Graphics Drivers: NVIDIA ForceWare 185.85 WHQL and 186.08 BETA

NVIDIA has recently released two versions of ForceWare graphics drivers:
– ForceWare 185.85 WHQL: This is a WHQL-Certified driver supporting GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, and 200-series desktop GPUs and ION.
– ForceWare 186.08 BETA: This is a beta driver supporting GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, and 200-series desktop GPUs and ION GPUs.

What’s New in Version 185.85?

• Added support for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275.
• This driver installs NVIDIA PhysX System Software v9.09.0428.
  Note: The NVIDIA Control Panel erroneously reports the PhysX software version as 9.09.0203. If you have installed graphics driver version 185.85, then the NVIDIA PhysX software installed is version 9.09.0408.

There are no bug fixes in ForceWare 185.85 to report since version 185.81.

Download ForceWare 185.85

• ForceWare 185.85 XP 32
• ForceWare 185.85 XP 64
• ForceWare 185.85 Vista 32
• ForceWare 185.85 Vista 64
• ForceWare 185.85 Seven 32
• ForceWare 185.85 Seven 64

Note: The support of Ambient Occlusion in 185.xx series is only available on Vista / Seven drivers. Not cool!

What’s New in Version 186.08?

• This driver installs NVIDIA PhysX System Software v9.09.0428.

And from the release notes, there are no bug fixes to report since version 185.85.

Download ForceWare 186.08

• ForceWare 186.08 XP 32
• ForceWare 186.08 XP 64
• ForceWare 186.08 Vista / Win7 32
• ForceWare 186.08 Vista / Win7 64

ForceWare 185.08 and ForceWare 185.85 do not have new OpenGL extensions. Compared to GeForce 8800-series or GeForce GTS 250, GeForce GTX 2xx only add GL_NV_transform_feedback2 so they have 179 extensions.

Here are the 3 first tabs of GPU Caps Viewer: