NVIDIA have made another driver release today with ForceWare v185.85 (WHQL). There are some many major features included in this ForceWare version including CUDA 2.2, expanded GPU hardware acceleration even for relatively low end units, a new PhysX system software version (v9.09.0408) and many bugfixes. Also, if you are struggling to play recently released Chronicles of Riddick : Assault on Dark Athena and experiencing slowdowns with the game, give these drivers a go. Why? NVIDIA promises up to 25% performance increase for Riddick with ForceWare 185.85.

ForceWare 185 release notes

  • Adds support for the new GeForce GTX 275 GPU.
  • Adds support for CUDA 2.2 for improved performance in GPU Computing applications. See CUDA for more details.
  • Expands GPU hardware acceleration for the NVIDIA Video Encoding library to GPUs with less than 32 cores. Applications using this library include CyberLink PowerDirector 7, Nero Move it 1.5, Loilo SuperLoiloScope MARS, and CyberLink MediaShow Espresso.
  • Accelerates performance in several 3D applications. The following are examples of improvements measured with Release 185 drivers vs. Release 182 drivers (results will vary depending on your GPU, system configuration, and game settings):
    • Up to 25% performance increase in The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
    • Up to 22% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with antialiasing enabled
    • Up to 11% performance increase in Fallout 3 with antialiasing enabled
    • Up to 14% performance increase in Far Cry 2
    • Up to 30% performance increase in Half-Life 2 engine games with 3-way and 4-way SLI
    • Up to 45% performance increase in Mirror’s Edge with antialiasing enabled
  • Automatically installs the new PhysX System Software version 9.09.0408.
  • Supports GeForce Plus Power Pack #3. Download these FREE PhysX and CUDA applications now!
  • Numerous bug fixes. Refer to the release documentation notes.

Download

All are direct download links that point to files hosted on NVIDIA servers. No 3rd party links are added.

[Click Here] to download GeForce Forceware 185.85 Windows XP 64-bit WHQL

[Click Here] to download GeForce Forceware 185.85 Windows XP 32-bit WHQL

[Click Here] to download  GeForce Forceware 185.85 Windows 7 64-bit WHQL

[Click Here] to download GeForce Forceware 185.85 Windows 7 32-bit WHQL

[Click Here] to download GeForce Forceware 185.85 Windows Vista 64-bit WHQL

[Click Here] to download  GeForce Forceware 185.85 Windows Vista 32-bit WHQL

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2 Comments

  1. Unknown // 5/14/2009 08:01:00 PM  

    Wasn't this driver released 8 days ago? Says so on the drivers page on Nvidia.com but the blog states that it was released today.

  2. Atomizer // 5/14/2009 08:10:00 PM  

    yes, I had downloaded it a week or so back, also on the nvidia advanced driver download site, it mentions the same driver twice..although they are the same 185.85 ones..