This article provides information regarding the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta release, specifically designed for 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. This driver package, part of the Release 260 family, offers support for a broad range of Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs), including desktop GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, and 400 series, as well as ION desktop GPUs. Being a beta release, users should be aware that it might contain some instability or unresolved issues compared to WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certified drivers. However, beta drivers often provide early access to performance enhancements and new features.
Key Updates and Features in Release 260.63
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta comes with several notable improvements and additions. These include enhanced GPU support, performance optimizations, expanded Blu-ray 3D capabilities, upgraded HD audio support, an improved driver installation process, enhancements to NVIDIA Surround technology, updates to NVIDIA 3D Vision, and various other improvements.
New GPU Support
This driver package introduces support for the newly launched GeForce GTS 450 GPU. This addition ensures that users with the latest hardware can take advantage of the optimized drivers and experience the intended performance.
Performance Enhancements
One of the primary focuses of this beta release is to improve performance across several popular PC games. The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta shows significant performance gains in certain titles when compared to the v258.96 WHQL drivers. These improvements are primarily observed on GeForce GTX 400 series GPUs running on Windows 7. However, it’s crucial to note that the actual performance improvements can vary based on the specific GPU and system configuration.
Here’s a breakdown of the performance improvements observed with specific GPUs:
-
GeForce GTX 480:
- Up to 10% increase in StarCraft II (2560×1600, 4xAA/16xAF, Ultra settings)
- Up to 14% increase in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (1920×1200, 4xAA/16xAF)
- Up to 16% increase in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (SLI – 2560×1600, 4xAA/16xAF)
- Up to 6% increase in Aliens vs. Predator (SLI – 1920×1200, noAA, Tessellation on)
-
GeForce GTX 460:
- Up to 19% increase in StarCraft II (SLI – 1920×1200, 4xAA/16xAF, Ultra settings)
- Up to 15% increase in Battlefield Bad Company 2 (SLI – 2560×1600, 4xAA/16xAF)
- Up to 12% increase in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (2560×1600, noAA)
- Up to 9% increase in Aliens vs. Predator (1680×1050, 4xAA/16xAF, Tessellation on)
- Up to 7% increase in Metro 2033 (1680×1050, noAA, Tessellation on)
- Up to 11% increase in Dirt 2 (SLI – 2560×1600, 4xAA/16xAF)
- Up to 12% increase in Crysis: Warhead (SLI – 1920×1200, 4xAA/16xAF, Gamer settings)
- Up to 13% increase in Far Cry 2 (2560×1600, 4xAA/16xAF)
- Up to 12% increase in H.A.W.X (SLI – 1920×1200, 4xAA/16xAF, SSAO Very High)
- Up to 5% increase in Just Cause 2 (1920×1200, 4xAA/16xAF)
- Up to 22% increase in Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (1920×1200, noAA)
- Up to 5% increase in 3DMark Vantage (Extreme Preset)
Blu-ray 3D Support
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta introduces support for playing Blu-ray 3D discs when connecting a compatible GPU to an HDMI 1.4 3D TV. This feature requires compatible software applications from vendors like CyberLink, ArcSoft, Roxio, or Corel. Users can find additional information on the NVIDIA Blu-ray 3D website.
HD Audio Enhancements
The driver package includes upgrades to HD Audio capabilities:
- Adds lossless DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio bitstreaming support for compatible Blu-ray movies with GeForce GTX 460 GPUs. *
- Adds high-definition 24-bit, 96 and 192 KHz multi-channel audio sampling rate support for compatible Blu-ray movies with GeForce GTX 400 Series, GT 240, GT 220, and 210 GPUs.*
- Upgrades the HD Audio driver to version 1.1.9.0.
It is important to note that a Blu-ray movie player update may be necessary to enable these new audio features. Users should check with their movie player software manufacturers for details. These features are exclusively supported on Windows 7.
Installation Process Improvements
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta features a redesigned driver installer with an enhanced user interface and new installation options. These include:
- Express Installation: A fast and easy one-click installation process.
- Custom Installation: Allows users to customize the installation by selecting specific components.
- Clean Installation: Provides the option to completely remove older drivers before installing the new ones, ensuring a clean and stable environment.
- Component Selection: Users can choose which driver components (e.g., PhysX or 3D Vision) to install.
- Improved installation time for multi-GPU PCs.
NVIDIA Surround Updates
The NVIDIA Surround setup wizard has been updated with several improvements:
- The wizard allows users to jump to any setup step after the initial setup.
- Improved display connection diagrams and tooltips.
- Enhanced UI for setup and arrangement of displays.
