This article provides information about the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL, designed for systems running Windows Vista or Windows 7 (32-bit). These drivers are part of the NVIDIA Verde Notebook Driver Program, a program that aims to provide reference drivers for a wide range of NVIDIA notebook GPUs.
Understanding the NVIDIA Verde Notebook Driver Program
The NVIDIA Verde Notebook Driver Program is designed to offer users the latest driver updates for their NVIDIA notebook graphics cards. These drivers are reference drivers, meaning they are designed to work across a broad spectrum of compatible GPUs.
However, it is crucial to understand that your notebook’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM), such as Dell, HP, or Lenovo, often provides customized and certified drivers specifically tailored for your particular notebook model. These OEM drivers may include specific optimizations and configurations to ensure optimal performance and stability with your notebook’s hardware and software ecosystem. NVIDIA strongly recommends checking with your notebook OEM for recommended software updates before installing these Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows Vista/7 32-bit.
Using reference drivers directly from NVIDIA may, in some cases, lead to unforeseen issues due to the lack of OEM-specific customizations. It’s also important to note that OEMs may not provide technical support for problems arising from the use of NVIDIA’s reference drivers. Therefore, proceed with caution and always prioritize OEM-provided drivers when available.
Important Considerations Before Installation
Before downloading and installing the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows Vista/7 32-bit, it is vital to take the following precautions:
- GPU Compatibility: Verify that your notebook’s GPU is listed in the "Supported Products" section below. Installing these drivers on an unsupported GPU can lead to system instability or malfunction.
- System Backup: Back up your current system configuration. This will allow you to revert to your previous settings if the new drivers cause any problems. Instructions for backing up your system are readily available online.
- Dell Software Update (Specific Models): If you own a Dell Inspiron 1420, Dell XPS M1330, Dell XPS M1530, or Dell Latitude D630/D630c, it is highly recommended that you install the specific Dell software update mentioned in the original release notes before installing these NVIDIA drivers. This update likely addresses compatibility issues specific to these Dell models.
Key Features and Improvements in Release 260.99
The 260.99 driver release is the second WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certified release from the Release 260 family. WHQL certification indicates that the drivers have undergone rigorous testing by Microsoft and meet specific quality and compatibility standards. This generally suggests a higher level of stability and reliability compared to non-WHQL drivers.
Here’s a summary of the notable changes and improvements included in the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows Vista/7 32-bit:
- Performance Enhancements: Increased performance compared to the previous v260.89 drivers in several popular PC games, including:
- Civilization V (SLI configurations)
- Fallout 3
- Final Fantasy XIV
- SLI Profile Additions: Added SLI (Scalable Link Interface) profiles for the following games. SLI profiles optimize the use of multiple NVIDIA GPUs working in parallel to deliver increased performance:
- Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
- Fallout: New Vegas
- Compatibility Fixes:
- Improved compatibility for Fallout 3: New Vegas when antialiasing is enabled. Antialiasing is a technique used to reduce jagged edges in images, improving visual quality.
- Improved Alt-Tab compatibility for various PC games. Alt-Tab is a common keyboard shortcut used to switch between open applications.
- Component Updates:
- HD Audio driver updated to version 1.1.9.0. This update ensures proper audio functionality, particularly for high-definition audio devices.
- PhysX System Software updated to version 9.10.0514. NVIDIA PhysX is a physics engine used in many games to create realistic environmental interactions and effects.
- Software Support:
- Support for the new GPU-accelerated features in Adobe Creative Suite 5 (CS5). GPU acceleration leverages the power of the graphics card to speed up tasks in applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
- Support for GPU acceleration for smoother online HD videos with Adobe Flash 10.1. This allows for smoother playback of high-definition videos streamed through web browsers.
- Support for the new version of MotionDSP’s vReveal video enhancement software, which adds support for HD output. vReveal is designed to improve the quality of videos, and this update allows for enhanced output resolution.
