The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 arrived in August 2016, marking another step in Nvidia’s commitment to delivering optimized gaming experiences for its users. This release, like its predecessors and successors, was meticulously crafted to provide the best possible performance and stability for both new and popular game titles. Specifically, the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 aimed to elevate the gaming experience for highly anticipated releases of the time.
The Pursuit of Optimal Gaming: An Overview
Nvidia’s driver team operates with a laser focus on ensuring that every possible performance enhancement and bug fix is incorporated into their "Game Ready" drivers prior to a major game launch. This dedication translates directly into a superior day-one gaming experience for users eager to dive into the latest titles. The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 was no exception, demonstrating this philosophy through targeted optimizations and support for emerging technologies.
What’s New in the 372.54 Release
This particular driver release brought several key enhancements and features to the forefront, addressing both traditional gaming and the burgeoning world of virtual reality.
Game Ready Optimization
The core objective of the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 was to provide the "optimal experience" for a selection of prominent games. These included:
- No Man’s Sky: Hello Games’ ambitious space exploration title, known for its vast procedurally generated universe, benefited from driver-level optimizations to ensure smoother performance and improved visual fidelity.
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided: Eidos Montreal’s cyberpunk action RPG, with its detailed environments and demanding graphical features, received specific attention to maximize performance and stability.
- Obduction: Cyan Worlds’ spiritual successor to Myst, a visually stunning puzzle adventure game, gained enhanced support through driver optimizations.
- F1 2016: Codemasters’ Formula 1 racing simulator, known for its realistic graphics and demanding physics engine, was optimized for a more immersive and responsive experience.
- Paragon (Open Beta): Epic Games’ MOBA, featuring high-fidelity visuals and intense team-based gameplay, benefited from optimizations within the driver to deliver a smoother and more stable experience during its open beta phase.
VR Game Ready
Recognizing the growing importance of virtual reality, Nvidia prioritized VR support in the 372.54 driver. The driver provided an "optimal experience" for a range of new and upcoming VR titles, including:
- NVIDIA VR Funhouse: A collection of mini-games designed to showcase the capabilities of VR and Nvidia’s graphics cards.
- Everest VR: A virtual reality experience that allows users to climb Mount Everest.
- Obduction: As mentioned above, Obduction also benefited from specific VR optimizations.
- Raw Data: A fast-paced VR action game.
- The Assembly: A first-person interactive story designed for VR.
Ansel Support
A significant addition in this driver release was support for Nvidia’s Ansel technology. Ansel is a revolutionary in-game camera tool that allows players to capture stunning screenshots with unprecedented freedom. It enables users to:
- Compose shots from any angle: Break free from the limitations of traditional in-game cameras.
- Capture in 2D and 360°: Create standard screenshots or immersive 360-degree images.
- Apply post-process filters: Adjust the look and feel of images with a variety of filters.
At the time of the 372.54 driver’s release, Ansel support was available in Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, allowing players to capture breathtaking images of the game’s stylized cityscape.
Gaming Technology
The driver also provided support for the latest GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs, which were then powering the cutting-edge gaming notebooks. This ensured that users with these high-performance mobile GPUs could enjoy the latest games with optimal settings and performance.
Specifications and Technical Details
The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 was released on August 16, 2016. The filename for the 64-bit Windows 10 version was "372.54-desktop-win10-64bit-international-whql.exe". The driver was WHQL-certified, indicating that it had passed Microsoft’s rigorous testing process for stability and compatibility.
Download Information
You can download the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 from the following link:
Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 Download
Alternative Download Link:
While the above link is a primary source, users may also find the driver available on other reputable driver download sites, such as Softpedia or Guru3D. However, always exercise caution when downloading files from the internet and ensure the source is trustworthy.
Previous Versions and Legacy Support
The article also included links to download older versions of the Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver. While these drivers may be useful for users with older hardware or specific compatibility requirements, it’s generally recommended to use the latest driver available for your graphics card to benefit from the latest performance improvements and bug fixes. The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 was a step on the road to improvements, and was eventually superseded by further driver iterations.
The list of previous versions included:
- Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 365.19 (2016-05-13)
- Driver version 365.10 (2016-05-02)
- Driver version 364.51 (2016-03-10)
- Driver version 364.47 (2016-03-07)
- Driver version 361.91 (2016-02-15)
- Driver version 361.43
- Driver version 359.06
- Driver version 359.00
- Driver version 358.91
- Driver version 358.87
- Driver version 358.50
- Driver version 355.98
- Driver version 355.82
- Driver version 355.60
- Driver version 353.62
Each of these older drivers targeted specific game releases and included various bug fixes and performance enhancements. For example, driver version 364.47 provided the "optimal experience" for titles like Tom Clancy’s The Division, Hitman, Need for Speed, Ashes of the Singularity, and Rise of the Tomb Raider. Driver version 361.91 focused on ARMA 3, Street Fighter V, Monster Hunter Online, and the HITMAN (Beta).
Conclusion
The Nvidia GeForce Graphics Driver 372.54 represented a significant milestone in Nvidia’s ongoing efforts to provide gamers with the best possible experience. By offering targeted optimizations for new and popular games, supporting emerging technologies like VR and Ansel, and maintaining a commitment to stability and compatibility, Nvidia continues to demonstrate its dedication to the gaming community. While newer drivers have since been released, the 372.54 driver remains a notable example of Nvidia’s focus on performance and innovation.