New Nvida ForceWare 174.74 Beta XP/Vista 32/64

[FearFactory]

Guys on guru3d forums are very happy with them


XP32: GeForce Release 174

XP64: GeForce Release 174

Vista32: GeForce Release 174

Vista64: GeForce Release 174


XP release notes: http://us.download.nvidia.com/Window...ease_Notes.pdf
Supports GeForce FX, 6, 7, 8, and 9 series GPUs including these newly released GPUs:
GeForce 9800 GX2
GeForce 9600 GT
GeForce 8300
GeForce 8200
GeForce 8100/NVIDIA nForce 720a
NVIDIA nForce 730a
Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI™ technology on DirectX 9 and OpenGL.
Adds new PureVideo HD features for GeForce 9800 GX2 and 9600 GT:
Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
Dynamic Blue, Green & Skin Tone Enhancements
Dual-Stream Decode Acceleration*
Improved performance on many DirectX 9 and OpenGL applications.
Numerous game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

Vista release notes: http://us.download.nvidia.com/Window...ease_Notes.pdf
Supports GeForce 6, 7, 8, and 9 series GPUs including these newly released GPUs:
GeForce 9800 GX2
GeForce 9600 GT
GeForce 8300
GeForce 8200
GeForce 8100/NVIDIA nForce 720a
NVIDIA nForce 730a
Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI™ technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL, including Quad SLI technology with GeForce 9800 GX2.
Adds support for NVIDIA GeForce 3D Stereo Technology for GeForce 6, 7, 8, or 9 Series GPUs, including SLI technology.
Adds new PureVideo HD features for GeForce 9800 GX2 and 9600 GT:
Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
Dynamic Blue, Green & Skin Tone Enhancements
Dual-Stream Decode Acceleration*
Microsoft Vista Aero display mode compatibility for Blu-ray & HD DVD playback*
Added the following pages to the NVIDIA Control Panel:
Manage Custom Resolutions
Adjust Television Color Settings
Adjust Screen Size and Position
Move CRT Position
Improved performance on many DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL applications.
Numerous game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.

[SRTDodge05]

Just finished downloading them.

[SRTDodge05]

Installed and so far so good.

[PeterT]

Thanks for the heads up FearFactory. Wondering why so long since the last WHQL final version? 3+ months!

[TQ]

Thanks, Double F.

[SRTDodge05]

With these drivers and vista x64 i only got 31,000 in 3dmark01 compared to my 40,000 with xp and the 169 drivers.

[FearFactory]

hehe yeah PeterT, Nvidia beta drivers are good but they should release official drivers more often. TQ, double F sounds like an agent name

[ATINUT]

When I see Nvidia, not releasing official drivers, more often than what they do, makes me think about switching back to ATI. It seems like since they came out with the GeForce 9000 series cards, Nvidia appears to have abandoned the GeForce 8000 series cards, which are still excellent gaming cards.

[FearFactory]

Originally Posted by ATINUT

When I see Nvidia, not releasing official drivers, more often than what they do, makes me think about switching back to ATI. It seems like since they came out with the GeForce 9000 series cards, Nvidia appears to have abandoned the GeForce 8000 series cards, which are still excellent gaming cards.

Yeah, but i still think Nvidia beta drivers are better than official Ati. Theres support for Geforce 6/7/8 on this drivers too, not only 9 series

[ATINUT]

I'm testing out these new drivers, if they don't resolve this mess of games such as Neverwinter Nights 2 crashing to desktop after playing for hours, I'll be taking a serious look at getting the Radeon 3870X2 card in a couple of months.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by FearFactory

TQ, double F sounds like an agent name

Dang...I blew your cover.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by ATINUT

When I see Nvidia, not releasing official drivers, more often than what they do, makes me think about switching back to ATI. It seems like since they came out with the GeForce 9000 series cards, Nvidia appears to have abandoned the GeForce 8000 series cards, which are still excellent gaming cards.

I have many more issues with ATI drivers than I do with nVidia drivers and all my ATI card is doing is 2D stuff.
There were several recent ATI releases that were simply unusable on my workstation. I can't say that about any nVidia driver I've installed on my game machine in nearly forever.

As far as release dates, I can't see how releasing a driver every thirty days or so is of any benefit if you introduce as many bugs as you fix. Testers just have enough time to get the latest build racked up before they're required to get it out of the door.
No, I think I prefer nVidia's extended period of testing and refining to ATI's artificial thirty day release cycle.

[ATINUT]

I'm going back to WindowsXP, I had one of the famous Nvidia Vista Driver blue screens of death, and all I was doing at the time was listening to WVXU, in Cincinatti, Ohio over the net.

I got to thinking about it, I think I'll wind up sticking with Nvidia, but will wind up getting the 9800GX2 in a couple of months, and no freakin way will I be putting Vista 64 back on. Nvidia needs to really work their drivers over good, espicially this set to straighten them out Vista wise.

I don't need this Nvidia Blue Screen Of Death pile of bullcookies, any more.

There is one thing that I hate about Nvidia, they take forever to fix bugs, and ATI is the same friggin way.

[wonderwrench]

Originally Posted by FearFactory

Yeah, but i still think Nvidia beta drivers are better than official Ati. Theres support for Geforce 6/7/8 on this drivers too, not only 9 series

Wow thats saying a lot. My take on this.

FSAA is broken on all drivers that support G92.
NVIDIA Forums -> Anti-Aliasing problem + fix soon

2d performance is broken on all 1xx.xx drivers including the latest beta drivers, I have tested all the latest beta's and 2d is still borked. Low 2D shapes performance with NVidia cards - PassMark Support Forums

All drivers that have support for G92 lack the ability to compensate for overscan when driving a HDTV using HDMI. Search Results

The new Nvidia control panel sucks and is riddled with bugs.
NVIDIA Forums -> Control Panel Feedback thread

Vista TDR errors, need I say more?
NVIDIA Forums -> NVIDIA Statement on Vista TDR Errors

Now ATI has had some problems no doubt but nothing as critical as Nvidia is having. ATI also fixes problems as they are reported while Nvidia will not even admit the problems exist or do not give a ****.

IMO Nvidia official drivers are alpha at best. You can believe what ever you want but I will never by another Nvidia product as their drivers and support suck ***.

By the way anyone want to buy a 8800GT?

My 2cents

[ATINUT]

I'm leaning more toward the Radeon 3870X2 than the 9800GX2, in a couple of months. The straw that broke the camel's back, was the BSOD on Windows Vista, which caused me to go back to XP, and I won't be going back to Vista, until Vista gets another Service Pack under the belt, and Nvidia starts fixing their frackin drivers for Vista.

Fug it, after I pay a bill next week, I'm ordering a Radeon 3870X2.