Newest Drivers

I'm going to be reformatting my pc within the next few days and the only
drivers I have for my board (a7n8x-e deluxe) are on the cd I got with
it. Needless to say, they're probably pretty outdated by now.

I downloaded drivers from nvidia and they caused nothing but problems (I
had to run a repair install of xp). Could someone please provide a
direct link to the most stable version of the drivers? I don't mean a
generic nvidia.com link, I mean a specific link to an exe, if possible.

 

it is possible if all you did was update them they caused an issue...from a
fresh install you should be alright..I am using the one's dated from
03/09/2003...just look for the archived ones at the side of the page...I
belive it is actually these ones here...just do not install the SW IDE
driver..that is the main one that causes instability.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_udp_winxp_3.13.html

 

http://download.nvidia.com/Windows/nForce/5.10/nForce_5.10_WinXP2K_WHQL_english.exe

These should be fine on XP, but before you install XP, slipstream it
with SP2.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

It'll work a treat, trust me.

Ben

 

The last installation I used WAS the SW IDE. I couldn't boot my pc
until I did a repair install. It's the download I was directed to, but
obviously it was either wrong or has some serious issues!

Thanks!

 

I've already slipstreamed my cd to sp2, not to mention the unattended
installation process (GREAT to not have to enter any information!!) If
I had to sit through the entire install process I wouldn't bother with
the reformat. As it is, I slap in the cd, reboot and go watch tv for a
bit, come back and it's all done for me!

Thanks for the link.

 

During the NVidia drivers install it will ask you if you wantto install that
IDE driver........just say NO!
peterk

 

So what's it for then? If it doesn't do anything useful, and only
screws up the system, why is it offered at all?

 

Nobody really knows.

When I had an ATA drive, I benchmarked it with V2 SW IDE drivers (don't
remember the exact version, but it was the first set with SW IDE that
didn't get pulled). I found that the nVidia ones performed almost
identically to the MS ones in terms of Max throughput, sustained
throughput and CPU load. There was no discernable difference.

I do like the interface more than MS ones, but it's not VERY often I
change the DMA mode of my drives. Never, actually. I haven't done any
recent tests, as my drives are all SATA now.

However, all of the SW IDE drivers have performed OK for me, never had
any problems, so I use them for my CD drives.

Ben

 

It's all good.

Then once that's up and running, first thing to do is the nVidia driver
install, reboot, video driver, reboot and then all your apps.

The reboots are a PITA, but it means that AGP/GART driver is in and
working before the video driver install.

Ben

 

according to HD Tach..I had better throughput on the stock MS IDE drivers
than Nvidia..so after a reformat I chose not to install them...but like
Ben..my primary drives are SATA also...but I did have a a major crash upon
installing them on my kids A7N8X-X...had to redo the install minus them..and
the system is fine