181.20 Whql

These were just released today I believe, at this point AO is unimportant to me, just thought I would share...

Exciting New Features:
Added support for GeForce GTX 295 and GeForce GTX 285
Enables NVIDIA SLI technology on SLI-certified Intel X58-based motherboards with all SLI-certified GPUs
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).
Supports GeForce Plus Power Pack #2. Download these free PhysX and CUDA applications now!
Added support for the new NVIDIA CUDA Video Encoder with H.264 optimization

Blazing Fast Performance:
Boosts performance in numerous 3D applications. The following are some examples of improvements measured with Release 181 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


181.20 XP 32
181.20 XP 64
181.20 Vista 32
181.20 Vista 64

...and no there is no AO support in these drivers....

 

Well... The only thing I really want to know about these drivers is if they support sleep/hibernation or not for 8600M GT users or not after they are modded, all 18x drivers seems to fail with sleep/hibernation for these cards.

 

I cannot tell you from experience cause I do not use sleep/hibernation but its prolly worth a try seeing as these ones are finally WHQL

 

I second this. Hopefully someone is willing to test this out for us.

 

Well I just tried going into sleep and it came back no problem, driver intact... but then again i have a G92 8800GTS..... so Im not sure if that matters

 

why don't they support my cards?!?!? ugh!

 

Wow, nice increases number over there...

 

Because this is aimed towards desktop users.

I heard the 180.84 driver had the same comparison. So it's a worthless comparison.

 

Well, the 180.84 did deliver in GTA IV.
So I`m buying the whole increase bit...

 

how do you install them? it said no compatible driver was found for your hardware. this is what it said with the dox drivers which required a modified INF file. do these need one too?

i got a 9200 gs

thanks

 

Yes... any driver that is not made specifically for laptop Vid cards usually results in needing a modified inf.... Ill try and make one for you so hold on a few

-------------------------

Alright, so i modded one that you can use for future drivers, not just this one.... I do this, and just follow these very simple steps....
1) Extract the driver
2) find the folder where the drivers are located and open the default nv_disp.inf
3) open up the modded inf I uploaded for you:
Modded inf
4) literally, copy the 2nd line and 5th line from the modded inf to the default inf...in their corresponding places (Below the one in brackets, and below the localizable strings) and save
5) run the setup.exe again and install the driver no problem

For anybody else these are for the 9200 gs only... I could help those that may need help though

 

you are a genius... only problem i had with it was it didnt like

%NVIDIA_G98.DEV_06E8.1% = mobile_nv_NV3x, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_06E8

and so still refused to install.

deleting the "mobile_" bit made it work though. thankyou so much. big rep

even better, it works with bluray! how does this driver compare to dox drivers and the 185 driver? other than that enhanced lighting thing. i know the 185 is not WHQL signed, what difference does that make?

 

Your welcome, anytime..... but yeah....
I did not try the Dox 185, but I tried the stock 185 and really did not like them cause I could not change the profiles for games that did not have support for AO..... Ive tested both and the performance between 185 and 181 are negligible... and I think the textures look much better cause I didnt use AO either...WHQL is just a label, just saying Nvidia fully supports it....and the 185 are not signed because they are not even beta... they are alpha.... so minus well wait a while for the beta/whql with profiles working comes along