mohawkade



Posts: 66





Embrace your spark of madness!





Jr. MemberPosts: 66Embrace your spark of madness! How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « on: January 17, 2011, 07:52:16 AM » If you don't feel like reading, you can view the video tutorial at the following URL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdUToGiqIw



If you're reading this, then you have an Ageia Phys X card and your frustrated with Nvidia for abandoning THE Relic of Dedicated Physics Processors with their latest Phys X drivers.



However, there is something you can do to fix that and restore support to that PPU , and all it requires is a little copy/paste and some registry editing. I'll be going through, step by step, what specifically you need to do to restore PPU support with the latest Phys X drivers for both 32 and 64 bit systems.



You will need 3 things to start with:



1) An old Ageia Phys X System Software (doesn't matter which one, as long as it's AGEIA . You can Google it or look for it on PhysXFiles)



2) Nvidia Phys X System Software 8.09.04 (which can be picked up from the Nvidia website)



3) Newest Nvidia Phys X System Software (9.10.0513 or higher)







Once you have all three downloaded and ready, you can begin...



Uninstall Nvidia Phys X (since we're rolling back drivers)

(since we're rolling back drivers) Install the Ageia Phys X Driver

Driver Now go to C:\Program Files\AGEIA Technologies (or C:\Program Files (x86)\AGEIA Technologies if you're using a 64 bit system.)

(or if you're using a 64 bit system.) Copy the bin folder

folder Create a new folder elsewhere (I put it on a separate hard drive) on your system

Rename the new folder AGEIA Technologies

Paste the bin folder under the new AGEIA Technologies you just created

Note: the bin folder contains demos and an application extension which allows you to play older Ageia PhysX games like Switchball and Stoked Rider.



Now install the Nvidia Phys X 8.09.04 drivers

drivers After installing, return to C:\Program Files\AGEIA Technologies

Copy everything under AGEIA Technologies

Paste the copied files under your created folder, AGEIA Technologies

Go to C:\Windows\System32 (and/or C:\Windows\SysWOW64 if you're using 64 bit).

(and/or if you're using 64 bit). Sort everything by name.

Scroll down to P and find anything starting with the word PhysX.

Copy those files with the word "PhysX" in it's name.

Return to the folder you created, AGEIA Technologies

Create a new folder under the copied AGEIA Technologies .

. Rename the folder Windows .

. Enter the new Windows folder and create a new folder.

folder and create a new folder. Rename the new folder System32 .

. If you're using 64bit, create another folder here and rename it SysWOW64

Paste the files you copied into the System32 folder you created.

Note: When using 64bit be sure to differentiate the files you copied between System32 and SysWOW64, so anything from C:\Windows\System32 will go into the AGEIA Technologies\Windows\System32 folder you created, and anything from C:\Windows\SysWOW64 will go into the AGEIA Technologies\Windows\SysWOW64 folder you created.



Now return to C:\Windows\System32.

Enter the drivers folder.

folder. Sort files by name and scroll down under the names beginning with P.

Copy a PhysX.sys related file. (physX64.sys on 64bit)

Return to AGEIA Technologies\Windows\System32 and create a new folder.

and create a new folder. Rename the new folder drivers .

. Paste the file in drivers .

. Now return to C:\Windows\System32 (or C:\Windows\SysWOW64 for 64 bit)

(or for 64 bit) Find the AGEIA folder and copy it.

Return to AGEIA Technologies\Windows and paste it in the folder you pulled it from.

and paste it in the folder you pulled it from. Now install the newest Nvidia Phys X Drivers; 9.10.0513 or higher.

Drivers; 9.10.0513 or higher. After the installation has finished, find C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine . ( C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine for 64bit.)

. ( for 64bit.) Copy all contents of the Engine folder

folder Create a new folder and name it Backup, now paste all contents inside Backup. The backup folder will be used to restore selective PhysX engines, depending on the games you play.



Now copy all contents of the AGEIA Technologies folder you created, spare for the Windows folder.

folder you created, spare for the folder. Return to C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine . ( C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine for 64bit.)

. ( for 64bit.) Paste the copied contents of AGEIA Technologies to the Engine folder, overwrite when prompted.

folder, overwrite when prompted. Now return to the AGEIA Technologies\Windows folder you created.

folder you created. Copy the contents, minus the registry entry.

