Nvidia 84.12 driver and a kick in the teeth

[Dekkard]

So Nvidia releases a new beta driver (no sign of a much needed WHQL but hey). Great! My excitement builds....maybe that fix for AMD 76x chipset incompatibility will be fixed, maybe dual core problems will get sorted.....
it's amazing how deflating it can then be to find a new driver release has to be modified by nvidia 24h later to even include your card (a 6800GS AGP).
This is not a rare card and is one of only a couple of major gaming card releases from nvidia in 2006 (that and the 7800GS) so I was obviously deeply concerned that such a card could even be omitted in the first place.
So then to the release notes.....how about those fixes???? Well, dual core issues get some attention but no word on the AMD 76x chipset problem (not even on their unresolved issues section). So the question is - are nvidia ignoring this issue? Unable to fix this (if this is a HSI bridge chip problem then why did the 78.05 drivers work ok?) or unwilling to examine it (you know, AMD is written in the complaint so it has to be their problem right?) :O
Well, I wish I could provide some great insight and not just rant but if nothing else, I hope this new beta driver helps some of you out at least. 🙁

 

[SuperFly03]

What chipset is that? Nvidia still hasn't fixed the problem of Battlefield menu's being all F'd up until after you connect to a server. They claim its from installing an old driver first... Last time i reformatted (about a week ago) i started with 82.12 and BAM it still happens lol. Oh well

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

This driver's supposed to add to their PureVideo side of the equation. Expect to see new HQV reviews shortly.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30039

 

[mpjesse]

No offense... but why the hell are you using a motherboard w/ an AMD chipset?

Get a new board. lol. AMD doesn't give chipsets any attention anymore, so why should nVidia?

 

[Dekkard]

Well, I have to continue my rant!!!!!!!!!
Nvidia claim they have now added support for the 6800GS AGP into their inf file for the 84.12 beta driver but following attempted installation it is clear they lied! No, this driver does not presently recognize the 6800GS AGP (it states support in the release notes and on their website but will not recognize the card!).
Now the expression that comes to mind is not knowing ones arse from ones elbow......harsh but fair I feel.
Why oh why did I not go with X800GTO????
I guess its up to the consumer to modify the inf file to get something that actually works as Nvidia states! Maybe I should ask them for some payment for that....then I could get afford a replacement card that IS supported by the designer!

 

[Grimmy]

I saw the update (84.12 beta) and tried it out as well, since I'm on a AGP BFG-6800-GS. Tried it before I saw this...

Although, I had a feeling it would do the same damn thing as the WHQL Certified 81.98 drivers.

Pissed me off that I had to uninstall, and reinstall the old beta version.

What grieves me the most, is that they had the 81.98 out before the 7800GS were out. The 6800GS were out allot sooner then the 7800GS, and had no WHQL support, and still doesn't.. :roll:

O'well... at least it still works.

 

[Dekkard]

Well, still peeved but I did get the 84.12 driver to work with my 6800GS AGP. I just copied over the nv4_disp.inf file from 82.12 to replace that for 84.12 and hey presto.....why nvidia didn't work this issue out I find impossible to answer!
Anyhows, I haven't tried switching my CPU to AGP controller back to 5.33 and am continuing at present with the generic PCI to PCI bridge driver but may try that later......little motivation as nvidia does not even raise this complaint in the driver release notes!
Haven't noted any improvement in performance yet....NALU demo still plays awfully slow but HL2:Lost Coast looks and performs almost identically, 3DMark03 score was not improved.