Nvidia has rolled out new Nvidia GeForce 361.43 WHQL drivers, which is an updated version of the Game Ready Graphics Driver.
Despite the "Game Ready" label, the whole package isn't exactly going to come with a specific optimization for an upcoming game.
"Nvidia continues to work closely with VR headset and game developers to deliver amazing VR games and applications. This Game Ready driver includes the latest GameWorks VR tweaks, bug fixes, and optimizations to ensure you have the ultimate VR gaming experience," the description reads.
Gaming
Support for GameWorks VR 1.1 has been added. This includes VR support for OpenGL applications and support for the most recent Oculus SDK.
Fermi GPU
For single GPU configurations, the new driver plus the Windows November update now let Fermi GPUs use WDDM 2.0. As for multi-GPU configurations, Fermi can now use WDDM 2.0 in non-SLI setups, including Kepler and Maxwell GPUs. On the other hand, Fermi still uses WDDM 1.3 in SLI.
New Application SLI Profiles
The package includes a couple of new or updated SLI profiles for Hard West, Elite Dangerous, Dungeon Defenders 2, DayZ and Bless.
Software Modules
NView is now version 146.90, HD Audio Driver is version 1.3.34.4, Nvidia PhysX System Software is version 9.15.0428, GeForce Experience is version 2.8.1.21 and CUDA is version 8.0.
Bug Fixes
For Windows 10, the update fixes flip timing and event notification bugs, a driver bug that causes other hot plug devices after hot unplugging a device to be ignored and cleans up unexpected behavior associated with the multi-HMD (helmet-mounted device).
On top of those, Star Wars: Battlefront players will be glad to know that the new version will clear up lag with SLI enabled after the 359.06 update. Also, GM20x clock speeds will now stay above 144 Hz on the desktop.
Meanwhile, Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1 also got some issues fixed here and there. The update fixes windows G-SYNC not being completely disabled at the UMD (user-mode display) when the VR display is active and prevents any extra hotplug or unplug from unconnected devices.
More to the point, it brings the whitelist entry regkey up to date, allowing multiple entries at once now. The GM20x clock speeds are also reconfigured for these OS versions just like on the Windows 10 platform.
For Gamers
What does this mean for gamers? Well, Fermi owners have been anticipating the aforementioned features, namely the support for mixed WDDM. With the WDDM 2.0, the setup can significantly ease the workload on the kernel-mode driver for GPU models that support virtual memory addressing. In other words, it can deliver lower CPU utilization by allowing multithreading parallelism in the user-mode driver.
Seeing as the update is more geared toward game developers, it's a pretty safe bet that more VR games and applications will emerge in the future.
Compatibility
For the compatible operating systems, the driver works well with 32- and 64-bit variants of Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 for the desktop and notebook. But with notebooks, XP and Vista won't function.
Regarding the supported products, the drivers support the GeForce 400 Series, 500 Series, 600 Series, 700 Series and 900 Series.
Nvidia has published the full release notes [pdf] for the update.
Notes
This time around, no 3D Vision profiles and Compatibility Mode profiles have been added.
It's also worth mentioning that another driver will go official sometime between the end of January and the start of February 2016 when a ton of new games are slated for release.
This probably goes without saying, but for the changes to take full effect, do a reboot after installing the updated drivers.
It seems that Nvidia is keeping up with the times with the release of the 361.43. This update should deliver a more stable and improved overall experience for Nvidia users.
