Nvidia drivers v29.42 released - Aniso performance

[Guest PaulL01]

>Hi Elrond, >I installed the new 29.42s last night for my year and a half >old GForce2MX 32 mb. I had previously been using the >Detonator 9 series drivers. All programs work properly and I >was rewarded with a 400 point increase in the 3D Mark SE >benchmark. The only drawback is that things appear darker in >all programs even with monitor brightness at max. >>Skully >>P4 1.4 >NVGF2MX >128 mb ram >19" NEC Multisync 90 monitor >>p.s. When I first got this computer it was able to run at >screen resolutions up to 1920x1440. After the first >detonator install I lost that high screen res and am now >only able to get 1600x1200 even after going back to the >original drivers. Does anyone know why I lost that high >screen res ability of 1920x1440 or how to get it back? Hi Skully,Thanks for posting your results Skully but your "Aniso results" are unfortunately moot as first: this is strictly a GF4TI issue, second: your card does not support anisotropic filtering at 32 or 64 tap. :( If you have realized a 400 point=4 fps increase in 3Dmark20001SE whichI would guess from your specs would be a score of 3800 or 38 FPS avg to 42 FPS or there abouts, that would be an 11% increase! It would seem more likely that the exact same driver settings were not used for each test and so the results are misleading. :-rollIf you've got DET 9's I sure would like a copy, as DET 5's haven't even been released yet. :-lolEdit: The buzz around many a NV forum is that the AF is still broken for D3D in GF4 so the "promised" fix from Nvidia probably will be in the Det5's if it comes at all.And just when I was starting to itch for a GF4TI too! :(Take CarePaul

[Guest Kurt]

Skully,Usually you can find the monitor files on the mfgs website if needed. They may already be installed with your Windows installation.check display properties/monitor/if your monitor is not listed try the Change box and search for new drivers (try the Display a list of all drivers selection) and (show all hardware selection)http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d07f2ee2821d625.jpgyou might also want to check under color management and see if your monitor has a color profile listed.http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3d07f4292a381e4a.jpgKurt M

[skully 1,045]

Thanks for the help Kurt, I appreciate it!Paul, I was mistaken on what previous Detonator driver I was using. Actually it was an old Detonator 6.50 4.12.01.0650 I obtained at guru3D a while back when experimenting with drivers.Thanks again for the info fellas!Skully

[Guest]

Hi Paul,Your insistence that any driver beyond 23.11 for GF3 or even the GF2 is starting to drive me batty... ;)I understand your argument completely, believe me I do. For a long stretch there, I too saw no improvements (and some fallbacks in performance) on the GF3 and GF2 with drivers above 23.11. However, as is usual, this hasn't remained static. With the 29.40 series, Aniso performance in OpenGL games is now *fixed*, or almost fixed, on the GF4 (I have no doubt more performance can be tweaked out of the driver code). Whats better, the performance gain also filters down to the GF2 and GF3 on the two cards I've tested (although not as dramatic of course). Whats even better, Unreal Tournament now *finally* works great in DirectX mode - its been broken for freakin ever. And a few other games with glitches are fixed as well.My point being: the architectural differences between the GF3 and GF4 are very small indeed. Optimization to code is optimization to code, regardless of where its targeted. This also extends to bug fixes. While the GF4 in particular was highly unoptimized at the driver level for Aniso performance, the latest drivers help this in OpenGL. I have no doubt that Nvidia is on top of this for DirectX games as well.I feel like you and I go around the block on a few issues, simply to go around the block. :-) I think we're WAY too much alike sometimes and thats the reason behind it. In this regard, I hope the block is a small one and we can come to an agreement relatively quickly...:* :-beerchugWith love,http://members.rogers.com/eelvish/elrondlogo.gifhttp://members.rogers.com/eelvish/flyurl.gif

[Guest PaulL01]

Hey bro,Even if I completely think your off your rocker I can claim to be no more bigger nor smarter, so please Elrond never take anything I say as a look down my long nose at you or anyone else, Its just like a good brain storming session where we all put are heads together to get to the best result, good ideas, bad ideas, it doesn

[Chris Willis 8]

Elrond, I have discover thats when you are using a TNT2 Ultra Card, the driver higher than 22.50 , the nvmax have no effect at all with the LOD from 0 to -3 with anisotropy enabled also, still the same. All later driver than 22.50 appears to much blurry at distance because the nvmax does not works for the LOD. I have very crisp texture with the 22.50 near and far them with anisotropy 16 tap -1 LOD.ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFshttp://fsw.simflight.com/fsw.jpg

[Guest ScottPilot]

I changed from the 28.32 drivers to the 29.42 drivers and have not noticed much difference in FS2K2. However, the speed of the windows and visual effects at the Windows XP desktop have improved.The only things I have noticed, is my colors are more vibrant in FS with the newer drivers, but my FPS are pretty much the same (13-25 fps.)My card: Visiontek Xtasty GF4 MX440 with dual 17" monitorsMy OS: Windows XP ProScott :-)ATP/CFII in the real avation world.

