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    whats the difference between nvidia and dell drivers

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Skools717, Jul 19, 2010.

  1. Skools717

    Skools717 Notebook Guru

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    I'm anticipating my m11x r2 to come in the mail any day now and I see talk about both drivers

    What's the difference between the two, is one better than the other
     
    Skools717, Jul 19, 2010
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  2. MaxGeek

    MaxGeek Notebook Evangelist

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    They are essentially the same. Nvidia creates the drivers.

    The dell drivers probably go through an additional certification process on the M11x before being released on the dell website. So you have to wait longer for them to be published.
     
    MaxGeek, Jul 19, 2010
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  3. surfxombie

    surfxombie Notebook Evangelist

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    I have always gone for the Nvidia drivers as manufacturers of cards/pcs take longer to update them and often just stop updating them. I will be loading the latest certified/beta drivers when mine arrives.

    Though reading on this forum you may have to alter the ini files to get the latest ones to work. So check out the associated driver version thread such as this one.

    If concerned with stability you can use the certified Nvidia divers and wait a few weeks after each release. Or you can try out the beta drivers which are often addressing current issues.
     
    surfxombie, Jul 20, 2010
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  4. Nautis

    Nautis Switchable Graphics Guy

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    Somewhat correct. More so than the WHQL certification Dell drivers have been tested and are supported for the M11xR2 specifically.

    It is also worth pointing out right now that the only way to install drivers downloaded from Nvidia on the R2 is to use a modified install information file (INF File). This could reduce any support you may receive from Alienware or Nvidia.

    If Dell/Alienware contacts Nvidia and asks/pays them to add the M11xR2 Device ID strings into their Verde drivers, the only real difference will be who officially supports the driver.
     
    Nautis, Jul 20, 2010
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  5. obzkure

    obzkure Notebook Enthusiast

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    The installation for the "modified" 258.96 is actually very simple. It only requires the uninstallation of the pre installed driver (through the control panel), simple scan of driversweeper and install of new drivers (with an easy .txt file replacement).

    With the ability to whitelist certain programs (tell optimus which graphics device to use for individual programs) on both driver versions, the main improvement that I see with the 258.96 driver is the addition of a taskbar icon indicating how many/which programs are utilizing the Nvidia GPU (which comes on handy while minimizing games or programs to make sure you're running on it).

    I would definitely recommend installing the modified 258.96 drivers.
     
    obzkure, Jul 20, 2010
    #5