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PhysX System Software 9.13.1220 is an official NVIDIA runtime for older Windows games and applications. You can download it from NVIDIA’s archived release page. It was released on January 27, 2014, and is not automatically the right choice for every game—especially on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
What PhysX System Software 9.13.1220 is
This package is the PhysX runtime that lets compatible games load NVIDIA PhysX components. It is not the PhysX SDK, source code, Visual Debugger, or developer toolkit. Those downloads are available separately through NVIDIA’s PhysX developer downloads page.
NVIDIA lists version 9.13.1220 as a 39.2 MB release dated January 27, 2014. Its official compatibility list includes Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1 in both 32-bit and 64-bit editions. The page does not list Windows 10 or Windows 11, so treat it as legacy software rather than a current universal driver.
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Use NVIDIA’s release page:
Download PhysX System Software 9.13.1220 from NVIDIA
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NVIDIA may display a license-acceptance or download-confirmation screen before the installer begins. Save the installer locally and avoid repackaged “driver updater” sites or isolated DLL-download websites. The official release page provides the clearest vendor provenance and identifies the exact version.
How to install it
- Close the affected game and its launcher.
- Open NVIDIA’s official 9.13.1220 release page and select Download Now.
- Accept the license terms if NVIDIA displays them.
- Run the downloaded installer, preferably with administrator privileges.
- Follow the setup wizard and allow it to install or repair the PhysX runtime.
- Restart Windows if requested.
- Launch the game and test the scene or mode that originally failed.
Installer labels can differ between old Windows packages, so do not expect a particular Express, Custom, or Clean Install option. Installing the runtime should help a compatible game locate its PhysX components; it does not guarantee better performance, GPU acceleration, or support for every PhysX title.
Should you install 9.13.1220?
| Situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| The game explicitly requires 9.13.1220 | Install the official 9.13.1220 package first. |
| Windows XP through 8.1 and an older game | 9.13.1220 may be appropriate if the game uses its runtime generation. |
| Windows 10 or Windows 11 without an exact version requirement | Try the game’s bundled redistributable or NVIDIA’s later official package first. |
| The game is from around 2007 or earlier | Check whether it needs NVIDIA’s separate Legacy Installer. |
| Steam, Epic, or another launcher supplies PhysX | Prefer the launcher’s bundled redistributable unless it is missing or damaged. |
| A newer PhysX version is already installed | Do not downgrade automatically. Investigate the game’s own files and requirements first. |
NVIDIA later published PhysX System Software 9.19.0218, released March 8, 2019, with Windows 10 listed among its supported operating systems. It is generally the more sensible starting point on a modern Windows installation unless the game specifically names 9.13.1220.
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Regular PhysX and the Legacy Installer
Do not treat the Legacy Installer as simply an older copy of 9.13.1220. NVIDIA provides PhysX Legacy System Software 9.13.0604 for games using PhysX SDK versions before 2.7.1. NVIDIA also lists support for SDK 2.7.2 and examples such as CellFactor, Clive Barker’s Jericho, Gears of War, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Switchball, and Velvet Assassin.
The older SDKs covered by that package operate on the CPU rather than providing the later GPU-accelerated PhysX path. Install the Legacy package only when the game is known to need those files or specifically recommends it. Installing every PhysX package at once can make troubleshooting less clear.
GPU support and acceleration
NVIDIA’s 9.13.1220 documentation lists GeForce 8-series through 700-series cards with at least 256 MB of dedicated graphics memory, although individual applications may require more. It also lists support for several PhysX SDK versions and a graphics-driver requirement of R310 or later.
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Those specifications do not mean that installing PhysX automatically enables GPU effects. GPU acceleration depends on the game, its SDK, the graphics driver, the graphics card, and the game’s own settings. A game may use CPU PhysX even without an NVIDIA GPU. Conversely, advanced effects may be unavailable if the title requires an NVIDIA GPU or is running on integrated graphics.
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Troubleshooting
“A newer version is already installed”
Do not immediately remove the newer runtime. Check the game directory for a bundled PhysX installer, use the launcher’s verify or repair function, and confirm which version the game actually requires. If you must test 9.13.1220, record the current installation first and create a restore point or otherwise preserve the working configuration.
“PhysXLoader.dll is missing”
- Verify or repair the game files.
- Install the game’s own PhysX redistributable if one is included.
- For a pre-2008 title, test the official Legacy Installer.
- Check antivirus quarantine history for a blocked game file.
- Reinstall any DirectX component required by the game.
Do not download a standalone PhysXLoader.dll from an unaffiliated DLL site. The missing file may belong to a different PhysX generation or may indicate damaged game files.
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The game launches but effects are missing
Check the game’s graphics and physics settings, confirm which GPU is being used, and verify that the installed graphics driver supports the title’s PhysX path. Runtime installation and advanced PhysX effects are separate issues.
The installer fails on Windows 10 or 11
Because NVIDIA’s 9.13.1220 page lists operating systems only through Windows 8.1, compatibility with current Windows versions should not be promised. Try the game’s redistributable or the later 9.19.0218 package first. If the game documentation requires 9.13.1220, run the installer with administrator privileges and use the game’s repair tools before changing other runtimes.
The launcher repeatedly reinstalls PhysX
This usually indicates that the launcher considers its bundled redistributable missing or incomplete. Allow the launcher to repair the installation, then restart it and verify the game files. Avoid replacing the launcher’s files with random downloads.
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Important hardware note
If you own an older AGEIA PhysX processor, NVIDIA directs those users to older software rather than treating 9.13.1220 as the correct AGEIA hardware package. The 9.13.1220 release page also points readers toward older AGEIA-compatible software.
Bottom line
Download 9.13.1220 from NVIDIA when a specific older game requires that exact runtime. On Windows 10 or Windows 11, prefer the game’s bundled redistributable or a later official PhysX package unless there is a documented version requirement. For very old games using pre-2.7.1 PhysX SDKs, use NVIDIA’s separate Legacy Installer instead.
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