GenL

NVIDIA GeForce driver 256 Hybrid PhysX mod [x86/x64] v1.05ff

* Status: development is frozen. Hopefully i can continue when i find a replacement for my old broken nvidia GPU.

* DESCRIPTION:
This mod will enable hardware PhysX support for NVIDIA GPU, when non-NVIDIA GPU is used as a primary display device.
- intended only for WDDM 1.1 OS (Windows 7) and NT5 WDM OS (Windows XP/2003).
- only for multi-vendor multi-GPU configurations.

* VERSION HISTORY:
1.01 - 02/10/2009:
- initial release

1.02 - 29/11/2009:
- added support for fixing new checks in 195.xx drivers
- added support for XP/2003 drivers
- both x86 and x64 are supported by a single mod now

1.03 - 21/04/2010:
- added support for fixing a timebomb, introduced in 196.75 and 197.xx drivers (gravity reverse + overall slowdown after a few seconds of PhysX processing)
- mod will now attempt to patch PhysX System Software files (helps to eliminate desktop extension requirement on Windows 7)
- mod will now disable "nvsvc" service autostart (helps to fix problems with fake displays)
- improved patching process (no more need to reboot in Safe Mode or terminate any process)
- improved patching logic (mod will no more try to patch non-existent files)
- improved accuracy of some patterns to avoid unnecessary patching

1.04ff - 29/06/2010:
- removed support for fixing GeForce driver binaries as current 256 series don't need this (dropped support of all older 19x series drivers)
- added support for fixing a new limitation in PhysX System Software, introduced in 9.10.0223 (aka 9.10.0528 / .0529)
- added extra optional command line files (nvsvc and PhysX related)
- removed most of gfx/sfx stuff (the mod is now tiny and no more requires 96dpi mode)

1.05ff - 26/10/2011:
- added support for fixing new limitations introduced in 285.xx drivers and PhysX System Software 9.11.0621
- mod will now delete all application 3D settings profiles from NVIDIA Control Panel (prevents problems with known PhysX games)
- updated old patterns

* INSTALLATION STEPS (Windows 7):
1. Install the needed GeForce driver 256 package. Update PhysX SS (only 9.10.0223 or later) if needed.
2. Use the mod to patch all needed files and registry values automatically.
3. [optional] Use command line files to set a desired configuration.

* INSTALLATION STEPS (Windows XP/2003):
1. Install the needed GeForce driver 256 package. Update PhysX SS (only 9.10.0223 or later) if needed.
2. Use the mod to patch all needed files and registry values automatically.
3. Extend the display assigned to NVIDIA GPU. Or make sure it is extended already.
4. [optional] Use command line files to set a desired configuration.

* NOTES:
1. If you update PhysX System Software after using the mod, you should use it again to patch the updated PhysX files.
2. It is safe to use the mod several times - all needed files will be patched only once.
3. If you still have problems with fake displays and desktop extension, try to delete a fake display and create it again.
4. To let the mod correctly patch all needed files on x64 versions of Windows XP/2003, install KB942589 hotfix first.

* Thanks to all beta testers!
__________________

FAQ

Q: Why do we need both v1.03 and v1.05ff, which one should I use?
A: If you are not going to use anything older than 257.21 - forget about v1.03 and use v1.05ff. The mod v1.03 is intended for old 19x series and 9.10.0222 (+older) PhysX SS. If you update any component from the [old] 19x.xx and/or 9.10.0222 (+older) to [newer] 256 series and/or 9.10.0223 (+newer) - you should apply the mod v1.05ff afterwards. The mod v1.05ff will not help with 19x series GeForce driver.

Q: I applied the mod v1.05ff, but i can't find the PhysX option in NVIDIA Control Panel. What's wrong?
A: You do NOT even need to touch the Control Panel for current 256-series GeForce drivers. GPU-PhysX will work straight after you apply the mod. Don't forget to create and extend a fake display if you are using Windows XP/2003.

Q: There is something wrong with mod v1.03 window, I can only see "Info" and "backup" buttons.
A: v1.03 is having problems with GUI if you are using non-default DPI options for your display. Set it to 100% (96 dpi), like this. Sorry for this issue, it should be fixed in v1.05ff.

Q: Is there a virus/trojan/malware inside? My security software thinks so.
A: Your security software can make mistakes and thus is unreliable, just like any other security software. There is no such thing here.

Q: So how do I enable GPU-PhysX acceleration on my Radeon?
A: You don't. Hardware PhysX acceleration is and will be only supported through CUDA, which is and will be exclusive to NVIDIA GPUs. You need to have NVIDIA GPU along with your primary GPU for this.

