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Difference between revisions of "Glossary:PhysX"

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(→‎Latest version: after two days of navel gazing and head banging, I think I got the most straightforwardly correct wording that implicitly satisfies the question: why did nvidia split the installer, and what the hell was even the criterium.)
(Very much reworded the key points, to hint that GPUs accelerate *already existing* advanced effects (i.e. they aren't specifically targetting CUDA). Turns out physx 2.8.4 (also checked the SDK) still has the enableLocalPhysXCore code. Simplified some wording (thanks notes!))
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{{stub|There's still probably room to mention the x87 scandal}}
 
{{Infobox non-game
 
{{Infobox non-game
 
|cover        = Nvidia PhysX logo.png
 
|cover        = Nvidia PhysX logo.png
Line 7: Line 8:
 
|wikipedia    = PhysX
 
|wikipedia    = PhysX
 
}}
 
}}
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 +
Middleware used by many games for [[Wikipedia:Physics engine|physics]] effects.
  
 
'''Key points'''
 
'''Key points'''
−
{{ii}} Used by many games for [[Wikipedia:Physics engine|physics]] effects.
+
{{++}} Selected titles may support special additional features like extra particles (dust, smoke, debris) or advanced cloth simulation.
−
{{ii}} Hardware acceleration is possible through Nvidia graphics cards in supported games.
+
{{ii}} They aren't technically conditional on hardware acceleration,{{note|Available on every Nvidia graphics card with more than 32 CUDA cores, and at least 256MB of VRAM.<ref>[http://forum.pinoypc.net/index.php?topic=53591.0 Geforce 8 or later cards that don't support PhysX? - PinoyPC Forums]</ref>}} but that is usually required to achieve a playable framerate.
 
{{mm}} [[List of games that support Nvidia PhysX]]
 
{{mm}} [[List of games that support Nvidia PhysX]]
  
 
==Latest version==
 
==Latest version==
 +
{{ii}} These provide the PhysX runtime necessary for every pre-2.8.4 game, and the occasional title-specific update for those afterwards<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130822160924/http://physxinfo.com/news/9702/the-evolution-of-physx-system-software/ The Evolution of PhysX System Software | PhysXInfo.com] (retrieved)</ref>
 
There are two releases of the PhysX driver that should be installed:
 
There are two releases of the PhysX driver that should be installed:
−
* [http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_system_software.html NVIDIA PhysX System Software] for games built on any runtime version that supports GPU acceleration{{note|The PhysX SDK ''version'' an application was developed with is the only thing to matter here, not whether advanced hardware effects are or were actually used or not.}}
+
* [http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_system_software.html NVIDIA PhysX System Software] for games built on any runtime version that supports GPU acceleration{{note|The PhysX SDK ''version'' an application targets is the only thing to matter here, not whether the developer actually implemented advanced hardware effects or not.}}
 
* [http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx-9.13.0604-legacy-driver.html PhysX Legacy System Software] for all the others, generally found up to ~2008 (using version 2.7.2 or before 2.7.1)
 
* [http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx-9.13.0604-legacy-driver.html PhysX Legacy System Software] for all the others, generally found up to ~2008 (using version 2.7.2 or before 2.7.1)
 
<!-- It'd be great to call/hint the later as "AGEIA driver" for simplicity, but it is not. Nvidia did retrofit CUDA all the way down to 2.7.1 (so it's not just a matter of "before and after" their purchase), and there's nothing PPU-related inside any of the installers. -->
 
<!-- It'd be great to call/hint the later as "AGEIA driver" for simplicity, but it is not. Nvidia did retrofit CUDA all the way down to 2.7.1 (so it's not just a matter of "before and after" their purchase), and there's nothing PPU-related inside any of the installers. -->
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==Secondary PhysX card with an AMD/ATI video card==
 
==Secondary PhysX card with an AMD/ATI video card==
−
{{--}} Nvidia only allows a secondary Nvidia card to be used for PhysX if the primary card is also an Nvidia card, or since 372.70 if a monitor is reported attached to it.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180128133210/http://physxinfo.com/forum/index.php?topic=367.msg1668 Hybrid GPU-pairing is finally "legal" (aka Hybrid PhysX reloaded)]</ref>
+
{{--}} Nvidia only allows a secondary Nvidia card to be used for PhysX if the primary card is also an Nvidia card (or since 372.70, if ''any'' monitor is reported attached to it<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180128133210/http://physxinfo.com/forum/index.php?topic=367.msg1668 Hybrid GPU-pairing is finally "legal" (aka Hybrid PhysX reloaded)]</ref>).
−
{{ii}} Requirements:
+
{{ii}} Windows 7 or Windows XP/Windows 2003 are required (Windows Vista will not work)
−
:* Windows 7 or Windows XP/Windows 2003 (Windows Vista will not work)
 
