Benchmark Results: High Detail, PhysX On High, And A Dedicated PhysX Card
We paired a number of secondary GeForce cards with the GeForce GTX 260 in order to see what dedicated PhysX processing can provide. Let's start with the Normal PhysX setting at 1280x1024 and then at 1920x1200:
These results are very useful. Note how the average frame rate takes a large hit as resolution is increased, but the important minimum frame rate remains high. This is excellent news. Now, let's increase PhysX detail to the High setting:
The minimum frame rates stay somewhat constant, despite the change in resolution. Also note that the minimum frame rate stays fairly constant regardless of the dedicated PhysX card used, except for the GeForce 9500 GT, which is struggling a little.
What have we learned from this? Primarily, the GeForce GT 220, a card that doesn't appear to be very powerful on its own, becomes a force to be reckoned with as a dedicated PhysX processor, definitely offering the most bang for the buck when compared to more expensive GeForce models.
On a final note, while it's not officially supported as such, we have heard stories about people purchasing GeForce cards to work as dedicated PhysX GPUs when paired with Radeon graphics cards. This can only be done on Windows XP and Windows 7, as Windows Vista does not have the capability of running two graphics drivers at the same time. Keep in mind that 186 and newer GeForce driver versions will not allow for this functionality, as Nvidia has unfortunately disabled PhysX co-processing when working in tandem with a non-GeForce graphics card.
Great article, really informative. Looking forward to hearing back from the devs regarding CPU usage.
cant wait to try it.
This is a Games for Windows Live product. Or On-line account Evil DRM malware tracking software required.
I really want to play this; but alas I cannot buy it
Wow..I didn't expect GT 220 is a good dedicated Physx card,.. Off searching in eBay LoL
Looks to me like nVidia had this game rigged to better benefit it's cards, note the decrease in CPU involvement as the physX options are cranked up.
That is why Arkham Asylum should be Game of the Year - It is a work of art!
Would a setip with an Nvidia card for PhysX and an ATI card for graphics work? Noob question i know :-P
Would a setip with an Nvidia card for PhysX and an ATI card for graphics work? Noob question i know :-P
I don't think it's a daft question - there was a= bit of news or an article a short while back saying that nvidia had set something so that physX couldn't be used if there was a non-nvidia card handling the graphics (or something like that). I was going to raise the same question as to 'can the GT220 be used as a physx card regardless of the main GPU?' as I can't remember much about the other article.
I play this game using 2 8800GTs, one for graphics and one for the physx (on high).
All settings on max and res at 1080p
Benchmark gets about 40fps, played the whole game though with no noticable slowdown.
The physics were locked down because PhysX is an nVidia product (no one supported AGEIA dedicated cards when the original company (Ageia) was making the entry to the market),as some profit based companies would still use havok at that times and not see the huge potential of the PhysX of AGEIA, it's only reasonable that now that Ageia merged with nVidia, they want to make profit by selling their graphic cards.
The second reason, I think, is that the PhysX wouldn't even try to use the CPU for Physics for performance related issues (smooth frame rate in every case scenario rig).
As I recon, AMD is making a move in the Physics with the 5th serie.
Just wait and see... Again