New nVidia Windows XP Drivers!

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duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
81
I think they removed the link to them because the INF file didn't have lines to support older stuff like 4 and FX series even though the drivers actually support those cards, right? For example, I think the XP 93.71 WHQL drivers from November 2006 were for almost every Geforce card (except maybe really old ones) except the new 8 series. Maybe they want to change this and only make new drivers like 94.24 for say the 6 and 7 series, or it was a mistake on their part.

Either way, I got them for my 7800GT so I'll give them a shot. I'm not intense into beta drivers or 3rd party ones (pages and pages of forum posts like "OMG 2x PERF!!" everytime a slightly changed driver comes out, or every minor 3rd party update raises IQ and FPS SO much), but the overall consensus seems to be they work good. Unless something was seriously wrong, I just don't see minor driver updates bumping FPS up by such huge numbers that people claim. Back in the original Radeon and TNT or Geforce 256 days, it seemed to matter more, but I think they are pretty refined now. Regardless, it's been a long time since I've updated my drivers, so I'll try these. Some better performance in STALKER wouldn't hurt, and TDU is kinda messed up (but possibly a FFB wheel/Eden issue).
 

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
81
Is there any difference between these re-released 94.24 drivers from May 31 compared to the ones they pulled around May 18? Well okay they didn't really pull them, just re-directed to the 93.71s till then.

I thought the problem with the original 94.24 drivers was the INF didn't have support for older Geforce cards like the FX series, so I would expect no difference with the May 31st release. But it is odd it'd take that long to fix the INF, re-test, then re-release. Both are WHQL certified.

It just occurred to me to check the file size, since I saved the 94.24s I downloaded when I posted on May 20th. The ones I downloaded then, still 94.24 English, are 40.7 MB. The current 94.24 English release is 32.5 MB. What's up with this? No release notes yet either!
 

TheRyuu

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2005
5,479
14
81
Eh, why bother when you have XTreme-G.

Nvidia is officially at 94.92 for non-8800 users. Tweaksrus has 160.02, and 165 drivers :)

(hint, read the Nvidia Forceware TRU review roundup at top of page)
 

Fallengod

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
5,908
19
81
Hum nice. So you can use those 160 etc drivers for non-8800 cards and winxp? Thats a decent round up. Im still on 93.71's myself for my 7900gt.
 

TheRyuu

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2005
5,479
14
81
Originally posted by: Fallengod
Hum nice. So you can use those 160 etc drivers for non-8800 cards and winxp? Thats a decent round up. Im still on 93.71's myself for my 7900gt.

Yea, and I still don't get why Nvidia doesn't do it.
 

pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
0
76
this breaks VC1 h/w acceleration for my 7600GT, so if that's important to you, beware.