−
:* AMD/ATI GPU used for your primary display
 
−
:* NVIDIA GPU that support hardware accelerated PhysX (series 8 and newer, with a minimum of 32 cores and 256 MB of video memory)
 
  
 
{{Fixbox|description=Install necessary files|ref=<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191019070903/http://physxinfo.com/wiki/Hybrid_PhysX Hybrid PhysX - PhysX Wiki] (retrieved)</ref>|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Install necessary files|ref=<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191019070903/http://physxinfo.com/wiki/Hybrid_PhysX Hybrid PhysX - PhysX Wiki] (retrieved)</ref>|fix=
−
# Install the GeForce driver 256 package. If needed install the latest [http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_system_software.html NVIDIA PhysX System Software].
+
# Install the GeForce driver 256 package. If needed install the [[#Latest version|latest PSS]].
 
# Use the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170215045653/http://www.ngohq.com/graphic-cards/17706-hybrid-physx-mod-v1-03-v1-05ff.html Hybrid PhysX mod] to patch all needed files and registry values automatically.
 
# Use the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170215045653/http://www.ngohq.com/graphic-cards/17706-hybrid-physx-mod-v1-03-v1-05ff.html Hybrid PhysX mod] to patch all needed files and registry values automatically.
 
# Windows XP/Server 2003: Extend the display assigned to NVIDIA GPU. Or make sure it is extended already.
 
# Windows XP/Server 2003: Extend the display assigned to NVIDIA GPU. Or make sure it is extended already.
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===Games prefer private own libraries to system ones===
 
===Games prefer private own libraries to system ones===
−
{{ii}} This only applies to pre-2.8.4 PhysX games<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130822160924/http://physxinfo.com/news/9702/the-evolution-of-physx-system-software/ The Evolution of PhysX System Software | PhysXInfo.com] (retrieved)</ref>
 
 
{{Fixbox|description=Kill local hack|ref=<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20170518141257/http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=786523&page=3#post21432065 PhsyX, Mirror's Edge, and You - Steam Users' Forums] (retrieved)</ref>|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Kill local hack|ref=<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20170518141257/http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=786523&page=3#post21432065 PhsyX, Mirror's Edge, and You - Steam Users' Forums] (retrieved)</ref>|fix=
 
# Open [[regedit]]
 
# Open [[regedit]]

Revision as of 18:52, 17 February 2023

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PhysX
PhysX cover
Developers
Nvidia Corporation
PhysX at Wikipedia

Middleware used by many games for physics effects.

Key points

Selected titles may support special additional features like extra particles (dust, smoke, debris) or advanced cloth simulation.
They aren't technically conditional on hardware acceleration,[Note 1] but that is usually required to achieve a playable framerate.
List of games that support Nvidia PhysX

Latest version

These provide the PhysX runtime necessary for every pre-2.8.4 game, and the occasional title-specific update for those afterwards[2]

There are two releases of the PhysX driver that should be installed:

If you are using an Nvidia graphics card the first package may be already included with the drivers.

PhysX v2.5.2 compatibility

The NVIDIA PhysX Legacy System Software does not include v2.5.2; this is known to affect Infernal and The Void but there may be other affected games.
Download missing DLLs[citation needed]
  1. Install the NVIDIA PhysX System Software.
  2. Install the NVIDIA PhysX Legacy System Software.
  3. Install the AGEIA PhysX Engine v2.5.2.
  4. The game should now start up and play.

Secondary PhysX card with an AMD/ATI video card

Nvidia only allows a secondary Nvidia card to be used for PhysX if the primary card is also an Nvidia card (or since 372.70, if any monitor is reported attached to it[3]).
Windows 7 or Windows XP/Windows 2003 are required (Windows Vista will not work)
Install necessary files[4]
  1. Install the GeForce driver 256 package. If needed install the latest PSS.
  2. Use the Hybrid PhysX mod to patch all needed files and registry values automatically.
  3. Windows XP/Server 2003: 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

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

Issues fixed

"The program cannot start because PhysXLoader.dll is missing from your computer" error at launch

Install latest versions of the PhysX System Software

Games prefer private own libraries to system ones

Kill local hack[5]
  1. Open regedit
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\AGEIA Technologies
  3. Delete the enableLocalPhysXCore binary data value (and EpicLocalDLLHack, if present)
  4. On Windows Vista and newer also run from an elevated command prompt: reg flags "HKLM\SOFTWARE\AGEIA Technologies" set DONT_VIRTUALIZE /reg:32

Notes

If for some reason you need to run the game as admin (or your user account runs with admin privileges always enabled), also see Shoddy coded applications mess system-wide registry setting.
Delete/move/rename PhysXCore.dll, usually found in game executable directory


Notes

  1. ↑ Available on every Nvidia graphics card with more than 32 CUDA cores, and at least 256MB of VRAM.[1]
  2. ↑ The PhysX SDK version an application targets is the only thing to matter here, not whether the developer actually implemented advanced hardware effects or not.

References