73 replies to this topic

[Dox]

Whats New Since 305.68 - Modded?
- minor changes to gui front end.
- removed all image quality hacks.
- notebook users - oem specific settings are back.
- Optimus users - fixed issue with driver not switching to nvidia device / running full clocks (only for devices not supported in the official driver).
- Added custom SLI and MSAA compatibility bits based on 3D Center Forum - thanks for all those involved.

Modded 306.02 vs Official 306.02
- more lightweight (driver package size is smaller) - files are expanded to gain better compression.
- desktop and notebook support integrated into one driver file.
- supports every known nvidia devices (mobile and desktop).
- set Texture filtering to 'clamp' and 'high quality' by default.
- added custom compatibility bits for improved SLI performance and better MSAA in select games - view SLI and MSAA bits.
- no installation files left on system after installation.
- added unofficial support for all known devices that are not supported in official release (including Optimus).

Notes / Limitations
- Drivers are packaged in a frontend that extract files to temp folder which will run setup automatically.
- Extracted driver files will auto delete once setup is complete / canceled / after system reboot.
- Phys X is removed to help reduce file size. Latest physX can be downloaded from nvidia's website.
- Added Direct X blitting, culling, mipmaps optimisations.
- Driver tweaks does not fix any bugs with the official drivers.
- Driver only supports WIndows Vista x64 / Windows 7 x64 / Windows 8 x64.
- If you click 'Restore Default' in the Nvidia Control Panel it will remove custom SLI and MSAA (Direct X optimisations remain).

Download 306.02.2-modded
geforce306.02.2-modded.exe - LV2GO Server (147mb)
Mediafire Mirror

[testlaptop2go]

Driver installation failed on Vaio FZ 440E 8400M GT running Win7 x64

[Dox]

thanks for letting me know...
Works fine on desktop.
Does the driver installation fail after passing compatibility check?

[testlaptop2go]

thanks for letting me know...
Works fine on desktop.
Does the driver installation fail after passing compatibility check?

Yes, it passed compoatibility check and then I authorized to install. Installation process started and then got the error: "driver installtion failed".
Note that 305.68 v1-2 gave the same error and you fixed the error in V3.

[Dox]

thanks for the feedback. I think its to do with the fact I added support for all nvidia devices which is conflicting with notebook installation.
Its very difficult to narrow down why installation has failed.

I think it will be easier if i just release modded desktop and notebook drivers into separate packages.
I'll sort it out later tonight.

[testlaptop2go]

thanks for the feedback. I think its to do with the fact I added support for all nvidia devices which is conflicting with notebook installation.
Its very difficult to narrow down why installation has failed.

I think it will be easier if i just release modded desktop and notebook drivers into separate packages.
I'll sort it out later tonight.

Okay, thank you.

[najodleglejszy]

at first try it spat out the installation fail error after passing compatibility check, but I didn't surrender and when installed for the second time, it worked

Lenovo Z580 with GeForce GT 630M

Edited by najodleglejszy, 28 August 2012 - 08:19 AM.

[Dox]

wow thats weird, thanks for letting me know!

[Trabant Dave]

Installed perfectly on Dell Precision with FX3700m/12gb/Win 7 64bit, good figures with 3dVantage, and in real world apps too - a keeper!

Thanks Dox

[Dox]

No problem thanks for the positive feedback.

[widescreen169]

Not great benchers due to the improved image quality. Really stable though. Great set of drivers.

[Dox]

this will be my last Nvidia driver. I sold my GTX680 for a HD 7870.
So until the next time I have a Nvidia device this will be my last Nvidia driver.

[Beyond]

I sold my GTX680 for a HD 7870.

[tribaljet]

this will be my last Nvidia driver. I sold my GTX680 for a HD 7870.
So until the next time I have a Nvidia device this will be my last Nvidia driver.

I suppose you had a typo, where it should be HD 7970 you wrote HD 7870.

Regardless, that's quite a shame, both in terms of modded drivers, as well as gaming performance, which isn't as good on the AMD side as it is on the Nvidia side (big picture here, not cherry picked games).

[Beyond]

Regardless, that's quite a shame, both in terms of modded drivers, as well as gaming performance, which isn't as good on the AMD side as it is on the Nvidia side (big picture here, not cherry picked games).

Pois, não estou mesmo a ver qual é a ideia.

[Dox]

I suppose you had a typo, where it should be HD 7970 you wrote HD 7870.

