Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52

The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52 emerged as a pivotal release for PC gamers, specifically timed to optimize performance for the highly anticipated title, Evolve. Released on March 17, 2015, this driver package was meticulously crafted to deliver the best possible gaming experience, ensuring smooth gameplay and enhanced visuals. This article delves into the features, improvements, and supported hardware of this significant driver update.

Purpose and Timing

The primary objective of the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52 was to provide a "Game Ready" experience for Evolve. This meant that Nvidia engineers worked closely with the game developers to identify and resolve potential performance bottlenecks and graphical glitches, ensuring that gamers could enjoy the game as intended from day one. Releasing the driver in tandem with the game’s launch allowed players to immediately benefit from these optimizations.

Key Features and Enhancements

This driver package boasts several key features designed to improve the overall gaming experience:

Game Ready for Evolve: As previously mentioned, the driver’s headline feature was its optimization for Evolve. This included specific tweaks to the driver code to maximize performance and stability while playing the game.
GeForce SLI Technology Support: For gamers utilizing multiple Nvidia graphics cards in an SLI configuration, the 347.52 driver provided enhanced support, allowing for increased frame rates and improved visual fidelity in compatible games, including Evolve. SLI (Scalable Link Interface) technology allows two or more Nvidia graphics cards to work together to render a single image, effectively boosting performance.
GeForce Experience Optimizations: The driver integrated seamlessly with GeForce Experience, Nvidia’s software suite designed to optimize game settings automatically. With a single click, users could have their game settings configured for the best balance between visual quality and performance, tailored to their specific hardware configuration. This feature simplifies the process of optimizing games, particularly for users who may not be familiar with advanced graphics settings.
Performance Improvements Across GeForce GPUs: Beyond Evolve, the 347.52 driver also delivered performance improvements across a wide range of GeForce GPUs in various titles. These improvements were achieved through a combination of driver-level optimizations and bug fixes. The driver aimed to enhance performance at different resolutions, catering to a broad spectrum of gaming setups.

Specific Performance Gains

While Nvidia didn’t provide a comprehensive list of all games that received performance improvements, they did highlight specific gains observed on several popular GeForce GPUs:

GeForce GTX 980: The GTX 980, then Nvidia’s flagship single-GPU card, saw performance improvements at 1920×1080, 2560×1440, and 3840×2160 (4K) resolutions.
GeForce GTX 970: Similarly, the GTX 970 experienced performance gains at the same resolutions as the GTX 980.
GeForce GTX 960: The GTX 960, a mid-range card, also benefited from performance improvements at 1920×1080 and 2560×1440 resolutions.

It’s important to note that the specific performance gains varied depending on the game, system configuration, and other factors. However, these examples provided a general indication of the improvements that users could expect.

Supported Products

The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52 supported a wide range of Nvidia GeForce GPUs, from older models to the latest releases at the time. While the specific list of supported products wasn’t explicitly detailed in the provided source, it’s safe to assume that the driver supported most GeForce cards from the GeForce 400 series onwards, including the popular GeForce 500, 600, 700, 800 (mobile only), and 900 series.

Technical Details

Driver Version: 347.52
Release Date: March 17, 2015
Operating System Support: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions)
WHQL Certified: Yes (Windows Hardware Quality Labs certified, indicating that the driver has undergone rigorous testing and meets Microsoft’s quality standards)

Downloading the Driver

The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52 can be downloaded from the following links:

TechSpot Download Link: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/drivers/essentials/nvidia-geforce/ (Please note: This link directs to the general Nvidia GeForce drivers page on TechSpot. You will need to search for driver version 347.52 on that page.)
Alternative Download Link (Guru3D): https://www.guru3d.com/files/ (Please note: This link directs to the general Guru3D drivers page. You will need to search for driver version 347.52 on that page.)

It is crucial to download the correct version of the driver for your operating system (32-bit or 64-bit) to ensure compatibility and prevent potential issues.

Installation Process

The installation process for the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52 is relatively straightforward:

Download the driver: Download the appropriate driver package for your operating system from one of the links provided above.
Run the installer: Double-click the downloaded executable file to launch the Nvidia driver installer.
Follow the on-screen instructions: The installer will guide you through the installation process. You will typically be presented with options to perform a clean installation (removing previous drivers) or a custom installation (allowing you to choose which components to install).
Restart your computer: After the installation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer. This is necessary for the new driver to be fully loaded and activated.

Conclusion

The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52 was a significant release that provided optimized performance for Evolve and delivered general performance improvements across a wide range of GeForce GPUs. Its integration with GeForce Experience and SLI technology support further enhanced the gaming experience for Nvidia users. While now a legacy driver, it serves as a reminder of Nvidia’s commitment to providing timely and optimized drivers for its users. Gamers who were playing titles prevalent around March 2015 likely benefited from this update. The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 347.52 continues to be a testament to the iterative process of driver development and optimization within the PC gaming landscape.