PhysX

[reppinnoobs.com]

First of all im sorry if this is the wrong section to post in but I honestly couldnt find anywhere else to do so. Anyways lets get to the point, I have a couple of questions regarding the PhysX application and using 2 graphic cards. Ill post my specs at the end of the post for some info in case its needed. I know somewhat of what PhysX does but my first question is, I can use any GeForce card that are 8 series+ correct ? im currently using an ASUS EN8600GT. If in fact I am able to, after I put in the graphic card manually into the slot and open the computer, I install the drivers corresponding to the new card but what will happen in that case, will it interfere with my 8600GT files ? Also, how would OCing work with a 2nd card with RivaTuner ? (note; if it matters i already OCed my 8600GT). My last question is regarding a power supply, mine is 280W atm I think, would I need a stronger one if I was to put in a 2nd card ? Anyways I think I mostly need some clearing up on the technical side of the application, any additional info regarding anything in this post or that you guys think would be useful I would be grateful for. Here are my specs:

Processor: Intel® Pentium® Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80GHz (2205 MHz)
Motherboard: Asrock 4Core Dual-Sata2
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP, 32-bit (Service Pack 3)
DirectX version: 9.0c
GPU processor: GeForce 8600 GT
Driver version: 180.84
Stream processors: 32
Core clock: 570 MHz
Shader clock: 1265 MHz
Memory clock: 790 MHz (1580 MHz data rate)
Memory interface: 128-bit
Memory: 512 MB
Video BIOS version: 60.84.41.00.00
IRQ: 24
Bus: PCI Express x4

Thank you for your time!

[reppinnoobs.com]

27 views and no one has any answers for any of these questions.. ? :(

[Wolfhound]

First of all im sorry if this is the wrong section to post in but I honestly couldnt find anywhere else to do so. Anyways lets get to the point, I have a couple of questions regarding the PhysX application and using 2 graphic cards. Ill post my specs at the end of the post for some info in case its needed. I know somewhat of what PhysX does but my first question is, I can use any GeForce card that are 8 series+ correct ? im currently using an ASUS EN8600GT. If in fact I am able to, after I put in the graphic card manually into the slot and open the computer, I install the drivers corresponding to the new card but what will happen in that case, will it interfere with my 8600GT files ? Also, how would OCing work with a 2nd card with RivaTuner ? (note; if it matters i already OCed my 8600GT). My last question is regarding a power supply, mine is 280W atm I think, would I need a stronger one if I was to put in a 2nd card ? Anyways I think I mostly need some clearing up on the technical side of the application, any additional info regarding anything in this post or that you guys think would be useful I would be grateful for. Here are my specs:

Processor: Intel® Pentium® Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80GHz (2205 MHz)
Motherboard: Asrock 4Core Dual-Sata2
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP, 32-bit (Service Pack 3)
DirectX version: 9.0c
GPU processor: GeForce 8600 GT
Driver version: 180.84
Stream processors: 32
Core clock: 570 MHz
Shader clock: 1265 MHz
Memory clock: 790 MHz (1580 MHz data rate)
Memory interface: 128-bit
Memory: 512 MB
Video BIOS version: 60.84.41.00.00
IRQ: 24
Bus: PCI Express x4

Thank you for your time!

Yes you can use any card that is an 8xxx series with at least 256Mgs of dedicated ram, about your second question, no it will not interfere with your other drivers installed, but to be sure you can uninstall actual drivers, install new card and then reinstall drivers to be sure, regarding the PSU, absolutly yes, you need a new PSU, 280W is too weak for 2 cards.

[shilk]

The PhysX drivers do not interfere with the regular driver installation. :) Just install it after installing your videocard drivers. If you get a new videocard and install the PhysX drivers, you can select which one you want to use as your dedicated PhysX GPU in the NVIDIA control panel.

