Nvidia GeForce Release 174.74 Beta Drivers

**MIG-31** · Mar 27, 2008, 02:15 PM

Supports GeForce 6, 7, 8, and 9 series GPUs including these newly released GPUs:
- GeForce 9800 GX2
- GeForce 9600 GT
- GeForce 8300
- GeForce 8200
- GeForce 8100/NVIDIA nForce 720a
- NVIDIA nForce 730a
Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI� technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL, including Quad SLI technology with GeForce 9800 GX2.
Adds support for NVIDIA GeForce 3D Stereo Technology for GeForce 6, 7, 8, or 9 Series GPUs, including SLI technology.
Adds new PureVideo HD features for GeForce 9800 GX2 and 9600 GT:
- Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
- Dynamic Blue, Green & Skin Tone Enhancements
- Dual-Stream Decode Acceleration*
- Microsoft Vista Aero display mode compatibility for Blu-ray & HD DVD playback*
Added the following pages to the NVIDIA Control Panel:
- Manage Custom Resolutions
- Adjust Television Color Settings
- Adjust Screen Size and Position
- Move CRT Position
Improved performance on many DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL applications.
Numerous game and application compatibility fixes. Please read the release notes for more information on product support, features, driver fixes and known compatibility issues.
Users without US English operating systems can select their language and download the International driver here.

|2A|N · Mar 27, 2008, 09:07 PM

They added more options I don't use...

Zelig · Mar 27, 2008, 09:26 PM

Is the areo mode compatibility for HD playback for all cards, or what?

Madgoat1979 · Apr 16, 2008, 10:15 AM

Tested these vs. 169.25 WHQL drivers... Wow what a difference!

Seeing frame rates a minimum + 3-4 fps in just about every application and 400 points increase in 3dm06. Its no wonder the 9800gtx barley edges out the 8800gtx. Using newer / faster drivers.

The supported WHQL driver for the 9xxx series is the 174.74 but its beta for the 8xxx series. I think Nvidia might be a little shady on releasing these drivers for the 9xxx to squeeze the 9xxx series ahead of the 8xxx to justify not only the release of the damn card, but customer upgrade purposes as well.

Just a thought, seeing as though we've all been stuck with Dec 2007's WHQL 169.25 release.

~MG~

TaZeR · Apr 19, 2008, 08:10 AM

So are these better for a 8800 GT vs the last official release, anyone tested on this card?

Madgoat1979 · Apr 26, 2008, 11:02 PM

I tell ya, these drivers are awesome. I think nvidia is up to some shenanigans with the drivers...

I mean these are beta for 8800's but are WHQL for the 9800's. But they increase the performance greatly for the 8800's to be on par with the 9800.

Think Nvidia is capping performance to keep the 9800 on top? Anyway, im just happy that they actually work well.

~MG~