I just learned from Tweakguides that Nvidia has just released a GeForce/Ion driver. Please take note that this version, 260.89, is a beta so install at your own risk.
The download link after the jump.
>>>Nvidia GeForce/Ion driver official page
Realtek has just released version 2.53 of their HD drivers.
The link after the jump.
>>>Realtek HD official webpage
Nothing impressive with this one; on my system the bass and treble have been toned down a bit (nothing that can't be fixed in the HD control panel though). The mid frequencies however, are more solid this time around.
[EDIT: Just remembered that new installs mess up the volume settings. I fixed them and then had to listen to the tracks of Aquasky's Original Crime video twice --- version 2.47 is that awesome. What with the mid freqs having undergone a quality overhaul, this update is a must download.]
The download link and my Realtek HD High Definition 2.42 equalizer settings after the jump.
>>>Click HERE
While the previous Realtek HD High Definition audio codec update boosted the higher frequencies, this one takes care of the lower freqs. I guess the folks at Realtek realized they needed to tone down the default treble effects a bit. Changes are minimal but it's there.
The download link and my Realtek HD High Definition 2.42 equalizer settings after the jump.
>>>Click HERE
The VideoLAN devs have released another version of their downloadable freeware multimedia player, bringing it up to VLC 1.0.5.
Impressions and the changelog after the jump.
VideoLAN 1.0.5 produces minimal audio quality improvements over the previous versions though I've noticed that lower frequencies now have more force. The change is minimal, but it's there.
From the VLC site:
Changes between 1.0.4 and 1.0.5:
--------------------------------
Decoders:
* SubRip extra styles improvements
* Fix potential crashes in SSA and svg decoders
Mac OS X Interface:
* Improved support for the 2009 Apple Remote
Windows port:
* Use of gcc 4.4.2 to compile instead of gcc 4.2. This might slightly
increase performance and fix x264 issues
Translations:
* Portuguese Brazilian, Lithunanian, Romanian, Ukranian, Japanese, Bengali,
Walloon, Galician, Danish, Khmer, Polish, Slovenian, Vietnamese, Finnish
Russian, Slovak translation updates
* New Malayalam, Macedoninan, Nynorsk translations
Free-Codecs has released K-lite Codec Pack full version 5.7.0. The free codec bundle provides minimal changes over K-lite Codec Pack full version 5.6.1, improving bass effects but leaving the output quality of higher frequencies unchanged. (My audio output could differ from other users; settings used wildly differs from user to user. See my Realtek HD High Definition Audio Codec Update article to see my equalizer settings. I'm also using a Logitech X-530 5.1 surround sound system.)
>> What's so special about free, K-Lite Codec Pack full downloadable versions? Click.
The changelog and the download link after the jump.
What's new? This from Free-Codecs.com:Changes from K-Lite Codec Pack 5.6.1 FULL to K-Lite Codec Pack 5.7.0 FULL :
- Updated Media Player Classic Home Cinema to version 1.3.1595.0
- Changed default video renderer in MPC-HC on Vista/7 to "EVR Sync"
- Changed default H.264 decoder from "ffdshow (libavcodec)" to "DivX H.264"
- This gives better decoding performance, certainly on computers with multiple CPU cores
- Updated Gabest MP4 splitter to version 1.3.1572.0
- Updated AC3ACM to version 1.5
- Updated Codec Tweak Tool to version 4.2.0
- Updated Win7DSFilterTweaker to version 2.8
- Minor changes
The free K-lite Codec Pack full update can be downloaded from HERE.
A few months back, I wrote a review of one of the best registry cleaners, Glary Utilities. Last Jan 21, its creator released v2.19 of the free registry maintenance tweak tool.
Due to the 1-click convenience and the performance boost it offers, no PC gamer shouldn't be without this free registry cleaner .
Links to the review and the official site of the downloadable freeware utility can after the jump.
>>>See my review of this excellent freeware PC maintenance tweak tool HERE.
Realtek HD Audio Codec 2.41 stands as one of the best drivers I've tried in months. The update sharpens the higher frequencies without compromising bass effects --- listening to hard rock and techno tracks is now a powerful experience with electric guitars now having a more pronounced serrated feel.
I haven't tried it out with my games yet but I'm guessing I'll be treated to more powerful oomphs, sharper glass shatters, and angrier neighbors tomorrow morning.
Interested in the download? The link to the Realtek HD High Definition audio codec 2.41 update after the jump.
>>>Click HERE
Enough said.
I'm going to have a heyday this weekend trying out my MP3s with these new versions. :D
Nvidia's latest WHQL video card driver, the GeForce 191.07 (they dropped the "Forceware" several months back), is not as perfect as its WHQL label claims it to be (one reason why I trust 3rd-party Nvidia-based video card drivers --- even WHQL ones have bugs so wth). Nvidia's latest offering seems to cause hang and crash problems in several games. There are also games that stutter with this Nvidia video card driver.
Links to forum discussions about 191.07 hang and crash problems after the jump.
Negative comment (Nvidia forums): "However 191.07 drivers are like malign cancer spreading metastases in OS here and there, so I am not sure whether driver sweeper kills them all."
Advisory (Sims 3 forums): "there is currently an issue with the NVidia 191.07 drivers and the Sims 3 game. "
Problem with the new GeForce 191.07 video card driver (techPowerUp! forums)
Stuttering issues (TweakForce forums under New Drivers > 191.07 WHQL thread): "major stuttering during Artillery strikes in Call of duty WAW."
Of course, there are others who have not experienced any problems with this video card driver on their PCs but I've never encountered such manifold complaints about an Nvidia driver. I'm going back to Xtreme-G 190.62.
