180.42 Beta Driver Test and Comparison

Introduction: Quite self explanatory, this test will compare the recently released 180.42 Beta driver against the last few stable releases and it promises such much - but does it deliver?..

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.

Cards supported by this driver:

NVIDIA_G80.DEV_0191.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX"
NVIDIA_G80.DEV_0193.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS"
NVIDIA_G80.DEV_0194.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0600.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0601.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0602.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0604.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0605.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT "
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0606.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0610.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0611.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT "
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0612.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0613.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX+"
NVIDIA_G92.DEV_0614.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT "
NVIDIA_G94.DEV_0622.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT"
NVIDIA_G94.DEV_0623.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GS"
NVIDIA_G94.DEV_0625.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GSO 512"
NVIDIA_G96.DEV_0640.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT"
NVIDIA_G96.DEV_0641.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT "
NVIDIA_G96.DEV_0643.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT "
NVIDIA_G96.DEV_0644.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GS"
NVIDIA_G96.DEV_0645.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GS "
NVIDIA_G96.DEV_065B.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT "
NVIDIA_GT200.DEV_05E1.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280"
NVIDIA_GT200.DEV_05E2.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260"
NVIDIA_C79.DEV_0860.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9300"
NVIDIA_C79.DEV_0864.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9300 "
NVIDIA_C79.DEV_0865.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9300 "
NVIDIA_C79.DEV_0868.1 = "NVIDIA nForce 760i SLI"
NVIDIA_C79.DEV_086A.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9400 "
NVIDIA_C79.DEV_086C.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9300 / nForce 730i"
NVIDIA_C79.DEV_086D.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce 9200