10 replies to this topic

[MechHeffa]

I come from the MS FSX world where you do not upgrade your video driver UNLESS you really need to so, I am still using version 327.23 with my single EVGA GTX 580 connected to 3 monitors (1680x1050) via a matrox triplehead2go.

I have decent result for my old rig but I wonder if a newer driver would bring me FPS improvement.

Any recommendations ?

[9erRed]

Greetings,

Your current drivers are 20+ versions out of date, just as a notice. (and not even listed on the long line of versions)
- that version is from 19 Dec 2013! (the control panel has changed since that old install and more controls are avail.)

- I normally check the Nvidia site and impute my specific card model and op system, then select older and beta drivers search.
- That way I get a listing of each certified driver and can check just what was added or changed in its function.
- Only direct code and additions will persuade me to upgrade, simply adding special code for a game or 2 will not.

There's a 'short' list of what each driver adds and changes an it's on the main 'description' page for each driver version.

- here's a short example: (from 332.21 the 1st listed and oldest)

Installs new PhysX System Software 9.13.0725.
Installs HD Audio v1.3.30.1
Installs GeForce Experience 1.8.1
Includes support for applications built using CUDA 5.5 or earlier version of the CUDA Toolkit.
- More information at http://developer.nvi...om/cuda-toolkit
Supports OpenGL 4.4 for GeForce 400-series and later GPUs.
Supports DisplayPort 1.2 for GeForce GTX 600 series GPUs.
Supports multiple languages and APIs for GPU computing: CUDA C, CUDA C++, CUDA Fortran, OpenCL, DirectCompute, and Microsoft C++ AMP.
Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, and OpenGL, including 3-way SLI, Quad SLI, and SLI support on SLI-certified Intel and AMD motherboards.

I know this is not the 'short list' explaining what should be the next driver you install, but without reading every 'release notes' or consulting a specific 'hardware' site, it's up to you.
- Just be advised that with the latest version of drivers, do a 'Clean Install'. Wiping out any residual profiles from very old installs.

9erRed

Edited by 9erRed, 21 April 2015 - 04:20 PM.

[Goose]

Go ask at Guru3d.com, but since you are not deprecated, I'm thinkin' you'll be told "350.12, after a cleaning with Display Driver Uninstaller, like the rest of us" …

[Flapdrol]

Only reason to update the driver is for new games, every "big" game gets specific performance tweaks in the driver.

If you only play this and flight simulator just keep running this driver.

Edited by Flapdrol, 22 April 2015 - 12:12 AM.

[xWiredx]

Flapdrol, on 22 April 2015 - 12:12 AM, said:

Only reason to update the driver is for new games, every "big" game gets specific performance tweaks in the driver.

If you only play this and flight simulator just keep running this driver.

Every new version of a driver contains bug fixes and general improvements (and sometimes new SLi profiles, new features, or feature enhancements). Only 'game ready' drivers from Nvidia address specific game tweaks. It is up to the person installing them to read the release notes.

[MechHeffa]

Thanks for the reply so far:
- I know my driver is "outdated" but again, I know not all new drivers are "better" so I was looking for a version that is tested / proven to be good for / with MWO
- why 350.12, any specific reason ?
- I do not use / need SLI support
- I do not do FSX anymore and MWO is currently my only game on this old rig
- I am not looking for GEforce experience support

Thanks again

[xWiredx]

The answer is simple: the latest Nvidia driver is almost always the best one to be running. Why? Because things and stuff. To be more precise, as I said before, every new -version- includes bug fixes and improvements along with the possibility of further feature enhancements. Have any of those things benefited MWO specifically? Yes. Are any of them directly beneficial to you? Maybe, maybe not.

[Jabilo]

In my long experience of running Nvidia cards (god knows how many years) I have never once found a drawback in always having the latest Nvidia drivers.

In fact I would always keep every driver on my system bang up to date.

The only thing it is recommended to not update is motherboard BIOS (here it is recommended that you only update when a specific fix is relevant to yourself - such as adding compatibility for a new CPU you are going to install).

Nvidia also releases beta drivers first, so if you have concerns then just wait for the WHQL versions.

In addition, all of the "dark art" of updating video drivers is no longer required.

Uninstall the drivers in control panel, run the installer and select "clean install". All of the driver sweeper and registry cleaning malarky does not really bring any benefit now. Nvidia drivers install and uninstall very cleanly now days (though this was not always the case).

I would only ever use driver cleaners now if I was troubleshooting a specific issue.

Edited by Jabilo, 22 April 2015 - 08:02 AM.

[Goose]

Yeah - no: Even the nVidia Reps like Display Driver Uninstaller

I have had a bad update, once, and it was even WHQL, so it does happen.

But that's not the way to bet …

Look: If you have an excess of caution, then go read up on any given version over at Guru3d.com, and if all of that scares you off, you need a new hobby …

Edited by Goose, 22 April 2015 - 09:24 AM.

[Tarl Cabot]

In the end, have a copy of the driver you are currently running, do an uninstall/system restore point and install the newest driver and test. It will work or it will not work. If it doesn't, either do a rollback or an uninstall and install the older driver.

I think we have seen some weird stuff when updating graphic card drivers and some games at times do not response well to updated drivers, other times the driver installation does not go well and has to be performed more than once.

[MechHeffa]

Thanks again, I will do my research & try drivers with the restore point option