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- Tip: RIP: GeForce RTX 5000 remove support for PhysX accelerated physics<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Tip: Nvidia re-enables PhysX for GeForce RTX 5000 in some games<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In ZLUDA version 6, Andrzej Janik has now added support for games using CUDA-based PhysX through 32-bit libraries\u2014precisely the games that Nvidia has stopped supporting. Although Nvidia partially reversed course in December by restoring partial support for selected popular titles, that solution is not universal. With ZLUDA, a broader range of games could eventually work again\u2014 on competing Radeon graphics cards, ironically. In those older games, Radeon GPUs would gain both higher performance and access to various special effects that until now were exclusively locked to older Nvidia GPUs.<\/p>\n
For now, however, this support is not yet complete. It is currently in a pre-alpha state and serves more as a proof of concept, while support is also incomplete (Janik notes that fluid simulation effects, for example, do not yet work entirely correctly). The implementation can already run Nvidia’s showcase demos on Radeon GPU, and he has also successfully launched and benchmarked the 2010 game Mafia II. Acceleration through ZLUDA increased its frame rate from 26.2 FPS to 80.2 FPS (with ZLUDA acceleration enabled).<\/p>\n
![\"Benchmark](\"https:\/\/www.hwcooling.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ZLUDA-update-Q1Q2-2026-back-to-the-roots.png\")
<\/a>Benchmark of PhysX acceleration using ZLUDA in Mafia II (Source: Andrzej Janik)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n For everyday use, however, it will probably be necessary to wait until this initial support reaches a more stable ZLUDA release and undergoes further improvements. Besides PhysX, this version of ZLUDA also adds basic texture handling support, enabling Blender rendering acceleration besides PhysX. It also improves operation under Windows, but ZLUDA supports Linux too and is designed to work under Wine and Proton (for running the affected games on Linux).<\/p>\n
ZLUDA does not require any modifications to software\u2014the goal is for original games and applications using CUDA to run unchanged. The developer is primarily targeting recent Radeon GPUs (RDNA architecture and newer), but not exclusively AMD hardware, meaning the project could also be usable on Intel GPUs in theory. Actual usability depends on the drivers and architecture of the specific GPU.<\/p>\n
ZLUDA is by no means focused solely on running games that use CUDA, but rather on supporting a broad range of CUDA-based applications. In the past, for example, it focused on AI acceleration (although without active sponsorship from commercial users, that is probably a lower priority now). Only time will tell how comprehensive and robust the project’s CUDA software compatibility becomes\u2014and whether any threat from Nvidia’s legal department could arise in the future.<\/p>\n
Sources: Andrzej Janik<\/a>, Tom\u2019s Hardware<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
English translation and edit by Jozef Dud\u00e1\u0161<\/em><\/p>\n
- Tip: Nvidia re-enables PhysX for GeForce RTX 5000 in some games<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n