Q: How do I set up a fake display?
A: First you need a driver to be installed for your NVIDIA GPU already (default MSDN driver is suffice). Open "Display Properties" ("Screen Resolution") dialog, click "Detect". Select a display assigned to your NVIDIA GPU, then set the "Multiple Displays" to "Try to connect anyway on: VGA" option. Click "Apply".
NOTE: For 256-series driver you don't need to create a fake display on Windows 7.

Q: Do I need anything else except for setting up a fake displays to make it work? Any additional hardware or connectors?
A: You shouldn't need anything else, it was tested on Windows XP x86 and Windows 7 x64 - fake displays do they work in both cases. But in Windows XP you should always keep the fake display extended for GPU-PhysX to work.
* Tested with 197.45 driver.
NOTE: For 256-series driver you don't need to create a fake display on Windows 7.

Q: Which NVIDIA GPUs support hardware PhysX acceleration?
A: GeForce 8 series and later (with a minimum of 32 cores and a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory).

Q: Is there a large drawback if I have a secondary GeForce connected to low-speed PCIe-slot (8x/4x/1x instead of 16x)?
A: It may affect benchmarks, but it doesn't affect actual games much. Even 4x and 1x modes should be just fine, see this article.

Q: What exactly affects PhysX performance? GPU/Memory/Shader clocks or dedicated memory?
A: Shaders/Cores amount on your GPU, more cores = better performance. Thus, Shader clock is the most important of the three. As for dedicated memory, 256 MB should be enough for everything we currently have among PhysX apps/games.

Q: How stable should my hybrid GPU configuration perform?
A: The very possibility of running several heterogeneous GPUs is provided through WDDM 1.1 of Windows 7. There may be a software bugs and a hardware errors (on overclocked systems, for example), BSODs etc. But if your system can handle 2 GPUs, there should be no serious problems.
* I got my first series of BSODs this year on XP (x86 SP3) shortly after installing NVIDIA GPU in the secondary slot. Only a slight drop (80 MHz for CPU and 25 MHz for RAM) in overclocking really helped me. No problems on Windows 7 x64 though.

Q: Can I use multi-GPU technologies of another vendor along with Hybrid PhysX? ATI CrossFire, for instance?
A: There should be no problems with this, but your system should be able to handle that number of GPUs.

Q: Some particular app/game seems to refuse to use hardware PhysX, although everything else is working fine.
A: First make sure it does support hardware PhysX acceleration. Open a folder of that app/game, search for "physx*" dll-files and try deleting (or renaming) them, so only installed PhysX System Software will be used. It could be "PhysXDevice.dll", "PhysXLoader.dll", "PhysXCore.dll" etc. For example, to enable GPU-PhysX in Mirror's Edge you must delete/rename PhysXDevice.dll and PhysXCore.dll from \Binaries\ dir.

Q: I think my FluidMark scores are strange...
A: FluidMark's o3Marks are almost unreliable for benchmarks. You should only use it to check if you have GPU-PhysX correctly enabled or disabled.

Q: How do I make CUDA apps work with my hybrid config?
A: You don't. Developers should do it. GPU-PhysX is working through CUDA, this means CUDA is not blocked by a driver.

Q: GPU-Z or other software says my NVIDIA GPU doesn't have CUDA/PhysX supported. Why?
A: Because such software does not always correctly work with hybrid configurations. Use a FluidMark to see if GPU-PhysX works.

Q: What about Fermi support?
A: It was tested by one brave person with 197.41 driver here. And it's working. Should work for newer drivers too.

Q: Is there a Vista support?
A: Of course there is. But first go ask Microsoft for a magic service pack which updates WDDM 1.0 to WDDM 1.1.

Q: What about Hybrid mod for Ageia PPUs? Is there any progress or updates?
A: No, the first and the last release is located here. Apparently Ageia PPU support was dropped altogether since 9.09.30 - even for Nvidia GPU users. Use this mod with PhysX System Software 9.09.0814 - the latest working package for PPUs.

Q: Should I really get a second GPU only to have some games running with additional gfx and physics effects?
A: No, you shouldn't. Unless you really want to. Eventually you may/will be disappointed - by effects quality or by their performance cost. Also, it is unknown how long can we keep the latest drivers modded this way.

