Latest Forceware: 178.24 WHQL / 179.13 Betas [Updated]

[Blazer7]

ok searching the net I've found a way to make the 177.39 work with physX. In the 177.35 moded inf file locate the DriverVer = 06/09/2008, 6.14.11.7735 line and replace it with this : DriverVer = 06/16/2008, 6.14.11.7739. Then use the moded inf with the 177.39.

I've tried it and it works with XP32 just fine.

*** note *** nVidia's 8.6.12 physX drivers are required.

 

[LucJoe]

Originally posted by: Blazer7
ok searching the net I've found a way to make the 177.39 work with physX. In the 177.35 moded inf file locate the DriverVer = 06/09/2008, 6.14.11.7735 line and replace it with this : DriverVer = 06/16/2008, 6.14.11.7739. Then use the moded inf with the 177.39.

I've tried it and it works with XP32 just fine.

*** note *** nVidia's 8.6.12 physX drivers are required.

I hear there is a way to make it work with 8 series video cards, but you need that modded inf? Can you link to the modded inf? I'm using vista x64 with an 8800gt and 3 month old whql official drivers.

 

[Blazer7]

It does seem to work with the 8 series cards (I'm using 2x8800GTS) but it's completely unofficial and as jaredpace mentiones in the 1st page WARNING: The drivers linked in this thread are in the BETA stage. Use at your own risk.

Look at the link provided by taltamir in his 1st post on this page. Select v177.35 VISTA 64bit | NVIDIA -> moded inf. The workaround I posted for the 177.39 seems to be working fine with XP32 and I've heard that it also works with Vista32 but I haven't heard anything about 64bit OSs. If you make it work just post here for the rest to know.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Note for 8 series cards using XP 32-bit, new drivers came out today:

GeForce Release 175 WHQL
Version: 175.19
Release Date: June 23, 2008
Operating System: Windows XP, Windows XP Media Center Edition
Language: U.S. English
File Size: 36.8 MB

Release Highlights Products Supported Documentation

* WHQL-certified driver for GeForce 6, 7, 8, and 9 series GPUs.
* Improved 3D performance and load times for GeForce 8 and 9 series GPUs in some DirectX 9 and OpenGL applications as a result an improved shader optimizer.
* Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI? technology* on DirectX 9 and OpenGL.
* Several game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.
* Users without US English operating systems can select their language and download the International driver here.

Note: Quad SLI technology with GeForce 9800 GX2, 3-way SLI technology, and Hybrid SLI technology are only supported on Windows Vista.

 

[taltamir]

windows vista 64 bit also has a june 23 release (aka, today).
So i guess all the drivers are out. Should be updated in the main post.

 

[TC91]

Has anyone tried the 175.19 WHQL?
"Improved 3D performance and load times for GeForce 8 and 9 series GPUs in some DirectX 9, DirectX 10 and OpenGL applications as a result an improved shader optimizer."

That sounds interesting, can anyone confirm it actually makes a worthwhile difference?

 

[extra]

Ahhh, yay, new drivers. WHQL even. Oh wait, they crash my computer. Good ol' 169s are the latest ones that run stable for me. Sigh. Sad thing is I'm nowhere near alone, google for people having issues with these and you will find tons and tons of people that are also...going back to the 169s.... Ugh. I've never had issues with Nvidia drivers before and I've been using their stuff since way way back with the original Geforce. This is really disappointing. Oh well.

 

[jamesbond007]

So it seems nVIDIA and ATI have turned the tables around on driver stability? (ATi drivers from 1999-2003 anyone? )

~Travis

 

[taltamir]

ATI was horrible up till the day AMD bought them, where their drivers rapidly got restructured and improved. AMD has been maintaining good drivers since. while nvidia let theirs slip, A LOT!

So yea, things switched, AMD is the new driver champ. (although nvidia does have its benefits, like unified driver architecture. they might not make a single driver themselves, but laptopvideo2go puts in the inf needed to make any recent driver run every nvidia card ever made)

 

[Tempered81]

177.40 Betas out

 

[s44]

What's new since 177.39?

