This article provides a detailed overview of the nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL certified release for Windows XP and Windows 2000 operating systems. Released to enhance the performance and capabilities of a wide range of NVIDIA graphics cards, this driver package brought with it new features, improved compatibility, and crucial bug fixes. We will delve into the key highlights of this release, the supported hardware, and the significance of its WHQL certification. Understanding the features and compatibility of the nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL Certified for Windows XP/2000 can help users determine if it is suitable for their system.
Key Highlights of ForceWare 84.21
The nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL Certified for Windows XP/2000 release was a significant update, bringing several notable improvements and additions to the NVIDIA driver suite. Here’s a breakdown of the key features:
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WHQL Certification: This is perhaps the most important aspect of this driver release. WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certification signifies that the driver has undergone rigorous testing by Microsoft and meets their standards for stability, reliability, and compatibility. This certification assures users that the driver is safe to install and will not cause system instability or conflicts. The initial release had an issue with the WHQL certification which was later corrected.
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New GPU Support: A major focus of this release was to expand support for NVIDIA’s latest graphics cards at the time. The driver specifically added support for the GeForce 7900 GTX, GeForce 7900 GT, and GeForce 7600 GT GPUs. This meant users who had recently upgraded to these cards could now leverage their full potential with optimized drivers.
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NVIDIA PureVideo Enhancements: The ForceWare 84.21 driver included enhancements to NVIDIA’s PureVideo technology. PureVideo is a suite of hardware and software features designed to improve the playback quality of video content. These enhancements focused on:
- H.264 Hardware Decode Acceleration: This feature allowed GeForce 6 and 7 series GPUs to offload the processing of high-definition H.264 video, reducing CPU load and improving playback smoothness.
- MPEG-2 Inverse Telecine: This technology improved the quality of DVD and other MPEG-2 video content by removing artifacts introduced during the telecine process (converting film to video).
- MPEG-2 Spatial Temporal De-interlacing: This advanced de-interlacing technique reduced the "combing" effect often seen in interlaced video, resulting in a sharper and more visually appealing image.
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Mixed Vendor SLI Support: This feature allowed users to run NVIDIA SLI (Scalable Link Interface) with graphics cards from different manufacturers. Previously, SLI required identical cards from the same vendor. This opened up more flexibility for users looking to upgrade their graphics performance.
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TV-Out/HD-Out Support for NVIDIA SLI: The driver enabled TV-Out and HD-Out functionality when running NVIDIA SLI configurations. This allowed users to connect their SLI-powered systems to televisions or other high-definition displays for gaming or media consumption.
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VSync Support for Direct3D SLI: The ForceWare 84.21 driver added support for Vertical Synchronization (VSync) in Direct3D games when running NVIDIA SLI. VSync eliminates screen tearing by synchronizing the game’s frame rate with the refresh rate of the monitor.
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DirectX 9.0c and OpenGL 2.0 Support: The driver fully supported Microsoft DirectX 9.0c and OpenGL 2.0, ensuring compatibility with the latest games and applications that utilized these APIs.
Supported Products
The nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL Certified for Windows XP/2000 offered broad compatibility across a range of NVIDIA graphics cards, including:
- GeForce Series: GeForce 6200, GeForce 6200 with TurboCache, GeForce 6600, GeForce 6600 GT, GeForce 6610 XL, GeForce 6800 Ultra, GeForce 6800, GeForce 6800 GT, GeForce 6800 LE, GeForce FX 5950 Ultra, GeForce FX 5700 Ultra, GeForce FX 5700, GeForce FX 5700LE, GeForce FX 5700VE, GeForce PCX 5750, GeForce FX 5900, GeForce FX 5900 Ultra, GeForce FX 5900 XT, GeForce FX 5900ZT, GeForce PCX 5900, GeForce FX 5200 Ultra, GeForce FX 5200 LE, GeForce FX 5200, GeForce FX 5500, GeForce FX 5100, GeForce PCX 5300, GeForce FX 5600 Ultra, GeForce FX 5600, GeForce FX 5600XT, GeForce FX 5600SE, GeForce FX 5800 Ultra, GeForce FX 5800, GeForce4 Ti 4800, GeForce4 Ti 4800 SE, GeForce4 Ti 4200 w/AGP 8x, GeForce4 Ti 4600, GeForce4 Ti 4400, GeForce4 Ti 4200, GeForce3, GeForce3 Ti 500, GeForce3 Ti 200
- Quadro Series: Quadro FX 4400, Quadro FX 540, Quadro FX 1400, Quadro FX 4000, Quadro FX 4000 SDI, Quadro FX 3450, Quadro FX 3400, Quadro FX 1300, Quadro FX 1100, Quadro FX 330, Quadro FX 3000(G), Quadro FX 600, Quadro FX 500, Quadro NVS 285, Quadro NVS 280 PCI, Quadro FX 2000, Quadro FX 1000, Quadro FX 700, Quadro4 980 XGL, Quadro4 900 XGL, Quadro4 750 XGL, Quadro4 700 XGL, Quadro4 500 XGL, Quadro DCC
Importance of WHQL Certification
The WHQL certification of the ForceWare 84.21 driver was a crucial factor for users. It provided assurance that the driver had been thoroughly tested by Microsoft and met their standards for stability and compatibility with Windows XP and Windows 2000. This meant that users could install the driver with confidence, knowing that it was unlikely to cause system crashes, conflicts with other hardware or software, or other issues. Drivers without WHQL certification could potentially lead to a range of problems, making the certification a significant indicator of driver quality.
Downloading the Driver
The nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL Certified for Windows XP/2000 can be downloaded from the following link:
Download nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL Certified for Windows XP/2000
Alternative Download Links:
Due to the age of this driver, it can be difficult to find it on official NVIDIA channels. Here are some alternative download locations:
- Softpedia: https://drivers.softpedia.com/get/Graphics-Board/NVIDIA/NVIDIA-ForceWare-84-21.shtml
- Guru3D: (Check their older driver archives) https://www.guru3d.com/
- DriverGuide: (Requires registration) https://www.driverguide.com/
- archive.org: (Check for archived driver repositories) https://archive.org/
- Filehippo: (Check their older driver archives) https://filehippo.com/
Note: Always exercise caution when downloading drivers from third-party websites. Ensure the website is reputable and scan the downloaded files for viruses before installation.
Release Notes
For a comprehensive list of fixed issues, known issues, and other details regarding the ForceWare 84.21 driver, please refer to the official release notes:
https://download.nvidia.com/Windows/84.21/84.21_Forceware_Release_Notes.pdf
Conclusion
The nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL Certified for Windows XP/2000 was a significant release that brought crucial updates, new features, and expanded hardware support to NVIDIA graphics card users. Its WHQL certification provided assurance of stability and compatibility, making it a reliable choice for users of the supported operating systems. While this driver is now quite old, it remains relevant for those still using legacy hardware and operating systems. Understanding the features and compatibility of the nVIDIA ForceWare Driver 84.21 WHQL Certified for Windows XP/2000 is essential for maintaining optimal performance on older systems.