Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16 for Windows XP 64-bit

This article provides information about the Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16, a driver release designed for notebooks running the Windows XP 64-bit operating system. It’s crucial to understand the context of this driver, its features, supported hardware, and important considerations before installation.

Understanding the Nvidia Verde Notebook Driver Program

The Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16 is part of Nvidia’s Verde Notebook Driver Program. This program aims to provide reference drivers that can be installed on notebooks equipped with supported Nvidia GPUs. However, it’s essential to recognize that notebook Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) often provide customized and certified drivers specifically tailored for their notebook models. These OEM drivers are typically available on the manufacturer’s website.

Important Note: Nvidia strongly recommends that users check with their notebook OEM for recommended software updates before installing this or any other driver directly from Nvidia. OEMs may not offer technical support for issues arising from the use of Nvidia reference drivers. They design drivers for the specific combination of hardware and software on their systems.

Pre-Installation Checklist for Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16

Before proceeding with the download and installation of the Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16, it’s vital to complete the following steps:

Verify GPU Compatibility: Confirm that your notebook’s GPU is listed as supported in the "Products Supported" section of this article. Installing the driver on an unsupported GPU may lead to instability or malfunction.
System Backup: Create a backup of your current system configuration. This will allow you to revert to your previous state if any issues occur during or after the driver installation. Instructions for creating a system backup can be found through various online resources, including guides provided by Microsoft and third-party software vendors.
Dell Users (Specific Models): If you own a Dell Inspiron 1420, Dell XPS M1330, Dell XPS M1530, or Dell Latitude D630/D630c, it’s highly recommended to install the specific Dell software update mentioned in the original release notes before installing this Nvidia driver. This update likely addresses compatibility issues specific to these Dell models.

Key Features and Improvements in Version 197.16

The Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16 introduces several enhancements and new features:

3D Vision Support for External Displays: This version adds support for Nvidia’s 3D Vision technology on external displays connected to notebooks. 3D Vision enables stereoscopic 3D gaming and viewing experiences. Specific GPU and display requirements for notebook PCs utilizing 3D Vision can be found on Nvidia’s website. Separate 3D Vision drivers for notebooks are also available for download.
Enhanced SLI Support: Significant improvements have been made to SLI (Scalable Link Interface) support for popular gaming titles. SLI technology allows multiple Nvidia GPUs to work together to increase graphics performance. The driver includes optimizations for games like Assassin’s Creed II, Avatar, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight, Dirt 2, Mass Effect 2, Metro 2033, Napoleon: Total War, Supreme Commander 2, and World of Warcraft.
PhysX System Software Update: The PhysX System Software has been upgraded to version 9.10.0129. This update provides improved physics processing capabilities for games that utilize Nvidia’s PhysX engine, such as Dark Void.
HD Audio Driver Update: The HD Audio driver has been upgraded to version 1.0.9.1 for supported GPUs. This update improves audio performance and stability.
Performance Enhancements in Games: The driver offers performance increases in several PC games compared to the previous v195.62 WHQL driver. The extent of these improvements varies depending on the GPU and system configuration. Examples of measured performance gains include:
- Up to 13% increase in Crysis: Warhead with a single GPU.
- Up to 30% increase in Crysis: Warhead with SLI technology.
- Up to 13% increase in H.A.W.X with a single GPU.
- Up to 15% increase in H.A.W.X with SLI technology.
- Up to 30% increase in Left 4 Dead with a single GPU.
- Up to 28% increase in Left 4 Dead with SLI technology.
Bug Fixes: The Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16 includes numerous bug fixes that address various issues reported in previous driver versions. Detailed information about these fixes can be found in the release notes on the documentation tab (if available).

Existing Supported Technologies

In addition to the new features, the Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16 continues to support existing Nvidia technologies:

GPU-Accelerated Adobe Flash 10.1 Beta: Provides GPU acceleration for smoother online HD video playback using the Adobe Flash 10.1 beta player.
DirectCompute Support: Supports DirectCompute with Windows 7, enabling the use of the GPU for general-purpose computing tasks.
OpenGL 3.2 Support: Compliant with the OpenGL 3.2 standard, providing access to the latest OpenGL features and capabilities.
OpenCL 1.0 Support: Supports OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language), allowing developers to write code that can run on both CPUs and GPUs.
CUDA Toolkit 3.0 Support: Supports CUDA Toolkit 3.0 features and performance enhancements. CUDA enables the development of parallel computing applications that leverage the power of Nvidia GPUs.
NVIDIA PhysX Hardware Acceleration: Supports NVIDIA PhysX hardware acceleration on GPUs with a minimum of 256MB of dedicated graphics memory and 32 processing cores.
Single GPU and NVIDIA SLI Technology: Supports both single GPU configurations and NVIDIA SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL.
NVIDIA SLI Multi-monitor Support: Enables the use of two monitors with GeForce graphics cards in SLI mode.

Supported Products for Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16

The Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16 supports a wide range of Nvidia notebook GPUs, including:

GeForce 300M Series: GTS 360M, GTS 350M, GTS 250M, GT 335M, GT 330M, GT 325M, 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: 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 5100M, NVS 3100M, NVS 150M, NVS 160M, NVS 140M, NVS 320M, NVS 130M, NVS 135M
ION Series: ION LE, ION

Important Notes and Exclusions

The following notebooks are not supported by the Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16:

Notebooks supporting Hybrid Power technology.
Fujitsu notebooks (support planned for a later release). Note that Fujitsu Siemens (FSC) notebooks are supported.
Sony VAIO notebooks (support planned for a later release). Sony VAIO Windows 7 users can find driver update support on Sony’s website.
Any notebook launched after the release date of this driver.

Download Links for Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16

Before downloading, ensure you have read and understood the preceding information and that your system meets the requirements.

Primary Download Link: https://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/file/information/13432/
Alternative Download Link: Driver File Download (check the list for version 197.16)

Remember to choose the correct version for your operating system (Windows XP 64-bit). Before you install the Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver 197.16, make sure to backup your current drivers.