Nvidia Disables PhysX in Presence of ATI GPU
ATI? NO PHYSX FOR YOU!!
Nvidia and ATI – longtime rivals who do not play nice together. Although having both ATI and Nvidia hardware inside a PC is unlikely, there's now clear evidence trouble happens when you put the two together.
Those with the very rare configuration of having an ATI GPU for rendering graphics and a Nvidia chip for processing hardware PhysX will find themselves unable to compute.
Anyone running Nvidia driver version 186 will find PhysX acceleration disabled when ATI hardware is also present in the system, SlashGear reported.
Nvidia customer service responded to a user regarding the issue, saying, "Nvidia supports GPU accelerated Physx on NVIDIA GPUs while using NVIDIA GPUs for graphics. NVIDIA performs extensive Engineering, Development, and QA work that makes Physx a great experience for customers."
The email continued to list a couple of reasons why the Nvidia GPU would refuse to accelerate PhysX, with one of them being, of course, for business.
"For a variety of reasons – some development expense some quality assurance and some business reasons NVIDIA will not support GPU accelerated Physx with NVIDIA GPUs while GPU rendering is happening on non- NVIDIA GPUs," it read. "I’m sorry for any inconvenience caused but I hope you can understand."
It's a rare setup and a rare problem – probably affecting only the most hardcore – and it's unfortunate that it's no longer an option for those wanting the best of both worlds.

And the second thought, This move could be the doom for PhysX. Just like beta-max failed because the "brilliant" decision by Sony to maximize their profits from licensing fees.
And the second thought, This move could be the doom for PhysX. Just like beta-max failed because the "brilliant" decision by Sony to maximize their profits from licensing fees.
Nvidia has no DX11 hardware to date.
This is nvidia telling the users what they can do with the technology purchased.
What next, certain games only rendering on certain GPU turning the PC into another POS console.
When I build a computer I build it to remove all bottlenecks in performance and if nvidia goes through with this nvidia and all the products they make will be furthermore labeled as bottleneck.
So keep nipping at each other because it creates a rivalry that is plain old great for the consumer. It's also entertaining as hell.
I guess they feel the same about people like you who complain about their business tactics and state their intention to move over to a different company. The ONLY reason to go with either ATi OR nVidia is because you believe the individual card you are looking to buy is the best performer for your personal budget.
I doubt it as PhsyX is already fairly well intergrated within the Driver base. It's just a transition for it to become just another instruction set for the developers.
However, with Ageia now part of nVidia and Havok being owned by Intel, ATi may have some serious questions to answer very soon.
First, I care about PhysX as I do about every other componant and software regarding my graphics. The development of PhysX and Havok's engine is all for better and more realistic environments and greater detail to effects. With a question like that you might as well go back 20 years and ask 'Who cares about 3D graphics?'
Second, Why do nVidia need DX11 hardware right now? Windows 7 is the only software that is capable to use it and that is not even released yet (officially, not counting RC and BETA) No games are going to be developed fully for a long time to come. DiRT2 is only going to use slight graphic enhancements, thats all.
Physics... you know, its the reason you have a computer, a car, pretty much explains how everything works. If you don't believe in Physics, then you probably have an unnatural affinity towards the divine and thats no way to lead your life, always deferring to some unseeable spectre.
http://www.ngohq.com/graphic-cards/16223-nvidia-disables-physx-when-ati-card-is-present.html
Actually, Yes you are... it's about the hardware mechanics, not the company. They are not banning XFX, ASUS...etc.... They are deciding the mix of mechanics. So you buy a Petrol car and try to run Diesel...'Putt, putt, putt...' dead engine!
thats until nvidia just decide to half the clock rate of the gpu if there is an ATI one present in the system.
Of course there is a real easy solution to this problem. just buy ATI!
between this and your dodgy drivers nvidia, I don't really thing YOU wanna be laying down an ultimatum. Because I know which brand I'll pick if I can only pick one!
Go ahead... as ATi have no PhysX attachment yet watch your games crash to a stutter or have all the visual specials unavailable to you with every new game that is developed and optimized for PhysX either through nVidia's engine or Intel's... lmao
else just stick with the built in gpu and be a dork