- Better bezel correction setup experience.
- A help page has been added to highlight which in-game resolution to select (e.g., how to pick bezel corrected resolutions).
- An option to dedicate an extra GPU to PhysX or to drive an additional display.
- Support for portrait or landscape setup directly from the setup wizard.
- Updated 3D Vision Surround and NVIDIA Surround game support list.
NVIDIA 3D Vision Updates
The installation process for 3D Vision has been modified. Detailed information regarding these changes is available in a dedicated knowledgebase article. Other key updates include:
- NVIDIA 3D Vision streaming support for Firefox 4 and Google Chrome web browsers.
- Support for Sony’s 3D Sweep Panorama picture format added to NVIDIA 3D Photo Viewer (compatible with Sony digital cameras such as NEX-5/NEX-3, Alpha a560/a580, and Cyber-shot DSC-WX5/DSC-TX9/DSC-T99 models).
- Support for new 3D Vision Desktop LCD monitors: BenQ X2410 and NEC F23W2A.
- Support for new 3D Vision projectors: Sanyo PDG-DWL2500 and ViewSonic PJD6251.
- Added 3D Vision game profiles for several titles.
Other Improvements
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta includes various other improvements and updates:
- Upgrades PhysX System Software to version 9.10.0514.
- Improves compatibility for older PC games (DirectX 7 to DirectX 9) running on Windows 7.
- Adds drag and drop display arrangement support to the "Set up multiple displays" page.
- Includes numerous bug fixes.
Additional Information
The driver package also offers support for:
- GPU-accelerated features in Adobe CS5.
- GPU-acceleration for smoother online HD videos with Adobe Flash 10.1.
- MotionDSP’s video enhancement software, vReveal, with support for HD output.
- DirectCompute with Windows 7 and GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
- OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language) for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
- OpenGL 3.3 for GeForce 8-series and later GPUs.
- Single GPU and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, and OpenGL.
- GPU overclocking and temperature monitoring via NVIDIA System Tools software.
Supported Products
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta supports a wide range of Nvidia GPUs across various series, including:
GeForce 400 series: GTX 465, GTX 460, GTS 450, GTX 480, GTX 470
GeForce 300 series: GT 330, 315, GT 340, GT 320, 310
GeForce 200 series: GTS 240, GT 240, GTX 275, G210, GTX 280, 210, GTX 260, 205, GT 230, GTX 295, GTS 250, GT 220, GTX 285
GeForce 100 series: GT 130, G 100, GT 140, GT 120
GeForce 9 series: 9500 GS, 9800 GT, 9600 GSO, 9300, 9400, 9600 GT, 9400 GT, 9200, 9100, 9500 GT, 9300 GS, 9800 GTX/GTX+, 9800 GX2, 9600 GS, 9300 GE
GeForce 8 series: 8600 GTS, 8600 GT, 8300, 8800 GT, 8400 GS, 8800 GTS 512, 8400, 8200, 8800 GTX, 8500 GT, 8300 GS, 8800 GS, 8200 / nForce 730a, 8100 / nForce 720a, 8400 SE, 8800 GTS, 8600 GS, 8800 Ultra
GeForce 7 series: 7900 GT/GTO, 7100 GS, 7300 LE, 7300 GT, 7800 SLI, 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7150 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7350 LE, 7900 GS, 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 620i, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7800 GTX, 7500 LE, 7650 GS, 7600 GS, 7300 SE / 7200 GS, 7050 PV / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7300 GS, 7025 / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7950 GX2, 7550 LE, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 610i, 7600 GT, 7600 LE, 7900 GTX, 7800 GS, 7950 GT
GeForce 6 series: 6200 LE, 6800 GS, 6100 nForce 420, 6200 TurboCache, 6500, 6100 nForce 400, 6100, 6800 Ultra, 6200, 6100 nForce 405, 6800, 6150, 6700 XL, 6800 XT, 6600, 6610 XL, 6200 A-LE, 6600 GT, 6600 LE, 6800 GS/XT, 6150LE / Quadro NVS 210S, 6800 LE, 6600 VE, 6800 XE, 6150 LE, 6150SE nForce 430, 6200SE TurboCache, 6800 GT, 6250
Download Links
To download the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta for Windows Vista/7 32-bit, you can use the following links:
Alternative Download Links:
Since official Nvidia links for older drivers may become unavailable over time, here are several alternative sources where you might find the Nvidia GeForce Ion Graphics Drivers 260.63 Beta:
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Disclaimer: Always exercise caution when downloading files from third-party websites. Ensure the source is reputable and scan downloaded files with an antivirus program before installation.