Getting PhysX Running

NVIDIA has finally made public the "final" ForceWare 177.39 driver. Some of those who used the "earlier" 177.39 driver had trouble installing the driver. That problem has been fixed although the driver still retained the same revision number. You can get the "final" ForceWare 177.39 drivers at these locations :

Windows Vista (32-bit) : http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x86_177.39_beta.html
Windows Vista (64-bit) : http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x64_177.39_beta.html
Windows XP (32-bit) : http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_177.39_beta.html
Windows XP (64-bit) : http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp64_177.39_beta.html

You will also need to install the NVIDIA PhysX System Software v8.06.12. It should be part of the 177.39 driver package, but should you need to download it separately, you can get it here - http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_8.06.12_whql.html.

Do note that the ForceWare 177.39 beta driver is the LATEST NVIDIA driver that supports PhysX acceleration. NVIDIA will be releasing a new 177.41 WHQL driver but this driver is actually older than the 177.39 beta driver and does not support PhysX acceleration. So, if you want to try PhysX out, use the 177.39 Beta driver.

3DMark Vantage supports PhysX, so after you install both the 177.39 Beta driver and the PhysX system software, the driver will transfer the CPU Test 2 Physics workload to the GPU.

To try PhysX in Unreal Tournament 3, you will need the UT3 PhysX Mod Pack which gives you access to three new levels that support PhysX acceleration by the GPU. You can download it here - http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_ut3_physxmod.html. Make sure you enable “Hardware Physics” in Video Settings.

177.39 Beta Vista Driver Highlights

• Beta release for Windows Vista.
• Adds support for GeForce 9800 GTX GPUs.
• Adds support for NVIDIA PhysX Technology for GPU PhysX hardware acceleration on GeForce 9800 GTX, GeForce GTX 280, and GeForce GTX 260 GPUs. GeForce v177.39 driver package includes NVIDIA PhysX System Software v8.06.12.
• Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI™ technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL, including 3-way SLI Technology with GeForce 9800 GTX, GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 260 GPUs.
• Supports CUDA™ Technology.
• Supports HybridPower.
• Supports GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.

177.39 Beta XP Driver Highlights

• Beta release for Windows XP.
• Adds support for GeForce 9800 GTX GPUs.
• Adds support for NVIDIA PhysX Technology for GPU PhysX hardware acceleration on GeForce 9800 GTX, GeForce GTX 280, and GeForce GTX 260 GPUs. GeForce v177.39 driver package includes NVIDIA PhysX System Software v8.06.12.
• Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI™ technology on DirectX 9 and OpenGL.
• Supports CUDA™ Technology.
• Supports GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.

Note : 3-way SLI technology and Hybrid SLI technology are only supported on Windows Vista.

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