who cares? Your selling cards, your getting your money. As brought up previously it puts them in a legal dilemma. They are only allowing PhysX to be used if both rendering and PhysX dedicated GPU's are from them?

What if I'm rendering graphics and PhysX on the nvidia GPU and the ATI card is only used only for sec and third monitors? They are still punishing consumers and trying to tell them they what hardware they can have in their systems.

ghost_zero5 · July 31st, 2009, 04:53 PM

I wonder how they do it and if there would be some workaround. Are they checking if a certain driver-file is loaded or something like this?

And I also agree: They sold their cards, there is no need to punish their OWN customers.

EDIT:
Btw. regarding the money part: It seems they are spending it for developing useless things like blocking PhysX if a GPU from another manufacturer is present. Not to mention that the main part regarding PhysX was developed by AEGIA and not them.

darthcyclonis · July 31st, 2009, 05:39 PM

I will examine the driver files...I will see if I can find the new driver set instructions.

darthcyclonis · July 31st, 2009, 07:57 PM

This may take awhile...I'm not the most skilled when it comes to modding drivers. I can say one thing the newer INF file has a lot of new additions and changes from previous INF's.. I suppose if you are going to add stuff to disable features it makes it easier to hide. lol

ghost_zero5 · August 1st, 2009, 01:19 AM

The question is if modding the inf file alone will be sufficient or if you also would need to modifiy/hack driver dll/sys/exe/... files.
Anyway, I didn't expect a solution too soon anyway. At least not if it doesn't come from nVidia directly but I hope that there will be one.

darthcyclonis · August 1st, 2009, 01:32 AM

After looking over the files I'm about 80% sure that moding the INF files will not work.

Zogrim · August 1st, 2009, 03:12 AM

Strange decision, that won't help physx at all and won't bring nvidia any favor.
I know some guys using low-end Nvidia GPU along wit ATI, they will not be pleased)

BTW, is it blocked with Nvidia GPU drivers or PhysX System Software ? If first, you can use older GPU drivers, but keep PhysX drivers updated for newest games.

darthcyclonis · August 1st, 2009, 03:24 AM

It's blocked by the GPU drivers. You can use the older drivers but they performance sucks. Also they will start making PhysX system software require 186 and above so which means people will be SOL for updates.

As stated previously. I don't need PhysX. I was playing around with to see how it works. I'm just pissed once again at the arrogance of Nvidia and their decision to screw their customers. With out even lube or the courtesy of a reach around!