Guide to set Physx Ati as main display Windows7 vers' 7000, 4870X2 x2 plus 280GTX for PhysX Options

[Torch'em]

1. Install both sets of GPU's. Ati first then Nvidia
2. Attach GPU's to monitors (2 preferably as you can see what you are doing)
3. Click windows\control panel\all control panel items\display\screen resolution
4. Click detect displays
5. Click and switch to Ati display extended to Nvidia if not already
6. Open CCC panel
7. Disable CrossfireX if enabled
8. Switch to Nvidia only display
9. Unplug the Ati cord and enable PhysX from the nvidia control panel, leave open
10. Plug back in the Ati cord
11. Detect displays in the windows display control panel
12. Extend the display over to Ati
13. Click on the Ati display picture and check the "Make this my main display".
14. Click on disable and enable of PhysX and hit apply. Important, if apply doesn't appear at this stage, you won't have PhysX!
15. Leave on extended display
16. Run vantage 3D mark CPU test 2 to confirm Physx enabled
17. Enable CrossFireX, confirm again with CPU test 2

[attachment=6209:4870X2_s...reenshot.png]

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dmv=772700

Worked every time on my set up. You may need more power to run hence me using 2 PSU's.

System;

Gigabyte X58 Extreme Mother Board
i7 940 CPU
Gskill 6 gig tri ram
Ati 4870X2 x 2 + Nvidia 280GTX
Coolmaster 1250w + Thermaltake 1200w PSU's with inter connector
WD 500gig HD - Windows7 version 6.1.7000
3 x VecoRaptors 300 gig RAID 5 - Vista Ultimate 64
WD 300 gig storage
1 x DVD burner
24" + 27" monitors

Custom made water cooling with 2 separate system loops

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[IronWarrior]

Good job! :D

[Torch'em]

Just for the hell of it I put in 9800Gx2 to see if the same.

Using the pre release drivers with the 9800GX2, all I had to do us disable CrossFire and not remove the monitor cord. Same steps minus 9 and 10. I double checked, re booted and could miss 9 and 10 with the pre release drivers.

Using 180.48 with the 9800GX2, same as the I used on the 280GTX, I had to follow each of the steps for it to work. It should work for 8 series as well.

Sli enabled with both sets of drivers, on extended screens, on/off both ways.

[attachment=6211:4870X2_s...___PhysX.png]

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[IronWarrior]

Holy ****, can you test a game with that setup, see what happens, kinda FPS and preformance you get with it?

Are both 9800GX2 being used as PhysX?

This post has been edited by IronWarrior: Feb 8 2009, 01:40 PM

[Valconeye]

I knew you could do it :) good job!

[bLuDrGn]

Nice job.

One request, can you test to see if PhysX effects will renders with this setup?

[Torch'em]

Sorry for not getting back earlier. I've ordered Mirrors Edge which should be here in a few days which then I'll check it out.

Meanwhile can somebody post up their FPS with PhysX, without PhysX, game PhysX on but Nvidia CP Physx off for me to bench against please. System spec's would be handy as well please.

Are both 9800GX2 being used as PhysX? Answer - It shares the load while in Sli and only 1 GPU is set for PhysX when not in Sli as normal. As for Game benchies, not much point as you can Google separate 9800GX2, 4870x2 etc. It's the PhysX part I want to see if will work as Ati as main display.

[IronWarrior]

So, how has the system been working for you?

[Torch'em]

I can confirm it does work using the 4870X'2 or single 4870X2 as main display and the 280GTX for PhysX. Mirrors Edge play's OK, but does stutter now and then using the 4870X2 and 280GTX as PhysX, but does work. What I did was play a section with the 280 to a save spot with flags and those plastic sheets or glass windows. End game, switch around to the 4870X2 and get the 280GTX to render PhysX, I then re load the game to compare if all those things are still present and so on.

PC runs OK using both. What I've been doing is playing a game wether it used PhysX or not i.e. Mirrors Edge, CODWaW, with 1 display then stop and switch displays to compare. I do have to quit out the game, then swap the displays or the game crashes or locks up. Handy if 1 game in particular plays well on Nvidia to swap GPU's and vice versa.

All in all I'm happy it works. Not as clean as the 280GTX doing it all, but works. The 4870X2 has better FPS but the stutter was bad in areas of a lot of broken windows shattering eveywhere. Once the final Windows 7 is released and I'll re visit it again and see how it plays from there.

[IronWarrior]

Pretty cool, what resolution are you playing at?

[Torch'em]

Mirrors Edge 1600x1200 and COD 1920x1200

[A2K]

holy cr@p that's awesome!

that wont work with vista right?

i have a 9800gtx lying around...

[IronWarrior]

Yes, won't work with Vista, just XP and Windows 7.