New Nvidia Driver 196.21

[papab]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_196.21_whql.html

Anyone tried this one yet?
Rick

[falcon409]

Nope, I'm using 195.39 right now. Unless it has changes specific to FSX (which I doubt), I'll stick with what I have, no need to change if there's nothing in it for me.

[stovall]

papab, loaded her up yesterday. Works great for me with Windows 7 64 bit. Still evaluating but no problems at all yet.

[papab]

papab, loaded her up yesterday. Works great for me with Windows 7 64 bit. Still evaluating but no problems at all yet.

Thanks!
Rick

[Spikehughes]

I downloaded these a day ago. I am currently experiencing micro stutters again. I have found if I disable NHANCER and just use the default Nvidia latest driver these micro stutters are diminished.

I like the sharpness/crispness of the new drivers, but without Nhancer, the anistropic options are again not working, so it looks like I may have to downgrade back to the previous version.

The Jury is still out though, and I would like anyone else who has installed these to give some input as to whether they too are experiencing micro stutters, or is it just me, and therefore a red herring - the fault lying elsewhere?

Cheers

[noddy]

No problem with stutters for me. Seems to be working fine.

[stovall]

Spikehughes, no micro stutters or any kind of stutter. I actually am using the default setting from the control panel. No NHancer needed here.

[Spikehughes]

Aaahhh, that could mean something else is coming into play. I did upgrade to this latest version without uninstalling the previous drivers...wonder if that has made a diff?

[Bjoern]

Thanks for the HU!

Let's see if they retain the awesome text sharpness introduced in the 195.81s...

[flaviossa]

Installed, no problem at all. Not using Nhancer. Great FPS.

System: Win7 64bits fsx sp2 - nvidia gtx285

[Bjoern]

Well, 3D Mark 06 scores are a down a bit, 3D Mark Vantage is around the same, maybe slightly better.

Still need to test the drivers in FSX.

[falcon409]

This is a good example of how different every single system is and how what works for one is never a guarantee that it will work the same way for anyone else, and what could be more inherently buggy than a "just released" driver.

Let me clarify that by "buggy" I'm referring to the fact that even though it's the same driver, every individual has it tweaked differently, so asking if anyone is having any problems with it, or sees any increase in fps or clarity really means nothing until you've installed and tweaked it to your system and then ran your own tests in FSX.

Some people swear by Nhancer, others ran it for awhile then turned it off, others never ran it and instead used the published tweaks for gaining a smoother running FSX. . .so many variations that relying on what someone else sees on their system is irrelevant.

Most of the time, when a revision comes out I look through the readme to see what's actually changed. . .in most cases the revisions are "game specific" and are geared primarily to FP Shooters and games in that genre. Seldom, if ever, do I see anything related to Flight Sim or anything that tells me that the changes incorporated in the latest driver will do anything to increase the playability off FSX.

"It's always a good idea to update your graphics driver". . . .maybe, maybe not. . .for me, if it ain't broke. . .don't fix it. That's my commentary for the day. Solely my own personal opinion (and everyone has one) and only my opinion.:salute:

[jojohnson9]

Aaahhh, that could mean something else is coming into play. I did upgrade to this latest version without uninstalling the previous drivers...wonder if that has made a diff?

Do you actually have to uninstall the old? I just ran the new driver installer and assumed the old are automatically uninstalled.

[falcon409]

Do you actually have to uninstall the old? I just ran the new driver installer and assumed the old are automatically uninstalled.

Yep, same here Chief. . .on the few occasions that I do replace a driver, I simply run the installer and let it do what it needs to do.

[Bjoern]

Do you actually have to uninstall the old? I just ran the new driver installer and assumed the old are automatically uninstalled.

Oh heck yeah you have to!

Most of the problems with new drivers are caused by improper update procedures. The best way to update is uninstalling the old driver, run a driver cleaning program and install the new driver.

