I have a Gateway DX4720 and was checking out how up to date its drivers are. Using Device Manager I checked out Nvidia (ver. 8.17.125896) and did the automatic internet search, resulting in my driver was up to date. However, I noted on Gateway's site that there was a Nvidia chipset driver (package 15.45) available for download. I am confused, do I need to install it or not?
Rule of thumb: if it's working OK, leave it alone. For all you know, it won't improve anything and may hurt.
But some people are driver-obsessed and can't refuse new drivers.
I'd at least make a restore point if you are unable to resist.
Depending on what Nvidia device you check in device manager you can get very different driver versions. The read me in my Nvidia chip-set driver package lists the following:
This Win7/WinVista 64-bit nForce UDA driver package for MCP61, MCP72, MCP73, MCP78, and MCP7A consists of the following components:
Ethernet Driver (v73.30) WHQL
Network Management Tools (v73.25) "Sedona"
SATAIDE Driver (v11.1.0.43) WHQL
SATARAID Driver (v11.1.0.43) WHQL
RAIDTOOL Application (v11.1.0.43) WHQL
SMBUS Driver (v4.79) WHQL
SMU Driver (v2.08) WHQL
GPU Driver (v197.13) WHQL
PhysX (v9.10.0129)
Away Mode Driver (v6.0.6000.115) WHQL
Installer (v8.36)
Acording to ASUS this is NVIDIA nForce Chipset Package Driver V15.56 (lan driver version V73.3.0.0) for Windows Vista/Windows7 64bit.(WHQL)
On the Nvidia web site, in the Download drivers section there is an
Option 2: Automatically find drivers for my NVIDIA products.
It's never worked very well for me but you might have better luck.
It should at least tell you what version is currently installed.
I prefer to get my chip-set driver from motherboard manufacturer. They sometimes modify the stock drivers to match something they have done to the motherboard. I think this is why the Nvidia tool doesn't detect my hardware correctly.
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
EDIT: 15.45 is what Nvidia lists as the latest for my NVIDIA Geforce 7025/nForce 630a (ASUS M4N68T-M V2), While ASUS offers up 15.56 in the downloads section for my motherboard.
I've got the Geforce 7100/nForce 630i and the automatic search on Nvidia's site came up with the following:
Driver version in computer is 258.96, whereas the newest driver (as of 3/12) is version 296.10.
I'm not a gamer and do a lot of net surfing and photo stuff, so I'm wondering if it is worth taking a chance with this latest driver...that is will I gain anything?
nForce is chip-set which does include a video driver for the onboard video. GeForce is Video only. I installed the nForce 15.56 for my motherboard chip-set and followed that up with the GeForce 296.10 for my Nvidia GT220 dedicated video card. No problems for me with either driver. I do play some FPS games and some racing games.
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