Regardless, that's quite a shame, both in terms of modded drivers, as well as gaming performance, which isn't as good on the AMD side as it is on the Nvidia side (big picture here, not cherry picked games).

No not a typo. I actually did get a HD 7870. Reason being GTX680 is soooo overkill for the games I play. HD 7870 is a very good card for what I would use it for.
Its quiet, runs cool and has awesome 1080p performance. TBH i dont play many games. Maybe 3 hours a week at the most. Thought I'd sell it whilst demand is high and get a good price for it. Plus with the price cuts it made the purchase decision that much easier.

I'm not into the whole Nvidia vs AMD drivers / performance debate. I just choose a gfx card that best suits my needs rather brand loyalty tbh. I know what goes into making the drivers. AMD drivers are complex beasts. Last time Ichecked they were more like mini oses. Crazy stuff tbh. AMD are supportting GCN and VLIW in one package. Thats impressive. Nvidia usually have more stable drivers with new gpus because there gpu architecture has basically been built around the G80. GK104 changed abit but its still G80 to an extent. So driver wise, things havent changed that much, whereas AMD had to compile their .dll to Optimise GCN.

[widescreen169]

Oh...I'm sure people would be willing to test on your behalf if you would be kind enough to carry on modding for us. Either way, I'm sure all your driver users are as grateful as I am. Thanks!

[tribaljet]

No not a typo. I actually did get a HD 7870. Reason being GTX680 is soooo overkill for the games I play. HD 7870 is a very good card for what I would use it for.
Its quiet, runs cool and has awesome 1080p performance. TBH i dont play many games. Maybe 3 hours a week at the most. Thought I'd sell it whilst demand is high and get a good price for it. Plus with the price cuts it made the purchase decision that much easier.

I'm not into the whole Nvidia vs AMD drivers / performance debate. I just choose a gfx card that best suits my needs rather brand loyalty tbh. I know what goes into making the drivers. AMD drivers are complex beasts. Last time Ichecked they were more like mini oses. Crazy stuff tbh. AMD are supportting GCN and VLIW in one package. Thats impressive. Nvidia usually have more stable drivers with new gpus because there gpu architecture has basically been built around the G80. GK104 changed abit but its still G80 to an extent. So driver wise, things havent changed that much, whereas AMD had to compile their .dll to Optimise GCN.

Well, regardless of whether it is overkill or not, futureproofing your system certainly wouldn't be a bad move, not to mention keeping real access to features like PhysX, CUDA, Adaptative V-Sync, FXAA and TXAA. Aside from that, unless you do a lot of compute tasks, the HD 7000 series doesn't really bring anything new to the table.

I do agree that the HD 7870 is power frugal, while if it was a HD 7970, then it would run hotter and be quite more power hungry when compared to a GTX 680.

And don't think of my previous post as fanboy material, I'm merely talking about numbers that each card (on the previous post I was comparing a HD 7970 to a GTX 680, so the difference is even larger with a HD 7870).

Technically it could be a good thing that there haven't been that major of architecture changes, as that could theoretically make for modding drivers an easier job, no? And on that note, I'm sure there would be plenty of users willing to beta test modded drivers of yours, if you were willing to do so, that is. Also, are you planning on focusing on AMD drivers due to now having that GPU?

[Dox]

I dont think it makes sense to buy highend hardware like GTX680s amd HD7970s tbh (unless you plan to keep it for two generations). This is the first time I did it - always went mid range. Last Card i had was a GTX560Ti. I always like to upgade every generation so a gpu that is 'good enough' for current games is sufficiient for me. I would've downgraded to a GTX660 Ti / GTX660 but I've been told that the majority of cards will be open air coolers. I much prefer blower style coolers in which the reference design of the HD 7870 is robust. Again like I said I'm not bothered about performance - the HD 7870 will be good enough for what I need it for. Will I be upgrading to a HD 8000 / GTX 700? Yes! Wont be buying high end thats for sure.

In terms of drivers - not too sure. I am certain I wont be release anymore nvidia drivers. I like to test them using 3d center's filter test and releasing anything based on only beta tester feedback is something im not comfortable with.
AMD drivers? Maybe, but not any time soon.

[tribaljet]

High end hardware should be kept for a few generations indeed (unless your pockets run deep), which is why the added performance makes up for the higher initial cost. Thing is, older generation midrange hardware performed quite better for the software available at the time when compared to the present day, and this difference is more noticeable because both midrange and high end hardware is quite overpriced on both manufacturers.

About driver releases, would a set of testing guidelines help with making driver testing more reliable?