Best PhysX card

**DiscipleDOC** · 06-17-10, 12:48 PM

I was doing some research, and I came across this info from another site:

Quote:

9600gt - minimum suggested
9800gt - good price/ performance
gts250 - solid pick for somewhat better performance but only if cost over above is marginal
gtx260/275 - money is no object
gtx285 - only if you find a ridiculously good deal

so anything in terms of most "cost-effective" would be in the 9600gt-9800gt-gts250 category. so look for the best deal you can find. ebay works.

I tend to agree with this post. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?

**saturnotaku** · 06-17-10, 12:56 PM

I'm a strong advocate of the 9800 GT. The GTS 250 would be a good choice as well, and for the reason listed in your quote - it's worth it if the cost is minimal over the 9800.

Newegg has the BFG 9800 GT for $80 with free shipping. Nice thing about this one is that it doesn't require external power.

CaptNKILL · 06-17-10, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscipleDOC

I was doing some research, and I came across this info from another site:

I tend to agree with this post. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?

I agree with that too.

Which is why I'm running a low profile GTS 250 that I got a good deal on.

**DiscipleDOC** · 06-17-10, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptNKILL

I agree with that too.

Which is why I'm running a low profile GTS 250 that I got a good deal on.

Can you elaborate on your deal? I am thinking of getting another card for physX just so I can use another pcie slot instead of the one right next to my primary PCIe slot...

**bob saget** · 06-17-10, 04:34 PM

I think you should get the 275

**musman** · 06-17-10, 05:16 PM

I use a GT-240. Don't have anything to compare it too but it made a noticeable difference when I installed it.

**DiscipleDOC** · 06-18-10, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob saget

I think you should get the 275

HYBRID · 06-18-10, 05:26 PM

Hey Doc I don’t know if a dedicated PhysX card is worth it honestly, if you dig Batman, Mirrors Edge or the few other Physx titles it has a nice gain, but the gtx480 is a monster and can handle both duties well.....

I have done a few of these test with an 9800gt I have laying around here and in my discoveries I have yet to find a compelling reason for an add on PhysX card if using a high-end card like a 285 and up.

For example I had played the demo of Batman it was a nice gain, but on the free coupon code i had for Cryostasis in my short time with the game (Hated the pace) the couple of frame gains was not worth the added heat and power consumption IMHO. But if you want to experiment then use a 9800gt as a minimum with an GTX480.

CaptNKILL · 06-19-10, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscipleDOC

Can you elaborate on your deal? I am thinking of getting another card for physX just so I can use another pcie slot instead of the one right next to my primary PCIe slot...

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=150509

JasonPC · 06-20-10, 06:51 PM

I noticed the GT 240 can overclock a little bit and improve its physx performance a decent amount. I'm sure it's not as good as a GTS 250 but pretty decent. It gets about the same physx performance in fluidmark as an 8800. Core clock 610 Mhz Shader 1480 Mhz (default 550/1340) changing the clock of the memory doesn't affect anything.

**musman** · 06-21-10, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonPC

I noticed the GT 240 can overclock a little bit and improve its physx performance a decent amount. I'm sure it's not as good as a GTS 250 but pretty decent. It gets about the same physx performance in fluidmark as an 8800. Core clock 610 Mhz Shader 1480 Mhz (default 550/1340) changing the clock of the memory doesn't affect anything.

I'm using a GT-240 Superclocked. Never tried OC anymore than the factory setting. I will try it tonight. Let you guys know if there is any difference.

**snowmanwithahat** · 06-22-10, 07:49 AM

Doc, you're spot-on with your assessment. The 9800 range is a sweet spot as is the 8800 ultra / GTX / GTS / GT range.

In games its hard to see much performance gain over a 9600 with physx. However, you'll still see almost a linear increase in CUDA applications so it still may be worth it to consider a slightly beefier card..... but also take into consideration that most CUDA applications are poorly written and only see a CUDA device, not multiple so it'd default to your main video card anyway.

06-17-10, 12:56 PM	#2
saturnotaku Apple user. Deal with it. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The 'burbs, IL USA Posts: 12,502	Re: Best PhysX card I'm a strong advocate of the 9800 GT. The GTS 250 would be a good choice as well, and for the reason listed in your quote - it's worth it if the cost is minimal over the 9800. Newegg has the BFG 9800 GT for $80 with free shipping. Nice thing about this one is that it doesn't require external power.

