NVIDIA 177.76 Display Driver

[phoronix]

Phoronix: NVIDIA 177.76 Display Driver

Last month we saw the release of the NVIDIA 177.67 Linux driver along with the 177.67 beta driver, and a 177.70 driver. In the fourth NVIDIA Linux driver release in under a month's time, the 177.76 display driver has been released. This too looks like another beta driver with more fixes in store for those with GeForce or Quadro hardware owners.

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=12865

[deanjo]

Phoronix: NVIDIA 177.76 Display Driver

Last month we saw the release of the NVIDIA 177.67 Linux driver along with the 177.67 beta driver, and a 177.70 driver. In the fourth NVIDIA Linux driver release in under a month's time, the 177.76 display driver has been released. This too looks like another beta driver with more fixes in store for those with GeForce or Quadro hardware owners.

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=12865

Official Change Log

Changes since 177.70:

• Added support for the following new GPUs:
  
  • GeForce 9500 GT
• Fixed a bug that caused GPU errors when applications used the X RENDER extension's repeating modes in conjunction with color-index overlays or rotation on GeForce 7 series and older GPUs.
• Fixed a bug that caused system hangs when using the NV-CONTROL interface to change GPU clock frequencies.
• Fixed a text rendering performance regression on GeForce 7 series and older GPUs when InitialPixmapPlacement is set to 2.
• Updated mode validation, in cases when no EDID is detected, such that 1024x768 @ 60Hz and 800x600 @ 60Hz are allowed, rather than just 640x480 @ 60Hz.
• Improved power management support.
• Improved compatibility with recent Linux 2.6 kernels.
• Fixed a regression that caused the 'Auto' SLI X option setting to not enable SLI.
• Added a workaround for broken EDIDs provided by some Acer AL1512 monitors.

[ethana2]

So does this mean KDE4 will work with it?

[deanjo]

So does this mean KDE4 will work with it?

Yes, that's what other's have been saying in chat.

[superppl]

Not quite related to this driver, but do you guys think that Nvidia will bring physx to linux?

[deanjo]

Not quite related to this driver, but do you guys think that Nvidia will bring physx to linux?

Well considering that there is possibly only one game *cough*UT3*cough* that would support it in linux I wouldn't say it's that high of a priority right now, but given that nVidia is "focusing on cuda" it may come along sometime.

Probably the guy in the know for sure on that would be Ryan Gordon.

[Eversmann]

Awesome, my 8800gts will be happier (btw, the 177.70 works great actually, just a bug for me with compiz and the grey background distortion on a asking-password-window).

BTW, no words yet for an improved 173 driver for the FX cards? the 2D is horribly slow (and KDE4 is even slower).

[f33l]

Yes, that's what other's have been saying in chat.

Has anyone actually tried this and can confirm that KDE4 performance issues are history? In particular, I'd be interested to know whether this fixes issues on GF8600M cards.

[Xanikseo]

2D is actually slower for me:

177.76:

GtkEntry - time: 0.11
GtkComboBox - time: 8.42
GtkComboBoxEntry - time: 7.16
GtkSpinButton - time: 1.06
GtkProgressBar - time: 0.69
GtkToggleButton - time: 4.68
GtkCheckButton - time: 3.48
GtkRadioButton - time: 3.83
GtkTextView - Add text - time: 23.79
GtkTextView - Scroll - time: 3.35
GtkDrawingArea - Lines - time: 8.03
GtkDrawingArea - Circles - time: 9.19
GtkDrawingArea - Text - time: 2.14
GtkDrawingArea - Pixbufs - time: 0.45
---
Total time: 76.39

177.70:

GtkEntry - time: 0.11
GtkComboBox - time: 7.72
GtkComboBoxEntry - time: 6.16
GtkSpinButton - time: 1.01
GtkProgressBar - time: 0.62
GtkToggleButton - time: 4.11
GtkCheckButton - time: 3.04
GtkRadioButton - time: 3.27
GtkTextView - Add text - time: 23.68
GtkTextView - Scroll - time: 3.80
GtkDrawingArea - Lines - time: 1.11
GtkDrawingArea - Circles - time: 1.46
GtkDrawingArea - Text - time: 2.14
GtkDrawingArea - Pixbufs - time: 0.45
---
Total time: 58.69

It seems the lines and circles are much slower.

[f33l]

2D is actually slower for me:

I assume that you're on GNOME, right? I never realized there were performance issues other than KDE4 slowness...