Regeneration

As you may or may not know, Windows 7 allows two display drivers to be used at once - like in Windows XP. Therefore, it is possible to use an Nvidia card for PhysX and ATI card for graphics rendering. Sadly, since the release of 186 graphics drivers, Nvidia has decided to block this feature anytime a Non-Nvidia GPU is present in the system (Even IGPs). In addition, for some incomprehensible reasons, the latest version of PhysX System Software also prevents PPU cards (such as BFG PPU) from working if a Non-Nvidia GPU is present. The following is Nvidia's explanation behind their actions:

"Physx is an open software standard any company can freely develop hardware or software that supports it. Nvidia supports GPU accelerated Physx on NVIDIA GPUs while using NVIDIA GPUs for graphics. NVIDIA performs extensive Engineering, Development, and QA work that makes Physx a great experience for customers. For a variety of reasons - some development expense some quality assurance and some business reasons NVIDIA will not support GPU accelerated Physx with NVIDIA GPUs while GPU rendering is happening on non- NVIDIA GPUs. I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused but I hope you can understand."

As expected, this move by Nvidia received a lot of criticism from both consumers and even Nvidia's competitors. Luckily, a forum member by the name of GenL has released an experimental beta patch which intercepts disable-PhysX-if-Radeon-is-present-code. So far, according to user comments the patch delivers successful results. At this stage, the patch only works for PhysX GPU rendering and not PPU rendering. However, the developer claims that work is still in progress.

In response to these latest events, AMD has announced a joint open physics initiative with Pixelux Entertainment. “Proprietary physics solutions divide consumers and ISVs, while stifling true innovation; our competitors even develop code that they themselves admit will not work on hardware other than theirs,” said Eric Demers, chief technology officer for graphics at AMD. “By working with Pixelux and others to enable open support of physics on OpenCL and DirectX 11 capable devices we are taking the exact opposite approach.”

  

darthcyclonis

Again I want to thank GenL on making this patch! Some of us only did some minor testing but he did all the work. Thanks again!!

krasno

squall_leonhart

no but microsoft could if they ever decided to disable driver testing mode.

__________________

bytemuncher

Great work GenL! Stick it to the man!!

Sazabizc

I love it when people stand up to corrupt company's like this. Its really sad that nvidia did this to people they just hurt them self's. there probably just to plain stupid to see it. GenL keep up the good work Im sure a lot of people will appreciate it. I would not be shocked if Microsoft did disable driver testing mode but if they do I hope people stand up and do something like this to over come it. I just got to say this (IN YOUR FACE NVIDIA) lol

mkey

Nice work. Fuck of Nvidia, lol

This should be declared the antinvidia day.

__________________
... what?

Jack87

Morons, Nvidia just protects their rightfully owned property. How would you like if you invested millions and then see scumbags (and who claim to be "moraliy" right lol... pathetic) take advantage of your invested money and tech.

Regeneration

Nvidia just protects their rightfully owned property? Would you mind explaining me why Ageia PhysX PPU is no longer working on systems powered by Radeon cards? I don’t remember they ever mentioned any kind of Radeon restriction in the minimum requirements.

If I bought Nike shoes and I would like to wear it with Adidas socks - I have the right to do so. If I bought an Nvidia card and I would like to use it only for PhysX rendering – I should have the right to do so as well. They never mentioned these new restrictions anywhere. They can't tell us something like: "You can't wear Nike shoes with Adidas socks".

Protecting your property is one thing. Taking an illegal and unfair advantage of your property to abuse consumers and to blacklist your competitor is another thing. As long as you have an Nvidia card, you should have access to their PhysX technology no matter what. Nvidia doesn’t have any right to come up with such abusive behavior.

Bill

Nobody is "taking advantage" of anything here. Customers who PAID for their Nvidia hardware can no longer utilize it for Physx if they upgrade their primary card to ATI (Nvidia says 'competitor' but there is no competitor but ATI). Nvidia is simply attempting to secure additional sales in the event the competitor releases a superior product (which has just happened... go figure). Nvidia is now worried that users will jump ship and buy the new ATI card while demoting their current Nvidia GPU, which they paid for, to Physx processing duties rather than purchase a new Nvidia card demoting their current, PAID FOR, Nvidia card to Physx processing. Key words here... PAID FOR. So now it's 'morally' correct to screw your customers unless they continue to give you money rather than allow them to use the original product with the original features they paid for.

Anyone who can't see through the PR muck here is flat out an IDIOT.

Here's the worst case scenario for Nvidia should they proceed in this direction.

Let's say that ATI continues to dominate the GPU scene for the next two years (likely less) while Nvidia scrambles to keep up all the while denying paying customers the ability to run Physx. Physx will, with absolute certainty, be dead within those two years because marketshare for performance products, what gamers crave, will shift heavily in ATI's favor and as such, nobody will give one good God damn f_ck about Physx anymore, since they can't run it anyways. Havoc will take the lead. No question.

Alternatively, Nvidia could allow Physx processing while an ATI card is present and continue to sell hardware (albiet far less) due to the Physx processing capabilities. This will provide the much needed revenue to continue R&D in effort to retake the performance market.

If Nvidia's PR and marketing team can't see this and truly think the majority of us are stupid enough to swallow the gibberish they feed us, well then good luck to them, they'll need it.

-Bill (who for the record uses only Nvidia hardware.. I only speak the truth)