When the HELL is Nvidia going to release working drivers for Vista?

[chizow]

Originally posted by: gsellis

Originally posted by: chizow
There's been quite a few complaints about Vista and ATI cards also, so expecting anything different from ATI cards once R600 launches is laughable. NV has been releasing new Vista drivers every 2-3 weeks, something me and most XP users weren't real happy about. I'm pretty satisfied now with the 100-series beta drivers for XP though.

Like others, I'll be waiting for a real reason to upgrade to Vista in the form of an actual DX10 game.

Don't be so sure. ATI already has implemented instrumentation in the device driver INF for the R600. Sounds like they might have it going. The PnP ID strings are part of how folks like the INQ got info on the upcoming ATI cards.

Are you serious? Just because a driver has the .inf files for a product doesn't mean its a "working driver". If we took that as the definition of "working", there'd be no basis for this OP. There's .inf files in the drivers for 8800, 8600, 8500 and w/e else so does that mean NV is on top of it because Vista boots up and recognizes the cards?

I think most people's definition of "working" is problem-free compatibility with all of their software and hardware while maintaining similar performance relative to XP. Not sure how you can gleen that kind of information from a product ID .inf.

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: nZone
I haven't got any problem with 8800GTX and Vista Ultimate 64-bit on 100.65 besides the texas' poker flickering. Give or take, I play only Titan Quest/Immortal Throne and Jade Empire; both games have been performing good. In fact, 8800GTX/XP_SP2 gave me problem with Titan Quest. I am a happy camper with Vista and GTX.

But nVidia utility like nTune; what da $%$^&^%!!! It seems like there is no QA effort on nTune. The latest version said it is support Vista 32/64 bit but the software can't even install correctly; and not to mention working properly. Craps! even a cleaner can find the installation flaw! I would rather not having nVidia released the buggy utility and yet they claim that it is support Vista 32/64 bit.

That is strange. I installed the latest ntune the other day on my vista ultimate 32bit install and it has been working alright - so far. I haven't really used it a whole lot though.

I believe it is fine with the older video cards but not with the new 8800GTS/GTX (at least with a 64-bit). The visual C++ component files didn't get install by nTune setup (it's supposed to) and the setup did not place the 'nvcpuid.exe' (I think I got the name wrong here) in the C:\WINDOWS\*WOW64. I got around it by installing the video driver; install Microsoft Visual C++; install nTune; and then reinstall video driver (no driver removal; just a reinstall on top). But then again; nTune cannot load your customized profile and took 3-5 minutes just to get the nTune to launch!

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: chizow
Not sure how you can gleen that kind of information from a product ID .inf.

14 Years of experience supporting hardware integration into the OS. Older drivers tend to get put on CDs that are produced to go in the box with the hardware. When nVidia gets to the 1 month cycle, they will probably start doing the same. ATI has a strong record on shipping "working" drivers. So does nVidia, which makes me wonder what in the heck is wrong with the silicon/firmware.

 

[MobileLoser]

I cannot use Vista with my 6800GT, so I have to stick to gaming on XP. The performance in Vista is abysmal! Of course not all of it is nVidia's fault, but they don't seem to be trying hard enough.

 

[blues02]

I was an early adopter for Win95. That taught me my lesson.

 

[KeithTalent]

I'm not really sure how people can blame the customer for being upset about this (i.e.: that's what you get for being an early adopter).

Caveat emptor aside I believe the producers should be working together to have all of these issues resolved as completely as possible by the launch of the product, or at least very soon after.

Maybe I'm just an idealist.

KT

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: gsellis

Originally posted by: chizow
Not sure how you can gleen that kind of information from a product ID .inf.

14 Years of experience supporting hardware integration into the OS. Older drivers tend to get put on CDs that are produced to go in the box with the hardware. When nVidia gets to the 1 month cycle, they will probably start doing the same. ATI has a strong record on shipping "working" drivers. So does nVidia, which makes me wonder what in the heck is wrong with the silicon/firmware.

My GTS shipped with Beta Vista drivers. In January. Older video drivers included in an OS or with the card are meant to accomplish 1 thing and 1 thing only, but that sure as hell doesn't constitute a "working" driver lol. ATI can't even get final silicon on R600, so expecting any kind of "working" driver for a new OS that handles legacy apps and hardware completely differently than XP is a stretch. Citing an .inf as your only indication shows a lack of experience or a very different definition of working driver.

 

[Matt2]

I agree with Chizow.

