NVIDIA Forceware 181.20 WHQL

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NVIDIA ForceWare software unleashes the full power and features in NVIDIA's desktop, gaming, platform, workstation, laptop, multimedia, and mobile products. Delivering a proven record of compatibility, reliability, and stability with the widest range of games and applications, ForceWare software ensures the best experience with your NVIDIA hardware.

Exciting New Features:

Added support for GeForce GTX 295 and GeForce GTX 285
Enables NVIDIA SLI technology on SLI-certified Intel X58-based motherboards with all SLI-certified GPUs.
Enables NVIDIA SLI Multi-monitor support, giving you the ability to use two monitors with your GeForce graphics cards in SLI mode. Now you can easily switch between multi-monitor desktop mode and full screen 3D gaming mode. Learn more here.
Enables NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on a dedicated GeForce graphics card. Use one card for graphics and dedicate a different card for PhysX processing for game-changing physical effects. Learn more here. (Note: GPU PhysX is supported on all GeForce 8-series, 9-series and 200-series GPUs with a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory. This driver package automatically installs PhysX System Software version 8.10.13).
Supports GeForce Plus Power Pack #2. Download these free PhysX and CUDA applications now!
Added support for the new NVIDIA CUDA Video Encoder with H.264 optimization

Blazing Fast Performance:

Boosts performance in numerous 3D applications. The following are some examples of improvements measured with Release 180 drivers vs. Release 178 drivers (results will vary depending on your GPU, system configuration, and game settings):
o Up to 10% performance increase in 3DMark Vantage (performance preset)
o Up to 13% performance increase in Assassin's Creed
o Up to 13% performance increase in BioShock
o Up to 15% performance increase in Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
o Up to 10% performance increase in Crysis Warhead
o Up to 25% performance increase in Devil May Cry 4
o Up to 38% performance increase in Far Cry 2
o Up to 18% performance increase in Race Driver: GRID
o Up to 80% performance increase in Lost Planet: Colonies
o Up to 18% performance increase in World of Conflict

And More:

Supports single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL, including 3-way and Quad SLI technology.
Supports CUDA.
Supports Folding@home distributing computing application. Download the high performance client for NVIDIA GPUs here and join the NVIDIA team: #131015.
Supports GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.
Includes numerous 3D 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.

Download: NVIDIA Forceware 181.20 drivers

#1 RAID 0 on 09 Jan 2009 - 11:13

Thanks for the heads up!

#2 SIE on 09 Jan 2009 - 11:48

Can somebody try these on Windows 7 x64 with Counter-Strike 1.6 in OpenGL please, I had issues with these and the 185's.

Last edited by SIE on 09 Jan 2009 - 15:37

#3 PENGUINwithM4A1 on 09 Jan 2009 - 12:09

/e nvm

Last edited by PENGUINwithM4A1 on 09 Jan 2009 - 15:33

(6 replies) #4 c e 3 2 0 on 09 Jan 2009 - 12:30

Warning to GeForce 7600 Users!!!

These new 181.20 drivers do not work properly! You will get stuck with VGA mode drivers and a device manager error:

Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)

Click 'Check for solutions' to send data about this device to Microsoft and to see if there is a solution available.

I am not the only person experiencing this:
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=86120

#4.1 DaDog V12 on 10 Jan 2009 - 05:32

c e 3 2 0 said,

Thanks for the heads up there buddy.

#4.2 c e 3 2 0 on 10 Jan 2009 - 11:19

DaDog V12 said,

I've submitted the issue in to NVidia's software quality group as a bug in the release, it looks like it might just be Vista users who are having the problems. I haven't personally confirmed it though.

#4.3 Jon 5 on 10 Jan 2009 - 18:07

I have a 7600gt and would have installed this driver if not for your warning. Thanks a lot!!

#4.4 Jon 5 on 10 Jan 2009 - 18:07

#4.5 c e 3 2 0 on 10 Jan 2009 - 20:37

Jon 5 said,

I'm glad you didn't, I wasted an hour of my life on it that I'll never get back again

#4.6 Atmos42 on 12 Jan 2009 - 01:17

I wish I had read this first. I installed it in vista for my 7600, didn't get the error message, but lost dual monitor access, the NVidia control panel, and got stuck with VGA drivers also. It was a PITA! I uninstalled and reinstalled and had the same problems. Good to know it isn't just me!

#5 neufuse on 09 Jan 2009 - 16:23

up to 80% increase? geez

#6 Circaflex on 10 Jan 2009 - 02:08

just downloaded and installed these on my 295

(1 reply) #7 2Cold Scorpio on 10 Jan 2009 - 19:43

Anyone know if these work with Windows 7 Beta x64? If so, I figure these could get better performance than the 179s that come with it...

#7.1 Circaflex on 11 Jan 2009 - 01:27

2Cold Scorpio said,

yes they work.

#8 c e 3 2 0 on 10 Jan 2009 - 21:08

I just installed this on a GF6200 Vista 32-bit system. I got a 0.2 drop down to 2.4 on the assessment for 'Graphics' compared to 2.6 on driver version 178.24.

#9 iLLuSiOnZ on 11 Jan 2009 - 11:34

wish i read this before installing the drivers! 7600gt here ><

#10 skynetXrules on 11 Jan 2009 - 15:22

rofl

#11 DClark on 11 Jan 2009 - 19:49

Installed on 7600GT with no problems (albeit, Windows 7 64-bit)

#12 SirEvan on 12 Jan 2009 - 00:56

performance seems to be the same on my 260 SSC, running in vista x64 and frontlines fuel of war, still around 60-65 fps @ 1920x1080

#13 JonathanVP on 13 Jan 2009 - 06:11

doesn't work on the 7800 series either! Piece of **** software!

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