This article provides comprehensive information about the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL release, specifically tailored for notebooks running the Windows XP 64-bit operating system. It details the driver’s purpose, compatibility, key features, and important considerations for users before installation.
Understanding the NVIDIA Verde Notebook Driver Program
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows XP 64-bit is distributed as part of NVIDIA’s Verde Notebook Driver Program. This program aims to provide reference drivers directly to users of NVIDIA notebook GPUs. A "reference driver" is a generic driver package designed to work across a range of compatible hardware.
However, it’s crucial to understand that notebook manufacturers (Original Equipment Manufacturers or OEMs) often customize drivers to optimize performance and stability for their specific notebook models. Therefore, NVIDIA strongly advises users to first check their notebook OEM’s website for certified drivers designed specifically for their device. OEM drivers may include customizations and optimizations that are not present in the reference drivers, potentially leading to a better user experience.
NVIDIA also cautions that using reference drivers may void any support agreements with the OEM. If issues arise from using the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows XP 64-bit, users may need to seek support from NVIDIA directly, as the OEM might not provide assistance for problems stemming from the use of non-certified drivers.
Pre-Installation Considerations
Before proceeding with the download and installation of the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows XP 64-bit, several important steps should be taken:
- Verify GPU Compatibility: The first and most critical step is to confirm that your notebook’s GPU is supported by this driver release. A comprehensive list of supported GPUs is provided in the "Supported Products" section below. Installing the driver on an unsupported GPU can lead to system instability or malfunction.
- Back Up Your System: It is always a good practice to back up your current system configuration before installing any new drivers. This allows you to revert to a previous working state if any issues arise during or after the driver installation. System backups can be created using Windows System Restore or third-party backup software.
- Dell-Specific Update (If Applicable): 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 a specific Dell software update before installing the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows XP 64-bit. This Dell update addresses potential compatibility issues and ensures a smoother driver installation process.
Release 260.99 Highlights
The 260.99 driver is the second WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certified release within the Release 260 family. WHQL certification signifies that the driver has undergone rigorous testing by Microsoft and meets specific quality and compatibility standards. This generally indicates a more stable and reliable driver experience.
Key improvements and new features introduced in the 260.99 release include:
- Performance Enhancements: This driver provides noticeable performance improvements compared to the previous v260.89 drivers in several popular PC games, including:
- Civilization V (with SLI enabled)
- Fallout 3
- Final Fantasy XIV
- SLI Profile Additions: The 260.99 driver adds SLI (Scalable Link Interface) profiles for the following games. SLI allows users with multiple NVIDIA GPUs to combine their processing power for increased performance. The new profiles are for:
- Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
- Fallout: New Vegas
- Improved Compatibility: This release addresses compatibility issues in Fallout 3: New Vegas, specifically when antialiasing is enabled. Antialiasing is a graphics technique used to reduce jagged edges in images, improving visual quality.
- Alt-Tab Compatibility: The driver includes improvements to Alt-Tab functionality, resolving issues that may have caused problems when switching between applications and games.
Additional Information
Beyond the core performance and compatibility enhancements, the Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows XP 64-bit also includes several other notable updates and features:
- HD Audio Driver: Installs the HD Audio driver to version 1.1.9.0, ensuring proper audio functionality for HDMI and DisplayPort connections.
- PhysX System Software: Bundles PhysX System Software to version 9.10.0514. PhysX is NVIDIA’s physics engine, which enhances the realism of in-game physics effects.
- Adobe CS5 Acceleration: Supports the new GPU-accelerated features in Adobe Creative Suite 5 (CS5). This allows for faster performance in tasks such as video editing and image processing.
- Adobe Flash 10.1 Acceleration: Enables GPU acceleration for smoother online HD video playback using Adobe Flash 10.1. This offloads video decoding tasks from the CPU to the GPU, resulting in reduced CPU usage and improved video playback quality.
- MotionDSP vReveal Support: Supports the new version of MotionDSP’s video enhancement software, vReveal. This software allows users to improve the quality of their videos. NVIDIA customers can download a free version of vReveal that supports up to Standard Definition (SD) output.
- OpenCL 1.0 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.
- OpenGL Support: Supports OpenGL 3.3 for GeForce 8M-series and later GPUs and OpenGL 4.1 for GeForce 400M series GPUs. OpenGL is a cross-language, cross-platform API for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.
Supported Products
The Nvidia GeForce Ion Notebook Graphics Drivers 260.99 WHQL for Windows XP 64-bit is compatible with the following NVIDIA notebook GPUs:
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
- Hybrid Power Technology: Notebooks that utilize Hybrid Power technology with Intel chipsets are not supported by this driver release.
- Sony VAIO Support: Sony has joined the Verde program and supports the following VAIO notebooks with this driver: 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. Users with other Sony VAIO models should contact Sony directly for driver support.
Download Links
Before downloading, ensure you have read and understood the pre-installation considerations.
- TechSpot: https://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/file/information/14565/
- Alternative Download Link 1: https://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/NVIDIA/NVIDIA-GeForce-Ion-Notebook-Graphics-Driver-260-99-WHQL.shtml
- Alternative Download Link 2: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/results/18413/
- Alternative Download Link 3: https://www.filehorse.com/download-nvidia-geforce-driver/
- Alternative Download Link 4: https://www.computerbase.de/downloads/treiber/grafikkarten/nvidia-notebook-treiber/
- Alternative Download Link 5: https://www.drivereasy.com/driver-updates/nvidia-geforce-ion-driver-update-guide/