>>>Click here to see the video card benchmark test results of several Nvidia GeForce drivers
Nvidia just released their ION 191.07 WHQL video card driver. This one supports "GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, and 200-series desktop GPUs and ION desktop GPUs."
Details after the jump. This Nvidia GeForce ION WHQL video card driver has the following highlights (info quoted from Nvidia's official site):
>>>Download Nvidia GeForce ION 191.07 from HERE
>>>See Nvidia GeForce video driver benchmark software results HERE
I finally found the time to feed the Nvidia Geforce 191.03 driver to my bevy of benchmarking software. Surprisingly for a stock Nvidia GeForce driver, this one displays clearer images; the image quality is nearly at par with with the 3rd-party Tweakforce drivers.
Details after the jump.This Nvidia GeForce driver performed even more poorly than Tweakforce's Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce ION 190.62 in synthetic benchmark tests. It performed marginally better in F.E.A.R. and Nexuiz but presented an abysmal 38.8 frames per second in the Lightsmark 2008 benchmark test.
>>>Click here to see the video card benchmark test results of the Nvidia GeForce 191.03 driver
As usual this tweaked Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce video driver delivers crisper colors than its WHQL counterpart.
Details after the jump.
This tweaked Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce video driver is a keeper: it performed better than the WHQL 190.62 in synthetic benchmarks and F.E.A.R.'s built in benchmark test. However, I still remain disappointed with the 190 drivers. What's up with the Nvidia boys? I hope they pick up the slack with their GeForce 191 drivers, which recently have been leaked.
>>>Click here to see the video card benchmark test results of the Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce 190.62
See the download link after the jump.
The download link can be found in the forums of Tweakforce. Please take note that this will take you outside this site. The leaked Nvidia GeForce 191.00 are not mine. It's leaked so it might not be stable for your system. Install at your own risk.
>>>Download 190.62, the latest Nvidia GeForce WHQL release (as of 09192009) from HERE
>>>See Nvidia Graphic Benchmark Software test results HERE
Fed the Nvidia GeForce ION 190.62 WHQL to my video card benchmark software two nights ago and while F.E.A.R. played smoother this time around, 190.62 displayed some very odd gamma behavior --- in MadOnion's 3DMark2001SE, the tests were very dark. In F.E.A.R., I had to tweak the gamma level to see the "Barely visible" bar. When I did, everything was so bright as to appear diluted.
Odd. Very odd.
The link to the results after the jump.
This driver produced better framerates than the last Nvidia GeForce video card driver I tested, which was version 190.38. (Apologies for the typo; I labeled that previously as "190.83.")
>>>Click here to see Nvidia GeForce ION 190.62 WHQL video card benchmark test results
Nvidia has just released version 190.62 of their Nvidia GeForce ION graphic driver.
Details and the download link and after the jump.
The 190 GeForce video card driver series adds support for OpenGL 3.1 and CUDA 2.3. The 190.62 release has been optimized for the most recent PhysX games, namely Darkest of Days and Batman: Arkham Asylum. It also installs the latest PhysX System Software (v9.09.0814) and addresses several bugs.
The Nvidia GeForce ION graphic driver 190.62 supports all "GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, and 200-series desktop GPUs and ION GPUs."
>>>Download the Nvidia GeForce ION graphic driver 190.62 here
The Nvidia GeForce ION 190.38 graphic driver update, while enabling my Nvidia GeForce video card to render richer colors, falls flat in the FPS department. Video card benchmark tests show numbers that lagged behind the Nvidia GeForce ION 190.38 's predecessors. I've read the feedback of several users and more than a few of them expressed their disappointment with this one. Perhaps it's the new Stereoscopic 3D Driver Service that Nvidia has bundled with this graphic driver update.
(Tweakguides has provided steps on how to uninstall these however. It can be found here. Take note that it removes the game profiling feature that Nvidia GeForce users find so useful.)
I've also noticed that at its default setting, this driver has a slightly lower gamma level.
The color quality is nothing to be scoffed at however --- Aquasky's "Most Wanted" Tribes: Vengeance video never looked so good
Well, that was fast.
Nvidia just WHQL'd 190.38 GeForce ION Graphic Driver. The graphic driver now weighs 80.6Mb --- a half meg lighter when it was still in its beta phase.
I wonder when Tweakforce will XG this one.
Don't know how to update Nvidia GeForce graphic card drivers? Click here:
>>>How to Change Graphic Drivers for PCI and AGP Graphics Cards
The download:
>>>Download Nvidia GeForce ION graphic driver 190.38 WHQL update here
Well it's been a while since I updated my video card graphic driver. I surfed my favorite sites today and learned from Tweakguides that GeForce ION graphic driver version 190.38 is now out. The download weighs a hefty 81.8Mb (compare this to the streamlined Dox Optimised drivers and the image quality-tweaked Nvidia graphic drivers from Tweakforce, which weigh only 20 or so megabytes).
Some of the release highlights of GeForce ION graphic driver version 190.38:
The 190.38 epiphanyCompared to the awesome v4.8.5, this K-lite Codec Pack Full version doesn't bring a lot to the table. However, if you haven't updated in quite a long while, I suggest you go to the free K-Lite Codec Pack Full download page and get this update. Version 4.8.5 was a must-download and this one still has the same superior bass and treble separation that the former had.
And yep, as I've mentioned countless times before, K-Lite Codec Packs are free and downloadable.
"Tugsh Tugsh" just keeps getting better. And yes, that's indeed me and my PC setup. :D
