Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 for Windows Vista / 7

This article provides comprehensive information about the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45, a WHQL-certified (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) driver designed for a broad range of Nvidia desktop GPUs running on Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. This driver supports the GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, and 300 series, as well as the Nvidia ION desktop GPUs. This article will outline the key features, improvements, and supported products associated with this driver release.

Key Updates and Enhancements in Version 197.45

The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 introduces several significant updates and enhancements, making it a worthwhile upgrade for users with compatible hardware. The key highlights include:

• Adobe CS5 Performance Optimization: This driver is specifically recommended for users of Adobe Creative Suite 5 (CS5) due to its optimizations for GPU-accelerated features within the suite. This means improved performance and responsiveness when using applications like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects.
• MotionDSP vReveal Support: The driver adds support for the latest version of MotionDSP’s vReveal video enhancement software. vReveal utilizes the GPU to enhance video quality, reduce noise, and stabilize shaky footage.
• Media Player Classic Fix: This release addresses and resolves a video playback issue encountered in Media Player Classic, ensuring a smoother and more reliable viewing experience.

Existing Support and Features Carried Over

Beyond the new features, the 197.45 driver inherits a wealth of existing support and functionality from the Release 197 driver branch. These include:

• Next Generation ION Support: Continued support for the Next Generation ION platform, providing enhanced graphics capabilities for small form factor PCs and netbooks.
• GeForce GT 300 Series Support: Full support for the GeForce GT 320, GeForce GT 330, and GeForce GT 340 graphics cards.
• PhysX System Software Upgrade: The driver incorporates an upgrade to the PhysX System Software, bringing it to version 9.10.0129. PhysX is Nvidia’s physics engine, which adds realistic physical effects to games and applications. This update improves the performance and stability of PhysX-enabled content.
• HD Audio Driver Update: For supported GPUs, the HD Audio driver is upgraded to version 1.0.9.1, ensuring optimal audio output quality.

Performance Improvements in Gaming

One of the most compelling reasons to update to the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 is the performance boost it provides in various PC games. Compared to the previous v196.21 WHQL driver, users can expect noticeable improvements, though the exact gains will vary depending on their specific GPU and system configuration. Some examples of measured performance increases include:

• Crysis: Warhead: Up to a 13% performance increase with a single GPU and up to a 30% increase when using SLI technology.
• H.A.W.X: Up to a 13% performance increase with a single GPU and up to a 15% increase with SLI technology.
• Left 4 Dead: Up to a 30% performance increase with a single GPU and up to a 28% increase with SLI technology.

These improvements highlight the driver’s ability to optimize performance for demanding gaming titles.

SLI and Multi-GPU Support

The 197.45 driver expands SLI (Scalable Link Interface) and multi-GPU support for a range of popular and recently released games. This allows users with multiple Nvidia GPUs to experience significant performance gains by distributing the rendering workload across multiple cards. Newly supported titles include:

• Assassin Creed II
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2
• Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight
• Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City
• Mass Effect 2
• Napoleon: Total War
• Zombie Driver

Furthermore, the driver provides enhanced SLI support for existing games such as Metro 2033, Supreme Commander 2, Unigine, and World of Warcraft, further optimizing performance for multi-GPU configurations.

Ambient Occlusion and Anti-Aliasing Enhancements

The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 also introduces improvements in visual quality through the addition of Ambient Occlusion (AO) support for several games. AO is a rendering technique that adds depth and realism to scenes by simulating the way light interacts with surfaces. Newly supported titles include:

• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
• Need for Speed: Shift
• Resident Evil 5
• RUSE
• Street Fighter IV

Additionally, the driver adds override anti-aliasing support for Mass Effect 2, allowing users to force anti-aliasing settings even if the game does not natively support them, resulting in smoother and less jagged edges.

Other Notable Features

Besides the major updates, the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 incorporates a variety of other features and enhancements, including:

• Adobe Flash 10.1 GPU Acceleration: Support for GPU-acceleration for smoother online HD video playback using Adobe Flash 10.1.
• DirectCompute Support: Supports DirectCompute with Windows 7 and GeForce 8-series and later GPUs, enabling parallel computing for various applications.
• OpenCL 1.0 Support: Supports OpenCL (Open Computing Language) 1.0 for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs, allowing developers to leverage the GPU for general-purpose computing tasks.
• OpenGL 3.2 Support: Supports OpenGL 3.2 for GeForce 8-series and later GPUs, providing access to the latest OpenGL features and capabilities.
• CUDA Toolkit 3.0 Support: Supports CUDA Toolkit 3.0 features and performance enhancements, enabling developers to create GPU-accelerated applications using Nvidia’s CUDA platform.
• Single GPU and NVIDIA SLI Technology: Full support for single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL, including 3-way SLI, Quad SLI, and SLI support on SLI-certified Intel X58-based motherboards.
• NVIDIA PhysX Acceleration: Supports NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on a dedicated GeForce graphics card, allowing users to dedicate one card for graphics rendering and another for PhysX processing, resulting in more realistic physical effects in games.
• NVIDIA System Tools Support: Supports GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.

Supported Products

The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 supports a wide range of Nvidia desktop GPUs. The supported product series and specific models are listed below:

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

Download Links

You can download the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 from the following locations:

• TechSpot: https://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/file/information/13516/
• Alternative Download Link 1: https://www.nvidia.com/ (Navigate to the drivers section and search for the specific driver version.)
• Alternative Download Link 2: https://www.softpedia.com/ (Search for "Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45")
• Alternative Download Link 3: https://www.guru3d.com/ (Search for "Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45")
• Alternative Download Link 4: https://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/NVIDIA/NVIDIA-GeForce-ION-Graphics-Driver-197-45.shtml
• Alternative Download Link 5: https://www.filehorse.com/ (Search for "Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45")

Conclusion

The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 represents a significant update for users of compatible Nvidia GPUs on Windows Vista and Windows 7. With its optimizations for Adobe CS5, support for MotionDSP vReveal, and numerous performance improvements in gaming and other applications, this driver provides a compelling upgrade for those seeking the best possible experience from their Nvidia hardware. The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45 offers a comprehensive set of features and improvements, making it a recommended update for users of the supported graphics cards. Before installing the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Driver 197.45, ensure your system meets the requirements and that you download the correct version for your operating system.