Latest Forceware: 178.24 WHQL / 179.13 Betas [Updated]

[Tempered81]

Disclaimer:

WARNING: Some drivers linked in this thread are in the BETA stage. Use at your own risk.


ATi Catalyst:

(10/15/08)
Update:
8.11 betas
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=73911

(10/11/08)
Update:
8.10 final
AMD site: http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=275814

crysis performance vs. 8.9:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showp...p=2870832&postcount=42

(10/01/08)
Update:
8.10 RC2 betas
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=274850

(09/17/08)
Update:
8.9 WHQL
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

(08/26/08)
Update:
8.9 Betas [8.54] with installation instructions
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1339658

(08/20/08)
Update:
8.8 Official:
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

(08/11/08)
Update:
8.8 - 8.54 driver ver.:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=269413

(08/7/08)
Update:
8.8 - 8.54 driver ver.: (Ati requested removal of this driver??)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U7USVHPY
info:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=269688

(08/4/08)
Update:
8.8 Leaked beta:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=269413

(07/21/08)
Update:
8.7 WHQL Official:
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

(07/03/08)
Update:
8.7 Betas
xp:
http://www.toomanydownloads.co...&link_id=135&Itemid=54
vista:
http://www.toomanydownloads.co...&link_id=136&Itemid=54
other links here:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=266125

hotfix:
http://support.ati.com/ics/sup...ledge&questionID=35298

8.6 Official:
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx
Hotfix:
http://support.ati.com/ics/sup...default.asp?deptID=894

Slightly OT, but - Props to anyone who got CF HD4850's @ $139.00 ea. shipped. (newegg)





Nvidia Forceware:

If you own a Geforce 7, 8, or 9 [G71, G80 - G96] and want to run these new optimized drivers on your old hardware, then you are required to use a modified information file. This is because Nvidia only authors the newest driver packages to be compatible with the newest Geforce cards [aka GT200]. This file (nv4disp.inf, etc) will tell the drivers that your hardware is compatible during the installation of the new driver set. You may see optimizations, you may not, or you may experience new issues or problems all together. IMO, 9 times out of 10, you will get a performance increase. I'm using 177.79 WHQL on my Geforce 8400m GS in Windows XP SP3. It gives me excellent performance on top of the awesome Rivatuner 2.09 overclock (went from core/shad/mem of 400/800/500 to 600/1200/800 stable in DIII & Cod4 - core will actually do ~640mhz)

(10/14/08)
Update:
178.24 WHQL
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=276225

(10/06/08)
Update:
178.15 betas
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=275337

(10/01/08)
Update:
179.13 Alienware betas
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=274877

(09/25/08)
Update:
178.13 WHQL
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
http://downloads.guru3d.com/

(09/06/08)
Update:
177.98 betas
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=272739

177.79 177.83 177.89 177.92 177.98
Vantage P8702 P8707 P8671 P8654 P8667
GPU 6943 6939 6912 6897 6907
CPU 36272 36956 36654 36678 36820
3Dmark06 14,712 14,723 14,687 14,692 14,689
Nurien 54.26 54.98 54.19 54.06 54.13
Avg FPS
FluidMark 86 87 85 85 85
Avg FPS
1920/1200
MKZ 61 61 60 60 60
Avg FPS
1920/1200

(08/26/08)
Update:
177.92 betas
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=271676
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_177.92_beta.html

(08/12/08)
Update:
177.83 WHQL w/ modded inf
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/...index.php?showforum=94

(07/31/08)
Update:
177.79
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm....age=1&key=%F1%B5%8D%BC
Whql Candidates:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=269354
inf can be found here:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/...ex.php?showtopic=19829

(07/26/08)
Update:
177.72
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=268197

Found this comparison:
Crysis 1024 High settings:
174.74: Average FPS: 53.02, Min FPS: 24.50 at frame 139, Max FPS: 68.19
175.19: Average FPS: 51.44, Min FPS: 31.88 at frame 1949, Max FPS: 64.72
175.75: Average FPS: 53.62, Min FPS: 30.53 at frame 144, Max FPS: 69.23
175.80: Average FPS: 52.29, Min FPS: 31.04 at frame 144, Max FPS: 66.87
177.35: Average FPS: 52.49, Min FPS: 35.96 at frame 1967, Max FPS: 66.66
177.39: Average FPS: 52.74, Min FPS: 25.40 at frame 141, Max FPS: 66.92
177.66: Average FPS: 53.09, Min FPS: 35.92 at frame 1956, Max FPS: 67.95
177.70: Average FPS: 53.84, Min FPS: 31.17 at frame 1948, Max FPS: 68.49
177.72: Average FPS: 54.69, Min FPS: 24.71 at frame 140, Max FPS: 70.21

(07/13/08)
Update:
177.66 Xfastest Betas:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=267210

(06/26/08)
Update:
177.41 WHQL
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_177.41_whql.html
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp64_177.41_whql.html
http://www.nvidia.com/object/w...a_x86_177.41_whql.html
http://www.nvidia.com/object/w...a_x64_177.41_whql.html
177.41 WHQL .Infs can be found here:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=265498

