When most enthusiasts think of a dual-GPU graphics card thoughts of insane frame rates and GPGPU crunching power come to mind, for some daring graphics card manufacturers it’s a chance to take a daring step into PhysX accelerated gaming.

Benchmark Reviews has a look at the EVGA GeForce GTX275 CO-OP PhysX Edition graphics card and its dual role as a 3D and PhysX accelerator:

The EVGA GTX 275 CO-OP PhysX Edition is the first dual GPU video card to use different GPUs: there’s a GTX 275 and a GTS 250. You cannot connect a monitor to the GTS 250; in fact, you can’t use the GTS 250 for rendering at all. Both of the DVI connectors on the rear of the card are connected to the GTX 275. The GTS 250 is only available for CUDA work.

An interesting proposal for those with an extensive library of physics demanding titles.

Gaming has come a long way graphics-wise but there’s still quite a ways to go when it comes to the details that would make them truly immersive. One of those somewhat under-represented features is physics modeling which would improve realism but has so far been splintered into camps.

AMD has joined up with Pixelux Entertainment in order to develop an open source alternative physics engine that should be able to run on any OpenCL or DirectX 11 DirectCompute capable graphics card or hardware.

Interesting approach but, then again, there are only so many graphics chip makers and Intel, with Havok, and Nvidia, with PhysX, have already staked their claim.

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TG Daily brings us word of a new WHQL driver (Version 178.13) that “adds PhysX acceleration for all 8-, 9- and 200-series of graphics cards with at least 256 MB of memory.” For those of you that don’t have any PhysX compatible apps or games, Nvidia has a helpful demo pack available.

A complete list of improvements is available here. Some notable game-related performance increases include:

• Single GPU increases up to 15% in Bioshock DX10
• Single GPU increases up to 15% in Call of Duty 4
• 2-way SLI increases up to 7% in Bioshock DX10
• 2-way SLI increases up to 10% in Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts DX10
• 2-way SLI increases up to 12% in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars

Another benefit is improved speed in GPU-accelerated apps like Photoshop CS4.