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: s44
What's new since 177.39?

WHQL 177.41

sheesh...

 

[taltamir]

so... inf modding?

 

[BLHealthy4life]

177.40 definitely improved Worl In Conflict performance...It feels much smoother....

 

[taltamir]

I found modded inf's for this version, as well a premodded vista 64 package.
http://www.overclock.net/softw...eased.html#post4090250

enjoy.

 

[s44]

Do you have to uninstall/reinstall PhysX drivers for upgrades now?

 

[taltamir]

no... just install the new driver over the old one... leave the physX as is....
and it works.

Some games have problems DETECTING that I have a physX capable card.. so they wouldn't let me enable it... but those that do work a lot faster now.

 

[Blazer7]

Ok, I think that I've run across the first noticeable side-effect with the GT200 drivers + modified inf. As of late I've noticed higher than normal Deferred Procedure Calls latencies. I've done so by using the DPC checker utility.

My normal latencies would be in the green well under 200µs but after installing any of the GT200 drivers that would go from constant green to constant red with latencies ranging from 2500 to 3100µs but no spikes above that. The bars would all be in the same level more or less spiking from 2500 to 3000-3100 and then gradually descending back to the 2500 level just to start all over again.

I know that most people that experience high DPC latencies also experience audio and video playback stuttering but I haven't experienced any of this. I don't know if the modified drivers have the same effect on other systems but it would be interesting if any of you guys could check this out.

For the record I had to use an old ghost image to revert my system back to its former state and then I started adding drivers and stuff. As soon as I loaded any of the GT200 drivers the latencies went straight up. I'm now back to the 175.19 WHQL and in the green again.

You can find more on DPC latencies here : Gigabyte Boards and DPC Latency.

 

[s44]

Huh. 177.41 seems to be crashing more than .35 on my 8800GT.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: taltamir
ATI was horrible up till the day AMD bought them, where their drivers rapidly got restructured and improved. AMD has been maintaining good drivers since. while nvidia let theirs slip, A LOT!

So yea, things switched, AMD is the new driver champ. (although nvidia does have its benefits, like unified driver architecture. they might not make a single driver themselves, but laptopvideo2go puts in the inf needed to make any recent driver run every nvidia card ever made)

I never thought about it that way but it sounds quite right. At least it's such a coincidence.

Anyhow, what's the impression of 175.19 among 8/9 series owners? It's kinda pissing me off because I just installed the 175.16 only a few days ago. But whatever improvement, if it's there, I will take.

 

[BFG10K]

My experience with 175.19 has been mostly positive for older games that had problems like UT2004 and Call of Duty United offensive. Also game load times for certain older titles is faster.

But apparently nVidia pulled the drivers after a review demonstrated performance tanking in Crysis.

 

[lopri]

BFG, so do you think 175.19 is overall better drivers set than 175.16?

 

[BFG10K]

BFG, so do you think 175.19 is overall better drivers set than 175.16?

Yes but maybe not if you're currently playing through Crysis.

 

[Blazer7]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
But apparently nVidia pulled the drivers after a review demonstrated performance tanking in Crysis.

And I was wondering why the 175.19 are not listed in nVidia's site anymore. That's some good info. It is quite unusual however for a manufacturer to withdraw WHQL drivers don't you think? Fortunately Guru of 3D still hosts the files. BTW do you have a link to that review? I bet that they were not testing only with Crysis. It would be very interesting to see how the new drivers perform in other games with respect to the 175.16.

 

[mhouck]

Originally posted by: BFG10K
My experience with 175.19 has been mostly positive for older games that had problems like UT2004 and Call of Duty United offensive. Also game load times for certain older titles is faster.

But apparently nVidia pulled the drivers after a review demonstrated performance tanking in Crysis.

I thought so. First Hand impressions, Crysis stutters more often. Bioshock and Mass Effect run very smooth but they did before as well. Didn't run fraps though. Sorry