PhysX Question

[AsoIaF]

So i'm making a new build. I have about $80 left. Is there an Nvidia card i can buy and use as a dedicated PhysX card. Also, does it matter how strong the card is when it comes to being used only for PhysX? My main card will be a GTX 670, will an $80 GPU be enough to run all PhyX settings (if there are any) on max without any help from the main card? I don't want my main card being slowed down by PhysX at all. Here's the build in case you want to see:


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($229.99 @ TigerDirect)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($197.49 @ TigerDirect)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($56.97 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($119.99 @ TigerDirect)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 670 4GB Video Card ($479.99 @ TigerDirect)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced ATX Full Tower Case ($159.99 @ TigerDirect)
Power Supply: Corsair 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($169.41 @ TigerDirect)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($106.97 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $1520.80
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-04 12:52 EDT-0400)


Also, what $80 Nvidia GPU do you recommend for use as a dedicated PhysX card? I'm most likely going to be using Tigerdirect so i'd really appreciate it being from there. Thanks a lot for any and all help .

 

[Deemo13]

There's no really good Nvidia GPU good for Physx under the 8800GT or the GTS250. And its only really worth it if you play games that have Physx, such as Batman: Arkham Asylum/City and Borderlands 2.

Also, that is a really expensive power supply, go for this instead:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=927377&CatId=2533

Its a very highly rated power supply.

There really isnt any Nvidia GPU for that price that can do Physx well.

 

[AsoIaF]

There's no really good Nvidia GPU good for Physx under the 8800GT or the GTS250. And its only really worth it if you play games that have Physx, such as Batman: Arkham Asylum/City and Borderlands 2.

Also, that is a really expensive power supply, go for this instead:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=927377&CatId=2533

Its a very highly rated power supply.

There really isnt any Nvidia GPU for that price that can do Physx well.

I might be able to get more money, what do you suggest as a good PhysX card? And how can i tell? What specs on a graphics card determine how well it will do for PhysX?

 

[Deemo13]

A good GPU for Physx is usually going to come used. One that you can get pretty easily from Newegg for like $100 is the GTS450. Its equal to the 250 and does Physx well.

What to look for, well I'm pretty sure you're just looking for CUDA cores.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127605

That being said, the GTX670 should be able to manage its own Physx just fine, so there should be almost no need for a Physx card.

What games do you play that require Physx?

 

[AsoIaF]

A good GPU for Physx is usually going to come used. One that you can get pretty easily from Newegg for like $100 is the GTS450. Its equal to the 250 and does Physx well.

What to look for, well I'm pretty sure you're just looking for CUDA cores.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127605

That being said, the GTX670 should be able to manage its own Physx just fine, so there should be almost no need for a Physx card.

What games do you play that require Physx?

I have most of them haha:

Alice: Madness Returns
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham City
Dark Void
Mafia II
Metro 2033
Mirror's Edge

Planning to get:

Borderlands 2 (It also comes free with the gtx 670)
Metro Last Light

Looks interesting but not sure yet:

Darkest of Days
Cryostasis
Sacred 2
Depth Hunter


Also the f2p Planetside 2 is going to have it as well, so if i ever check that out PhysX would be an option.

 

[Deemo13]

Alright you do play Physx games. Cool. Some people come in here and are all like "I want Physx" when all they play is BF3.

You would benefit from a 560Ti in Physx, but I don't know if your power supply would run it. The 670 can do its own Physx anyway. I have a Physx card with my GTX460 because when Physx is on in certain games, it gets bogged down. The 670 will not for sure.

 

[Deemo13]

Sorry, I was mistaken. There's another post where this guy is going to upgrade his 560Ti's to a 670 and use a 560Ti for Physx. I feel stupid now.

But I would recommend at least a 8800GT or a GTS250 for Physx. I have the GTS250 and it works great.

And this is what I recommended as a power supply, as he is a fan of TigerDirect.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=927377&CatId=2533

 

[AsoIaF]

Alright you do play Physx games. Cool. Some people come in here and are all like "I want Physx" when all they play is BF3.

You would benefit from a 560Ti in Physx, but I don't know if your power supply would run it. The 670 can do its own Physx anyway. I have a Physx card with my GTX460 because when Physx is on in certain games, it gets bogged down. The 670 will not for sure.

Ya i understand the 670 has it's own PhsyX, but like you said it can make some comes run slower. So i wanted to have the 670 unaffected by PhysX. I wanted a dedicated card to handle ALL PhysX on highest settings without it getting bogged down. Games like Metro 2033 and probably Metro Last Light are pretty demanding, as you can see from any number of GPU benchmarks.

Another question, if the dedicated PhysX card i have doesn't have enough power, will the game start drawing power from my GTX 670 for PhysX, or does it only use the dedicated card? If so is there a way to stop that? For demanding games like Metro 2033 i'd prefer if the GTX 670 used all it's resources on the non PhysX operations.


Also, thanks for all the help so far guys .

 

[coozie7]

@ AsoIaF: If you use the PSU listed by Deemo13 you'll save over $100 anyway.
Any card later than the 8xxx series will run PhysX see the chart at the end of this article for a pointer as to which will suit your budget:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

Either of the powersupplies mentioned here will easily run your rig, even if you SLI the 670!

 

[17seconds]

This is an easy question. You are looking for the Nvidia cards with the most CUDA cores. The GT 640 cards have 384 CUDA cores and cost less than $100. That's the same number of cores as a GTX 560 Ti, but quieter and cooler with much, much less power consumption (the one issue that most people refer to as the main drawback of a dedicated PhysX card). Enjoy your PhysX gaming!

 

[cuecuemore]

Don't get a dedicated PhysX card, save the money for a second 670.

 

[deadlockedworld]

Don't get a dedicated PhysX card, save the money for a second 670.

I prefer this idea. Just overpower the games with pure muscle. This way its useful in other games too.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Here's some money saving ideas ......

Save $50 and get a better case. HAF was great in its day but it's outdated.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139009

Save $60 and get the faster GFX card (1280 boost clock) if your monitor is 1920 x 1200/1080. If ya playing 2560 x 1600 or on multiple screens, than stick w/ the 4 GB

http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-geforce-gtx-670-directcu-ii-top-review/23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121637
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_670_Direct_Cu_II/33.html

The AX750 is a great PSU but it's no better than the HX series.......the TX or Core Edition series will server unless you're into extreme OC'ing. Save some money on the PSU

$100 - TX750 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021
$115 - TX850 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139022
$115 - HX750 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010
$135 - HX850 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011
$85 - XFX Core Ed 750 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207015
$95 - XFX Core Ed 850 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207011