Do New Drivers Really Boost Performance? : Myth, Or Hidden Performance? @Tomshardware

[Akumajo]

Do New Drivers Really Boost Performance? : Madness And Myth, Or Hidden Performance?

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...king,2037.html

Basically Tomshardware takes a look at nVidia drivers comparisons and AMD Catalist driver comparisons.

I was a huge fan of when Firingsquad used to do follow ups on ATI driver performance back in the day and I feel that these types of articles/reviews should be done more ofter, specially at least twice a year.

Now I don't really know if this is a perfect review, there are many things that they could have done to please our critical eyes but its a nice read given that many are waiting for more excitement in the GPU arenas.

[JesterOnYer6]

Lets see a October article using August drivers that were known to be a pretty crappy set when Septembers had been released equals why THG sucks donkey nuts.

[Akumajo]

Originally Posted by JesterOnYer6

Lets see a October article using August drivers that were known to be a pretty crappy set when Septembers had been released equals why THG sucks donkey nuts.

Great point, we should email THG and point that out to them.

Personally I had a major problem with the CPU they used, I mean come on they are using an old, rusty 65nm Intel chip when 45nm Intel chips are already long in the tooth?

[SIrPauly]

What is the myth? Driver's don't improve hardware?

In my experiences there are always some gains in certain titles over time and sometimes there are new features added to improve gaming experiences like a adaptive AA for radeon cards or an improved multi-sampling TA feature from nVidia or even Physx, hehe! You can't expect miracles over a short time but some substance over a generation or two, one may imagine.

[KAC]

Old drivers..

[Akumajo]

Originally Posted by SIrPauly

What is the myth? Driver's don't improve hardware?

In my experiences there are always some gains in certain titles over time and sometimes there are new features added to improve gaming experiences like a adaptive AA for radeon cards or an improved multi-sampling TA feature from nVidia or even Physx, hehe! You can't expect miracles over a short time but some substance over a generation or two, one may imagine.

Thats true my old GeForce 6800GT greatly benefitted from newer drivers when Nvidia turned on that adaptive AA feature from the 7800 series and later my 7950GT was purchased mainly thanks to Nvidia's excellent service.

My next card I am hoping will be either a 55nm refresh or lower, unless GTX 280s start getting cheaper this year.

[acroig]

Originally Posted by Akumajo

My next card I am hoping will be either a 55nm refresh or lower

Agreed, wait and maybe get the nV 10.1 card.

[Akumajo]

Originally Posted by acroig

Agreed, wait and maybe get the nV 10.1 card.

I don't really think that there is a need for Nvidia to make a Direct X 10.1 based card specially after Dx 11 is supposed to be released next year with cards from both companies in tow.

I meant it more in the sense that I would prefer either a 9800GTX+ 55nm or a GTX 280 at 55nm but this year I cannot buy a graphics card so its next year

[acroig]

Originally Posted by Akumajo

I don't really think that there is a need for Nvidia to make a Direct X 10.1 based card specially after Dx 11 is supposed to be released next year with cards from both companies in tow.

Need? Maybe not but you know nV is working on its next card and they (or someone) hinted that it would be 10.1. My point was to wait and see what, if anything, that card would have to offer vs the current lineup.

[aviphysics]

Originally Posted by JesterOnYer6

Lets see a October article using August drivers that were known to be a pretty crappy set when Septembers had been released equals why THG sucks donkey nuts.

I concur. THG is to computer hardware what MTV is to music.

[acroig]

Originally Posted by aviphysics

THG is to computer hardware what MTV is to music.