[Guest]

Hi Chris,You should switch to one of the other tweak utilities: NVMax was abandoned prior to the v23.11 series and on up. It doesn't support the new registry locations and entries of the higher series drivers.I switch between two sets of tweakers depending on mood and the phase of the moon:GeForce Tweak Utilityhttp://www.guru3d.com/geforcetweakutilityandRivaTunerhttp://www.guru3d.com/rivatunerThere are other tweakers as well, but one or both of these two should fix the problem you're having.Good luck, http://members.rogers.com/eelvish/elrondlogo.gifhttp://members.rogers.com/eelvish/flyurl.gif

[Guest]

Paul (whom I have dismounted :-lol),Ok, instead of responding line by line, let me submit a set of proposed facts instead. Maybe we'll get to the finish line easier this way. Either agree or disagree:1) The v29 series fixes OpenGL Aniso performance on the GF4. Still has room for improvement of course.2) In OpenGL apps and games, Aniso performance is also improved with the v29 series drivers on the GF3 and GF2 platforms.3) The v29 series does *not* fix DirectX Aniso performance on the GF4. This of course means, as far as Aniso performance, no benefit to FS users.4) The v29 series fixes many driver bugs that many games experienced with many of the previous series drivers. This applies to both DirectX and OpenGL games.5) Nvidia dropped the ball by focusing too many resources on one issue at the expense of others like Aniso: Anti-Aliasing performance (which is, admittedly, excellent).6) Now that Nvidia has been chided by the industry as a whole for their lack of focus on Aniso, they are putting focus and resources back on this issue. The OpenGL Aniso fix in v29+ proves this (as do their public statements on the matter).7) It is rumored, and confirmed at least externally by eVGA, that a Detonator 5 series which includes the DirectX Aniso fixes are under development.8) Taken all of the above, the v29 series should be recommended to FS users, even if DirectX Aniso isn't fixed. The vast majority of FS users do not use FS exclusively, and as such, will benefit from the driver upgrade.Whew! Ok... Back to you.:-) http://members.rogers.com/eelvish/elrondlogo.gifhttp://members.rogers.com/eelvish/flyurl.gif

[Guest]

I wanted to thank everyone for their reports on these drivers. I appreciate the feedback very much.Take care, http://members.rogers.com/eelvish/elrondlogo.gifhttp://members.rogers.com/eelvish/flyurl.gif

[Chris Willis 8]

Elrond, Will this GeForce Tweak Utilityhttp://www.guru3d.com/geforcetweakutilityWill this tweaker works correct on my TNT2 ULTRA. I have seen this utility long time ago but never donwloaded because it for GFORCE card only?--------------------------------------------------------------------EditedJust tried the latest driver and installed the gforce tweather, can't works, can't find the gforce win/xp driver.ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFshttp://fsw.simflight.com/fsw.jpg

[jkanold 0]

Chris,You might wanna try NVMAX. It works for both TNT and Geforce cardshttp://members.rogers.com/jkanold/jimlogo.gifhttp://members.rogers.com/eelvish/flyurl.gif

[Guest]

Ah yes. Sorry Chris... I didn't read close enough that you were running a TNT2. You are correct: the GeForce Tweak Utility doesn't work with the TNT2, but the RivaTuner does. Download that one and you should be good to go.Jim: Hey ya bud. NVMax doesn't work right with all the latest drivers because the author gave up development on it prior to v23.11. You too should check out RivaTuner. Good to talk at ya my Herr.Take care, http://members.rogers.com/eelvish/elrondlogo.gifhttp://members.rogers.com/eelvish/flyurl.gif

[Chris Willis 8]

Ok Thanks, I reinstalled like I have before and I am happy with the nvmax and 22.50 driver, the graphics are crisp, anyways I will have another complete new system.ThanksChris Willis[link:fsw.simflight.com/FSWMenuFsSim.html]Clouds And Addons For MsFshttp://fsw.simflight.com/fsw.jpg

[Guest]

Elrond it just occured to me that once again the refresh rate is not working on these with win2k.This is seems to be a new trend in nvidia drivers which is quite annoying to say they least so I have gone back down to the 23.11.Iam hoping that they will fix it :/ other than that I do think in some areas the 23.11 are a better performance driver but the 29.42 give a better picture.Richard Dillon KATLSr First Officer www.jetstarairlines.com"Bill Grabowski's"ERJ-145 panel Beta TeamMD-11 panel Beta Team____________________________"Lets Roll" 9/11 Specs AMD 1600 XP 512MB DDR GF3 ti 200 64MB SBliveCh Products Yoke and Pedals(usb)Windows 2000 SP2