Introduction: These drivers have been tweaked and modified with both image quality and performance improvements in mind, and likely with a few bug fixes but as past testing and feedback has shown the 180.xx’s so far have been rather well done I.E. are pretty good with a few improvements all around and significant improvements in synthetic performance. As shown with the other benchmarks with another modified driver, there isn’t always an obvious gain but you do need to look a little harder to see the differences day to day.
Testing methods
Benchmarks used:
F.E.A.R (built in performance tester) - Maximum settings, no soft shadows.
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 and now Test Drive Unlimited.
World In Conflict Standard test ran at "High Quality".