- API Support:
- Supports OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language) for all GeForce 8-series and later GPUs. OpenCL is a framework for writing programs that execute across heterogeneous platforms, including CPUs and GPUs.
- Supports OpenGL 3.3 for GeForce 8M-series and later GPUs. OpenGL is a cross-language, cross-platform API for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.
- Supports OpenGL 4.1 for GeForce 400M series GPUs.
Supported Products
This driver package is designed to be compatible with a wide range of NVIDIA notebook GPUs. Below is a list of the supported GPU series and specific models. Note that there may be exceptions for certain notebooks, as mentioned in the original release notes.
- GeForce 400M Series: GeForce GTX 480M, GeForce GTX 460M, GeForce GT 445M, GeForce GT 435M, GeForce GT 425M, GeForce GT 420M, GeForce GT 415M
- GeForce 300M Series: GTS 360M, GTS 350M, GTS 250M, GT 335M, GT 330M, GT 325M, GT 320M, 310M, 305M
- GeForce 200M Series: GT 230M, GT 240M, G210M, GTX 285M, GTX 280M, GTX 260M, GT 220M
- GeForce 100M Series: G 110M, GT 130M, GTS 160M, G 105M, G 103M, G 102M, GT 120M
- GeForce 9 Series: 9600 GT, 9400
- GeForce 9M Series: 9400M G, 9650M GS, 9200M GS, 9500M GS, 9400M GS, 9800M GS, 9300M GS, 9800M GT, 9100M G, 9800M GTS, 9500M G, 9700M GT, 9600M GS, 9650M GT, 9400M, 9300M G, 9800M GTX, 9600M GT, 9700M GTS
- GeForce 8M Series: 8800M GTS, 8600M GT, 8400M GT, 8200M G, 8800M GTX, 8800M GS, 8600M GS, 8400M G, 8700M GT, 8400M GS
- Quadro FX Notebook Series: 5000M, FX 3800M, FX 3700M, FX 360M, FX 1600M, FX 380M, FX 370M, FX 3600M, FX 2800M, FX 2700M, FX 880M, FX 770M, FX 570M, FX 1800M, FX 1700M
- Quadro NVS Notebook Series: NVS 2100M, NVS 5100M, NVS 3100M, NVS 150M, NVS 160M, NVS 140M, NVS 320M, NVS 130M, NVS 135M
- ION Notebook Series: ION (Notebooks), ION LE (Notebooks)
Important Notes
- Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology with Intel chipsets are not supported by this release. Hybrid Power technology allows notebooks to switch between integrated and dedicated graphics cards to conserve power.
- Sony has joined the Verde program by supporting the following VAIO notebooks: Sony F Series with NVIDIA GeForce 310M and Sony F Series with NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M. Other Sony VAIO notebooks are not supported at this time (please contact Sony for driver support).
Download Links
You can download the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows Vista/7 32-bit from the following locations:
Alternative Download Links:
While TechSpot is a reputable source, here are a few alternative download locations for the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows Vista/7 32-bit. Please exercise caution when downloading from unofficial sources and ensure you have adequate virus protection. Due to the age of this driver, availability may vary.
- Softpedia: (Search Softpedia for "Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99")
- DriverGuide: (Search DriverGuide for "Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99")
- Guru3D: (Check Guru3D’s driver archives)
- Nvidia Legacy Drivers Archive: (Check Nvidia’s official website for legacy drivers)
- FileHorse: (Search FileHorse for "Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99")
Remember to always verify the file integrity (e.g., using checksums if provided) to ensure you are downloading a genuine and untampered driver package.
Conclusion
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows Vista/7 32-bit offer performance improvements, compatibility fixes, and updated components for a range of NVIDIA notebook GPUs. However, it is crucial to prioritize OEM-provided drivers whenever possible and to take necessary precautions before installing reference drivers from NVIDIA. By carefully considering the information provided in this article, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to install these drivers on your system.