New forceware 163.69 is out

"UPDATE" You can get the new driver from Laptop2go website now
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/

What does it fix:

* Improved compatibility and performance for NVIDIA SLI technology on Microsoft DirectX 9.0c and OpenGL 2.1 applications.
* Improved compatibility for The Way It’s Meant To Be Played game titles: BioShock, Crysis, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Hellgate: London, and World in Conflict.
* Added PureVideo HD decode acceleration for GeForce 8600, 8500 and 8400 series GPUs.
* Improved performance of the graphics memory manager on GeForce 8 series GPUs running DirectX 9 applications in single-GPU and NVIDIA SLI configurations.

Please test it out and see the difference

 

what if u just use the old inf from say .67? or do they change the inputs in every new inf?

 

I don't know how to re-pack english version into multi-language version but for inf file I have tested out by using older version inf file on newer version driver and works without a hitch.

 

hmm...but i'm sure they do twick the inf as well, otherwise, they wouldn't have a diff inf for every new version.(need to compare byte for byte)

 

The newer inf file size is bigger in newer driver release but I'm just saying that I could use older inf file on newer driver to get it installed

 

Is it 64Bit compatible or do you know where I can find the 64Bit version?

 

i once was installing a .44 driver and it asked me for 64 bit files that i couldn't locate in the install folder, i just skipped them. other than that, i don't really know...
but yeah, how about performance with the old inf? anything new?

 

Here's a quick run with new 163.69 driver using 163.67 inf file. I didn't bother with 3dmark06 felt it is waste of my time instead I ran FEAR.

F.E.A.R game setting:
Game patch 1.08. Everything set to max except FSAA and Soft Shadow turn off. Resolution 1680x1050. Vsync off.

Test system:
Windows XP Pro SP2
computer rig in sig
Driver 163.69 using 163.67 inf file.
Default clock speed 475 core 400 memory.

The result obtained after running twice
Driver 163.67
min 17
avg 34
max 66
core 475 mem 400

Driver 163.69
min 20
avg 34
max 65
core 475 mem 400

Although the average speed seems no different but I've noticed some area has seen smoother gameplay with observation of bare eyes. It seems the game stutter less. I have no confidence to say the same apply to everyone and every game but F.E.A.R definitely run smoother for me than before. Good job nvidia

 

thanx for the tests, the min avg seems to get more boost than anything else, that's good! let's see what laptopvide2go will have to offer

 

You know, I understand the attitude towards 3DMark 06 for certain things, but this is not one of them. You're comparing the same video card with different drivers and to see if there is any significant performance difference. Acting too cool to use it for one of its intended purposes just seems stupid.

 

come again? i don't care for 3dmark score...all i care is how good/bad the new drivers will perform in the game... if u like 3dmark and use it for its sole purpose, then good for u. he didn't want to do it, so be it. don't call somebody's statement as stupid, not supporting ur thought with a good reason.

 

Well....aren't the 64bit version drivers listed on the page where he linked to?

163.69
Windows Vista 64-bit
Release Date: September 17, 2007
WHQL coming soon

 

does this fix stutters

 

Well here's the 3dmark06 score if anyone is interested. Default clock speed.

Driver 163.67 at resolution 1280x1024
3202

Driver 163.69 at resolution 1280x1024
3207

Sry I'm unable to provide any screen shot right now but feel free to do test on everyone's own. I just do the test for sake of 3dmark06 score "increase" or not.

 

lol pretty much identical scores.... is that what u were looking for, Ichigo?

 

that is no diff in 3dmark06 since an extra 5 marks is within the margin of error, anyway your 3dmark06 for your specs is impressive.

I get 3019 for my specs which are identical to yours (in sig) running vista ultimate.

Have you applied any tweaks or something along those lines

 

i have pretty much identical system as urs. run it on xp pro +sp2 and all updates... get like 32xx score. dunno, if it's different os or what... no tweaks

 

nope everything is run at default cuz my 3dmark06 version is freeware. I didn't do anything to driver setting either just let it be at default. I might be able to squeeze a bit more score by turning off all applications running in background but nah.


EDIT: I'm running on Windows XP Pro SP2 with newest update, maybe that explains it?

 

you running on vista or xp hirush....man I hate this 3dmark06 stuff it gets you so worried about your gfx performance if you see someone else with the same setup getting more points than you.

other than that I am very happy with my gaming performance its on par with what i was getting in win xp....about 35-40 fps in oblivion on max outdoors at 1280 x 800

 

To awnser for hirush blackbird:

"Test system:
Windows XP Pro SP2
computer rig in sig
Driver 163.69 using 163.67 inf file.
Default clock speed 475 core 400 memory."

Seems like everyone using XP are getting higher scores, even if DX10 is disabled in the test rigs. Sometimes I feel DX10 is used to by M$ to hide the poor gaming performance Vista has compared to XP.