ATI's drivers are going to be a mess. Unless that is the real reason for the delays....

Just because an .inf exists doesnt mean they will be any better than Nvidia's drivers. It just means you will be able to install the card.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: nZone

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: nZone
I haven't got any problem with 8800GTX and Vista Ultimate 64-bit on 100.65 besides the texas' poker flickering. Give or take, I play only Titan Quest/Immortal Throne and Jade Empire; both games have been performing good. In fact, 8800GTX/XP_SP2 gave me problem with Titan Quest. I am a happy camper with Vista and GTX.

But nVidia utility like nTune; what da $%$^&^%!!! It seems like there is no QA effort on nTune. The latest version said it is support Vista 32/64 bit but the software can't even install correctly; and not to mention working properly. Craps! even a cleaner can find the installation flaw! I would rather not having nVidia released the buggy utility and yet they claim that it is support Vista 32/64 bit.

That is strange. I installed the latest ntune the other day on my vista ultimate 32bit install and it has been working alright - so far. I haven't really used it a whole lot though.

I believe it is fine with the older video cards but not with the new 8800GTS/GTX (at least with a 64-bit). The visual C++ component files didn't get install by nTune setup (it's supposed to) and the setup did not place the 'nvcpuid.exe' (I think I got the name wrong here) in the C:\WINDOWS\*WOW64. I got around it by installing the video driver; install Microsoft Visual C++; install nTune; and then reinstall video driver (no driver removal; just a reinstall on top). But then again; nTune cannot load your customized profile and took 3-5 minutes just to get the nTune to launch!

Well, I am using ntune with my 8800GTX in vista 32, maybe it is a 64bit thing?

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Matt2
I agree with Chizow.

ATI's drivers are going to be a mess. Unless that is the real reason for the delays....

Just because an .inf exists doesnt mean they will be any better than Nvidia's drivers. It just means you will be able to install the card.

Nah, I think ATI will fare better this time around with the first incarnation of drivers for R600, only because the R600 is a relative of R500 Xenos (or so everyone believes) so they may be a bit more familiar with the architecture they are working with to provide drivers for. For Nvidia, this is a brand new deal. New architecture, new everything. But I can see they are working pretty darn hard on those drivers as they are steadily releasing newer versions with various improvements, bug fixes.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Matt2
I agree with Chizow.

ATI's drivers are going to be a mess. Unless that is the real reason for the delays....

Just because an .inf exists doesnt mean they will be any better than Nvidia's drivers. It just means you will be able to install the card.

Nah, I think ATI will fare better this time around with the first incarnation of drivers for R600, only because the R600 is a relative of R500 Xenos (or so everyone believes) so they may be a bit more familiar with the architecture they are working with to provide drivers for. For Nvidia, this is a brand new deal. New architecture, new everything. But I can see they are working pretty darn hard on those drivers as they are steadily releasing newer versions with various improvements, bug fixes.

R600's relationship with Xenos was supposed to give them a head start with the hardware as well.

We all know how that is turning out.

Plus how do we know that coding drivers for R600 under XP and Vista is anything like coding for a game console?

 

[firewolfsm]

nTune is a piece of ******, even in 32-bit Vista. My color profiles won't stick, I can't overclock at all and now Rivatuner won't work either. I guess I'll be switching back to XP to play any games.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: blues02
I was an early adopter for Win95. That taught me my lesson.

Ah yes...I remember running Win95 RC on my 486DX2...don't ask me how I got it!

That cured me from wanting to be an early adopter I think. SP1 for me in Vista or bust.

 

[thxdd]

For what it's worth, my 8800GTS + 100.65 = Massive stuttering and crashes. The beta 101.41 release available on nZone solved all of my problems. No it doesn't fix profiles, or other glitches but at least my games run flawlessly now. I'd recommend them to those who haven't tried them and are still using the WHQL release 100.65s.

 

[Aikouka]

I run my GeForce 8800GTX with 100.65 with no problems. Hell, I even run two World of Warcraft game instances at once in windowed mode (i.e. one on each monitor running simultaneously) with no problem.

I bet there'd be an issue with that if I had sound enabled though. I noticed a really weird program from Microsoft... a "sound isolator" of sorts that runs if you have two sound streams running at once. I had a YouTube video paused while listening to music and my music was horridly choppy (when WoW was also on, but note that my WoW sound is turned off). I closed the YouTube video and the music was fine and the audio isolator thing went away. I've noticed it a couple times now and it can eat a good 25% of my CPU.

