nVidia IDE driver??

[doanster]

So I just built up my system and was installing my drivers when I noticed that there is an nVidia IDE driver. After running a google search, I'm not sure if I should install it or not. Does it make a noticeable speed difference? Are the potential issues worth the trouble?

My motherboard is a DFI Lanparty NF3 UT (nForce3 250gb chipset), if that makes a difference.

 

[PurdueRy]

I have had it installed and have not installed it. Both have worked fine, didn't notice anything either way. I would install it and if it doesn't work just uninstall it.

 

[doanster]

Hmm... as long as it doesn't cause any physical damage or data corruption I guess it's all good. Is it true that it makes the hard drive heads "slam" against the edge on each boot-up??? That theory makes no sense to me...

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: doanster
Hmm... as long as it doesn't cause any physical damage or data corruption I guess it's all good. Is it true that it makes the hard drive heads "slam" against the edge on each boot-up??? That theory makes no sense to me...

Again, I had no problems with it.

 

[AlexV]

I actually had a problem which I'm relating to the nVidia's IDE drivers, although I'm not 100% certain but close to it. I don't have the same M/B though. The problem was that the open dialog box would freeze when I was trying to go into a folder that had a lot of relatively large multimedia files like movies and photos. It would just hang and not show the contents of the folder. I have rebuilt my system since, and didn't install the nVidia's IDE drivers, and everything's working fine. In fact, the only driver I did install from nVidia was the one for the on-board network.

-- Alex

 

[doanster]

Originally posted by: AlexV
I actually had a problem which I'm relating to the nVidia's IDE drivers, although I'm not 100% certain but close to it. I don't have the same M/B though. The problem was that the open dialog box would freeze when I was trying to go into a folder that had a lot of relatively large multimedia files like movies and photos. It would just hang and not show the contents of the folder. I have rebuilt my system since, and didn't install the nVidia's IDE drivers, and everything's working fine. In fact, the only driver I did install from nVidia was the one for the on-board network.

-- Alex

You didn't install the chipset drivers??

 

[alpha88]

I don't install the nVidia IDE driver. I don't have any problems (or slow performance).

I've heard of people who have had problems, as well as those who havent. It doesn't seem like there is anything to gain by trying them, so I didn't.

 

[duragezic]

I haven't had a single problem due to them (AFAIK) and I used them for years starting with Nforce 2.

As a quick test a while ago, I uninstalled them and let the MS ones install. I did a few quick tests like timing a program load, and different file copies. The MS ones were slightly faster, but although I don't have the numbers w/ me at work, it was fairly insignificant and I doubt you could notice it.

So I put them back on (Nforce 4). Again, I haven't had a problem, and no convincing evidence either way. If you are having seemingly IDE-related issues with them, go ahead and uninstall them.

 

[formulav8]

I've use it with no problems to speak of. I guess one reason I install it is to easier enable/disable ncq and the integrated speed test. But either way, the ms or nvidia drivers both work just fine in my humble experiences



Jason

 

[chilled]

Always installed it. Never had any problems.

 

[AlexV]

EDIT: Reply to doanster

What do you mean by the chipset drivers? I downloaded the chipset driver set from nVidia's site, and when I ran the install the only thing I installed were the network drivers. I installed the sound card drivers off the sound card's manufacturer site. Other than that, I don't recall installing any other drivers. It very well may be that I'm forgetting something, but I cannot recall anything else.

-- Alex

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: AlexV
EDIT: Reply to doanster

What do you mean by the chipset drivers? I downloaded the chipset driver set from nVidia's site, and when I ran the install the only thing I installed were the network drivers. I installed the sound card drivers off the sound card's manufacturer site. Other than that, I don't recall installing any other drivers. It very well may be that I'm forgetting something, but I cannot recall anything else.

-- Alex

There's the SMBUS driver and the GART driver besides the one you mentioned

 

[doanster]

Originally posted by: AlexV
EDIT: Reply to doanster

What do you mean by the chipset drivers? I downloaded the chipset driver set from nVidia's site, and when I ran the install the only thing I installed were the network drivers. I installed the sound card drivers off the sound card's manufacturer site. Other than that, I don't recall installing any other drivers. It very well may be that I'm forgetting something, but I cannot recall anything else.

-- Alex

Hmm.. maybe its a little different for nVidia chipsets, but for my Intel PC, I always installed the chipset drivers first - for the northbridge, southbridge, and AGP (ie. GART drivers). This supposedly ensured optimal performance over the Windows XP generic drivers. Can someone confirm this?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: doanster

Originally posted by: AlexV
EDIT: Reply to doanster

What do you mean by the chipset drivers? I downloaded the chipset driver set from nVidia's site, and when I ran the install the only thing I installed were the network drivers. I installed the sound card drivers off the sound card's manufacturer site. Other than that, I don't recall installing any other drivers. It very well may be that I'm forgetting something, but I cannot recall anything else.

-- Alex

Hmm.. maybe its a little different for nVidia chipsets, but for my Intel PC, I always installed the chipset drivers first - for the northbridge, southbridge, and AGP (ie. GART drivers). This supposedly ensured optimal performance over the Windows XP generic drivers. Can someone confirm this?

Yes, for NVidia chipsets there are also important drivers besides the ethernet and audio

 

[doanster]

AlexV: Looks like you just found yourself a "free" performance boost

 

[orangat]

Originally posted by: doanster
So I just built up my system and was installing my drivers when I noticed that there is an nVidia IDE driver. After running a google search, I'm not sure if I should install it or not. Does it make a noticeable speed difference? Are the potential issues worth the trouble?

My motherboard is a DFI Lanparty NF3 UT (nForce3 250gb chipset), if that makes a difference.

I would advise you not to install it. Nvidia ide drivers are one of the biggest sources of problems for nf mb's for nf1/2/3 not sure about nf4.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=29&threadid=1654288

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: doanster
So I just built up my system and was installing my drivers when I noticed that there is an nVidia IDE driver. After running a google search, I'm not sure if I should install it or not. Does it make a noticeable speed difference? Are the potential issues worth the trouble?

My motherboard is a DFI Lanparty NF3 UT (nForce3 250gb chipset), if that makes a difference.

I've never had a problem with them. IIRC, the problems are related to the optical drives. I.e., you may or may not have a problem depending on what brand optical drive you use. Like PurdueRy says, install them, if there's a problem just go back to the MS driver.

 

[BFG10K]

I used them on my NF3 and NF4 and I never had any issues.

 

[AlexV]

To all those who shared their experiences with drivers for nVidia M/Bs, thanks. What I did is to run nForce4_amd_6.70_winxp2k_english.exe that I download from nVidia's website. When running the install, I specifically deselected everything but the network driver. Perhaps, some drivers are installed by default, regardless of the use selection since those are needed no matter what.

-- Alex

 

[Continuity28]

I've always used the nVidia IDE driver, and have never had any problems.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: AlexV
To all those who shared their experiences with drivers for nVidia M/Bs, thanks. What I did is to run nForce4_amd_6.70_winxp2k_english.exe that I download from nVidia's website. When running the install, I specifically deselected everything but the network driver. Perhaps, some drivers are installed by default, regardless of the use selection since those are needed no matter what.

-- Alex

You should have installed all of them besides the Audio driver(if you have a PCI solution) and the IDE driver(if you don't feel like it) all the others are important.

 

[sandeep108]

I found installing all the 6.70 drivers, except active armour/NAM gave a nice boost to my system.