Graphics Nvidia 169.XX no Vsync in vistaSP1

Has nobody else noticed that the 169.XX drivers no longer support Vsync, via the control panel, in Vista SP1. I thought I was going nuts when games like Stalker, GOW and UT3 suddenlly turned into a "split-screen fest". Serously, I must be extremely sensitive to screen tearing because it drives me mental; to the point where I can't even play the game. Some title's in-game Vsync setting still seems to work: World in Conflict for example but I'm certain the three listed previously don't. A bit of research shows that some changes were made to the way Vsync operates in Vista, with the release of SP1 and as a result, it will require new drivers/and or game patches to resolve the problem.

Now what's weird is I've been using the 174.XX drivers (9 series) with a modded .inf and these work just fine with forced Vsync and AA (and better performance for that matter) but unfortunately, my GTX doesn't like them and starts artifacting and throwing random BSODs.

So I go with:
- 100% stability (169.XX) with tearing (ARGHHH!)
- 50% stabilty (174.XX) no tearing / better performance / higher IQ.

Tough choice.

Just wondering why Nvidia has it working fine in the 174.XX series of drivers but not the 169.XXs. Let's hope Nvidia don't leave us G80 owners out in the cold and it was just necessary to get the 9 series drivers right first, due to the amount of press coverage on them at the moment.

 

Slightly OT, but where did you get Vista SP1 from? I have tried looking for it on the Microsoft site and Updates and I can't seem to find it.

 

I got it through the standard windows update when Microsoft "accidently" threw the switch early on it. I posted on here a while back about it and I think quite a few people managed to grab it before it was pulled.

Anyone with SP1 having the Vsync issues?

 

see, it's not all good with a GTX

im using 174.16 drivers from XTreme-G, seems stable enough for most games, haven't had time to play a lot of game with 3 coursework plus 2 projects need to be done before Easter.

perhaps knock a few 10Mhz down on your core clock? i also discovered that my previous 3dmark overclock seems to be not as stable with 174 drivers as before. (only 648/1620/1000) but my Crysis overclock seems to be perfectly fine (621/1620/945)

 

Yeah, at first I assumed it was the clock speeds.

Even with the card at stock though I still have artifacting/crashing with any of the 174.xx drivers. With the 169.44 betas I can run 702/1728/1080 in ATi tool for hours with no errors and didn't experience a single glitch when playing any games. It's just the bleeding Vsync! If nvidia could release those betas again with Vsync support all would be good in the world and I could rest easy knowing that my eyes weren't going to be raped by screen tearing!

Using 174.12 atm as they seem a little more stable than the 174.16 for me (as in slightly less crashing ).

 

Can't be doing with crashing and can't be doing without vsync.

I've been pondering whether to grab SP1 off technet now or just wait until the proper release and this has sealed the deal, never realised about the vsync.

Rest assured that your pain doing some good (to me)

 

Tell me about it Tad

I'm just giving the 169.91 Xtreme-g's a try and I've got some odd results. Looks like Vsync is fine in UT3 but not GOW (both enabled in game and forced via control panel)? Same engine... WTF?

Anyways, I guess I'll stick with these til Nvidia get their assess in gear.

From what I understand the 17x.xx drivers were designed primarily with the G94 and newer G92 (9800GTX/GX2) in mind. Obviously the original G92 (8800GT/GTS 512mb) is all but identical to these cores and may explain why so many of those users encounter no problems with the 17x.xx driver series. The same can't be said for GTX users unfortunately. What's odd however, is that I was using the 17x.xx series drivers with my 8800GTS 640mb (G80) with no problems. Maybe it's due to the memory bus size/bandwidth or something.

Surely it can't be that difficult for them to implement the same basic functionality into G80 based drivers that they have into G92/G94 based ones.

What I find odd is that Nvidia have a history of releasing drivers that suddenly don't support forced Vsync or forced AA. It's getting rather frustrating

EDIT: Seems Crysis is fine in these drivers with Vsync too. Looks like it's just some titles, namely Stalker and GOW for me at the moment. It's definitely driver related though as they both work fine (in terms of Vsync) with 17x.xx drivers.

 

In hindsight, these drivers seem pretty good (xtreme g 169.91).

GOW and Stalker seem to be the only games I have affected with the Vsync issues and I don't really play them an awful lot now. Also, not a driver related crash/bsod in sight!

Games I've tested that are fine: Crysis, World In Conflict, Team Fortress 2, UT3, Company of Heroes (also have no atifacting in this title that is caused by any 17x.xx driver I've used).

On the plus side, I seem to have a better 24/7 overclock than before - 702/1728/2214Mhz! Been running ATi-Tool in the background for a few hours whilst staying up 'til ridiculous o'clock trying to get some of my programming coursework finished

 

Just a quick update, I notice nobody really seemed bothered but I've just tried the 174.70 betas and they are superb with the 8800GTX.

Vsync is definitely working (though I've yet to try forced AA) and the IQ and performance is fantastic.

All my previous woes with the 174.xx drivers have vanished and this one doesn't need a modified .inf

 

Good timing with SP1 as well. I'm sold now, cheers for the update

 

I wish I could get SP1 in the first place

 

No probs

I haven't done any "extensive" testing with these yet so If you want something more conclusive, hold fire til I update (a good WIC session used to cause the other 174.xx drivers to die spontaneously on me). First impressions are that all is well though.

 

it's no on nVidia's website......... linky?

 

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=181509

Mods: let me know if that's a bit cheeky and I'll take it down.

wuyanxu: Google is your friend

 

well, i don't really trust those modified drivers......... that's why i asked for a linky, to get the exact one you are using.
thanks.