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: thxdd
For what it's worth, my 8800GTS + 100.65 = Massive stuttering and crashes. The beta 101.41 release available on nZone solved all of my problems. No it doesn't fix profiles, or other glitches but at least my games run flawlessly now. I'd recommend them to those who haven't tried them and are still using the WHQL release 100.65s.

101.41 broke Vista performance index.

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: nZone

Originally posted by: adairusmc

Originally posted by: nZone
I haven't got any problem with 8800GTX and Vista Ultimate 64-bit on 100.65 besides the texas' poker flickering. Give or take, I play only Titan Quest/Immortal Throne and Jade Empire; both games have been performing good. In fact, 8800GTX/XP_SP2 gave me problem with Titan Quest. I am a happy camper with Vista and GTX.

But nVidia utility like nTune; what da $%$^&^%!!! It seems like there is no QA effort on nTune. The latest version said it is support Vista 32/64 bit but the software can't even install correctly; and not to mention working properly. Craps! even a cleaner can find the installation flaw! I would rather not having nVidia released the buggy utility and yet they claim that it is support Vista 32/64 bit.

That is strange. I installed the latest ntune the other day on my vista ultimate 32bit install and it has been working alright - so far. I haven't really used it a whole lot though.

I believe it is fine with the older video cards but not with the new 8800GTS/GTX (at least with a 64-bit). The visual C++ component files didn't get install by nTune setup (it's supposed to) and the setup did not place the 'nvcpuid.exe' (I think I got the name wrong here) in the C:\WINDOWS\*WOW64. I got around it by installing the video driver; install Microsoft Visual C++; install nTune; and then reinstall video driver (no driver removal; just a reinstall on top). But then again; nTune cannot load your customized profile and took 3-5 minutes just to get the nTune to launch!

Well, I am using ntune with my 8800GTX in vista 32, maybe it is a 64bit thing?

if you get to work in 32-bit, it's must be the 64-bit thing; but then again why would nVidia certified it to work with 64-bit? Maybe their QA team tested the 32-bit and it worked; then they call it a day? That must be poor QA team!

The only one feature I want from nTune is to be able to adjust th fan speed of the video card.

 

[butch84]

I get display corruption whenever the UAC window pops up - the contents of the window don't draw, and I have to mouse over the "OK" and "cancel" buttons to get them to appear. The 'welcome' screen is also broken - it doesn't update/is corrupt as well. It's pretty frustrating, and happens with 100.65 and 101.41 drivers. The drivers that shipped with Vista don't do that, but they're not so good for gaming. I guess I'll just have to wait for the next driver release and hope for the best.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: gsellis

Originally posted by: chizow
Not sure how you can gleen that kind of information from a product ID .inf.

14 Years of experience supporting hardware integration into the OS. Older drivers tend to get put on CDs that are produced to go in the box with the hardware. When nVidia gets to the 1 month cycle, they will probably start doing the same. ATI has a strong record on shipping "working" drivers. So does nVidia, which makes me wonder what in the heck is wrong with the silicon/firmware.

LOL.

 

[redbox]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
I'm not really sure how people can blame the customer for being upset about this (i.e.: that's what you get for being an early adopter).

Caveat emptor aside I believe the producers should be working together to have all of these issues resolved as completely as possible by the launch of the product, or at least very soon after.

Maybe I'm just an idealist.

KT

QFT Regardless of how complicated it all is the blame is not on the buyer. Produce a working product or keep it off the shelfs until one can be produced.

 

[SickBeast]

I've had a few problems with my 8800GTS 320mb under Vista...

1. I couldn't install the latest drivers from the nvidia website; it incorrectly said that I was running the incorrect version of windows and crashed.

2. I can't run Far Cry! It loads the game and then all the textures and lighting are messed up to the point that I can't see anything!

3. I can't run the C&C 3 demo...at all.

I had to upgrade my drivers through device manager.

 

[SickBeast]

Double post...another Vista glitch.

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Double post...another Vista glitch.

hahahah LOL that would be SUPERUSER glitch!

 

[thxdd]

Originally posted by: nZone
101.41 broke Vista performance index.

OK? But if it fixes my problems why the hell would I care about Windows Experience Index (I think that's what they call it now)? Or are you just posting a known problem in case someone cares about Microsoft's version of 3dMark?

Regardless, here's to hoping nVidia starts releasing regular updates to drivers as they did in the GeForce 2 and 3 era. :beer: