NVIDIA GeForce/Quadro v197.16 WHQL Notebook Drivers Released

Brand new WHQL Certified drivers are now officially out from NVIDIA for Windows Vista and Windows 7! All the information you need to know + direct official download links are below.

These driver packages include the HDMI Audio driver and the PhysX System Software installers!

VERSION: 197.16
RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2010

RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS

• Windows XP x86 (32-bit) - http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook_winxp_197.16_whql.html
• Windows XP x64 (64-bit) - http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook_winxp64_197.16_whql.html
• Windows Vista / Windows 7 x86 (32-bit) - http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook_winvista_win7_197.16_whql.html
• Windows Vista / Windows 7 x64 (64-bit) - http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook_winvista_win7_x64_197.16_whql.html

SUPPORTED PRODUCTS

RELEASE NOTES (PDF)
http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/197.16/197.16_Win7_WinVista_Notebook_Release_Notes.pdf

DOWNLOAD LINKS

Please note that these links are from the United States mirror. Remember to select another region that is closer to you for a faster and better download experience.

• Windows XP x86 (32-bit) - http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/197.16/197.16_notebook_winxp_32bit_international_whql.exe
  
• Windows XP x64 (64-bit) - http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windows/197.16/197.16_notebook_winxp_64bit_international_whql.exe
  
• Windows Vista / Windows 7 x86 (32-bit) - http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windo...ok_winvista_win7_32bit_international_whql.exe
  
• Windows Vista / Windows 7 x64 (64-bit) - http://us.download.nvidia.com/Windo...ok_winvista_win7_64bit_international_whql.exe

 

Ha, I was just about to post this. Downloading now...

 

Downloaded. Installed, didn't even need a restart, which was interesting; although my desktop flipped out for a good 5 seconds.

 

Any increase or decrease in performance?

 

Thought is would get rid of the BSOD issues on startup but it hasn't. Basically every 196 and 197 series desktop driver has caused a nvlddmkm.sys bsod error on restart. After the Win7 64 'Welcome' screen the screen goes black for a few secs then I get the error.

So even with official notebook drivers it is still a problem. Only way to stop this issue is to boot into windows on battery first.

Anyone having the issues with Win7 64bit? Also I have a Clevo and 9800m gtx.

 

Haven't gamed yet, and I don't game more than 5 hours a week, usually~

My idle temp seems to have went up for some reason, or its because my computer's been on for a week straight, or I just noticed it.

 

For me it seems to have fixed the powermizer-related DPC latency spikes that were causing audio stutters.

-Update- No it hasnt Its reduced their frequency maybe, but there is still an audio stutter every time the GPU freq changes.

 

I have never received any of those problems but I will test this one out in a minute and see. Did you do a thorough clean in Safe Mode after uninstalling your old Driver?

I wonder if the BSOD has anything to do with left over registry or parts of the old program settings.

 

You guys completely uninstalling the old first or just updating right over the top?

 

Go to the control panel > program and features > scroll down the list and find NVIDIA > then select NVIDIA and click uninstall. It will ask if you want to restart the system.. click yes

Press F8 on startup and go into windows in safe mode.

Run driver cleaner and select NVIDIA drivers.. then clean.

Go to the control panel > system> device manager > graphics card. Right click on any present and click uninstall

Restart the system and go into windows normally. Install the NVIDIA drivers listed above which you put into a temporary folder

Restart the system.. and fingers crossed all should be well!

 

hmm already installed lv2go 197.25, dont' think i'll be downloading this one unless som1 says this one is better than 197.25.

 

Thx for reply...Yeah I always uninstall and then reboot into safe mode and run driversweeper and a reg cleaner before installing new drivers. So it can't be something to do with the modified .inf files I was using with the desktop drivers cause now its happening with these.

 

Yeah, I'm currently in the same boat... so far the 197.25's are working quite well...

 

I think the main difference and reason why some one may want these over 197.25 is simply because they are WHQL Certified and (allegedly) properly tested mobile Drivers. However, 197.25 worked great for me.

 

Perfect timing.

Just about to reinstall my laptop tonight.
Hope this works better then 195.62. Got a lot of problems with those.

 

any benchmarks guys?

 

I'm a firm believer in using only notebook drivers, what make you guys so sure 197.25 is better?

 

Yep, those wouldn't install on my dv8t

 

yea, well hp was nice enough to not post any graphics drivers for my DV8T

 

Can't come soon enough.

 

Because we have absolutely no problems with 197.25 so we see no reason what so ever to get this driver over the one we are using now. And go through the trouble of clean uninstalling a driver we installed only a day or two ago.

 

I just did an uninstall and rebooted, installed the new and all is well... I run a reg clean periodically anyway.

 

Are 197.25 downclocking correctly in 2d/idle on your G51s? whats your idle temps with them?

 

But guys, isn't 197.25 is meant to be for Desktop cards not notebooks ??

 

This one 197.16 works good.

 

All I see on Nvidia's site is 197.16..... where is 197.25 anyway?

The only 197.26 I see is beta... I'm not fond of bugs.

 

These work better for me than 197.25, I was getting low teens for Panau city in Just Cause 2, with these, back up to 30, maybe mid twenties if it's heavy action. Metro 2033 also runs better, can't check FRAPs though as I can't see it in DX10, just like Aliens Vs Predator.

 

Hybrid SLI users might have some problems with this driver. But its only minor, when you click on 'boost performance' it does not change to hybrid SLI like it used to do before. You will have to change it manually by clicking the graphics mode button(a green arrow) and then click on Hybrid SLI to turn on the discrete card.

 

Just installed this one and did a quick Resident evil 5 benchmark on my G50VT in my signature, not so hot compared to DOX'S 195.62:

RE5 settings:1920x1080, all high/shadow low/AA off, all effect on

DX9 variable benchmark:

Official 197.16: average 35.7 FPS
dox's 195.62: average 38.9 FPS

3FPS may not seem a lot to you, but to me it matters a lot when FPS is under 40. Dox's 195.62 still works the best for me so far, beats all the Nvidia drivers.

 

For those that have posted the benchmarks, or those that have installed the new drivers, did you install over the old ones or did the whole cleaning process?

I've had some bad experiences with installing drivers in the past so I'd like to make sure before installing these new ones..

 

How do you add custom resolutions directly to the driver file?

For example, my laptop setup seems to run 1366x768 with acceptable FPS for most games which is 16:9. However with this driver right now, the only 16:9 resolutions that show up are 1280x720 and 1920x1080 (native).

I know there is a "Add Custom Resolutions" thing in the Nvidia Control Panel but they don't always show up in games. At the moment Battlefield: BC2 shows 1366x768 through the Nvidia control panel method, but Just Cause 2 does not.

Previously, I was using modded 196.86 drivers and I got 1366x768 by adding it to nvdm/mode files (I don't know what really which caused it show up). But now, with the 197.16, they still don't show up even after adding it.

Does anyone know a fix to this? Thanks.

 

These new 197.16 drivers perform better than the 186.81?
How about going with the Nvidia 280m?

 

You should ask here

 

Look like there is no a screen brightness issue any more.
Do you have the same?

Lastat

 

its partially fixed.. Like when i restart on battery then check the power plan i find both of charger and battery on 40% .. but when i plug in my charger the slider for charger brightness jumps to 100% just as it should be !! .. but practically it works now.

 

Brightness works at my llaptop just fine. and i'm getting most of the time very low temps while sufring on net 39-40C and the fans is not spinning like it used to. still have to test game performance after Thursday( after i finish an exam).

 

Everything works fine to my lappy. Vantage score increase to 10500 without overclock. with 186.82 was 10100.

 

Can someone run windows experience score for me that has windows 7 64-bit?
i just reinstalled my laptop with windows 7 and when I do the windows experience score my screen turn black part way through then I have to force shutdown.
I'm really afraid that either my hdd or gpu is failing. I had problem with vista since december and decided to put windows 7 on it.

I'm not sure if this is driver related, but I really hope it is. It was fine until I installed 195.62 back in December.

 

i used to install over old ones but had no problems... now i just do clean just in case...

 

Yep, they are the only drivers other than the 168.82's that do downclock properly... 200-383mhz depending on what's happening. Idle temps are mid 55-65C typically, and when totally idle and it stays @ 200mhz, the temps drop down into the low to mid 50's.

Downclock just as they should.

EDIT: I have changed over to MX-3 paste, but reguardless, temps are great with this driver at idle.

 

It is normal for your screen to turn black part way through but it should not stay that way for very long. I just ran the benchmark on my Windows 7 X64 installation and received no such problems and I am using 197.16 WHQL.

 

Yeah this is really bothering me. I just can't figure out what is wrong with my laptop.

What are the chances this is hdd related?
Or I wonder I they have screwed up support for the 8800gts.

Any one that has a 8800gts with windows 7 x64 can you try this. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Thanks for the info, ill try them out tonight, really hoping to see replacement for the great working 186.82.

 

Ran WEI. Minimal screen flash.

Win7 x64, 8800M GTS overclocked 610/975/1525, 197.16 . HP HDX 9000 Dragon. No issues. 6.7 for both graphic scores.

 

Thanks for your help. I found this is the error I'm getting.

"Display driver NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 197.16 stopped responding and has successfully recovered"

 

For what it's worth, on my M11x I have the 197.16's installed, and WEI runs fine, and scores a 6.6 for both.

 

for some reason all of the 197.xx drivers cause random slowdowns and stuttering for me. back to the old 186.82 i guess

 

a link to download the 197.25 beta?
for some reason the 197.13 are no downclocking properly on my G60vx =(


Edit: i was looking on the Net, and it appears that the 197.25 are only for desktop Gpus ...
So?

 

197.25 (check the posts, dl the modified inf and read How to use the modded INF)

 

197.16 still won't push sound out displayport on the M15x, uninstalled, driver sweep done, yatta yatta. 186.xx still work. Could be my TV, an older Vizio. 186 drivers show HDCP not supported and DP audio works, 197 drivers show HDCP is supported but no audio. Wierd. Any tips would be appreciated.