Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows XP

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows XP represents a significant update within the Release 256 family of drivers (versions 256.xx to 259.xx). This beta release aimed to enhance the performance and capabilities of a wide range of Nvidia graphics cards, specifically targeting users still operating on the Windows XP platform. It’s important to remember that while this driver offered improvements at the time of its release, it is now considered legacy software and may not be compatible with modern games or applications.

Overview of the Release 256 Driver Family

The Release 256 driver family was a comprehensive update that brought several key features and improvements to Nvidia’s graphics card lineup. It was designed to optimize performance across various applications and games, while also introducing new technologies and control options for users.

This particular release was a WHQL-candidate, meaning it was undergoing testing to achieve Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification. WHQL certification signifies that the driver has passed Microsoft’s rigorous testing standards and is considered stable and reliable for use with Windows operating systems.

The driver package supported a broad spectrum of Nvidia GPUs, including:

• GeForce 6 Series
• GeForce 7 Series
• GeForce 8 Series
• GeForce 9 Series
• GeForce 100 Series
• GeForce 200 Series
• GeForce 300 Series
• GeForce 400 Series
• ION Desktop GPUs

Key Features and Improvements in Release 258.96

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows XP introduced several noteworthy features and improvements, primarily focused on performance enhancements and new hardware support.

1. GeForce GTX 460 Support:

This driver officially added support for the GeForce GTX 460 graphics card. This meant that users who had recently purchased or were planning to purchase the GTX 460 could now utilize its full potential with optimized drivers.

2. Performance Increases in PC Games:

A significant focus of this release was improving performance in various PC games, particularly for the GeForce GTX 400 Series GPUs. These improvements were built upon the foundation laid by the earlier Release 256 drivers. The following games saw notable performance gains when tested with a GeForce GTX 480 (results may vary depending on GPU and system configuration):

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

These performance increases were achieved through driver-level optimizations, which improved how the GPU processed and rendered the game’s graphics.

3. Updated PhysX System Software:

The driver package included an upgrade to PhysX System Software, specifically version 9.10.0224. PhysX is Nvidia’s physics engine, which adds realistic physics effects to games. Updating the PhysX software ensured compatibility with the latest games and improved the performance of PhysX-enabled effects.

4. Updated HD Audio Driver:

The HD Audio driver was upgraded to version 1.0.15.0 (for supported GPUs). This update aimed to improve the quality and stability of audio output through the graphics card’s HDMI or DisplayPort connections.

5. Bug Fixes:

The release incorporated numerous bug fixes, addressing various issues that users may have encountered with previous driver versions. Details about specific bug fixes could be found in the release notes accompanying the driver.

Key Features of Release 256 Drivers

The Release 256 family of drivers, which the 258.96 beta belonged to, also introduced several key features that were relevant to the overall user experience.

• OpenGL 4.0 Support: Added support for OpenGL 4.0 for GeForce GTX 400 Series GPUs. OpenGL is a cross-language, cross-platform API for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.
• CUDA Toolkit 3.1 Support: Added support for CUDA Toolkit 3.1, which included significant performance increases for double precision math operations. CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) is Nvidia’s parallel computing platform and programming model.
• New NVIDIA Control Panel Setup Page for SLI and PhysX: Added a new NVIDIA Control Panel setup page for SLI (Scalable Link Interface) and PhysX, providing users with greater control over multi-GPU configurations.
• New NVIDIA Control Panel Feature for CUDA GPUs: Added a new NVIDIA Control Panel feature for CUDA GPUs, allowing users to choose which GPU would power each CUDA application.

Additional Information

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows XP also provided support for several other technologies and features:

• Adobe CS5 GPU Acceleration: Supported the new GPU-accelerated features in Adobe CS5.
• Adobe Flash 10.1 GPU Acceleration: Supported GPU-acceleration for smoother online HD videos with Adobe Flash 10.1.
• MotionDSP vReveal Support: Supported the new version of MotionDSP’s video enhancement software, vReveal, which added support for HD output.
• OpenCL 1.0 Support: Supported OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language) for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
• OpenGL 3.3 Support: Supported OpenGL 3.3 for GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
• Single GPU and NVIDIA SLI Technology Support: Supported single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9 and OpenGL.
• GPU Overclocking and Temperature Monitoring: Supported GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring by installing NVIDIA System Tools software.

