This article provides information about the Nvidia GeForce Notebook Graphics Driver 310.54 Beta, released on November 12, 2012. This driver is designed for notebooks equipped with Nvidia GeForce GPUs and supports 32-bit versions of Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. It is important to understand the nature of this driver as a reference driver within the Nvidia Notebook Driver Program and to consider the recommendations of your notebook’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Understanding Reference Drivers
The Nvidia Notebook Driver Program offers reference drivers like the Nvidia GeForce Notebook Graphics Driver 310.54 Beta to provide users with the latest performance enhancements and features for their Nvidia GeForce notebook GPUs. However, these drivers are not specifically tailored to individual notebook models. OEMs, such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, and others, customize drivers to optimize performance and stability for their specific hardware configurations.
Nvidia strongly advises users to first consult their notebook OEM’s website for certified drivers designed for their particular notebook model. OEM-certified drivers undergo rigorous testing to ensure compatibility and stability, and they often include customizations specific to the notebook’s cooling system, display, and other components. Using a reference driver like the Nvidia GeForce Notebook Graphics Driver 310.54 Beta may lead to unforeseen issues, and OEMs typically do not provide technical support for problems arising from the use of these drivers.
Key Benefits and Improvements
Despite the recommendation to prioritize OEM drivers, the Nvidia GeForce Notebook Graphics Driver 310.54 Beta offered several compelling benefits at the time of its release, particularly for gamers. Notably, it was the recommended driver for optimal performance in two popular titles:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 2: This driver promised up to a 26% performance increase in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 compared to the older GeForce 306.97 WHQL drivers. This boost could translate to smoother gameplay and higher frame rates, especially on notebooks with mid-range or high-end GeForce GPUs.
- Assassin’s Creed III: Gamers could expect up to an 18% performance improvement in Assassin’s Creed III. This enhancement, coupled with smooth, shimmer-free graphics achieved through TXAA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing) antialiasing, aimed to provide a more visually appealing and immersive gaming experience.
Beyond these specific game optimizations, the 310.54 Beta driver also included broader performance enhancements and feature updates.
What’s New in Driver 310.54 Beta
The following highlights some of the key changes and additions introduced in the Nvidia GeForce Notebook Graphics Driver 310.54 Beta:
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Performance Boost: Significant performance gains were reported across various PC games for GeForce 400, 500, and 600 Series GPUs compared to the 306.97 WHQL drivers. The actual performance increase varied depending on the specific GPU model and the overall system configuration.
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Nvidia SLI Technology: The driver included updated or new SLI profiles for several games, optimizing performance for systems equipped with multiple Nvidia GPUs in an SLI configuration. Specific game titles receiving SLI profile updates were not detailed in the provided source, but SLI profiles generally aim to distribute the graphics workload across multiple GPUs for increased frame rates and smoother gameplay.
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Nvidia 3D Vision: The driver incorporated updated and new 3D Vision profiles for a range of games. These profiles were designed to enhance the 3D gaming experience when using Nvidia’s 3D Vision technology, which requires compatible 3D-ready displays and glasses. Specific game titles receiving 3D Vision profile updates were listed within the original release notes (310.33 and 310.54), aiming to improve the quality and compatibility of 3D visuals in those games.
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Other Profile Updates: Additional profile updates were included to further improve performance and compatibility across a wider range of applications and games. Specific details of these updates were not readily available from the source.
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Nvidia CUDA: The driver included updates related to Nvidia’s CUDA technology. CUDA is a parallel computing platform and programming model that allows developers to leverage the power of Nvidia GPUs for a wide range of computationally intensive tasks, including video encoding, image processing, and scientific simulations.
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Nvidia SSAA: Updates related to Nvidia’s Sparse Grid Supersampling Antialiasing (SSAA) were included. SSAA is an antialiasing technique that improves image quality by rendering the scene at a higher resolution and then downsampling it to the display resolution, resulting in smoother edges and reduced aliasing artifacts.
Additional Details and Supported Products
The driver release included additional details and fixes, although the specific nature of these improvements was not specified. The Nvidia GeForce Notebook Graphics Driver 310.54 Beta supported a wide range of Nvidia GeForce notebook GPUs, including models from the GeForce 400M, 500M, and 600M series.
Important Considerations
- OEM Drivers: Always prioritize drivers certified by your notebook OEM. These drivers are specifically tested and optimized for your notebook’s hardware configuration.
- Compatibility: Ensure that the driver is compatible with your notebook’s operating system (Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 32-bit).
- Beta Status: Keep in mind that this is a beta driver, meaning it may contain bugs or stability issues. Use caution when installing beta drivers, and be prepared to revert to a previous driver if necessary.
Driver Download Links
While the primary recommendation is to obtain drivers from your OEM, here are links for downloading the Nvidia GeForce Notebook Graphics Driver 310.54 Beta for Windows Vista/7/8 32-bit:
- Original Download Link: 310.54-notebook-win8-win7-winvista-32bit-international-beta.exe
- Alternative Download Link: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/ (Navigate to legacy drivers and search for the specific driver version if available). Note: It is possible this driver is no longer directly available for download from Nvidia.
It is important to note that driver availability can change over time. The most reliable source for drivers remains your notebook’s OEM support website.
This information is provided for historical reference. Always prioritize the latest stable drivers certified by your notebook manufacturer for optimal performance and stability.