Help us evaluating this reference driver

[Fabrice Roux]

Dell recently released a modified version of the famous driver 84.69 for Windows XP 32 bits. This new version comes with the support for each and every mobile GPU since the GeForce 2 Go. If you missed the previous episodes, this driver is probably the best of the 8x.xx serie. It has the rock solid performance of the mid 8x.xx serie, the game compatibility of the post 84.12 drivers and the feature set of the post 84.25 ones.

So we need your help to test this candidate for "Recommended Driver" with Full Mobile Support. It means that all the features of your GPU can be used. (eg: PowerMizer, TV-out,...)

Even though Dell released this driver for GeForce Go 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, it's likely to give the best results on the most latest product families. If you need help picking up a driver for an old GPU, feel free to visit the Recommended driver thread.

Some non Dell GPUs are supported out of the box:

NVIDIA_NV31.DEV_031A.1  = "NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5600"
NVIDIA_NV31.DEV_031C.1  = "NVIDIA Quadro FX Go700"
NVIDIA_NV36.DEV_0348.1  = "NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5700"
NVIDIA_NV36.DEV_034C.1  = "NVIDIA Quadro FX Go1000"
NVIDIA_NV41.DEV_00C0.1  = "NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GS"
NVIDIA_NV41.DEV_00C8.2  = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 "
NVIDIA_NV41.DEV_00CC.1  = "NVIDIA Quadro FX Go1400"
NVIDIA_NV43.DEV_0140.1  = "NVIDIA NV43"
NVIDIA_NV44.DEV_0168.1  = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 6400"
NVIDIA_G70.DEV_0098.1   = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800"
NVIDIA_G70.DEV_0099.1   = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX"
NVIDIA_G71.DEV_0298.1   = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GS"
NVIDIA_G71.DEV_0299.1   = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX"
NVIDIA_G71.DEV_029A.1   = "NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M"
NVIDIA_G71.DEV_029B.1   = "NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M"
NVIDIA_G72.DEV_01D7.0   = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300"
NVIDIA_G72.DEV_01D8.0   = "NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400"
NVIDIA_G72.DEV_01DC.0   = "NVIDIA Quadro FX 350M"

For the rest of mobile GPUs a the 84.69 modded INF file or "Have disk method" should work. In case you have a doubt about the GPU naming you can visit the Recommended driver thread that holds the specifications of each GPU. (eg: the NV43 is in fact the GeForce 6600)

84.69 driver download page

Take the time to fill the attached form. (Copy then paste the content in your response) Use the comment section to add comments such as:

• "The installer BSODed on me"
  
• "I got a crash on reboot"
  
• "This driver rocks."
  

Here are my results:

*Hardware*

Laptop: Dell Inspiron 9300

GPU: GeForce 6800

Previous driver: 84.30 official Dell driver

*Basic*

Installer: OK

Have disk method: Not tested

No service crash: OK

*Energy*

Suspend/Resume when closing/opening the lid : OK

Screen shutdown when closing the lid: Not tested. (I use the suspend function)

Powermizer: OK

*Video*

Video file playback without stuttering: OK

TV out: OK

*Comments*

Install:

Performances:

Energy:

Video:

driver_evaluation_form.txt

Edited December 9, 2006 by ®®®