(06/25/08)
Update:
177.40 leaked XF betas
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=265395

(06/23/08)
Update:
177.39
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=264880

(06/21/08)
Update:
177.39 XP 32 bit International w/ modded INF:
http://rapidshare.com/files/12...t_international_inf.7z
physX driver:
http://rapidshare.com/files/12...ysX_8_06_12_driver.rar

(06/19/08)
Update:
175.19 WHQL
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=265199

(06/16/08)
Update:
177.35 / 177.26 (with modified .inf file needed to run on older geforce hardware)
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/...index.php?showforum=94
177.35 is ~ 38mb.
177.35 WHQL from Nvidia.com for GT200 owners here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_177.35_whql.html

(05/30/08)
Update:


175.80 leaked internal betas here:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=2717902

Disclaimer:


WARNING: Some drivers linked in this thread are in the BETA stage. Use at your own risk.

 

[Acanthus]

Please change topic to read beta drivers.

I was excited for a sec

 

[Tempered81]

done

 

[Tempered81]

174.93 beta out now.
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?p=754395

 

[daveybrat]

Yay, more betas.......and not one official driver update for my card since December 07

 

[Throckmorton]

Where do these drivers come from?? Why aren't they on nvidia.com?

 

[Build it Myself]

these make my computer run so much better than the 169 crap they had out...thanks OP

 

[taltamir]

there is an official open beta of 174.74 drivers on nvidia.com
the rest are leaked from nvidia partners... the nvidia.com beta say what exactly is fixed, changed, or added in each version, so you know if it is worth it to you to mess with. But the leaked ones have no info...

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x64_174.74.html

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: taltamir
there is an official open beta of 174.74 drivers on nvidia.com
the rest are leaked from nvidia partners... the nvidia.com beta say what exactly is fixed, changed, or added in each version, so you know if it is worth it to you to mess with. But the leaked ones have no info...

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x64_174.74.html

so this is for adventurous people who don't mind sacrificing a bit of possible instability for some performance gains?
- we really don't have anything like this with AMD* .. other than a few hot fixes in-between monthly drivers .. it appears to be over 3 months since the last certified nVidia drivers

*[there are omega drivers but they are always a month or longer after and i never use them as they appear to be special purpose mostly for older GPUs]

 

[andrei3333]

what drivers should i use with my newly purchased 8800 GTS512 ??????

 

[MTDEW]

Originally posted by: andrei3333
what drivers should i use with my newly purchased 8800 GTS512 ??????

174.74

 

[natto fire]

Hey. I am not the type to update drivers very frequently, and I was wondering if these drivers are geared more towards DX10 cards. I am always behind the curve and am sporting a 7900GS right now, so I was wondering if changing the drivers is a good idea. I currently have NV 169.04 drivers, and they have been stable and perform just fine for me. I don't game nearly as much as I used to and even when I do, it is older games like the HL2 series and the like. I do play some Supreme Commander, but it seems my CPU is bottlenecking that game quite a bit so I find it quite frustrating to play.

Thanks for any input on this, as I always envy you bleeding edge people, but just don't quite have the funds or insanity to join you.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: daveybrat
Yay, more betas.......and not one official driver update for my card since December 07

Heh? The 174.74's seem to work very nicely on the 8800GTS 640's I have here. Have you tried them?

 

[Engineer]

Neither of the new Beta's fix the stutter problem of UT2004 (not that I am suprised since I read that this problem has been documented with XP since the end of 2006 and still no fix).

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: MTDEW

Originally posted by: andrei3333
what drivers should i use with my newly purchased 8800 GTS512 ??????

174.74

174.93 IMO

edit: 175.16

edit: 175.80

edit: 177.26

edit: 177.35

edit: 177.39

edit: back to 177.35

 

[LOUISSSSS]

why must there be so many betas before ONE OFFICIAL ONE?

are they scared of us blaming them if there is something wrong with their official driver?
therefore they must label it "beta" so they can cover their asses if anything goes wrong with them??

i haven't updated my drivers since their last official release.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Neither of the new Beta's fix the stutter problem of UT2004 (not that I am suprised since I read that this problem has been documented with XP since the end of 2006 and still no fix).

Is this just an issue with XP and the 8 series cards? My main two gaming pc's are a 8800GTS 512 + vista 64 and 7800GT + XP pro and neither stutter in UT2004.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
why must there be so many betas before ONE OFFICIAL ONE?

are they scared of us blaming them if there is something wrong with their official driver?
therefore they must label it "beta" so they can cover their asses if anything goes wrong with them??

i haven't updated my drivers since their last official release.

1. They are making major changes to the driver at the moment. Hence the significant performance improvement between 169 and 174.
2. There is only ONE official beta after 169, and that is 174.74. The rest were leaked internal builds, not even beta, but nightly builds leaked out to the public. There is a WHQL 174.24 for 9x cards, but those are just limited to one cards since they were rushed drivers.
3. It costs them money and it takes weeks for the WHQL racketeering service. WHQL is the worst thing to ever happen to windows, worse then DRM. It causes untold damage and pain. But it allows MS to squeeze more money out of, well, everyone!

