The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 represents a significant release aimed at optimizing the gaming experience for both newly released and upcoming virtual reality (VR) titles, as well as enhancing performance in traditional gaming scenarios. This driver package, released on July 14, 2016, encapsulates Nvidia’s commitment to providing gamers with the best possible day-one experience for their favorite games. Its focus on VR, Ansel technology, and general gaming enhancements makes it a noteworthy update for GeForce users.
A Deep Dive into Driver 368.81
The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 is more than just a simple update; it’s a carefully crafted package designed to address the evolving needs of PC gamers. In the fast-paced world of PC gaming, driver updates are crucial for maximizing performance, ensuring compatibility with new titles, and fixing lingering bugs that can detract from the overall experience. Nvidia understands this need and consistently delivers updates that cater to these demands.
One of the key highlights of the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 is its emphasis on VR gaming. As virtual reality technology matured, the demand for optimized VR experiences increased. Nvidia responded by tailoring this driver to deliver the optimal performance for several high-profile VR titles, including:
- NVIDIA VR Funhouse
- Everest VR
- Obduction
- Raw Data
- The Assembly
By fine-tuning the driver to work seamlessly with these VR applications, Nvidia ensured that users with compatible hardware could enjoy a smooth and immersive VR experience, free from performance bottlenecks or graphical glitches.
Game Ready Optimizations
Beyond VR, the driver also boasts "Game Ready" optimizations for several major titles that were either newly released or highly anticipated at the time. This designation signifies that Nvidia’s driver team worked closely with game developers to incorporate specific performance tweaks and bug fixes into the driver, ensuring that users could enjoy the best possible experience right from the game’s launch. Some of the key titles included in this optimization effort were:
- No Man’s Sky
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
- Obduction
- F1 2016
- Paragon (Open Beta)
These optimizations often involve fine-tuning rendering pathways, improving shader performance, and addressing any compatibility issues that may arise between the game and the graphics card. The result is a smoother, more stable, and visually appealing gaming experience for GeForce users.
Ansel Support: A New Era of In-Game Photography
Another significant feature introduced with the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 is support for Ansel technology. Ansel is a revolutionary in-game photography tool that allows players to capture stunning screenshots from virtually any angle, with a wide range of post-processing effects. Unlike traditional screenshot methods, Ansel gives players complete control over the camera position, allowing them to compose their shots with artistic precision.
At the time of this driver’s release, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst was among the first titles to incorporate Ansel support. This allowed players to explore the game’s visually striking world and capture breathtaking images with unparalleled freedom and creativity. Ansel also supports the capture of 360-degree images, enabling users to create immersive VR experiences from their favorite games.
Gaming Technology Enhancements
In addition to VR and Ansel support, the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 incorporates several gaming technology enhancements aimed at improving overall performance and visual quality. These enhancements include:
- G-SYNC Technology in Windowed Mode: G-SYNC is Nvidia’s adaptive synchronization technology that eliminates screen tearing and minimizes input lag by dynamically adjusting the monitor’s refresh rate to match the GPU’s output. This driver update extended G-SYNC support to windowed mode, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of G-SYNC even when running games in a windowed environment. Options for both G-SYNC (V-SYNC on) and G-SYNC (V-SYNC off) were provided, giving users greater control over their gaming experience.
- Ultra-Low Motion Blur (ULMB) Support: ULMB is a backlight strobing technology that reduces motion blur in fast-paced games, resulting in a clearer and more responsive image. This driver update included support for ULMB in the NVIDIA Control Panel, allowing users to easily enable and configure the technology on compatible monitors.
- Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR) for Notebooks: DSR allows users to render games at a higher resolution than their monitor’s native resolution and then downsample the image to fit the screen. This can significantly improve image quality, particularly on notebooks with discrete GeForce GPUs.
- Kepler GPU Optimizations and Bug Fixes: The driver also includes specific optimizations and bug fixes targeted at Kepler-based GPUs. Kepler was an older generation of Nvidia GPUs, and this update aimed to improve performance and stability for users still running these cards.
Download Information and Previous Versions
The file name for this driver is 368.81-desktop-win10-64bit-international-whql.exe.
You can download the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 here.
An alternative download link for the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 can be found on Softpedia.
The article also mentions links to older versions of the driver. While these versions are not the focus of this particular analysis, they provide a historical context for Nvidia’s driver development efforts. These older versions include:
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 365.19
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 365.10
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 364.51
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 364.47
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 361.91
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 361.43
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 359.06
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 359.00
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 358.91
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 358.87
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 358.50
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 355.98
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 355.82
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 355.60
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 353.62
These releases highlight Nvidia’s ongoing commitment to providing regular driver updates to support new games, technologies, and hardware.
Conclusion
The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 368.81 is a comprehensive update that demonstrates Nvidia’s dedication to providing gamers with the best possible experience. With its focus on VR optimization, Ansel technology, and general gaming enhancements, this driver release offers something for everyone. By staying up-to-date with the latest driver releases, GeForce users can ensure that they are getting the most out of their hardware and enjoying the latest games and technologies to their fullest potential.