Author Topic: Test results, Nvidia Geforce drivers (Read 1493 times)

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:17:07 AM »

It may break down to brand specifics as far as I know. The brands I used in my testing varied from PNY to Chaintech. I could only use what I had access to. I also have an old Orchid 32MB Geforce2 card, but I didnt see the point in testing it. I know the 5900XT I am using now (softmodded to a 5900U), the memory wont go faster than 775 (I run it at 750). I have the GPU set at 450 and it runs fine there. I've never really tested it to see how far it would go. Obviously, at least the memory modules in yours are of better quality. It could be something about your card accepts the newer drivers where mine wont. I think the collection I have is pretty representative of whats being used by people here with Nvidia stuff, although as your post points out there are always going to be exceptions to the rule.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2005, 03:05:38 AM »

nice write up SA .
theres still alot of 5200's here though to . and id suggest doing stock clockings also . alot of guys wont try to push there cycles up .. (its hard to blame them at the $$$ of cards these days)

a big problem with temps on the gpu is there isnt a good thermal paste on them if any at all .. alot of them are stuck on w/ that stupid tape also. just another thing to think about befor you over clock a video card.

(Ive got a brand new 9200 here and its hs is on w/ tape , and it doesnt even have a fan . hell my old gf 2's were set up better)

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2005, 04:11:58 PM »

Yeah, I really wanted to do more cards, but I had to stick with what I either had on hand, or I could borrow locally. For some reason, PNY seems to be the brand most stores carry here, so thats what folks end up with. The online selections are better, but its really hard to shop by brand online and find a good representation of an entire lineup. So that's reflected in my tests unfortunately.

Also, only the card I'm using now is OC'd. For a good representation during testing, I reset the card to default (390 on the GPU and 700 on the memory). I also have to say that the FX 5700 seemed to have problems from time to time, although nothing I could track down. I'd get micro-freezes or "stutters" in the video, artifacts would show up and then dissapear, video would "tear" sometimes and then fix itself........... The fan worked, I checked the thermal paste on the GPU heatsink, and temps SEEMED to stay in normal range (would get into mid 40s under load). I did notice that Tom's Hardware refused to put the 5700 in some of it's benchmarks because they said it was an OEM product and the variations in construction made it impossible to get consistent numbers? Maybe I shouldnt even include it as "tested".

Roscoroo · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2005, 04:35:08 PM »

yea the 5700's are a pain .. thats why i dont recommend them .

Ive been ah2 testing all the cards ive been getting my paws on too .
gf 4 440, 4600,5200,5600 5900.
Ati's 9200,9500,9550 9600's 9800's

Halo · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2005, 04:09:24 PM »

Thanks for the info, guys. Scary stuff, way beyond my knowledge or tolerance thresholds. Bottom line for me is not to mess with anything that ain't seriously broken.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 13, 2005, 06:36:44 PM »

Heh, thats actually good advice for all of us. I just cant stand not to "tweak" things. I did it with my cars when I was a teenager. I do it with computers and guns now.

2bighorn · « **Reply #21 on:** June 14, 2005, 01:27:24 AM »

I just got installed 6800GT (Elsa Gladiac) with 71.89. I had to turn off Anisotropic Filtering off, otherwise in AH during the blackout I don't get the circle but full screen blackout.

Do you SOA2 or Roscoroo know which driver ver. works best with 6800 series and AH?

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 14, 2005, 01:38:57 AM »

Anything should be fine with the newer cards. If you are having problems with the newest one, try the 66.93 Omega drivers.

As for the problem with AF, I have always had a problem running it in Aces High, while other folks dont. I have no idea why, and neither did Skuzzy. I'd say its going to vary from system to system. But since you really wont make much use of AF in the game anyway, I wouldnt count that as a loss.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #23 on:** June 14, 2005, 03:43:14 AM »

mu AF is on application preferance so i believe its in the off mode for ah .

71.89 should be ok as long as you dont get stuttering or any other anonomilies.

TracerX · « **Reply #24 on:** June 15, 2005, 01:57:25 AM »

Thanks for the info Star. It sounds exactly like what I have been experiencing lately. I have:

AMD Sempron 3000+ running at normal rates
512K Mushkin PC3200 (single stick)
Gigabyte GA-7N400Pro2 board w/nvidia2 chipset
BFG Geforce FX5700 Ultra video card.

I recently switched to the above processor after I couldn't get my computer to turn on with the AMD 2800+ CPU installed. I had upgraded the video drivers about 6 months ago to the 71.89 drivers from the 61.77 drivers. I didn't notice any problems with either driver until I started running the new Sempron 3000+ CPU. Now I get freezes just like you describe Star, for about 15-30 seconds. Sometimes they drop Host too. I will revert back to the 61.77 drivers and hope that makes things better.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #25 on:** June 15, 2005, 02:12:55 AM »

Tracer alot of mainboards still need a bios flashed/updated to run a sempron correctly .. (something to check on if you havent already)

TracerX · « **Reply #26 on:** June 15, 2005, 12:08:40 PM »

That was the first thing I tried Roscoroo. It is detected correctly by Bios now as Sempron 3000+.

I changed drivers, but will check stability tonight when I have time. I am trying to understand why the video drivers might fix this problem when the problem seems to be related more directly to the CPU. What is it about the driver instructions that will cause conflicts with a different CPU?

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 15, 2005, 12:25:51 PM »

Tracer if you notice at the beginning of the thread, I didnt have problems with the 71.89 drivers at first either. They worked great. But the more I played, the more I noticed problems. The longer I was online, the more likely it was that I would start freezing up and getting CTDs. I think it has to do with the temp. settings in the default Nvidia drivers. If a card is at all liable to run hot, it will with those new drivers. The Omegas dont because they come with the coolbits hack built in, and whatever it is he does to make things more compatible. I cant run the stock Nvidia 66.93 drivers either, but I'm running the Omega version of those drivers now and nary a problem.

TracerX · « **Reply #28 on:** June 17, 2005, 11:51:40 AM »

Two days now on the old 61.XX drivers and not a single lock up. I am happy now. Maybe I will try the Omega drivers when I get around to it, but you know the saying, if it ain't broke...

68KO · « **Reply #29 on:** June 17, 2005, 02:44:31 PM »

where can I find these omega drivers star?