Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows Vista/7 64-bit

This article provides information about the Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta, a driver package designed for 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. This release, belonging to the Release 256 family (versions 256.xx to 259.xx), offers support for a broad range of Nvidia graphics cards, including GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, and 400 series desktop GPUs, as well as ION desktop GPUs. This article will delve into the key features, improvements, and supported products included in this particular driver release.

Understanding the Release 256 Family

The Release 256 driver family represented a significant update for Nvidia graphics card users. These drivers aimed to enhance performance and introduce new functionalities across a variety of games and applications. The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta is a part of this family, inheriting the improvements and features introduced in the initial Release 256 drivers while also adding its own unique enhancements.

Key Features and Improvements in Release 258.96

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta brings several notable updates:

• GeForce GTX 460 Support: This driver officially adds support for the GeForce GTX 460 graphics card, enabling users to leverage its capabilities with optimized performance.

• NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Technology: This release introduces support for NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology, creating an immersive gaming experience by utilizing multiple monitors. To use this feature, specific hardware and software requirements must be met, including compatible monitors, 3D Vision glasses, and a capable graphics card.

• Performance Enhancements for GeForce GTX 400 Series: A primary focus of the Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta is to boost performance on GeForce GTX 400 Series GPUs in various PC games. These improvements build upon those already present in the initial Release 256 drivers. The performance gains vary depending on the specific GPU and system configuration. Some notable examples of performance increases measured with a GeForce GTX 480 include:

  • Up to 11% in Aliens vs. Predator (1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Tessellation on)
  • Up to 7% in Crysis: Warhead (SLI – 1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Gamer)
  • Up to 4% in H.A.W.X (SLI – 1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Very High)
  • Up to 10% in Just Cause 2 (SLI – 1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Concrete Jungle)
  • Up to 6% in Metro 2033 (1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Tessellation on)
  • Up to 7% in Metro 2033 (SLI – 1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Tessellation on)
  • Up to 10% in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  • Up to 12% in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (SLI – 1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  • Up to 4% in World in Conflict (SLI – 1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF)

• Updated PhysX System Software: The driver package includes an upgrade to PhysX System Software, bringing it to version 9.10.0224. This update ensures compatibility and potentially improves performance in games that utilize PhysX technology.

• Updated HD Audio Driver: The HD Audio driver has been updated to version 1.0.15.0 for supported GPUs, addressing potential audio-related issues and enhancing audio quality.

• Bug Fixes: The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta incorporates numerous bug fixes, addressing various issues reported by users. Detailed information about these bug fixes can be found in the release notes accompanying the driver.

Features Inherited from Release 256

Building upon the foundation laid by the initial Release 256 drivers, the 258.96 Beta also includes the following features:

• Blu-ray 3D Support: Enables Blu-ray 3D playback with NVIDIA 3D Vision technology. This allows users to experience 3D movies in high definition on compatible displays.

• Performance Increases in Games (Release 256): The Release 256 drivers already provided significant performance improvements across a range of games. These improvements are also present in the 258.96 Beta. Some examples of performance increases measured with a GeForce GTX 480 in Release 256 include:

  • Up to 14% in Aliens vs. Predator (1920×1200 noAA/AF – Tessellation on)
  • Up to 4% in Batman: Arkham Asylum (1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF PhysX=High)
  • Up to 5% in BattleForge (1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Very High settings)
  • Up to 5% in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  • Up to 4% in Crysis: Warhead (1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Enthusiast setting)
  • Up to 24% in Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (1920×1200 no AA/AF)
  • Up to 9% in Far Cry 2 (2560×1600 8xAA/16xAF)
  • Up to 25% in Just Cause 2 (2560×1600 no AA/AF – Concrete Jungle)
  • Up to 7% in Metro 2033 (1920×1200 no AA/16xAF – Tessellation on)
  • Up to 40% in Metro 2033 with SLI ((1920×1200 4xAA/16xAF – Tessellation on)
  • Up to 8% in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (1920×1200 no AA/AF – Day)
  • Up to 110% in Stone Giant with SLI (2650×1600 – Tessellation on, DoF on)
  • Up to 6% in The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Athena (2560×1600 no AA/AF)
  • Up to 9% in Unigine: Tropics (2560×1600 no AA/AF – OpenGL)
  • Up to 5% in 3DMark Vantage (Performance and Extreme Presets)
  • Up to 19% with Transparency AA (1920×1200 4xTrSS – measured in Crysis)

• OpenGL 4.0 Support: Adds support for OpenGL 4.0 for GeForce GTX 400 Series GPUs, enabling developers to utilize the latest OpenGL features for enhanced graphics rendering.

