Some traditional video games might exhibit less optimal performance on gaming laptops equipped with RTX 50-series graphics cards, and here's the explanation behind it.
The release of Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs has been met with a mix of excitement and concerns, as the list of reasons to avoid these graphics cards seems to be growing. One such issue is the discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support, which primarily impacts games and features that rely on 32-bit PhysX.
32-bit PhysX, a physics engine built on 32-bit CUDA, is no longer supported on RTX 50-series GPUs. Nvidia has confirmed that PhysX 64-bit is supported and used in many games, but older games or software reliant on the 32-bit PhysX layer will lose compatibility or encounter issues on RTX 50-series GPUs.
While there is no official comprehensive list of affected games, older titles using PhysX in 32-bit mode—particularly those released before 64-bit PhysX became widespread—could experience degraded performance or fail to benefit from GPU-accelerated PhysX effects on these new GPUs.
Some highlights of the games on the list include Alice: Madness Returns, Batman: Arkham Asylum, BioShock Infinite, Dragon Age: Origins, Metro 2033, Mirror's Edge, Payday 2, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. However, it's worth noting that modern games using 64-bit PhysX or other physics engines will not be impacted by this change.
Nvidia PhysX was initially developed by NovodeX AG, then acquired by Ageia, and later developed to work on GeForce GPUs with CUDA. The discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support starting from Nvidia’s Hopper architecture and newer GPUs means that old-school gamers will no longer be able to enjoy the complex physics engine on a large selection of titles launched between the late 2000s and mid-2010s.
In addition to the discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support, the RTX 5080 graphics card has received less than excellent reviews, with critics reporting marginal increases in performance compared to 40-series GPUs. Furthermore, issues with melting power cables have been reported, adding to the criticism Nvidia is facing.
Despite these concerns, it's important to note that the lack of PhysX support in older games doesn't prevent playing them. The simulated physics won't function optimally, requiring the CPU to do the hard work. However, for those who value the enhanced gaming experience provided by PhysX, the discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support may be a significant drawback.
[1] PCGamingWiki. (n.d.). List of games that feature Nvidia PhysX with 32-bit Windows executables. Retrieved from https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/List_of_games_that_feature_NVIDIA_PhysX_with_32-bit_Windows_executables [2] Nvidia. (2021, October 12). NVIDIA announces new GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs. Retrieved from https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/geforce-rtx-50-series-gpus/ [3] Nvidia. (n.d.). NVIDIA's support plan for 32-bit CUDA. Retrieved from https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-gpus/32-bit-cuda-support-plan
- The RTX 5080, with its questionable performance and malfunctioning power cables, has drawn criticism, compounding concerns about the RTX 50-series GPUs.
- The discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support on the RTX 50-series GPUs has affected games and software that rely on 32-bit PhysX, potentially impacting titles such as Alice: Madness Returns, Batman: Arkham Asylum, BioShock Infinite, Dragon Age: Origins, Metro 2033, Mirror's Edge, Payday 2, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown.
- Nvidia's decision to limit 32-bit CUDA support to older architectures like its Hopper architecture means that many games launched between the late 2000s and mid-2010s will no longer benefit from the complex physics engine provided by Nvidia PhysX.
- While the lack of 32-bit CUDA support doesn't prevent playing older games, the absence of GPU-accelerated PhysX effects might lower the performance and shift the workload to the CPU.
- For enthusiasts who value the immersive gaming experience offered by PhysX, the discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support may be a significant drawback.
- The RTX 5080's struggles in reviews are in stark contrast to the excitement generated by the release of Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs.
- The list of aging gadgets affected by the discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support continues to grow, as gamers face compatibility issues with games and software that utilize 32-bit PhysX.
- The impact of the discontinuation of 32-bit CUDA support extends beyond gaming, as it influences the development and deployment of artificial-intelligence algorithms that rely on these technologies.
