nV driver developments, Yearly releases?!?

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

An interesting blurb from Gamespot with the following (click text to go to blurb);

<A HREF="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/news/news_6077157.html" target="_new">However, according to an Nvidia representative, though the company has traditionally released reference drivers quarterly, it won't necessarily continue to do so unless needed, and that ideally, the company hopes to release as few as one driver update per year--though on this point, a representative acknowledged that the GeForce FX line of cards has a known issue with full-scene anti-aliasing (especially in recent games like Halo for the PC), and that the company hopes to address this issue soon.</A>

Also there was this at the begining of that paragraph;

<i>Nvidia plans to launch its next reference driver update, release 5216, soon. The company's so-called "50-series" of drivers will likely be followed by a new 55-series early next year, and a 60-series some months afterwards.</i>


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK

 

[GeneticWeapon]

Yea, the one driver per year theory from Nvidia is a topic of discussion on forums everywhere. It can be done, but I believe that there will still be a ton of leaks. I love leaked drivers, and some of the hardcore ATi users I know from NV News B3D etc. admit that they miss looking forward to leaked Nvidia drivers now that they use ATi.
BTW, the 5700 reviews are getting ready to hit the web. Digit life screwed up and had theirs posted for about an hour, and then removed it. I wish I could have read it.

<b>I help because you suck</b>

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah I LOVE digit-life's reviews, they are usually Among the very best out there.

I'm not sure about yearly driver releases. Just think about it. They release the drivers in July, then they discover that HL2 doesn't play well, TROAD has DX9 issues, etc. You'd have to wait a whole year for a fix, and those are just glaring examples. Let's just think if MaxPayne 2 had problems, is it a big enough title to justify a release? What about even smaller games? Seriously there'd better be leaks or something or else alot of people will get hosed for like a whole year waiting to 'fix that blurry choppy discoloured thingy in the game that I play'.

I don't like that idea one bit, I just hope ATI doesn't decide to go that route.

<A HREF="http://www.scan.co.uk/" target="_new"> BTW, check out this AD</A>

- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by TheGreatGrapeApe on 10/22/03 09:05 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[GeneticWeapon]

OK...I'm stupid. WTF does that ad mean?

<b>I help because you suck</b>

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

I don't really know but there's one day left, just 1 DAY!

That's all I got from it.

Off to play Halo and relax brain!


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK

 

[JoeB]

perhaps Omega won't do yearly releases...

_____________
whompiedompie

 

[shadus]

IMO: Assanine, ignorant, and overconfident.

Shadus

 

[cleeve]

I have a feeling that this is how Nvidia will deal with being forced to WHQL certify their drivers.

This way, they get the best of both worlds; sure, there will be a bi-yearly release of WHQLs, but they'll have a slew of betas leaked for the entheusiast community for benchmarking purposes.

A possible stratigem, anyway...

------------------
Radeon 9500 (hardmodded to PRO, o/c to 322/322)
AMD AthlonXP 2400+ (o/c to 2600+ with 143 fsb)
3dMark03: 4055

 

[HardWareBoss]

Got my 52.16 from Nvidia.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah, however if the Major reviewers stick to their guns and say, 'we used only certified drivers for our tests' then you may see that policy change. But then again when has nV been swayed by the desires of the community?

Oh well, I think it's a bad thing, because there is no set reference point, and they can always give the same excuse they did for HL2, 'oh well you didn't test with our latest beta'.

We'll see, but I can't see this as being a good thing.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Just an Addendum;

It seems that people were as concerned as I was about ATI follwoing nV's lead, thankfully there is <A HREF="http://www.rage3d.com/#1066842724" target="_new">THIS answer</A> I notice in Rage3D by Terry Makedon (ATI Top Man);

<A HREF="http://www.rage3d.com/#1066842724" target="_new">http://www.rage3d.com/#1066842724</A>


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! <A HREF="http://www.redgreen.com" target="_new"><font color=green>RED</font color=green> <font color=red>GREEN</font color=red></A> GA to SK