• CUDA Toolkit 3.1 Support: Includes support for CUDA Toolkit 3.1, which offers significant performance improvements for double-precision math operations. This is particularly beneficial for applications that rely heavily on these types of calculations.

• Extreme Antialiasing Modes: Introduces new extreme Antialiasing modes for 3-way SLI PCs, allowing for up to SLI48x AA for GeForce 200 series GPUs and up to SLI96x AA for GeForce GTX 400 series GPUs. These modes provide exceptional image quality by reducing aliasing artifacts.

• Ambient Occlusion Control Panel Feature: Adds a new ‘Quality’ mode for NVIDIA’s Ambient Occlusion control panel feature, offering users more control over the quality and performance of ambient occlusion effects.

• SLI and PhysX Control Panel Setup: Introduces a new NVIDIA Control Panel setup page for SLI and PhysX, providing users with greater control over multi-GPU configurations.

• CUDA GPU Control: Adds a new NVIDIA Control Panel feature for ultimate control over CUDA GPUs, allowing users to choose which GPU will power each CUDA application.

Additional Information

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta also provides support for various other technologies and features:

• GPU-accelerated features in Adobe CS5
• GPU-acceleration for smoother online HD videos with Adobe Flash 10.1
• MotionDSP’s vReveal video enhancement software (with a free version supporting up to SD output)
• DirectCompute with Windows 7 and GeForce 8-series and later GPUs
• OpenCL 1.0 for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs
• OpenGL 3.3 for GeForce 8-series and later GPUs
• Single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, and OpenGL
• GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring (requires NVIDIA System Tools software)

Supported Products

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta supports a wide range of Nvidia GPUs, including:

• GeForce 400 Series: GTX 465, GTX 460, GTX 470, GTX 480
• GeForce 300 Series: GT 320, 310, GT 340, GT 330, 315
• GeForce 200 Series: GTX 285, GTX 280, G210, GT 220, GTX 275, GTS 240, 205, GTS 250, GTX 260, GTX 295, GT 230, 210, GT 240
• GeForce 100 Series: GT 130, GT 120, G 100, GT 140
• GeForce 9 Series: 9400, 9600 GSO, 9300 GE, 9500 GS, 9300, 9500 GT, 9600 GT, 9300 GS, 9800 GX2, 9400 GT, 9100, 9200, 9800 GTX/GTX+, 9800 GT, 9600 GS
• GeForce 8 Series: 8800 GS, 8100 / nForce 720a, 8400, 8800 GTS, 8200 / nForce 730a, 8800 GTS 512, 8600 GTS, 8500 GT, 8300, 8800 GT, 8600 GS, 8600 GT, 8400 GS, 8800 Ultra, 8800 GTX, 8300 GS, 8400 SE, 8200
• GeForce 7 Series: 7300 LE, 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 620i, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 610i, 7800 SLI, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7600 GT, 7350 LE, 7800 GTX, 7950 GT, 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7300 GS, 7025 / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7600 LE, 7550 LE, 7100 GS, 7900 GT/GTO, 7650 GS, 7150 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7900 GS, 7500 LE, 7300 GT, 7050 PV / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7800 GS, 7300 SE / 7200 GS, 7900 GTX, 7600 GS, 7950 GX2
• GeForce 6 Series: 6600 VE, 6150LE / Quadro NVS 210S, 6700 XL, 6200 A-LE, 6500, 6200SE TurboCache, 6100, 6800 GT, 6150SE nForce 430, 6610 XL, 6800, 6800 Ultra, 6800 GS/XT, 6200, 6200 TurboCache, 6150, 6250, 6800 XT, 6800 XE, 6600, 6150 LE, 6800 GS, 6200 LE, 6100 nForce 405, 6600 GT, 6100 nForce 400, 6600 LE, 6100 nForce 420, 6800 LE
• ION Series: ION LE, ION

Download Links

You can download the Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows Vista/7 64-bit from the following sources:

• TechSpot: https://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/file/information/14039/

Alternative Download Links:

Since the original download source may become unavailable over time, here are five alternative sources where you might find the Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta:

1. Softpedia: Search "Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta Softpedia" on Google.
2. Guru3D: Search "Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta Guru3D" on Google.
3. MajorGeeks: Search "Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta MajorGeeks" on Google.
4. DriverGuide: Search "Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta DriverGuide" on Google.
5. Nvidia’s Legacy Driver Archive: While not guaranteed, Nvidia sometimes keeps older drivers available in their legacy archive. Navigate to Nvidia’s website and search for archived drivers.

Disclaimer: Always exercise caution when downloading drivers from third-party websites. Ensure the source is reputable and scan the downloaded files for viruses before installation.