Paste them under C:\Windows, say yes when prompted to overwrite.

At this point you are officially done, all that needs to be done now is the configuration of your Phys X settings by opening C:\Windows\System32\PhysXCplUI.exe (or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\PhysXCplUI.exe for 64 bit).



Depending on which games you play and what kind of hardware acceleration you want them to use, you can use the backup folder to restore GPU support to certain games that use a selective type of engine.

For example, say you think Cryostasis runs too slow off the PPU. You enter the Cryostasis system folder and find in the details of NxCooking.dll that it uses the v2.7.3 Engine. So restore the v2.7.3 folder from the C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine\Backup folder.



Even if you do have a dedicated GPU for Phys X , go ahead and set the Hardware Device Selection to AGEIA Phys X , the GPU will still engage with GPU heavy Phys X games and the Ageia Phys X card will only engage for PPU and CPU Phys X games.



Now there are some games that can use either a GPU or PPU for Phys X (Mirror's Edge, UT3, GRAW2); these games will use the GPU by default. If you want the PPU to be used for these games, open the Nvidia Control Panel and go to Manage 3D Settings. Go to the Program Settings tab and look for those specific games that can use either Phys X accelerator. Once you found the specific game, scroll down under feature, to "CUDA - GPUs" and disable all other GPU s besides the main Video Card.



After following these steps, you now can play every Phys X game in history, with out having the need to uninstall and reinstall Phys X drivers.







Certainly hope this helps for all you PPU owners out there. If something didn't work or wasn't clear, let me know; and if you prefer to see a video tutorial on how to do this, comment "I request a video tutorial" with any other questions or comments you may have. If I receive enough video requests, then I'll get to production right away.



Have fun and get GAMING!

[/list] If you're reading this, then you have ancard and your frustrated withfor abandoning THE Relic of Dedicated Physics Processors with their latestdrivers.However, there is something you can do to fix that and restore support to that, and all it requires is a little copy/paste and some registry editing. I'll be going through, step by step, what specifically you need to do to restoresupport with the latestdrivers for both 32 and 64 bit systems.You will need 3 things to start with:1)2)3)When using 64bit be sure to differentiate the files you copied between System32 and SysWOW64, so anything fromwill go into thefolder you created, and anything fromwill go into thefolder you created.The backup folder will be used to restore selective PhysX engines, depending on the games you play.At this point you are officially done, all that needs to be done now is the configuration of yoursettings by opening(orfor 64 bit).Depending on which games you play and what kind of hardware acceleration you want them to use, you can use the backup folder to restore GPU support to certain games that use a selective type of engine., say you think Cryostasis runs too slow off the PPU. You enter the Cryostasis system folder and find in the details of NxCooking.dll that it uses theEngine. So restore thefolder from thefolder.Even if you do have a dedicatedfor, go ahead and set the Hardware Device Selection to, thewill still engage withheavygames and thecard will only engage forand CPUgames.Now there are some games that can use either aorfor); these games will use theby default. If you want theto be used for these games, open the Nvidia Control Panel and go to Manage 3D Settings. Go to the Program Settings tab and look for those specific games that can use eitheraccelerator. Once you found the specific game, scroll down under feature, to "CUDA - GPUs" and disable all others besides the main Video Card.After following these steps, you now can play everygame in history, with out having the need to uninstall and reinstalldrivers.Certainly hope this helps for all youowners out there. If something didn't work or wasn't clear, let me know; and if you prefer to see a video tutorial on how to do this, comment "I request a video tutorial" with any other questions or comments you may have. If I receive enough video requests, then I'll get to production right away.Have fun and get GAMING!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEl6c-hHid0 [/list] Logged OP: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

HD: Intel 80GB Solid State Drive (OS)

1TB Hard Drive (Game Drive)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6, 3.2GHz

RAM: 8GB, DDR3-1600

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 470 x2 SLI

Audio: X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion Sound Card

PPU: BFG Ageia PhysX Card

mohawkade



Posts: 66





Embrace your spark of madness!





Jr. MemberPosts: 66Embrace your spark of madness! Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #2 on: January 17, 2011, 10:13:48 AM » Quote I recommend to use 8.04.25 drivers, as latest and, I believe, most stable "pure" Ageia drivers.