I tend to get bad performance and other compatibility and display problems if I don't update properly.

[Henry]

Oh heck yeah you have to!

Most of the problems with new drivers are caused by improper update procedures. The best way to update is uninstalling the old driver, run a driver cleaning program and install the new driver.

I tend to get bad performance and other compatibility and display problems if I don't update properly.

yup me also
sometimes it does not overwrite the last one with all files
and i have had many problems in the past
better to completely delete the old
reboot, clean, then reboot
and install
a large difference
H

[Thoe6969]

Yep allways uninstall from control panel,run driver sweeper in safe mode ,reboot and install new drivers.

[Spikehughes]

Wellll,, yes and no. The reason why I had not uninstalled the prior Nvidia driver was that I have read from more than one "expert" that it is no longer necessary with the more recent 19x series. Be that as it may, I will probably go back thru the process and try a complete uninstall/reinsntall to try and clear these micro stutters. (boy can this get time consuming).

As for updating to more recent drivers or just leaving them at the most FSX friendly ones, that only applies to my mind, if you only enjoy FSX and just FSX. As for me, I like to participate (probably a little unhealthly) in gaming in general and as those who also follow this line would concur, each new game that hits the streets usually requires a recent driver to display in optimum mode.

[Thoe6969]

Wellll,, yes and no. The reason why I had not uninstalled the prior Nvidia driver was that I have read from more than one "expert" that it is no longer necessary with the more recent 19x series. Be that as it may, I will probably go back thru the process and try a complete uninstall/reinsntall to try and clear these micro stutters. (boy can this get time consuming).

As for updating to more recent drivers or just leaving them at the most FSX friendly ones, that only applies to my mind, if you only enjoy FSX and just FSX. As for me, I like to participate (probably a little unhealthly) in gaming in general and as those who also follow this line would concur, each new game that hits the streets usually requires a recent driver to display in optimum mode.

Some experts are not as smart as they think.

[Cazzie]

Moe had this in the Toy Room. Lots of new features for other games made SLI in the new drivers. http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...ad.php?t=30120

Unless I am installing a new card, I merely installed the new forceware drivers over the existing ones, have never had a problem using an existing nVidia card.

If I am installing a new video card, yes, uninstall all, do a driver sweep and install the new drivers.

I have installed these once I saw Moe's post and have had no difficulties.

If you are using nHancer (I do), I find it is best to uninstall it and reinstall for best performance after imstalling new forceware drivers.

Caz

[jojohnson9]

Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!!! HELP, HELP, HELP!!!
I uninstalled the drivers using control panel. Don't know how to do a clean sweep. Then I tried to install the latest drivers. Now I get this error:
"7-zip: Internal error, code 106". What the hell happened???

[jojohnson9]

Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!!! HELP, HELP, HELP!!!
I uninstalled the drivers using control panel. Don't know how to do a clean sweep. Then I tried to install the latest drivers. Now I get this error:
"7-zip: Internal error, code 106". What the hell happened???

Okay, panic over. Son stops for visit...son fixes error...son gets dinner and a beer.

[Bjoern]

My money is on a redownload of the driver package since 7zip can't unpack it properly.

[Spikehughes]

Or , if you are using vista or window 7, you have not enabled administrator permissions?

And continuing along my earlier vein for those who might be interested, I have deinstalled nvidia 196 drivers, went into safe mode, used drive sweeper to clean out the Nvidia residue, reinstalled the 196 drivers, used the nvidia control panel and set global and Program settings to Default to appllication, relaunched Nhancer and set up FSX again and presto - smooth and crisp as.... (well as smooth as it is gonna get under windows 7 64bit).
I do note the frame rates are down slightly from XP which I continue to run on another similar hard drive - down by 2-3 FPS, but in general I am happy

[dharris]

Okay, panic over. Son stops for visit...son fixes error...son gets dinner and a beer.

Always give beer to son, he watcheh over pc good man