Supported Products

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows XP supported a wide range of Nvidia graphics cards, spanning multiple generations. Here’s a comprehensive list:

GeForce 400 Series: GTX 470, GTX 460, GTX 465, GTX 480

GeForce 300 Series: 315, GT 340, GT 320, 310, GT 330

GeForce 200 Series: GTX 280, G210, GTX 275, GT 240, 205, GTX 285, GTX 295, 210, GTX 260, GTS 240, GT 220, GTS 250, GT 230

GeForce 100 Series: GT 130, G 100, GT 120, GT 140

GeForce 9 Series: 9800 GT, 9400, 9600 GSO, 9600 GS, 9500 GT, 9300 GE, 9600 GT, 9500 GS, 9800 GTX/GTX+, 9800 GX2, 9100, 9300 GS, 9200, 9400 GT, 9300

GeForce 8 Series: 8800 GTS 512, 8400 GS, 8500 GT, 8100 / nForce 720a, 8400, 8400 SE, 8200 / nForce 730a, 8800 GS, 8300 GS, 8800 GTS, 8600 GTS, 8800 Ultra, 8800 GT, 8300, 8600 GS, 8200, 8800 GTX, 8600 GT

GeForce 7 Series: 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 620i, 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7300 GT, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 610i, 7600 LE, 7800 GS, 7600 GS, 7550 LE, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7150 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7800 GTX, 7650 GS, 7800 SLI, 7600 GT, 7900 GTX, 7050 PV / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7950 GX2, 7300 SE / 7200 GS, 7350 LE, 7950 GT, 7300 LE, 7100 GS, 7025 / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7300 GS, 7500 LE, 7900 GT/GTO, 7900 GS

GeForce 6 Series: 6800 GS, 6800 GS/XT, 6150 LE, 6150SE nForce 430, 6800 XE, 6100, 6600 VE, 6200 A-LE, 6500, 6800 XT, 6200 LE, 6150, 6100 nForce 420, 6800 GT, 6700 XL, 6600 GT, 6200SE TurboCache, 6200, 6600 LE, 6100 nForce 400, 6800 Ultra, 6250, 6150LE / Quadro NVS 210S, 6100 nForce 405, 6800, 6610 XL, 6800 LE, 6200 TurboCache, 6600

ION Series: ION LE, ION

Download Links

While official support for this driver has long ended, you may still be able to find it on driver archives. Here are a few alternative download locations.

1. TechSpot: https://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/file/information/14040/
2. Softpedia: (Link unavailable due to the age of the driver and website updates, but Softpedia often archives older drivers.)
3. Guru3D: (Link unavailable due to the age of the driver and website updates, but Guru3D often archives older drivers.)
4. Nvidia Legacy Driver Archive: Search on the official Nvidia website for their legacy driver archive.
5. DriverGuide: Search on DriverGuide website for older Nvidia drivers.

Important Considerations:

• Operating System: This driver is specifically designed for Windows XP. Installing it on a different operating system may cause compatibility issues or system instability.
• Beta Status: As a beta release, this driver may contain unresolved bugs or issues. It is recommended to use caution when installing beta drivers and to back up your system beforehand.
• Legacy Software: Keep in mind that this driver is considered legacy software and may not be compatible with modern games or applications.
• Driver Installation: Always uninstall previous drivers before installing a new driver to avoid conflicts.

The Nvidia GeForce/Ion Graphics Driver 258.96 Beta for Windows XP was a significant update for its time, offering performance improvements and new features for a wide range of Nvidia graphics cards. However, given its age and the evolution of hardware and software, it is essential to consider the limitations and potential risks associated with using this legacy driver.