Do I need the latest drivers in win98 se?

[bhof]

I was reading forums on viahardware and I came across these recommendations.

Do NOT use direct X 8.1 in win98se....use DX 8.0
Do NOT use latest via 4 in 1...use Via 4 in 1 v 4.32
Do NOT use latest nvidia drvs... use 27.50, 27.70 or 21.85

Most everywhere else I go, they always tell you to d/l and use the latest drivers for all your components.
I guess latest is not always best, any agreements or dis-agreements?
What do you use with win98se?

 

[AkumaBao]

I can't say I've ever heard that before. Try the VIA 4.35 drivers, and the NVidia, definatly use the latest. DirectX 8.1 shouldn't be a problem at all. It would be odd for MS to put that in the list of updates for 98SE, and not work.

 

[bhof]

I wondered the same things, but the recommendations did come from the moderator of the gaming forum and also from a senior member with many posts. It wasn't a newbie thing. I have used most of the nvidia drivers and found that I get better results from some of the older ones. If I have problems due to DX 8.1, I did not know what caused it. The 4 in 1 drivers all seem to to work, but they said that the newer ones work better in xp and some newer chip sets, but may cause some problems with 98 and older chipsets. I am just looking for a consensus of opinions here so I know what to use with win98se.

 

[Mem]

I use for my Win98 OS1 PC all the latest updates for Via 4 in 1 drivers,DX,Nvidia 28.32 drivers etc,infact I do the same for my WinXP PC as well ,never any problems with them,I would personally install the latest drivers ,just don`t try and do them all at the same time,best way is one at a time and reboot after each one to make sure they installed ok.

 

[308nato]

I saw the same thing about 8.1 and 98SE. I posted here about it and no one indicated they had problems. I went ahead and updated to 8.1 and have had no difficulties. I wanted 8.1 to get the full benefit of a ti4600 and any software that might actualy use their capabilities.

I even loaded 8.1 on my old rig which has a VooDoo3 300 in it. No problems there either so I don't know what's up with that warning.

 

[bhof]

The 28.32 drivers cut my fps by about 1/3 when I play UT. I had had much better luck with the old 12.41 drivers on my G2 GTS. Then I upgraded to a G3 Ti200 and can't get over 60 fps and so now I am trying any and all drivers and settings looking for the problem.

 

[flashbacck]

You should use dx8.1, especially since you have a GF3 that can take advantage of it (I am also running win98se and have not had problems with 8.1)

I am also using the Via4 in 1 ver 4.37 and that works for me.

For nvidia, I'm using 23.11, but haven't updated to the latest one and compared performance.

As for your FPS drop in UT. When you reinstalled the old drivers, did you use detonator destroyer (avail. at guru3d.com) or a similar driver removing program? It'll get rid of all remnants of the old detonator drivers, which may be causing the problem.