Nvidia releases hotfix driver to address stuttering problems with certain GPUs and PCs — supports all current graphics cards

Nvidia
(Image credit: Nvidia)

It's rare when Nvidia releases a hotfix driver, and when it does, usually there are only one or two fixes that are addressed relating to supercritical bugs that need to be patched before the next major driver release occurs. This time, however, Nvidia has released a more wide-ranging hotfix driver — version 551.46, featuring four bug fixes in total mostly related to stuttering issues. On top of this, Nvidia has also quietly added support for the RTX 4080 Super to this driver, despite it being a branched-off version of driver 551.23.

The first issue is a fix related to V-Sync gamers: according to Nvidia's patch notes, it has rectified an issue that caused intermittent micro-stuttering in games with V-Sync enabled. We aren't sure if this is specific to Nvidia's driver V-Sync, Fast Sync, in-game V-Sync, or all of them, but based on Nvidia's wording it seems like it affects all forms of V-Sync.

The other three rectified issues include stuttering problems surrounding web browser scrolling on certain system configurations, a stutter observed on advanced Optimus laptops in Red Dead Redemption 2, and a stability issue in Immortals of Aveum. (Immortals was one of the first games to support FSR 3.)

(Image credit: Nvidia)

If you have any of these issues Nvidia listed, this new hotfix driver should fix them. It's worth mentioning though that Nvidia considers these hotfix drivers as "beta" drivers. Hotfix drivers are rushed out the door as soon as possible, bypassing most of Nvidia's quality and control channels that are dedicated to game-ready driver updates. If you find that you don't have any of the issues related above, it might be worth sticking with the latest Game Ready driver, just in case there are any stability issues with Nvidia's latest hotfix driver.

Additionally, Nvidia's new RTX 4080 Super is supported under the new hotfix driver. Nvidia did not confirm this, but our GPU reviewer Jarred Walton was able to verify it with an RTX 4080 Super he had on hand. It might seem silly that Nvidia would not support its shiny new Super GPU with its latest driver, but the patch notes did suggest that the new Super GPU might not have been supported. The new hotfix driver 551.46 is a branch of driver 551.23 which came out before the RTX 4080 Super launched. This is why the RTX 4080 Super received its own dedicated 551.31 driver on launch day.

Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

  • Amdlova
    Latency fix?
    Reply
  • CelicaGT
    Hmmm. I've got the browser scrolling issue and it's been around for awhile. I'll probably just wait for the next full release as everything else seems fine.
    Reply
  • CaptRiker
    hmm no patch for studio drivers.. I usually perfer studio over the game ready drivers due to studio being more stable..
    lately in some games I get 60 secs of severe whole pc stutter once in each game session then smooth as glass.. takes a few mins when playing games like Rust, CRossout, New World... but doesn't happen at all in games like Empyrion galactic survival, Planetside 2, Elderscrolls online, eve online.. absolutely nothing out of the usual in event viewer at all.. no spikes or dips in performace monitor.. really odd cannot figure out what is causing it. Got all the latest windows 11 updates, game bar, amd drivers, etc.. (win 23h2 still not showing up in win update)


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    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    Memories of AMD going sometimes months between WHQL drivers...
    Reply
  • Argolith
    Alvar Miles Udell said:
    Memories of AMD going sometimes months between WHQL drivers...
    And?
    Reply
  • ManDaddio
    People, remember to report any bugs or issues you have to Nvidia. Preferably, through GeForce Experience. They monitor that regularly as far as I know. Forums work to but I never see any real replies when I post things except other users.
    Reply
  • ManDaddio
    Unreal games still give me problems frequently.
    Reply