Attached Files

	PhysX-mod-1.03.rar (2.19 MB, 99050 views)
	PhysX-mod-1.05ff.rar (42.5 KB, 59587 views)

__________________
For science.
> Hybrid PhysX mod v1.03 / v1.05ff
> Batman: Arkham Asylum - MSAA fix
> Blade Kitten - Uncap FPS mod

  

Lurk

Hi GenL,
as an enthusiastic user of your mod, I'd like to express my thanks to you for this wonderful effort.
I used your 1.02 mod for Batman:AA on WinXP, but now I'm about to install Win7 x64 in the next few days.
I will definitely pop my NV GPU back into my system and try out your last version of the mod, while certainly reporting back to confirm how it works.
Thanks again for your dedication to this, and I guess I can say this on behalf of everyone else out there.
Hope you can keep up with this awesome work.
People like you make computing fun!

KillerCheese

Thanks man!

Just finished downloading 197.45 and am installing it now. Then I am going to update to 9.10.0.0222 PhysX. Last time I used .0222 I was having problems with them.

mistargill

Thanks GenL

seems like Its not working for me... I did the same thing as 196.34 + 9.10.0222 doesn't seem to work. went back to that one using 1.03 though

Zogrim

Nice work, GenL

However, this line in FAQ doesn't sound right to me - "Eventually you will be disappointed" - imposing your own opinion ? "you are not trying to prevent people from being misleaded" (c) GenL
Changing it to "may be disappointed" would be fair

kitch9

I've been used Physx since the very early Ageia PPU days and TBH he is right. The only title worth a damn is Batman........ That's if you desire flappy bits of paper and smoke that doesn't quite look right.

Seriously.

Saying that I use hybrid physx as I am a geek, (5870 + 9800GT) but it is yet to impress me.

kitch9

It simple and it does work, although I initially made the same mistake as you.

Do not remove your previous drivers. (Trust me.)

Make sure your physx card is detected in screen resolution settings, BUT THE DESKTOP IS NOT EXTENDED TO IT. (Show desktop only on one is selected.)

Run the driver update. (DO NOT REBOOT.) Run Physx SS update if needed, if latest version is already installed there is no need to update this too. (DO NOT REBOOT.) Its important this is done before running the mod and not after.

Run the mod. (DO NOT REBOOT.)

Enable physx in NV control panel. (DO NOT RUN PHYSX APPS.) now reboot.

Check desktop is still set to only show on 1 upon reboot and run Physx lovely old job.

THERE IS NO NEED TO DO THE SAFE MODE THING ANYMORE SO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.

Both the driver and Physx SS now get patched by the mod, so you need to run it after each driver and Physx SS update you do.

Regeneration

Better game physics doesn't justify the performance penalty and the vendor limitation.

GenL

I guess it is quite accurate already. See, the one using a hybrid config will eventually try many apps and games. Do you really think that every time his expectations will be fulfilled? Do you really think he will never have performance issues because of PhysX?

With nvidia constantly going further with promoting PhysX, with their new "twice the GT200" PhysX performance of GF100 (some game will eventually require you to have a Fermi as a secondary GPU, right?), with Ageia PPUs literally turning into obsolete pieces of junk before your very eyes, can you find at least someone who is always impressed by anything PhysX related?

Sure, it may be my opinion. I got myself a GeForce 2 weeks ago, and i'm already disappointed in both quality and performance. If not for a new mod, i wish i didn't do it. A few games where you get almost all additional effects disabled after disabling PhysX are not worth buying a new GPU into your system.
Don't you think it is also the opinion of every other hybrid PhysX user? Because we are talking about them only here, not about "nvidia PC" users. The latter, btw, should be even more disappointed in PhysX, as it eats up to 45% of their rendering performance on a single GPU (source).

I fixed that part for you, Zogrim. But somehow i think your opinion is too high on hardware PhysX. During all its existence it failed too much as a technology. And you saw it.
And please, don't use (c) where there is no (c) involved.

Please be more specific, and follow instructions carefully.

__________________
For science.
> Hybrid PhysX mod v1.03 / v1.05ff
> Batman: Arkham Asylum - MSAA fix
> Blade Kitten - Uncap FPS mod

Zogrim

But what for ?! there is no mistery
GPU PhysX games ? Other applications ? they all are listed, current and future
Performance ? there are tons of articles and benchmarks
Extra physics effects ? they are all discribed as detailed as possible.

If user will consider all this before bying extra GPU for PhysX, not after - he won't be dissapointed. (because if he will, he just won't buy it)

Leave PR crap to Nvidia - use information we provided instead. That's my point)

Good

No. It just different.