Actually that doesn't matter too much, all we're after in the Ageia Drivers is to copy that C:\Program Files\AGEIA Technologies\ bin folder, nothing else.



Mainly for the glut32.dll file, as Switchball doesn't seem to jive too well without it. Plus the old Ageia Phys X demos are kept in there as well. Actually that doesn't matter too much, all we're after in theDrivers is to copy thatfolder, nothing else.Mainly for thefile, asdoesn't seem to jive too well without it. Plus the olddemos are kept in there as well. Logged OP: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

HD: Intel 80GB Solid State Drive (OS)

1TB Hard Drive (Game Drive)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6, 3.2GHz

RAM: 8GB, DDR3-1600

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 470 x2 SLI

Audio: X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion Sound Card

PPU: BFG Ageia PhysX Card

PeersC



Posts: 5





NewbiePosts: 5 Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #3 on: February 09, 2011, 01:37:51 PM » Thanks a lot for this post but I could use a little help if possible.



I only just aquired a BFG Ageia card never having used PhysX before, I installed the card on my win 7 machine and when I fired it up I went to check with device manager and sure enough there was an unknown device present. I did read somewhere that Nvidia 8.09.04 system software was working in some cases - so I installed it. Device manager then showed no Physx card present and when I ran the software it said no Ageia processor was installed. Ok so I uninstalled it and loaded an Ageia 2.4.0 Physx software and proceeded to work through the steps outlined in the post. All went fine until here :-



# Sort files by name and scroll down under the names beginning with P.

# Copy a PhysX.sys related file. (physX64.sys on 64bit)

# Return to AGEIA Technologies\Windows\System32 and create a new folder.

# Rename the new folder drivers.

# Paste the file in drivers.



could not find any file named PhysX.sys (except in my created Ageia Technologies folder where there was a file labeled PhysX32.sys).



Went through the rest of the steps but PhysX control panel still show that no Ageia card is present. Anyone got any ideas???



Regards



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mohawkade



Posts: 66





Embrace your spark of madness!





Jr. MemberPosts: 66Embrace your spark of madness! Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #6 on: February 12, 2011, 05:26:52 AM » Odd, usually as soon as you plug in the card and install the drivers you should be set and the Phys X card should be detected between Device Manager and the Phys X Control Panel.



Okay, I'm gonna ask a couple of dumb questions...



Is the 4 pin power connector on the card plugged in?



...if so, then,



Is the fan and LEDs lighting up when you first start up your computer? Logged OP: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

HD: Intel 80GB Solid State Drive (OS)

1TB Hard Drive (Game Drive)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6, 3.2GHz

RAM: 8GB, DDR3-1600

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 470 x2 SLI

Audio: X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion Sound Card

PPU: BFG Ageia PhysX Card

PeersC



Posts: 5





NewbiePosts: 5 Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #7 on: February 12, 2011, 10:35:16 AM » Hya,



Fans and blue led are on all the time - when I first installed the card and powered up control panel showed unrecognised device. Since then I have uninstalled everything physx related and run cc cleaner and tried the steps again. I still do not find the Physx.sys file in c:\windows\system32\drivers





# Now return to C:\Windows\System32.

# Enter the drivers folder.

# Sort files by name and scroll down under the names beginning with P.

# Copy a PhysX.sys related file. (physX64.sys on 64bit)

# Return to AGEIA Technologies\Windows\System32 and create a new folder.

# Rename the new folder drivers.

# Paste the file in drivers.



Can't understand why it's not showing up in device manager anymore

Maybe I should take the card out and try reseating it in the PCI bus?



Thanks for helping out



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mohawkade



Posts: 66





Embrace your spark of madness!





Jr. MemberPosts: 66Embrace your spark of madness! Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #8 on: February 12, 2011, 10:35:43 PM » Okay, initially your first concern is to install any number of Phys X drivers and make sure they're working before proceeding with any of the other steps.



You'll know this when you see "AGEIA PhysX adapters" listed in device manager, and "PhysX 100 Series" listed next to PhysX Processor under the info tab in PhysX Properties.