06-17-10, 04:34 PM	#5
bob saget Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vancouver, originally Russia Posts: 23,133	Re: Best PhysX card I think you should get the 275

06-17-10, 05:16 PM	#6
musman I Derail Threads Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Posts: 976	Re: Best PhysX card I use a GT-240. Don't have anything to compare it too but it made a noticeable difference when I installed it. __________________ Antec Nine Hundred case. Core I-7 920 @ 3.56GHz, Noctua NH-U12P Cooler, EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX-285 1GB, EVGA GT-240 Superclocked 512Mb used as a Physx card, DFI LANPARTY JR X58-T3H6, OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 SDRAM 1600 7-7-7-18, Intel X25-V SSD, used as a boot drive, 2X Seagate 500Gig 32MB Cache 7200RPM in RAID 0, Logitec G-15 keyboard, Logitech MX-518 Mouse, CH Combatstick 568, Xboc Controller, LG L227WTG-PF 22" LCD Monitor 1680x1050. Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit. Speakers: KRK Rokit8 studio monitors. http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/media/customer.jpg

06-18-10, 05:26 PM	#8
HYBRID Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 495	Re: Best PhysX card Hey Doc I don’t know if a dedicated PhysX card is worth it honestly, if you dig Batman, Mirrors Edge or the few other Physx titles it has a nice gain, but the gtx480 is a monster and can handle both duties well..... I have done a few of these test with an 9800gt I have laying around here and in my discoveries I have yet to find a compelling reason for an add on PhysX card if using a high-end card like a 285 and up. For example I had played the demo of Batman it was a nice gain, but on the free coupon code i had for Cryostasis in my short time with the game (Hated the pace) the couple of frame gains was not worth the added heat and power consumption IMHO. But if you want to experiment then use a 9800gt as a minimum with an GTX480. __________________ [Asus Extreme Rampage III\| Asus GTX580 Matrix \|Intel I7 950 @ 4.011GHZ vcore 1.275\| Corsair H80 Liquid Cooler\| Intel SSD 80GB & 1 150 GIG Raptor\|Corsair Dominator GT CMG6GX3M3A1600C7 \| Asus Essence STX\|Plextor PX-880SA\|Asus BluRay Drive \|Cosair HX-850HX\| Corsair Obsidian 800D \|\|Win 7 RTM 64-Bit OEM\|Samsung T-240 24" 1920X1200 5MS

06-20-10, 06:51 PM	#10
JasonPC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,103	Re: Best PhysX card I noticed the GT 240 can overclock a little bit and improve its physx performance a decent amount. I'm sure it's not as good as a GTS 250 but pretty decent. It gets about the same physx performance in fluidmark as an 8800. Core clock 610 Mhz Shader 1480 Mhz (default 550/1340) changing the clock of the memory doesn't affect anything.

06-22-10, 07:49 AM	#12
snowmanwithahat Snowy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 973	Re: Best PhysX card Doc, you're spot-on with your assessment. The 9800 range is a sweet spot as is the 8800 ultra / GTX / GTS / GT range. In games its hard to see much performance gain over a 9600 with physx. However, you'll still see almost a linear increase in CUDA applications so it still may be worth it to consider a slightly beefier card..... but also take into consideration that most CUDA applications are poorly written and only see a CUDA device, not multiple so it'd default to your main video card anyway. __________________ ---Gaming Rig--- Q6600 3.4ghz (378x9) - 1.5v Gigabyte EP45-UD3P 8gb (4x2gb) OCZ Gold DDR2-800 (5-4-4-12) MSI+ASUS GTX 470 SLI Dell u3011 IPS Display HP 22" Auxiliary Monitor 256gb Western Digital Silicon Edge Blue SSD 5x2tb RAID-5 Array 750W PC P&C PSU Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit & Ubuntu 10.04 64-bit ---Gaming Laptop--- ASUS G53JW Core i7 740QM 16gb DDR3 Nvidia GTX 460m 1tb WD HDD 120gb Corsair SSD Join the NvNews Folding @ Home Team