New Geforce Drivers 178.24 WHQL

[Mark Abdey]

All flavours - get them while they're hot 

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk

New in Version 178.24:

Adds support for newly-released GeForce 9-series motherboard GPUs.

Includes several application compatibility fixes. Please read the release documentation for more details.

Release 178 Highlights:

WHQL-certified driver for GeForce 6-series, 7-series, 8-series, 9-series, and 200-series GPUs.

Adds support for GeForce 9800 GTX+, 9800 GT, 9500 GT and 9400 GT GPUs.

Adds support for NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on all GeForce 8-series, 9-series and 200-series GPUs with a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory (this driver package installs NVIDIA PhysX System Software v8.09.04).

Experience GPU PhysX acceleration in several full games and demos today by downloading the GeForce Power Pack.

Adds support for 2-way NVIDIA SLI technology with GeForce GTX 200-series GPUs on Intel® D5400XS motherboards.

Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLIâ„¢ technology* on DirectX 9 and OpenGL.

Supports CUDAâ„¢.

Supports Folding@home 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 several 3D application performance improvements. The following are examples of improvements measured with Release 178 drivers versus v175.19 WHQL driver:

Single GPU increases up to 11% in 3DMark Vantage (performance preset)

Single GPU increases up to 11% in Assassin's Creed DX10

Single GPU increases up to 15% in Bioshock DX10

Single GPU increases up to 15% in Call of Duty 4

Single GPU increases up to 8% in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars

2-way SLI increases up to 7% in Bioshock DX10

2-way SLI increases up to 10% in Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts DX10

2-way SLI increases up to 12% in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars

2-way SLI increases up to 10% in World in Conflict DX10

Includes numerous 3D application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

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

GeForce GTX 280

GeForce GTX 260

GeForce 9800 GX2

GeForce 9800 GTX+

GeForce 9800 GTX

GeForce 9800 GT

GeForce 9600 GT

GeForce 9600 GSO

GeForce 9500 GT

GeForce 9500 GS

GeForce 9400 GT

GeForce 9300 GS

GeForce 9300 GE

GeForce 8800 Ultra

GeForce 8800 GTX

GeForce 8800 GTS 512

GeForce 8800 GTS

GeForce 8800 GT

GeForce 8800 GS

GeForce 8600 GTS

GeForce 8600 GT

GeForce 8600 GS

GeForce 8500 GT

GeForce 8400 SE

GeForce 8400 GS

GeForce 8400

GeForce 8300 GS

GeForce 8300

GeForce 8200

GeForce 8100 / nForce 720a

GeForce 8100 / nForce 720a

GeForce 7950 GX2

GeForce 7950 GT

GeForce 7900 GTX

GeForce 7900 GT/GTO

GeForce 7900 GS

GeForce 7800 SLI

GeForce 7800 GTX

GeForce 7800 GT

GeForce 7800 GS

GeForce 7650 GS

GeForce 7600 GT

GeForce 7600 GS

GeForce 7600 LE

GeForce 7500 LE

GeForce 7350 LE

GeForce 7300 SE

GeForce 7300 LE

GeForce 7300 GT

GeForce 7300 GS

GeForce 7200 GS

GeForce 7100 GS

GeForce 7150 / NVIDIA nForce 630i

GeForce 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i

GeForce 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 620i

GeForce 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 630i

GeForce 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 610i

GeForce 7050 PV / NVIDIA nForce 630a

GeForce 7025 / NVIDIA nForce 630a

GeForce 6800 XT

GeForce 6800 XE

GeForce 6800 Ultra

GeForce 6800 Series GPU

GeForce 6800 LE

GeForce 6800 GT

GeForce 6800 GS/XT

GeForce 6800 GS

GeForce 6800

GeForce 6700 XL

GeForce 6610 XL

GeForce 6600 VE

GeForce 6600 LE

GeForce 6600 GT

GeForce 6600

GeForce 6500

GeForce 6250

GeForce 6200SE TurboCacheâ„¢

GeForce 6200 TurboCacheâ„¢

GeForce 6200 LE

GeForce 6200 A-LE

GeForce 6200

GeForce 6150SE/nForce 430

GeForce 6150 LE

GeForce 6150

GeForce 6100/nForce 420

GeForce 6100/nForce 405

GeForce 6100/nForce 400

GeForce 6100

[flyingblind]

Thanks for that, I'll pop over and have a look.

[LBPN]

Already. I have some issues with 178.15. Thanks for posting. I hope I'll get some 2-3FPS more at YMML 

[Paul Baumanis]

Thanks for the Heads Up.

[trans_1007]

Thank you for the HU. Want to here something weird. I tried at the time of this post to Dl the drivers from the USA site and there not posted. Thank you for posting the UK area .

[Iain Emms]

Cheers Mark on my way over to check it out .

[Heiko Glatthorn]

What, already ? Shows how lousy the last one was... 

Thanks for the heads up !

[Milamber]

Ooooh  Errrrr at 107 MB for Vista 64 and 8800GT, I hope it's worth the effort  .  D/L as I type, tnx for the HU.

Maurice.

[PO]

  Thanks for the update Redline....I'll test'um today

[Iain Emms]

Had two duff downloads so far, wont install on my machine says its a corrupt download please try downloading again . Any one else having a problem with this? cheers.

[Mark Abdey]

They're up on the US site now - there were certainly some corrupt files on the UK sever, unless they were still uploading them...but I think all is well now.

I haven’t tested enough to know if they are any better than the BETA's I was using, but no problems so far at least...I think FSX is off the nVidia radar now, preferring to only cater for the very latest titles and benchmarks.

[Iain Emms]

Cheers Mark.

[mmglads]

I just might give 'em a go - but the last series of drivers has not suited my system at all . I'm still using the 169.21 WHQL drivers from last November, & they work a treat - good frame rates, & no stutters. Every time I try a new one, there are issues & I revert back. I follow the forum guidelines as well, uninstalling first from Control Panel, then booting into safe mode & using Driver Cleaner Pro to get rid of the old stuff. Then re-boot into normal Windows & install the new drivers. A bit of a pain, but at least you get a pristine fresh install. It will be interesting to see other comments. Thanks for the heads up!

[PO]

I just might give 'em a go - but the last series of drivers has not suited my system at all . I'm still using the 169.21 WHQL drivers from last November, & they work a treat - good frame rates, & no stutters. Every time I try a new one, there are issues & I revert back. I follow the forum guidelines as well, uninstalling first from Control Panel, then booting into safe mode & using Driver Cleaner Pro to get rid of the old stuff. Then re-boot into normal Windows & install the new drivers. A bit of a pain, but at least you get a pristine fresh install. It will be interesting to see other comments. Thanks for the heads up!

Interestingly, this is my exact situation...except using the 169.69 Xtreme G. I still have yet too find a new driver for better 'performance' than this one (Must be my 8800GT I figured)

  Sure, some of the newer drivers offered more FPS and better IQ...strangley with micro-stutters, or less than the silky smoothness I get with 169.61...

       (testing the new one today after work..altho a 280GTX is in the near future...)

[trans_1007]

I gained another 5 fps on avg over Sydney and Melborne full right on slider. All i need is another 6 fps and im buying YMML.

[mmglads]

Nope! Didn't work for me at all  - back to the old drivers. You're right PO, the smoothness is really what counts, not thextra 1 or 2 FPS for me,anyway. I might give your 169.69 extreme G drivers a go, just for fun! Cheers!

[Potatoskins]

Nope! Didn't work for me at all  - back to the old drivers. You're right PO, the smoothness is really what counts, not thextra 1 or 2 FPS for me,anyway. I might give your 169.69 extreme G drivers a go, just for fun! Cheers!

Try the 8800 GTX 174.74 beta drivers, I've heard they're very good for FS. Unfortunately, my card was made after they were released, so I can't verify it, but I hear it from a very trusted source (NickN ).

[mjrhealth]

Im still on 178.13 withoiut issues. Do you guys use NhANCER. Seems that NVIDIA loves to impose what it thinks best for you as far as profiles are concerned, if you dont keep you original profile and activate it NVIDIA will force its own, there is lots of info about this on other forums. This may be why you are not getting any performance improvements.

[Rainey]

I'm on 169.25 and love them. Too scared to change to anything else! hehehe.

[Meerkat]

I installed on WinXP with a 8800 GT the 178.13 version (was the latest whe I downloaded it 3 days ago  ), and it's the first newer driver that brings a slight framerate improvement and no problems compared with the 169.21 I was running until now. nHancer works well with this driver.

The difference between 178.13 and 178.24 is (from the nVidia release notes):

"The following sections list the changes made and issues resolved since driver 

versions 178.13. 

• “Fixed Issues–Windows XP 32‐bit†on page 6

• “Fixed Issues–Windows XP 64‐bit†on page 6

The NVIDIA bug number is provided for reference.

Fixed Issues–Windows XP 32-bit

Fixed Single-GPU Issues

•The NVIDIA Control Panel incorrectly treats a display connected through 

the DVI‐HDMI dongle as an HDTV. [468655]

•GeForce 8300/8400/8500: When playing a DVD‐RAM (VR disc) with 

WinDVD, the overlay color is abnormal. [462673]

Fixed Issues–Windows XP 64-bit

Fixed Single-GPU Issues

•GeForce 6600: World in Conflict ‐ the game menu flickers when 16x or 8xS 

antialiasing is set from the NVIDIA Control Panel. [469814]"

So most people should see no difference between these two versions.

Cheers

[737-8FE]

Anyone know if they are good, the last drivers really sucked and these are going to have to be more than amazing to rid me from my 177.92 betas.

[Wolter van der Spoel]

must say that I'm pleasantly surprised with this one

last one 178.13 was a dog and tossed that off straight away, till now I had the 177.83 beta and they where fine.

So far haven't had any issues with this one, so far, so good

[Iain Emms]

I have now tried this for a short time but cant see any differance from my old 177.92 Beta drivers, I will wait a little bit longer and then most likelly go back to the 177.92.

[tom]

I've had this one in for a couple of days now .... (9800 GX2) ... I think things are just a tad sharper, and FPS possibly marginally better, though it could be just imagination.

I do have a slight problem though with my Saitek Yoke, which seems to be graphics card/driver related, and exacerbated with all the 177 & 178 drivers. 

Every so often, the Yoke LCD clock resets itself to zero, and counts up at about half the normal rate for up to a minute (usually less) - and slows down the system time clock accordingly. (Note - it is not swapping to "stop clock" mode, the unit stays in "time"). It then changes back to the system time, which is then running slow by about half the time the anomaly was manifest.

When this happens, it can be associated with a slight drop in sound tone, and sometimes a slightly random operation of the hat switch.  It's not a huge problem - in a flight of about 90 minutes duration yesterday, the system clock slowed by some 40 seconds, indicating that the accumulated episodes would have been of the order of 80 seconds.

The problem did occur with the 175 drivers, but to a markedly less extent.  Saitek reckons it's to do with the card/drivers.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this frustration.  Apart from that, 178.24 seems fine.

Cheers