Detonator FX Drivers Released

[Jonty]

Hello

Just a quick note to say that the official, non-beta, Detonator FX drivers have been released. They are available to download direct from nVidia (Windows 2000/XP-only link). Weighing in at 18.8Mb, they're not small, but localised versions (which should hover around 9Mb) will be released soon and will be available from your local nVidia site.

Although primarily aimed at vastly improving nVidia's latest GeForce FX range, other users should experience improved performance and better image quality. Whatever the case, these WHQL-verified drivers should be worth downloading.

Kind Regards

 

[kameleon]

What we need is a permanent sticky thread with latest driver links for all the major chipset drivers and bios flashing programs with instructions how to install/flash bios etc.


Just an idea, what do you think?

 

[Embattle]

Did that once

 

[Jonty]

Consider It Done™ I don't know whether it was a good idea to disable posting in the thread or not? I thought things may get a little messy over time. Keep in mind the list is very short so please make suggestions

Kind Regards

 

[(Shovel)]

I recon keeping it locked is the best plan, then just keep editing that top post. Otherwise, as you say, it will just get lost in itself. It's good of you to keep that up to date for us Jonty.

How broad do you want to make it? I mean we could have mouse/printer drivers on there? (Actually, printers might be a little ott with there being so many? - maybe a link to the manufactures drivers page?)

I'll PM you as the thread requests

 

[Will]

Slap the Via 4-in-1 drivers in it.

 

[Embattle]

Oh dear, could it be true

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1086857,00.asp

 

[Jonty]

Originally posted by Embattle
Oh dear, could it be true

nVidia? Taking naughty steps to discredit a program they've publicly rebuked? Surely not teeheehee

Kind Regards

 

[Scooba Da Bass]

Discredit?

Surely they are just trying to cheat the test and get a better result?

 

[Jonty]

Originally posted by Scooba Da Bass
Discredit? Surely they are just trying to cheat the test and get a better result?

That's a natural consequence of their actions, yes, but a while back there was a lot of coverage about nVidia's less than amicable split with FutureMark. Basically, FutureMark refused to give in to presure by nVidia to alter their tests, which nVidia perceived to be too synthetic and thus quite useless. Whilst both side's arguments had merit, nVidia wasn't having any of it and refused to support 3DMark as it had done in the past.

When the 2003 suite was released, nVidia publicly declared that they could manipulate the results by optimising certain parts of their drivers, even though genuine gains in games and such wouldn't follow. To demonstrate this, nVidia incorporated these changes into a beta version of their drivers which were subsequently leaked to prove their point. Sadly (depending on how you view it) nVidia saw an opportunity and decided the changes should be kept in future releases of their drivers. So in that respect, you're right, they're no longer proving point and have moved more towards deception.

However, it is at present unclear whether these 'optimisations' are present in the DetonatorFX drivers. The doubt comes because there are now substantial gains and genuine applications, such as games. But as Embattle's link demonstrates, it seems the changes are still present.

Kind Regards

 

[Scooba Da Bass]

The whole thing is boring, S3 Virge POWER!

 

[Jonty]

Originally posted by Scooba Da Bass
The whole thing is boring, S3 Virge POWER!

hee hee It's a shame that nothing has really happened with S3's new products, since there was quite some excitement a little while back at what people hoped would be a good, fairly powerful, cheap, DirectX 9 solution. Oh well

Kind Regards

 

[bodhi]

Originally posted by Jonty
nVidia? Taking naughty steps to discredit a program they've publicly rebuked? Surely not teeheehee

Kind Regards

That's funny, the official nVIDIA line at the moment is that it's a bug. If they're trying to discredit 3dmark, they're picking an awfy funny way of doing it.

 

[(Shovel)]

Possibly because after the GFFX mk1, they've been pretty discredited themselves.

3D Mark, although it holds no weight around these boards, is still a "known" brand for benchmarking. If you've just been knocked down for poor performance, it looks like sour grapes, or dirty tricks or suchlike.

As Jonty says though, there are aparently some real world differences, which is infinitely more important than a little scuffle over 3DMark.