NVidia
Detonator Drivers Comparison by
Dean
Let's make this article
short. I'm comparing the different Detonator drivers released
by NVidia for their TNT/TNT2/TNT2 Ultra/GeForce SDR/DDR, GeForce2 GTS
based cards. This is meant to show which one of them is the most
ideal to be used. So what drivers did I use? Detonator
3.68, 5.08, 5.13, 5.14, and 5.16.
Take note that the Detonator 5.XX series are beta drivers. They
were specially made for the GeForce SDR/DDR, GeForce2 GTS based cards
but they can be usedwith the older NVidia cards 'coz of the unification.
Before I start putting out scores, You first gotta know the system
I used for this comparison.
Test System
Intel Pentium III 550E@770
MSI MS-6905 Master CPU Converter Board
Vantec Flip-Chip Cooler
Abit BE6-II
128MB Generic PC100 SDRAM
Creative Labs 3dBlaster! RIVA TNT2 Ultra, clocked at 175/200 (core/memory)
Creative Labs SoundBlaster! Vibra PCI128 Sound card
Seagate 8.4 GB HDD, UDMA-33
Windows 98 SE
Benchmarks
Quake 3 Arena
Fastest: 640X480, 800X600, 1024X768
Normal: 640X480, 800X600, 1024X768
High Quality: 640X480, 800X600, 1024X768
3DMark2000
16-bit textures: 640X480X16, 800X600X16, 1024X768X16
32-bit textures: 640X480X32, 800X600X32, 1024X768X32
Just for the record, I don't wanna use Any processor slower than 500mhz
because that would allow CPU limited scores. But even a Celeron
running at 550+ mhz is still very limited. I learned that from
experience. So why just 2 programs used for benchmarking? Simple:
I only use those benchmarks that are really looked at.
I don't reallysee the point of using a whole number of benchmarks with
different engines when they're all non-standard or not reallyrelevant.
So if you think I lack in benchmarks, that's not for me to worry
about. Quake 3 Arena and 3DMark2000 measure the card's performance
very well that's why I only use them.
BTW, I got a big surprise for you guys so better start off with the
benchmarks!
Quake
3 Fastest
