{"id":7007,"date":"2009-05-21T13:44:55","date_gmt":"2009-05-21T13:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=7007"},"modified":"2009-05-22T03:17:27","modified_gmt":"2009-05-22T03:17:27","slug":"nvidia-18585-driver-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/nvidia-18585-driver-test\/","title":{"rendered":"nVidia 185.85 Driver Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!--pagetitle:Introduction &#038; Setup--><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-ogl-8xaa.png\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-ogl-8xaa.png\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-ogl-8xaa.png\"><\/a>Introduction<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Today I\u2019ll be testing nVidia\u2019s latest official driver (version <span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">185.85<\/span>), and I\u2019ll compare it to my previously installed driver (version <span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">182.50<\/span>).<\/p>\n<p>The settings used largely mimic those used in my <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=6374\" target=\"_blank\">GTX285 vs GTX260+ vs 4850 performance test<\/a>, but after this article I\u2019ll start using different settings to better take advantage of the GTX285\u2019s extra muscle.<\/p>\n<p>As usual the <span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">% Change<\/span> value is color-coded; <span style=\"color: #ccffcc;\">green<\/span> means 182.50 is faster, while <span style=\"color: #ffff99;\">yellow<\/span> means 185.85 is faster.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Hardware<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 (reference 3 GHz clock). <\/li>\n<li>nVidia GeForce GTX285 (1 GB, nVidia reference clocks).<\/li>\n<li>4 GB DDR2-800 RAM (4\u00d71 GB, dual-channel). <\/li>\n<li>Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R (Intel G33 chipset, F7 BIOS). <\/li>\n<li>Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic.<\/li>\n<li>19\u201d Sony CPD-G420 CRT (maximum resolution 1920&#215;1440).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Software <br \/>\n <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Windows XP 32 bit SP3<\/li>\n<li>nVidia driver 182.50 &amp; 185.85, high quality filtering, all optimizations off, LOD clamp enabled. <\/li>\n<li>DirectX March 2009. <\/li>\n<li>All games patched to their latest versions. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Settings <\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>16xAF forced in the driver, vsync forced off in the driver. <\/li>\n<li>AA forced either through the driver or enabled in-game, whichever works better. <\/li>\n<li>Since I\u2019m on XP, all DX10 titles were run under DX9 render paths. <\/li>\n<li>Highest quality sound (stereo) used in all games. <\/li>\n<li>All results show an average framerate. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--pagetitle:Direct3D (2xAA)--><!--nextpage--><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Direct3D (2xAA)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"TEXT-ALIGN: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7012\" title=\"text-d3d-2xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-d3d-2xaa.png?resize=247%2C220\" alt=\"text-d3d-2xaa\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br class=\"spacer_\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7008\" title=\"graph-d3d-2xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-2xaa.png?resize=546%2C429\" alt=\"graph-d3d-2xaa\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-2xaa.png?resize=546%2C429 546w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-2xaa-300x235.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br class=\"spacer_\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the most demanding games I play, there\u2019s a large performance gain in <em>Far Cry 2<\/em>. The <span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">17.99%<\/span> performance gain is absolutely amazing, and I tested it several times to ensure it was repeatable. 185.85 actually runs the game faster at 4xAA than 182.50 did at 2xAA so needless to say, I\u2019ll be using 4xAA from now on.<\/p>\n<p>Also <em>Clive Barker\u2019s Jericho<\/em> sees a small performance gain, while <em>Stalker Shadow of Chernobyl<\/em> sees a slight performance drop.<\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle:Direct3D (4xAA)--><!--nextpage--><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Direct3D (4xAA)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"TEXT-ALIGN: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7013\" title=\"text-d3d-4xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-d3d-4xaa.png?resize=245%2C255\" alt=\"text-d3d-4xaa\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br class=\"spacer_\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7009\" title=\"graph-d3d-4xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-4xaa.png?resize=533%2C491\" alt=\"graph-d3d-4xaa\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-4xaa.png?resize=533%2C491 533w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-4xaa-300x276.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>At 4xAA, we see another title show a large performance gain: <em>Call of Juarez<\/em>. Like <em>Far Cry 2<\/em>, this title was tested several times to ensure repeatability. A free performance gain of <span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">10.59%<\/span> from just a driver update is quite welcome indeed, especially since it\u2019s with the DX9 path in a three year old game.