Introduction: Moddified drivers, do they really provide any benefits over stock sets - much promise to improve performance and others claim to boost image quality. Today the intention is to define what modded drivers can really do - snake oil or worthy time investment...
Testing methods
Benchmarks used:
F.E.A.R (built in performance tester).
3D Mark 06 and Vantage.
Crysis War Head (benchmark application from here, using the ambush map).
S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky For IQ testing, along with F.E.A.R MP.
World In Conflict Standard test ran at "High Quality".
Test Drive Unlimited
Hardware used:
Intel Q6600 Overclocked to 3Ghz
Abit IP-35 E
4GB of OCZ Plat at 667Mhz (CL4)
Nvidia GeForce 9600GT
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
Software:
Microsoft Windows Vista x64 Ultimate
Fraps, for screen captures.
Change log included in the 177.72 set:
Optimized drivers for nVidia GeForce graphic cards. Some features: Support for all GF 6/7/8/9/GT2xx cards. Removed all performance-useless files (help files, etc). Reduced size of installer packages. Removed Nvidia Display Helper service (speeds up system startup and shutdown). Numerous DirectX and OpenGL tweaks. Faster Nvidia Control Panel performance. Solved issue causing Digital Vibrance malfunction. Solved issue making you unable to change Vertical Sync and Anisotropic Filtering properties.
