I recently got my hands on an RTX 5090, but I've learned it's not the best for older games due to the lack of 32-bit PhysX support—except for a few recent exceptions. I'm thinking of setting up my RTX 5090 alongside an older GPU, like a GTX 1050, to handle the 32-bit PhysX tasks while using the 5090 as my primary card. Since I'm new to this, I have a couple of questions:
1. How should I physically arrange the GPUs in my build? Would it be better to put the 1050 on top and the 5090 on the bottom, or should it be the other way around?
2. Has anyone tried this before? How can I ensure that the 1050 is only used for the 32-bit PhysX while all other processes are managed by the RTX 5090?
Any additional tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
Hey! It's good to double-check whether the old games you play definitely require 32-bit PhysX. Most common titles like 'Alice: Madness Returns' and 'Borderlands 2' do support it. As for placement, it's recommended to put the RTX 5090 in the top PCIe slot, and the GTX 1050 below it. You can easily set which card handles PhysX through the Nvidia control panel afterward.
Just to add on, Nvidia has recently reinstated support for 32-bit PhysX for the RTX 50 series; they include a bunch of games in the update. So your 5090 might surprise you with some compatibility! If you have the older GPU, using it for just 32-bit PhysX still sounds like a smart plan. I think the placement still stands, go with the 5090 on top for stability.
Just to clarify something: while the 5090 can handle 32-bit PhysX via updates, using the older card for specific games might still give you better performance. And, as for your weight concerns, generally, it's best to keep the heavier card at the top to reduce stress on the motherboard. It's also a common practice with dual setups.
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