Any video game has three main components: gameplay, graphics, and sound. In some games, the graphics are more important than the gameplay, and vice versa. Ultimately, it depends on the gamer and his/her preferences. However, the balance is always maintained in any good game. Imagine playing a game with great graphics and with no story or context, it would be boring and fall into the category of monotonous racing games. Any gameplay includes the story of the game’s world, the character’s backstory, goals, conflicts, themes, and so on. Similarly, the graphics of any game include multiple elements that most of the players are not fully aware of, such as FPS, depth, colors, rendering, and motion. So, in this guide, we are going to help you with how to configure surround PhysX processor, and how to correctly set up any graphics-related settings that will enhance your gaming experience in the way it is supposed to be. Also, stick to the end, we will try to solve all your queries and errors regarding gaming processors and graphics.

How to Configure Surround PhysX Configuration in NVIDIA Control Panel

NVIDIA’s PhysX or Physics Processor is a physics engine graphics technology designed to improve gaming visuals by offloading additional tasks from CPU to GPU. Any game requires a certain amount of physics calculations which are typically handled by a CPU. Shifting this task to GPU maximizes gaming rendering. Physics calculation in gaming is about how objects & things move and react to the game’s environment.

What are the Settings to Configure Surround PhysX in NVIDIA Control Panel?

With PhysX enabled, it allows lifelike visuals in games and many other extra details which are usually disabled or limited. For example, in any frame if there’s fire, with PhysX turned on, it will display realistic shadows, texture, and smoke coming out of it, whereas just fire with PhysX is disabled. To display realistic smoke and fire elements, a CPU performs the calculation regarding smoke’s direction, flow, and how it will interact with other objects, which requires a lot of processing power. With PhysX enabled, it is distributed to GPU. To turn on PhysX and for the best NVIDIA PhysX settings, follow the steps listed below.

How to Turn on PhysX Processor

Some of the key benefits of enabling PhysX are that games will run more smoothly with higher FPS and the visuals will be as close to a realistic environment as possible. Normally, the GPU is in charge of rendering the visuals. However, PhysX also performs the physics calculation. By default, PhysX is set to CPU or auto, where the game itself decides when to distribute tasks to GPU. To enable PhysX, perform the following steps:

Note: To configure surround PhysX, NVIDIA Control Panel is required. You can get it from the Microsoft Store if it’s not pre-installed.

1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop blank area and click on NVIDIA Control Panel.

2. Under the 3D Settings drop-down menu, click on Manage 3D settings.

3. Then, go to the Global settings tab and select High-performance NVIDIA processor from the Preferred graphics processor drop-down menu.

4. Below that, scroll down to the OpenGL rendering GPU option and double-click on it. And, then change it from Auto to your Graphics processor from the drop-down menu.

5. Then, click on Apply.

6. Now, click on Set PhysX Configuration from the 3D Settings drop-down menu.

7. From PhysX processor drop-down menu, select your processor.

8. And, click on Apply to save changes.

Also Read: Fix NVIDIA Display Settings Are Not Available Error

Steps to Configure Surround PhysX

If you have multiple monitors and use a multi-screen setup, then why not take advantage of it and enjoy the game’s visuals on all of your screens instead of one. With NVIDIA Surround, gamers can combine up to 5 displays for an immersive gaming experience with GeForce GPU. Follow these steps to configure surround PhysX:

Note: Surround technology is not supported on every game/app and NVIDIA GPU.

1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.

2. Then, under the 3D Settings drop-down menu, click on Configure Surround, Physx option if you have a single compatible card.

3. Click on Span displays with Surround checkbox, and then click on Configure.

4. After that, you can configure display settings, topology, alignment, orientation, resolution, refresh rate, bezel correction, and so on. Make sure to set the same refresh rate and resolution on all the monitors.

5. After configuration, click on Enable Surround. Now the screen will be stretched out to multiple monitors as one.

What to Choose PhysX CPU or GPU?

A lot of users have raised the question of whether to choose PhysX CPU or GPU. This is an interesting question and the answer depends on the game and your system specifications. You can simply perform a small test on your system with a specific game or app. Launch the game, first test it on CPU (auto) and then on GPU. When you set PhysX to auto, the game automatically configures NVIDIA PhysX settings and chooses between CPU and GPU. But, sometimes with the auto option selected, the CPU consumes 90 to 95%, which could be a concern for someone who wants to use other applications as well while playing the game. So, set the PhysX to GPU for such reasons, which would be better for other apps to run in the background and faster gaming performance with stunning visuals.

How to Fix PhysX Processor Error

If you are facing constant lags while playing the game or cannot start the game, this could happen due to an error with the processor or your system is unable to use/detect the dedicated GPU for games and other apps. To fix this, try the following methods:

Method 1: Change PhysX Settings

Setting the PhysX to auto means it will use both the CPU and GPU whenever required. While using certain apps, the system may become confused and fail to detect the dedicated graphics card. Then change the PhysX settings from Auto to your graphics card. To set your GPU as default, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Press the Windows key, type NVIDIA Control Panel, and click on Open.

2. Now, click on Set PhysX Configuration from the 3D Settings drop-down menu.

3. From PhysX processor drop-down menu, select auto select.

4. Finally, click on Apply.

Method 2: Update Graphics Card Driver

GPU can’t be functional without its driver. If the driver is outdated or caught up with some corrupted files, then the system might not detect the graphics card properly. Here’s the guide on How to update Graphics Card Driver in Windows 10.

Also, you can go through our additional guide specifically for NVIDIA on How to Fix NVIDIA Driver Not Compatible.

Also Read: Fix Nvxdsync exe Error in Windows 10

Method 3: Change Windows Graphics Settings

As we have shown how to configure surround PhysX in the article above, now you can set the GPU by default for any application with the help of Windows built-in settings. Do the following steps:

1. Right-click on the Windows icon and click on Settings.

2. Then go to the System settings.

3. Go to the Display tab, scroll down and click on Graphics settings.

4. Click on Browse.

5. Search the application, select it and click on Add.

6. After that, click on Options.

7. Change it from Let Windows decide option to High-performance option. And, click on Save.

Method 4: Update Windows

If the system still encounters errors while detecting the GPU even after you configure surround PhysX, then you should try updating your system OS. Upgrading to the most recent Windows operating system will automatically resolve all bugs and system errors. Read our guide on How to download and install Windows 10 latest update.

Also Read: Fix NVIDIA Container High CPU Usage on Windows 10

Method 5: Update BIOS

If none of the above-listed methods helped you in resolving the error of Physx processor, you can try updating your BIOs and see if this method resolves your issue. Read our guide on What is BIOS and how to update BIOS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Will PhysX work on AMD graphics cards?

Ans. No, AMD graphics cards do not support PhysX. If you want to use any PhysX feature, you must have an NVIDIA graphics card.

Q2. What is the minimum requirement for medium-level smooth gaming?

Ans. Let’s consider 1080p resolution to be a mid-level configuration. For that, 8 GB RAM, Windows 10, 128 GB SSD & 1 TB hard drive storage, NVIDIA GeForce 700 Series or AMD Radeon Rx 200 Series graphics card, and at least an i5 processor are required. You can also go to the website of the specific game to find the suggested requirements. A minimum of 30 MBPS internet speed and ping rate or latency of less than 15 ms will work fine.

Q3. Which is the best NVIDIA GPU?

Ans. There are several GPUs available right now, ranging in performance from mid to high. However, not only will the GPU ensure the best configuration, but also the processor, RAM, and hard drive storage for a good system configuration and best performance. Another consideration is the price range. So, in order to choose the best GPU, all of these factors must be taken into account. We recommend that you begin with an online search based on your needs and budget, and also consult with an IT expert before making a purchase.

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We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to configure surround PhysX and fix error of PhysX processor. If you have any queries or suggestions regarding any tech-related issues, then feel free to drop them in the comments section below.