Curse

Snograt · Nov 21, 2008, 11:47 AM // 11:47

This is a WHQL-certified driver for GeForce 200-series, 9-series, and 8800-series desktop GPUs.
Exciting New Features:

Enables NVIDIA SLI technology on SLI-certified Intel X58-based motherboards with the following GPUs: GeForce GTX 280, GeForce GTX 260, GeForce 9800 GX2, GeForce 9800 GTX+, and GeForce 9800 GTX. Learn more here.
Enables NVIDIA SLI Multi-monitor support, giving you the ability to use two monitors with your GeForce graphics cards in SLI mode. Now you can easily switch between multi-monitor desktop mode and full screen 3D gaming mode. Learn more here.
Enables NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on a dedicated GeForce graphics card. Use one card for graphics and dedicate a different card for PhysX processing for game-changing physical effects. Learn more here. (Note: GPU PhysX is supported on all GeForce 8-series, 9-series and 200-series GPUs with a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory. This driver package automatically installs PhysX System Software version 8.10.13).

Blazing Fast Performance:

Boosts performance in numerous 3D applications. The following are some examples of improvements measured with Release 180 WHQL drivers vs. Release 178 WHQL drivers (results will vary depending on your GPU, system configuration, and game settings):
- Up to 10% performance increase in 3DMark Vantage (performance preset)
- Up to 13% performance increase in Assassin's Creed
- Up to 13% performance increase in BioShock
- Up to 15% performance increase in Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
- Up to 10% performance increase in Crysis Warhead
- Up to 25% performance increase in Devil May Cry 4
- Up to 38% performance increase in Far Cry 2
- Up to 18% performance increase in Race Driver: GRID
- Up to 80% performance increase in Lost Planet: Colonies
- Up to 18% performance increase in World of Conflict

And More:

Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL, including 3-way and Quad SLI technology.
Supports CUDA.
Supports [email protected] distributing computing application. Download the high performance client for NVIDIA GPUs here and join the NVIDIA team: #131015.
Supports GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.
Includes numerous 3D application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

Fril Estelin · Nov 21, 2008, 12:26 PM // 12:26

Very cool! I'll install it tonight, ty Snograt!

DarkNecrid · Nov 21, 2008, 01:06 PM // 13:06

A lot of people are having problems with Left 4 Dead with this update. :\

Abedeus · Nov 21, 2008, 01:36 PM // 13:36

Too bad it's only for 8800+ :/

The Meth · Nov 21, 2008, 05:23 PM // 17:23

Someone smart tell me why only 8800 and higher GPU's are supported? Why not all of the 8000 series?

Its a shame because my 8800 GT runs everything I need maxed, its my second computer with a 8600 GT that needs some improved speed on DMC4 and Far Cry 2.

Shadow Kurd · Nov 21, 2008, 09:46 PM // 21:46

Wait wait wait?

You mean to tell me my 8600 GT is considered old by Nvidia?

moriz · Nov 21, 2008, 09:58 PM // 21:58

well.... yeah.

The Meth · Nov 22, 2008, 12:05 AM // 00:05

Nvidia (AMD as well) would have you believe that any computer not running a Geforce 260 level card or better at the moment makes your computer unable to play any games at all. Thats marketing. The 8600 really wasn't too great when it came out, but the newer 8800's are pretty damn fine though. I have to wonder why they decided to support the 8800 but not, for example, the 8600. AFAIK the 8600 is just a stripped down 8800 with no fundamental differences other then scale (discounting the fact that the newer 8800's are far different from the older 8800's, because both the new and old ones are supported), therefore the driver speed improvements should be applicable for the whole series.

Hopefully Rahja can pop in and fill us in on why the rest of the 8xxx series isn't supported.

fenix · Nov 22, 2008, 12:14 AM // 00:14

I've read a bit on the nvidia forums about these drivers, and from what I've read....a whole bunch of people are having huge problems with them. Also, apparently the 'performance increases' aren't exactly true.

Summary; failure, don't download.

Leonora Windleaf · Nov 22, 2008, 12:29 AM // 00:29

I installed the new driver and apart from the same issues when running Guild Wars in SLI (the game just chrashes after a while) as with other drivers before, there was no problem with this driver, not even on Left4Dead.

And you still can't adjust the fan speed with this driver. Why and when will they fix that?

The Meth · Nov 22, 2008, 12:37 AM // 00:37

Been working fine for me. I've tried out GW, DMC4, NWN2 and a bunch of other things, and while I can't verify any FPS improvements because I didn't do before and after comparisons I am definitely not experiencing any stability issues. Whenever some company reports on improved speed they always give best case comparisons, IE the AA in one game might be done slightly better, and if you aren't using 10000x AA then you won't see the same level of performance as they suggest, and you sure won't see any performance increase if the GPU isn't your bottleneck (and it usually isn't for me). Running on Windows XP btw, if you are using Vista your mileage may very. We all know by now that the drivers have to be designed differently between XP and Vista, so it's possible some bug crept into one and not the other.

Snograt · Nov 22, 2008, 08:42 PM // 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonora Windleaf

And you still can't adjust the fan speed with this driver. Why and when will they fix that?

Hmm, you can't adjust fan speed with any nVidia drivers - you need something like Speedfan (or nVidia's own System Tools With ESA Support - though they can be flaky - right, Rahj?)

Apologies if I'm mis-reading your comment

Look below - note that this is the GPU tab. Fan speeds are also alterable for the CPU and mobo tabs - assuming your fans are hooked up to proper fan headers and not just a molex.

Leonora Windleaf · Nov 23, 2008, 01:32 AM // 01:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

Hmm, you can't adjust fan speed with any nVidia drivers - you need something like Speedfan (or nVidia's own System Tools With ESA Support - though they can be flaky - right, Rahj?)

Apologies if I'm mis-reading your comment

Look below - note that this is the GPU tab. Fan speeds are also alterable for the CPU and mobo tabs - assuming your fans are hooked up to proper fan headers and not just a molex.

I could SWEAR I used to be able to adjust fan speeds on the previous drivers, but ever since the first 180 driver the option wasn't there anymore... it's all greyed out for me:

Like I said... before the 180 drivers, I could switch between the GPU's (I got 2 8800GTS 512 in SLI) and adjust the fan speed for each individually. Now I don't have the option anymore, and I don't know why.

It's funny that you said you couldn't change it on any driver, because I KNOW I used to be able to. Something is not right, lol...

Snograt · Nov 23, 2008, 03:33 PM // 15:33

That's odd. Is it maybe an old version of nVidia's System Tools that's stayed there along side every driver update you've installed, I wonder?

If it was me, I'd be sorely tempted to blitz everything in "add/remove programs" (XP) or "Programs and features" (Vista) that begins with "nV", then re-install this pack.

Open to suggestions on this one guys - any ideas?

kvndoom · Nov 23, 2008, 06:43 PM // 18:43

I've typically just used RivaTuner for fan speeds, ever since Nvidia's driver department changed their motto to "Set Phasers on FAIL."

One bug I've found in 180.48 is that when I adjust any of the sliders in "Adjust Desktop Color Settings," Digital Vibrance goes to 100%. Now, the slider itself doesn't move, but the screen effect is identical to setting it to 100%. I have to move the slider and then bring it back to 0% for the effect to go away, otherwise my screen looks like a horrible LSD trip. Thanks for releasing WHQL betas. :-\ Annoying, but I really only have to adjust once anyway, and I have all my settings written down to make my LCD watchable (it's way too damn bright from the factory).

Running XP32, 8800GT by the way... Nvidia's nonstop fail drivers over the last couple years have guaranteed that my next GPU will be ATI. I made that decision months ago, and I absolutely can't wait for a sub-200$ HD4870 to show up.

Snograt · Nov 23, 2008, 08:39 PM // 20:39

Pfft - try googling ati graphics failure or similar - there's just as many people having problems with Catalyst as there are with these. I think both camps are guilty of spending too much on hardware experts and not enough on software wizards.

Just look, for every nvlddmkm.dll error, there's also an ATi2dvad.dll one.

kvndoom · Nov 23, 2008, 08:45 PM // 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

I think both camps are guilty of spending too much on hardware experts and not enough on software wizards.

I think that is indeed the biggest problem. Benchmark scores have heavily outweighed stability, as far as company priorities.

However, the way I see it, I already know I'm sick of Nvidia. If I jump ship, at least there's the chance that I might be happy with what I get.

Snograt · Nov 23, 2008, 08:49 PM // 20:49

This is true. Even our resident nVidia specialist has been known to extol the virtues of the 4870.

I'm not an nVidia fanboy, nor an ATI one. I'm a "stuff-that-works-good" fanboy. Not much of it about, sadly.

Lord Sojar · Nov 23, 2008, 09:32 PM // 21:32

This is indeed Big Bang II. This driver release addresses many issues, specifically many of the crash issues relating to Vista. The reason for lack of support under the 8800 series I am not aware of, but I will issue a question regarding the matter to Helpdesk.

Regarding bugs; there are going to be a few, and they will be addressed quickly and an update will be released in the near future, though the date depends on total number of bugs are severity.

Jumping ship would be rather silly, as this driver release addresses many many of the stability issues. In addition, there are some fun things coming in the next 1-2 months for you nVidia fans and enthusiasts. Project PRDX is also nearing manufacturing testing. This will make you all drool when you finally learn what it is to become.

The Meth · Nov 23, 2008, 10:16 PM // 22:16

Interesting thing I found, you can get the beta 180.60 drivers along with the CUDA beta here. From what I can tell, the driver supports all 8xxx series and above. I'll give it a whirl on my Geforce 8600 system and see if benchmarks show any performance increase over 178.

Edit: seems to work fine for me. Performance improvements in DMC4 look to be about 6%ish. Not jaw-dropping but decent enough.