I don't know about your second videocard since you didn't mention it, but if anything, I don't think that power supply is going to supply much juice. You're probably borderlining right now with the 8600 card as it is. If anything, get a bigger power supply that supplies enough amps on the 12 volt rails. The 8600 needs 19-22 amps minimum without overclocking, iirc. My 9600 GT needs 26 amps, and I needed a powersupply because my old one died after I got my CPU upgrade. My new power supply has 2 12v rails with 18amps each.

In short, make sure you do some research on your amp voltage for your power supply before buying it. Just because a power supply is 750 watts, doesn't mean it's going to supply enough amps to your components. :)

[Wolfhound]

The PhysX drivers do not interfere with the regular driver installation. :) Just install it after installing your videocard drivers. If you get a new videocard and install the PhysX drivers, you can select which one you want to use as your dedicated PhysX GPU in the NVIDIA control panel.

I don't know about your second videocard since you didn't mention it, but if anything, I don't think that power supply is going to supply much juice. You're probably borderlining right now with the 8600 card as it is. If anything, get a bigger power supply that supplies enough amps on the 12 volt rails. The 8600 needs 19-22 amps minimum without overclocking, iirc. My 9600 GT needs 26 amps, and I needed a powersupply because my old one died after I got my CPU upgrade. My new power supply has 2 12v rails with 18amps each.

In short, make sure you do some research on your amp voltage for your power supply before buying it. Just because a power supply is 750 watts, doesn't mean it's going to supply enough amps to your components. :)

Good points :thumbsup: , yes be sure when you buy a PSU that has enough juice on 12v rails, it won´t help you that the PSU has 2000Watts with 2 12v rails of 9amps, is better to have a 600W or 700W PSU with 4 rails of 18amps (mine has them Be Quiet! Straight Power 700W) for a total of 56amps, is very important that you look this values before purchasing the PSU

[CaptNKILL]

Ideally you want a PSU with a single 12v rail with plenty of amps on it. You can get a nice PCP&C 750W with more than 50 amps on a 12v for $100. :)

[Wolfhound]

Ideally you want a PSU with a single 12v rail with plenty of amps on it. You can get a nice PCP&C 750W with more than 50 amps on a 12v for $100. :)

Yup, that´s true but here in Spain I hadn´t found any reseller that imports PCP&C PSUs that doesn´t cost an eye.

[reppinnoobs.com]

well the older card that i got sitting around is a 7600GS and on the nvidia forums someone told me it wont work with PhysX since it doesnt have some shader thing in it ? cant remember honestly. anyways one last thing is with all these amps things u guys are talkin bout, whats the difference ? (notice my username, yes I am a noob at this type of stuff.) And lets say I got another 8xx series, since i dont know the difference between these amp things and which companies are the better ones, is someone able to link me a decent PSU from newegg ?
Btw thanks a lot for your replies!

[mojoman0]

8 series and above only support physx. Sorry I don't have time to get links but Antec and PCP&C are very trusted names in power supplies.

[shilk]

well the older card that i got sitting around is a 7600GS and on the nvidia forums someone told me it wont work with PhysX since it doesnt have some shader thing in it ? cant remember honestly.

As mojoman0 said, PhysX is only supported on videocards 8xxx series and up. So you're SoL, I'm afraid. You can get another 8600 since they're super dirt cheap now. Better yet, you can get a 9600 GT like I did. :D Just keep an eye on the memory interface and make sure it's at least a 256-bit. Not the physical memory on the card, but the actual speed of it. Anything less and you'll have less than desirable effects.

anyways one last thing is with all these amps things u guys are talkin bout, whats the difference ? (notice my username, yes I am a noob at this type of stuff.) And lets say I got another 8xx series, since i dont know the difference between these amp things and which companies are the better ones, is someone able to link me a decent PSU from newegg ?
Btw thanks a lot for your replies!

I'm no expert, but from what I've learned and always stuck by is this.

When you buy a power supply, there should be a part on the box where it has a bunch of mumbo jumbo about the voltage and stuff, all laid out for the consumer. There should be something like this:
Output:+3.3V@30A,+5V@30A,+12V1@18A,+12V2@18A,-12V@0.8A,+5VSB@2.5A
The +12V is what you want to find. If you look at the example above, you will see that there's two of them 12V1 and 12V2, both outputting 18A or, 18 amps each. Add the total from both of them and you get 36. That's your total amps output.

Your card, like I mentioned before, has an output of 19-22 amps if it's not overclocked. If you add another videocard, you're essentially doubling it. So you're going to need an even bigger power supply that supplies sufficient amount of voltage and amps. Anytime you overclock or add a new component, you're draining more amps so it's a good idea to have more wattage and amps so you won't be faced with a dead power supply. How many times have you read about someone upgrading something in their PC and it dying in the process? It's usually fine after they buy a new power supply.

That's why most people will buy a good power supply that meets their needs because it's one less component they'll need to buy when they keep upgrading throughout the years. So you can spend 40 bucks on a power supply now and be happy, but if you decide to upgrade anything in your PC and you're already borderlining the limit, that's another powersupply you're going to end up having to buy again.

Newegg has a decent power calculator here (http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html). Just add your components and it shuold give you a rough idea of the kind of power supply you may need.

[saturnotaku]

Newegg has a decent power calculator here (http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html). Just add your components and it shuold give you a rough idea of the kind of power supply you may need.

That calculator grossly overestimates what you'd actually need. I tried to approximate the system I have in my signature, using a Core2 Extreme Quad and 2x 8800 GTX cards, and it said I needed 994W.

The 850W I'm running right now doesn't even break a sweat with a Core i7 and 2x GTX 280s.

[reppinnoobs.com]

I cant thank you enough for the replies, now I did OC my GPU and CPU and im only around 280w so I think im gonna go get myself a new one if Im gonna get a 2nd card. im thinking an 8400 or 8600 with the 256 thing u mentionned. the newegg calculator says 401w so a PSU at 600w or 700w since im OCing everything but @ how many amps should I get it ?

[shilk]

That calculator grossly overestimates what you'd actually need. I tried to approximate the system I have in my signature, using a Core2 Extreme Quad and 2x 8800 GTX cards, and it said I needed 994W.

The 850W I'm running right now doesn't even break a sweat with a Core i7 and 2x GTX 280s.

I think it's better to have more than to have less than you need. But yeah, it is a bit overestimated. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. ;)

I cant thank you enough for the replies, now I did OC my GPU and CPU and im only around 280w so I think im gonna go get myself a new one if Im gonna get a 2nd card. im thinking an 8400 or 8600 with the 256 thing u mentionned. the newegg calculator says 401w so a PSU at 600w or 700w since im OCing everything but @ how many amps should I get it ?

I don't tink the 8400's come in the 256-bit memory interface. Then again, I don't think anything below the 88XX series do. I would just stick with the 8600 for consistency's sake. For about 15 dollars more, you can get a 9600 GT which spanks the 8600. Also, it's not the onboard ram I'm talking about, but the actual memory interface. Your existing 8600 has 128-bit memory interface (which I think all 8600's have), but 512 MB of RAM. You can have all the ram in the world, but if your memory interface is slow, the DDR3 won't make up for it.

You can compare these two cards and see for yourself. These are the cheapest ones on newegg at the moment.

8600 GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814139017)
9600 GT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814140092)

The 9600 GT has the 256-bit memory interface and the 8600 GT has 128-bit. The 9600 GT has double the stream processors, and is the much, much better choice for only 22 dollars more. It does say that you do need at least a 400 WATT PSU with a 6 pin molex connector, so a PSU upgrade will definately have to be something you keep in mind. :)

Most PSU's come with a standard of 18 amps per 12v rail. You would have to do the math yourself and figure out how much you need. There's no way we can just tell you what to look for in a PSU. Like I mentioned above, you can get one for now and be happy. But if you upgrade quite often, the better investment would be to get a decent PSU that should at least last a few upgrades.

Do some research on your components before buying them and then add up what it is you'll need to power them all. I got stingy and paid the price with a burnt out PSU when I got my CPU upgrade. It just couldn't handle the stress. So like a dumbass, I had to spend more money to just get a replacement. :mad: