Nvidia Graphics Drivers

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

WHQL versions of them were released today.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

190.62 WHQL

New in Release 190.62

    * Adds WHQL support on Windows 7 for Microsoft’s new DirectX GPU Computing API: DirectCompute.
    * Optimized for the latest PhysX gaming titles: Batman: Arkham Asylum and Darkest of Days.
    * Installs PhysX System Software version 9.09.0814.
    * Includes several bug fixes. More information can be found in the release documentation.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

191.03 beta

New in Version 191.03

    * Adds support for OpenGL 3.2 for GeForce 8, 9, 100, and 200-series GPUs and ION GPUs.
    * Accelerates performance in several gaming applications. The following are examples of improvements measured with version 191.03 drivers vs. version 190.62 drivers (results will vary depending on your GPU, system configuration, and game settings):
          o Up to 12% performance increase in ARMA 2
          o Up to 8% performance increase in Batman: Arkham Asylum with GPU PhysX enabled
          o Up to 50% performance increase in Call of Juarez: Blood in Bound with SLI enabled
          o Up to 14% performance increase in Fallout 3 (indoor scenes) with antialiasing enabled
          o Up to 10% performance increase in Far Cry 2 (DX9 version) with antialiasing enabled
          o Up to 34% performance increase in Prototype with antialiasing enabled
    * Adds SLI support for Darkfall, Dawn of Magic 2: Time of Shadows, Dreamkiller, Fuel, Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim, Need for Speed: Shift and more.
    * Includes numerous bug fixes, including the following key fix (additional bug fixes can be found in the release notes on the documentation tab): For graphics cards supporting multiple clock states, 3D clocks correctly return to 2D clocks after exiting a 3D application.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

191.07 WHQL

Same release notes as the betas above.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

195.39 beta

New in Version 195.39

    * Adds support for OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language) for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
    * Adds support for CUDA Toolkit 3.0 features and performance enhancements. See CUDA Zone for more details.
    * Adds SLI and multi-GPU support for Borderlands, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, G-Force, FIFA Soccer 2010, League of Legends: Clash of Fates, NHL 2009, Order of War, Pro Evolution Soccer 2010, Race On, Star Trek: D-A-C. Improved SLI and multi-GPU support for Champions: Online and Dragon Age: Origins.
    * Includes over 200 bug fixes. Refer to the release notes on the documentation tab for information about the key bug fixes in this release.


EDIT: Lots of reports of instability with these.  Going back to the last WHQL.

[THEKATZ*{MEOW}*]

Smooth, thank you for these updates.  It is very nice to pull this thread up to see the current status of the video drivers.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

195.55 beta

New in Version 195.55

    * Adds GPU-acceleration for smoother online HD videos with the new Adobe Flash 10.1 beta. Learn more here.
    * Adds support for GeForce GT 240.
    * Adds support for OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language) for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
    * Adds support for CUDA Toolkit 3.0 features and performance enhancements. See CUDA Zone for more details.
    * Adds SLI and multi-GPU support for many top new gaming titles including Borderlands, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, FIFA Soccer 10, and more.
    * Includes numerous bug fixes including improved performance for Need for Speed: Shift. Refer to the release notes on the documentation tab for information about the key bug fixes in this release.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

195.62 WHQL

Same release notes as previous.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

196.34 beta and 196.21 WHQL

New in Version 196.34

    * Fixed a bug with v196.21 that prohibited GPU overclocking.

New in Version 196.21

    * Adds SLI and multi-GPU support for many top new gaming titles including Avatar Demo, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, City Bus Simulator, Dirt 2, Ferrari Virtual Race, GREED: Black Border, Mass Effect 2, Mortal Online, Ninja Blade, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Demo, Planet 51, RUSE, Serious Sam HD, and Wings of Prey.
    * Upgrades PhysX System Software to version 9.09.1112.
    * Includes numerous bug fixes. Refer to the release notes on the documentation tab for information about the key bug fixes in this release.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

196.75 WHQL

New in Version 196.75

    * Adds support for Next Generation ION.
    * Adds support for GeForce GT 320, GeForce GT 330, and GeForce GT 340.
    * Upgrades PhysX System Software to version 9.10.0129.
    * Upgrades HD Audio driver to version 1.0.9.1 (for supported GPUs).
    * Increases performance in several PC games from v196.21 WHQL. The following are examples of measured improvements. Results will vary depending on your GPU and system configuration:

# Up to 13% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with a single GPU
# Up to 30% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with SLI technology
# Up to 13% performance increase in H.A.W.X with single GPU
# Up to 15% performance increase in H.A.W.X with SLI technology
# Up to 30% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with single GPU
# Up to 28% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with SLI technology

    * Adds SLI and multi-GPU support for top new gaming titles including Assassin Creed II, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight, Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City, Mass Effect 2, Napoleon: Total War, and Zombie Driver.
    * Enhanced SLI support for World of Warcraft and Unigine.
    * Adds Ambient Occlusion support for Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Need for Speed: Shift, Resident Evil 5, RUSE, and Street Fighter IV.
    * Adds override anti-aliasing support for Mass Effect 2.
    * Includes numerous bug fixes. Refer to the release notes on the documentation tab for information about the key bug fixes in this release.

[Kitty*{MEOW}*]

Numerous gamers have reported that NVIDIA's latest WHQL-certified driver release - v196.75 - is causing GeForce graphics cards to overheat, and in some cases fail beyond repair.

The reports, many of which originate from NVIDIA's own support forums, have resulted in the GPU giant pulling its latest drivers from its website. In a statement, NVIDIA recommends users roll back to an older driver release whilst it attempts to solve the issue.

"We are aware that some customers have reported fan speed issues with the latest 196.75 WHQL drivers on NVIDIA.com," said the company in a statement.

"Until we can verify and root cause this issue, we recommend that customers stay with, or return to 196.21 WHQL drivers. Release 196.75 drivers have been temporarily removed from our Web site in the meantime."

According to reports, NVIDIA's 196.75 driver release isn't adjusting fan speeds as required when graphics cards are put under load during demanding activities such as 3D gaming. As a result, users are likely to experience extremely high GPU temperatures, with one gamer already witnessing temperatures of up to 104°C whilst playing StarCraft 2.

Game developer Blizzard has responded by recommending users with an NVIDIA graphics card revert back to older drivers.

"We're getting reports where users are getting intermittent low FPS after installing these drivers [196.75]. It seems that it is related to the fan control included in these drivers not working correctly and is causing the video card to overheat on 3D applications. This will affect Warcraft 3, World of Warcraft and StarCraft 2 Beta. Please uninstall the drivers and revert back to the older ones", said a Blizzard representative.

Have you experienced any GPU overheating problems using NVIDIA's latest driver release? Let us know in the HEXUS.community forums.

[THEKATZ*{MEOW}*]

I can attest to this.  After the update - even my CPU fan was reduced to less than 30% GPU was stuck ot 40%.

This caused alarms to go off as soon as I entered any game.  I actually have to go into the Nvidia CP and boost those fans to 100 for CPU and 70% for GPU manually.

Rolling back the drivers did not cure this - I still have to go in after boot up and make those changes.  I thought it was just my machine being stupid.

[Jugulator*{MEOW}*]

i had that problem before these drivers, i use evga precision to override the speed to 100% full time

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

197.13 Beta

New in Version 197.13

    * Adds support for Next Generation ION.
    * Adds support for GeForce GT 320, GeForce GT 330, and GeForce GT 340.
    * Upgrades PhysX System Software to version 9.10.0129.
    * Upgrades HD Audio driver to version 1.0.9.1 (for supported GPUs).
    * Increases performance in several PC games from v196.21 WHQL. The following are examples of measured improvements. Results will vary depending on your GPU and system configuration:

          o Up to 13% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with a single GPU
          o Up to 30% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with SLI technology
          o Up to 13% performance increase in H.A.W.X with single GPU
          o Up to 15% performance increase in H.A.W.X with SLI technology
          o Up to 30% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with single GPU
          o Up to 28% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with SLI technology

    * Adds SLI and multi-GPU support for top new gaming titles including Assassin Creed II, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight, Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City, Mass Effect 2, Napoleon: Total War, and Zombie Driver.
    * Enhanced SLI support for Metro 2033, Supreme Commander 2, Unigine, and World of Warcraft.
    * Adds Ambient Occlusion support for Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Need for Speed: Shift, Resident Evil 5, RUSE, and Street Fighter IV.
    * Adds override anti-aliasing support for Mass Effect 2.
    * Includes numerous bug fixes. Refer to the release notes on the documentation tab for information about the key bug fixes in this release.

[WildKatZ*{MEOW}*]

* Adds SLI and multi-GPU support for top new gaming titles including Assassin Creed II, Battlefield: Bad Company 2,

  wonder if this is why my SLI dont work right for BF:BC2.