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    MAJOR Driver issues - Geforce 8800M GTX !!

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Prasad, May 12, 2008.

  1. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Guys, when I first got this laptop, it had the old 167.44 stock driver. My original 3DMark score was ~9200. I installed 174.82 driver, and my score reduced to ~8750. That was still a fine drop. Then I tried the relatively new 175.63 driver, and achieved a score of ~8800. Now I tried the new 175.70 driver, and my score is now ~5700 !!! My card has almost downclocked to half... I ran the test multiple times to verify... I now reverted to the new 174.90 stock driver, and the enormous downclock remains!
    This is the procedure I follow in changing drivers -
    Uninstall driver
    restart
    Run driver sweeper
    restart
    safe mode
    install new driver
    restart

    Am I doing something horribly wrong here ? And now how do I get my card back to the way it was ??
    I'm currently using Windows Vista 64-Bit.

    I also noticed that the CPU score was horribly low.... down to 1000 ! Last night, I ran Everest Ultimate Edition, and it was showing core frequency to be something as low as 700-1000 Mhz !! As opposed to the 2500 Mhz that it's supposed to be! The night before, it was showing like 2600 Mhz (4% overclock)... when I hadn't changed any settings, let alone overclock.... something really weird is up!!

    Please help! Thank you in advance!

    -Prasad.

    EDIT: Wasn't the driver's fault... I was in power saver mode! :D
     
  2. The_Observer

    The_Observer 9262 is the best:)

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    CPU might be in power saving mode or in a lower clock.

    There is a BIOS from Gangsta for 8800GTX.May be you can try that.That's a newer one.

    Is this only in 3d mark or also shows reduced FPS for games?
     
  3. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Holy hell, you're right... I was in power saver mode.... stupid freakin' me!! :p Thank you VERY VERY VERY much !!!! :D First time that I'm dealing with laptops and all of them power modes... I'll run the benchmark on both those drivers to compare again...
    On a side note, a score of ~5700 on power saver rocks!!! :D :D +rep +rep :D
    Also is that BIOS you talk of official from Sager ?
     
  4. The_Observer

    The_Observer 9262 is the best:)

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    All he does is modify the current BIOS.He's good with that.He should be able to help you and he's always helpful :)
     
  5. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Okay. Well I got a score of 9180.... now we're talking!! :D :D Thanks again. :)
     
  6. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Still wanting confirmation on this....
    ^^^^ Is that the right procedure to changing drivers ? Am I doing something incorrectly ? Extra unnecessary restarts ? Wrong use of safe mode... is it during the uninstallation or installation ?
     
  7. The Forerunner

    The Forerunner Notebook Virtuoso

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    No you don't need 3 restarts.
    Its uninstall. Set it to run in boot mode. Run driversweeper (and ccleaner, any registry cleaner will do) then I usually install the new driver in safe mode. Then I reboot and there all done. Lol your 8800m scores more on power saver than my 8600 does fully overclocked.
     
  8. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    lol @ Forerunner. And thanks! :D
    So it's basically...
    Uninstall
    (no restart)
    run driver cleaner, etc.
    restart
    safe mode
    install new driver
    restart

    ? :)
     
  9. The Forerunner

    The Forerunner Notebook Virtuoso

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    Lol no. I got it for you buddy.

    1. Uninstall Driver.
    2. Set your computer to safe mode.
    3. Reboot.
    4. Once your restarted run driver sweeper and any registry cleaners.
    5. Then launch the installer for the new driver.
    6. Make sure to enable regular boot.
    7. Restart.
    8. Your done!

    Thats all there is to it.

    The point of booting in safe mode is to ensure that nothing but the core essential of your computer run. So all of the nvidia driver services and processes will not run and thus will be able to removed. You can install the driver without safe mode but something might be running while you install the new driver and won't uninstall.
     
  10. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    I didn't get step 2... What do you mean "set" your computer to safe mode and then restart ?
    What I do is restart and press F8 when booting, that opens the DOS menu for going into windows safe mode...
     
  11. The Forerunner

    The Forerunner Notebook Virtuoso

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    Oh you can go access msconfig. Go to startup and set to safe mode boot. No difference in either method.
     
  12. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Ah. I see. :) Well, thanks for the right procedure! :D
     
  13. The Forerunner

    The Forerunner Notebook Virtuoso

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    Your method would have worked but you didn't need that extra restart. Yeah no problem. What drivers are you gonna be using?
     
  14. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    I'm currently using the 175.70 driver from LV2G. GangstaOne is PM'ing me a modified version of the driver... gonna check it out :)
     
  15. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    Oh my Prasad, after all this time, you`re not doing it correctly? shame on you :eek:
    I can do it blindfolded,with both ears tied behind my nose:
    -uninstall
    -reboot in safe mode (tap F8 after the Sager screen
    -use driver sweeper to uninstall and remove nvidia video driver and leftovers
    -use HAVE DISK method if a regular install fails
    -reboot in regular mode
    -enjoy :)
     
  16. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Yup. That's how I'm doing it :D Only I'm not using the have disk method, just the simple setup method. Any advantages to the have disk method ? :)
     
  17. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    Have disk method can sometime fix what the regular one can`t, think of it as in forcing the driver onto the system somehow :)
     
  18. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    Ah okay cool. Thank again eleron! :)
     
  19. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

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    You`re doing it blindfolderd with both ears tied behind your nose? WOW ! :D
     
  20. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

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    lol no I meant the procedure I follow for changing drivers is the same! haha :D