Now since this tutorial is based off my findings in Win7 64 bit, things may be a bit different with 32 bit yet less complicated. If you cannot find a PhysX32.sys file then that's just fine, you may be able to work without it.



I didn't study the file structures of the Phys X drivers in 32 bit, so I assumed there was a PhysX.sys or PhysX32.sys file in 32 bit.



What I initially did to find all of these files in the first place was use a sophisticated registry editor program, in this case "TuneUp Registry Editor". This program allowed me to search the registry for anything related to PhysX or Ageia, find the files they refer to, then copy them. I also copied any registry listings referring to any Phys X related file.



So you may have to do some exploring on your own and copy save any file and registry setting related to PhysX or Ageia before installing the latest drivers. Logged OP: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

HD: Intel 80GB Solid State Drive (OS)

1TB Hard Drive (Game Drive)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6, 3.2GHz

RAM: 8GB, DDR3-1600

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 470 x2 SLI

Audio: X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion Sound Card

PPU: BFG Ageia PhysX Card

PeersC



Posts: 5





NewbiePosts: 5 Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #9 on: February 13, 2011, 10:49:19 AM » Ok - I have a plan of action,



I did a search on the computer and did find the Physx32.sys file (I think ver 1.1.15 published by Ageia in 2008)



Since I can no longer see any hardware in device manager that could relate to the Physx card, I am going to pull the card out, restore PC back to before I installed the card and any software and then plug it back in. If I can then see the unrecognised card I'll intall the ageia 2.4 software and drivers and take it from there.



I think that the problem may be down to a conflict as with the card installed I have had a number of BSD's that have never happened B4.



Let you know how I get on



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mohawkade



Posts: 66





Embrace your spark of madness!





Jr. MemberPosts: 66Embrace your spark of madness! Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #10 on: February 13, 2011, 11:02:11 PM » Okay, I also might suggest plugging that PPU in another PC (if you have access to one) and install the drivers.



If it works fine and is detected by Device Manager and the Phys X control panel, then you know it's just your computer's config setting that are off.



If it's not detected on the other PC, then something's wrong with that particular PPU . Logged OP: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

HD: Intel 80GB Solid State Drive (OS)

1TB Hard Drive (Game Drive)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6, 3.2GHz

RAM: 8GB, DDR3-1600

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 470 x2 SLI

Audio: X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion Sound Card

PPU: BFG Ageia PhysX Card

PeersC



Posts: 5





NewbiePosts: 5 Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #11 on: February 14, 2011, 11:02:30 AM » Ok - well I followed the plan.



Removed the Physx card (and to be doubly sure about conflicts removed my TV card as well) - Rolled back win 7 lo last week and tried the card again in different slots - While I did see multimedia card on the BIOS post screen nothing showed up in device manager. Gonna get the card tested in a different machine today and we'll see if it works or not.



many thanks



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mohawkade



Posts: 66





Embrace your spark of madness!





Jr. MemberPosts: 66Embrace your spark of madness! Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #12 on: March 11, 2011, 08:35:41 AM » Just Revised and shortened this tutorial; details are still above but in a nutshell...



Copy all Phys X related files from older drivers and stick them in C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine, except for the stuff you found in C:\Windows, that stuff goes back to windows.



No need to restore the Ageia Technologies folder or do any registry editing. Logged OP: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

HD: Intel 80GB Solid State Drive (OS)

1TB Hard Drive (Game Drive)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6, 3.2GHz

RAM: 8GB, DDR3-1600

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 470 x2 SLI

Audio: X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion Sound Card

PPU: BFG Ageia PhysX Card

Enhanced_Interrogator



Posts: 2





NewbiePosts: 2 Re: How to restore PPU support with latest Nvidia Drivers « Reply #13 on: April 28, 2011, 09:57:38 PM » Hey man, thanks for the work you're doing for us few folks who don't have the means to upgrade our PPU's.



I have a problem with this method, though. None of the demos or benchmarks, like fluidmark, detect my Ageia card. They all revert to software physx and give really poor performance. On the other hand, Mirror's Edge does use the hardware, because I have hardware acceleration forced in the .ini file. I've already enabled Ageia PPU in the physx settings, so everything is set up properly on that end.



So, do you know what my problem is? Are demos like fluidmark supposed to work with this method, or is this fix solely for games?



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