Futuremark: NVIDIA GPU PhysX not allowed

[Sampsa]

Hi,

I've changed a couple of e-mails between Futuremark CEO Tero Sarkkinen who quickly commented current confusing situation in ORB and Hall of Fame.

NVIDIA's GPU PhysX was launched in the middle of summer and most of FM's staff are on holidays (Most people are here in Finland). Tero said timing couldn't have been worse but they have updated filtering system coming up which will handle the runs which are not following Futuremark's guidelines.

When I asked more specific about NVIDIA's GPU PhysX, he confirmed that it won't be allowed. (Since Vantage's CPU test 2 is designed to measure CPU physics calculations and it is clearly stated in the rules that GPU or driver can't affect the result significantly).

So from now on if you want to run offical 3DMark result or Hall of Fame result with NVIDIA gfx you have to use Futuremark approved WHQL driver and do not install NVIDIA PhysX System Software.

I'm not sure if disabling GeForce PhysX will help (download NV PhysX Tweaker 1.0) since it is reported that GPU PhysX installation will replace some 3DMark Vantage's files (source VR-Zone: Nvidia PhysX Driver Overwrites Vantage Files?).

[[XC] gomeler]

Very interesting. Perhaps this will be a move in the right direction towards seeing Vantage adopted by HWBot. Thanks for the heads up, glad to see Futuremark taking a stand

[fubarswe]

we all know how physX affect Vantage.., benching it without it feels very strange to put it mildly...
Thx for info Sampsa :-)

[Fr3ak]

I somewhat like their decision, but on the other hand, having the lower results for extreme overclockers after benching with the PhysX driver might be disappointing.

For the competition between Nvidia and AMD it surely is a step to a fairer battlefield.

[George_o/c]

For the competition between Nvidia and AMD it surely is a step to a fairer battlefield.

That's right, competition should be fair
The only disadvantage is that, scores are going to be a little lower now ...

[youngpro]

i guess it comes down to personal preference,

ive never really cared too much about orb and i will just bench whatever gives me the BEST scores, in this case the physx driver is very innovative for that gpu test and I will be using it

[George_o/c]

i guess it comes down to personal preference,

ive never really cared too much about orb and i will just bench whatever gives me the BEST scores, in this case the physx driver is very innovative for that gpu test and I will be using it

What is hwbot's policy on nVidia PhysX drivers ?

[Praz]

What is hwbot's policy on nVidia PhysX drivers ?

I would think the same as Futuremark's since the top 20 need to have a valid ORB link.

[Bellisimo]

i guess it comes down to personal preference,

ive never really cared too much about orb and i will just bench whatever gives me the BEST scores, in this case the physx driver is very innovative for that gpu test and I will be using it

too bad it's a CPU test

[DonBanana]

For the competition between Nvidia and AMD it surely is a step to a fairer battlefield.

Yeah, that is right, but shouldn´t we do it either in an equal way with all the other Benchmarks so that AMD Processors can compete with Intel CPUs

[Liquid3D]

Yeah, that is right, but shouldn´t we do it either in an equal way with all the other Benchmarks so that AMD Processors can compete with Intel CPUs

Very important point made here....

[Talonman]

Makes you wonder if they would have sold as many copies of Vantage, if they told the Nvidia boy's up front that they were going to disable the PhysX abilities of their cards.

[DaMulta]

Boooo if games can use it to off set the CPU in games, then it should be shown inside the benchmark that is SUPPOSED to show how well a video card will do in tomorrows games.....They even said AMD could use it freely which could solve the problem of being unfair.

[YukonTrooper]

Boooo if games can use it to off set the CPU in games, then it should be shown inside the benchmark that is SUPPOSED to show how well a video card will do in tomorrows games.....They even said AMD could use it freely which could solve the problem of being unfair.

You'd definitely have an argument if PhysX was used in all games. Considering it's not, it shouldn't be used in benchmarks.

[DaMulta]

You'd definitely have an argument if PhysX was used in all games. Considering it's not, it shouldn't be used in benchmarks.

Well from going by what your saying, if it's not in all games. They should just remove the PhysX test all together from the test....

[YukonTrooper]

Well from going by what your saying, if it's not in all games. They should just remove the PhysX test all together from the test....

No, no. If you want to run a separate Physx test that's fine. However, in a "competitive" environment where benchmarks are compared and documented, Physx should be disallowed. I agree with their decision 100%.

[NBF]

I can fully understand Futuremark, the main issue is that PhysX replaces a few Vantage files.

If they allow 3rd party file changing in their benchmarks they will open the doors for all kind of cheats.

Only FM may change bench files if it's needed.

[metro.cl]

So what about the PPU cards? those shouldnt be allowed either from what he said.

Could you ask him Sampsa, what would happend to all the guys that bought a separate PPU and now it wont improove the score? arent allowed?

[cadaveca]

PPU should be allowed, as any system can install one, and it doesn't break FM rules, whereas nV phys-X only allows nV cards to use it.

[metro.cl]

Hi,

I've changed a couple of e-mails between Futuremark CEO Tero Sarkkinen who quickly commented current confusing situation in ORB and Hall of Fame.

NVIDIA's GPU PhysX was launched in the middle of summer and most of FM's staff are on holidays (Most people are here in Finland). Tero said timing couldn't have been worse but they have updated filtering system coming up which will handle the runs which are not following Futuremark's guidelines.

When I asked more specific about NVIDIA's GPU PhysX, he confirmed that it won't be allowed. (Since Vantage's CPU test 2 is designed to measure CPU physics calculations and it is clearly stated in the rules that GPU or driver can't affect the result significantly).

So from now on if you want to run offical 3DMark result or Hall of Fame result with NVIDIA gfx you have to use Futuremark approved WHQL driver and do not install NVIDIA PhysX System Software.

I'm not sure if disabling GeForce PhysX will help (download NV PhysX Tweaker 1.0) since it is reported that GPU PhysX installation will replace some 3DMark Vantage's files (source VR-Zone: Nvidia PhysX Driver Overwrites Vantage Files?).

PPU should be allowed, as any system can install one, and it doesn't break FM rules, whereas nV phys-X only allows nV cards to use it.

1st the Owner words are pretty clear.

2nd PhysX doenst block ATI cards is AMD who has to invest in making the work just like NVIDIA did.

[cadaveca]

1st the Owner words are pretty clear.

2nd PhysX doenst block ATI cards is AMD who has to invest in making the work just like NVIDIA did.

Well, current nV phys-X driver breaks PPU function(nessecary files needed only found in VGA driver), so it's a two-sided street ATM. Unless you have nV VGA, no Phys-X functionality can be used, period. nV needs to fix that before ATI can do ANYTHING. But yeah, I totally agree...I said thing would be like this when this issue first came up, for the smae reason we hear now...no real suprise here.

[YMAA]

Good for Futuremark. You level that playing field!

[Eldonko]

At least the rules are clear now.

[CraptacularOne]

About time. Artificially inflating their scores is all Nvidia was doing.

[ACE76]

About time. Artificially inflating their scores is all Nvidia was doing.

How is it artificial? They are doing physics work with the driver and hardware implemention in their new GPUs right? Maybe I'm not understanding this whole physX situation properly.