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of <em>Call of Juarez<\/em>, there has also been an improvement in image quality when running transparency super-sampling in this title. Previously only the vegetation near ground level was smoothed, but tree tops still shimmered. With 185.85 tree tops now receive AA; you\u2019ll see a performance hit when running TrSS with the new driver, but that\u2019s because image quality has improved overall.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, <em>Bioshock<\/em>, <em>Call of Duty 4<\/em> and <em>Call of Duty 5<\/em> all see small performance gains, while <em>Fear 2<\/em> sees a small performance drop.<\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle:Direct3D (8xAA)--><!--nextpage--><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Direct3D (8xAA)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"TEXT-ALIGN: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7014\" title=\"text-d3d-8xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-d3d-8xaa.png?resize=319%2C221\" alt=\"text-d3d-8xaa\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-d3d-8xaa.png?resize=319%2C221 319w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-d3d-8xaa-300x207.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br class=\"spacer_\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7010\" title=\"graph-d3d-8xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-8xaa.png?resize=548%2C410\" alt=\"graph-d3d-8xaa\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-8xaa.png?resize=548%2C410 548w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-d3d-8xaa-300x224.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"TEXT-ALIGN: left\">Moving to 8xAA, <em>Call of Duty 2<\/em> is the third title to see a substantial performance gain (<span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">20.45%<\/span>), and again this title was tested several times to ensure repeatable results. This is another welcome performance gain, especially since the title is four years old. While I\u2019ve not published any 8xS results today, I also found 8xS to be substantially faster with the new driver in said game.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fear 2<\/em> sees a small performance drop, as it did with the earlier 4xAA test.<\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle:OpenGL (8xAA)--><!--nextpage--><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">OpenGL (8xAA)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"TEXT-ALIGN: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7015\" title=\"text-ogl-8xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-ogl-8xaa.png?resize=323%2C222\" alt=\"text-ogl-8xaa\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-ogl-8xaa.png?resize=323%2C222 323w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/text-ogl-8xaa-300x206.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br class=\"spacer_\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7038\" title=\"graph-ogl-8xaa\" src=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-ogl-8xaa.png?resize=543%2C411\" alt=\"graph-ogl-8xaa\" srcset=\"http:\/\/i0.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-ogl-8xaa.png?resize=543%2C411 543w, http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/graph-ogl-8xaa-300x227.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><br class=\"spacer_\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After seeing some great performance gains in older titles, I had high hopes for nVidia fixing their slow <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=6374&amp;page=8\" target=\"_blank\">8xAA OpenGL performance<\/a>, but alas that was not the case. The new driver is virtually the same as the old one.<\/p>\n<p><!--pagetitle:Conclusion--><!--nextpage--><strong><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Conclusion<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The 185.85 driver is an excellent one, and it delivers some absolutely amazing performance gains in three titles, along with small speed bumps in several additional titles. I would highly recommend upgrading to this driver if you\u2019re still using the older 182 version.<\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">Please join us in our <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/abt\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Forums<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">Follow us on <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech\" onclick=\"_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'outbound-article', 'http:\/\/twitter.com\/alienbabeltech', 'Twitter']);\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #99ccff;\">For the latest updates from ABT, please <a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?feed=rss2\" target=\"_blank\">join our RSS News Feed<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=7007\"><img decoding=\"async\" align=top title=\"Author: BFG10K\" src=\"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/nvidia-gefforce-18585-driv.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7814,7],"tags":[647,1226,1013,900,121],"class_list":["post-7007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-technology","tag-647","tag-1226","tag-1013","tag-gtx285","tag-nvidia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}