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: taltamir

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
why must there be so many betas before ONE OFFICIAL ONE?

are they scared of us blaming them if there is something wrong with their official driver?
therefore they must label it "beta" so they can cover their asses if anything goes wrong with them??

i haven't updated my drivers since their last official release.

1. They are making major changes to the driver at the moment. Hence the significant performance improvement between 169 and 174.
2. There is only ONE official beta after 169, and that is 174.74. The rest were leaked internal builds, not even beta, but nightly builds leaked out to the public. There is a WHQL 174.24 for 9x cards, but those are just limited to one cards since they were rushed drivers.
3. It costs them money and it takes weeks for the WHQL racketeering service. WHQL is the worst thing to ever happen to windows, worse then DRM. It causes untold damage and pain. But it allows MS to squeeze more money out of, well, everyone!

how do they put up with this crap from MS?
- i think MS will soon be all alone and i think they will eventually be dismantled like Ma Bell was

in other words, 174 is as close to final as possible - just undergoing final polishing .. it would be "as good as" 169, right? And much better for new games.

 

[BFG10K]

Heh? The 174.74's seem to work very nicely on the 8800GTS 640's I have here. Have you tried them?

Check the back wheels on the jeeps in Crysis.

Is this just an issue with XP and the 8 series cards?

Yep.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: taltamir

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
why must there be so many betas before ONE OFFICIAL ONE?

are they scared of us blaming them if there is something wrong with their official driver?
therefore they must label it "beta" so they can cover their asses if anything goes wrong with them??

i haven't updated my drivers since their last official release.

1. They are making major changes to the driver at the moment. Hence the significant performance improvement between 169 and 174.
2. There is only ONE official beta after 169, and that is 174.74. The rest were leaked internal builds, not even beta, but nightly builds leaked out to the public. There is a WHQL 174.24 for 9x cards, but those are just limited to one cards since they were rushed drivers.
3. It costs them money and it takes weeks for the WHQL racketeering service. WHQL is the worst thing to ever happen to windows, worse then DRM. It causes untold damage and pain. But it allows MS to squeeze more money out of, well, everyone!

how do they put up with this crap from MS?
- i think MS will soon be all alone and i think they will eventually be dismantled like Ma Bell was

in other words, 174 is as close to final as possible - just undergoing final polishing .. it would be "as good as" 169, right? And much better for new games.

Most likely. In fact, the 169 version currently used was a "beta" for over 3 weeks before it became WHQL. It was the EXACT SAME version, only the latter one has WHQL signing so windows uses it by default over anything else.

Anyways, the WHQL is put up with because people are scared of the big flashing warning that windows give them about installing non WHQL software. Also, you have to FORCE it to install, and windows will revert to bad, old, WRONG MANUFACTURER drivers to use WHQL drivers over non WHQL ones. Resulting in much problems for any company that does NOT pay for WHQL.

At first nobody paid for WHQL and people had to jump through loops to install their drivers. Then a few manufacturers went along and all the bugs and issues steming FROM WHQL got solved, making their drivers a lot better, now EVERYONE uses WHQL except for the cheapest generic stuff

here is microsofts guide for WHQL:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/GetStart/testing.mspx

? Provide billing information.

5. Install the WLK and run appropriate tests.

7. Prepare your test submission for Winqual.
After all test failures have been fixed or clearly resolved by errata or contingencies, you are now ready to submit your test logs and driver packages to the Windows Quality Online Services. See Qualify: Getting Started.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/getstart/qualify.mspx

After WHQL reviews your test log package to determine whether your product has passed testing, a pass or fail notification and a detailed test report are provided.
?

Passing test submissions qualifies you to:
?

Receive the Windows logo for your product.
?

Receive digitally signed drivers for your product.
?

Add the product to Windows Marketplace.
?

Distribute drivers and updates through Windows Update.
?

Grant product reseller rights to another company.
?

If your test submission fails, you can submit new logs to Winqual for retest after reported failures or omissions are corrected.

So...
provide billing info.
Test your drivers with MS tool.
Fix drivers until the tool passes.
Submit the LOG from the tool saying your driver passed. as well as the driver.

When MS engineers view the log and see it passed they will digitally sign it, bill you.
And give you a bunch of "benefits" which you can purchase. Like including the driver on windows update, getting a "made for vista logo", etc...

 

[apoppin]

wow .. i knew it was a scam .. i just didn't realize the scope of it
--no wonder everyone and her sister in the Tech world Hates MS

How much does this cost ?

don't say $20K from each manufacturer for each driver

 

[avi85]

anyone have an idea when 174 will be official?

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Spike

Originally posted by: Engineer
Neither of the new Beta's fix the stutter problem of UT2004 (not that I am suprised since I read that this problem has been documented with XP since the end of 2006 and still no fix).

Is this just an issue with XP and the 8 series cards? My main two gaming pc's are a 8800GTS 512 + vista 64 and 7800GT + XP pro and neither stutter in UT2004.

It's an issue with 8xxx series cards and Windows XP. It has been fixed in Vista for over a year, IIRC.

 

[Tempered81]

175.12 out now



http://www.mediafire.com/?zwlvndh19d1