 

yeah, that's why i'm not gonna use vista until it becomes a real necessity... all the flashy things are good, but not good enough(not justified) imo

 

Nothing improved....Same 3DMark06 score like 163.67

 

well, u r not the first person this happened to... why does everybody love the parrots so much?! lol

 

Most of this is probably just specific support for new releases. My guess is Crysis preparation is a big part of it. Didn't they just release beta drivers like 5 days ago? Hahah...that was fast to have new ones.

 

I agree that this new driver probably has done something for DX10 games specifically too bad I don't have DX10 games to test out at the moment. But at the same time nvidia probably done some optimization to DX9 games so they can run smoother (faster?). If more people could test out this new driver then we'll know for certain what this new driver bring to us.

 

Well this driver does mainly state it fixes compatibility issues. Doesn't say performance and compatibility fixes like it usually says.

 

whats the difference between this driver and a laptop2go one? Should i risk installing this one?

 

The forerunner on first page scoll down little bit you'll see a quick run test I did on F.E.A.R and I noticed smoother gameplay with this new driver.

 

Oh no I didn't mean no performance at all. I meant peoples comments that it wasn't a big leap or no change at all in 3dmark, my point was this was not meant to be a performance driver like 163.44 was.

 

An 8600GT may score the same as a 7900GT on 3DMark 06 but may perform much worse in real games.

An 8600GT that performs better than *another* 8600GT in 3DMark 06 will always perform better in real games.

I was hoping this was clear from my previous post. I'm sorry if it wasn't.

Considering it is the same card we are talking about here, 3DMark scores are very relevant. Given the scores he produced, it's obvious that the driver's description is more or less accurate. If you were having issues running a certain game, those issues may be resolved. If you weren't having technical issues, these drivers will not likely improve framerates.

That said, the minimum framerate for FEAR did go up, but unless that benchmark was run at least a few times on each driver, the 15fps could have been a hitch in the system for all we know, as the avg. did not increase.

 

Only if more people would test out this new driver then we'll know what does it fix or improve. I believe DX10 games should run better with new driver but only those who has DX10 games will find out.
I wasn't dissing 3dmark06 being a bad program or anything but I just want to know what exactly does this new driver bring to us aside some score increase. In the case of FEAR the gameplay is indeed smoother than before yet 3dmark06 score remains unchanged. There's also something that I found max avg speed is a tad slower on this new driver compare to 163.67 thus might lead to same average score? No offence to every 3dmark06 users out there I just want to address that I'm interested in game framerate than 3dmark06 scores that's all.
About running benchmarking few more times I thought twice was sufficient for quick run test but everyone is welcomed to do as for me I'm back to 158.19 driver so I can overclock

 

Tested with crisis mp demo
NFS MW
SCDA

All have smooth playback.sorry don't have fraps to see frame rate

Ps:Crysis all medium setting @ 1024x768

 

what's ur config?

 

how does the demo look and run on your 8600m gt

 

Aspire 5920G
T7300 @ 2.0Ghz
2GB Ram
8600M GT BIOS OC (572/472)
3DMark06 Score with 163.69-3882

 

I'm running @ DX9 mode.Game is pretty smooth with this driver

 

how does it look, anything like the awesome vids we have seen before?
why havent you tried dx 10 mode is it because your running xp or dx 10 causes a fps hit for you

 

DX9 is OK for me.
I know i can try DX10!! but don't want to sacrifice my gaming performance.

Hi -power cards also suffer from DX10 lags or performance hits,so no need to talk about DX10 capable mobile GPU

 

you still havent answered my question properly...does the game look good or absolute crap with those settings

i dunno man for some reason i see no fps hit at all with dx 10 on in games such as world in conflict...they look absolutely fantastic

 

Modded .inf anyone ? Laptopvideo2go has noget posted the inf OR the driver yet

 

Here's mine.Work with all mobile cards.I Use laptopvideo2go.com mobile nvidia HW ID codes

Enjoy......

 

so all i have to add is the go7600 hardware ID code under or above where you put the 8600mGT code?

i can get that from that laptop2video site with one of the other infs and see if i can download the driver and run it

 

download again.Now inf works with all mobile nvida cards

 

Thank you very much

 

Thanks i dont think that site has the new drivers out though

i did mod the inf that came with the new drivers and did a test run and it appeared to run setup and install the driver fine

 

Did u ever try putting settings to high just to test with that card? Or was medium the most it could handle? And what do u consider smooth something at 60fps, or your ok with something running ~25fps?

 

I'm having difficulty with the .69 drivers. I noticed no nvidia control panel on install and 2 system crashes, 1 loading up test drive unlimited, 1 after 2 minutes of Tiger Woods 08. Back to .67 for me

 

this driver shouldnt be downloaded until laptopvideo2go approves it

 

I don't have tool(fraps) to count FPS.BTW game playback is smooth and have '0' issues so far.

 

I am having problems installing this driver.

When I download and start the setup, right away I get this message:

"The NVIDIA setup program could not locate any compatible drivers with your current hardware. Setup will now exit."

My Specs:

Asus G1S
Core 2 Duo T7500
2GB
Vista Prem 32-bit
8600M GT

Downloaded 163.69 version for Vista 32 bit