Tuesday, January 15th 2019

NVIDIA Releases GeForce 417.71 WHQL Drivers with FreeSync Support

by
btarunr
 Discuss (79 Comments)
NVIDIA today released its latest version of GeForce software. Version 417.71 WHQL is the first public driver to add support for the new GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card. More importantly, it makes good on CEO Jen-Hsun Huang's promise to make NVIDIA GPUs, "Pascal" and "Turing," compatible with VESA Adaptive-Sync (AMD FreeSync) monitors. NVIDIA maintains this repository of monitors it has tested to support Adaptive Sync, although any compatible monitor meeting the cable requirements can be made to run G-Sync. The only feature only supports single-displays for now, and NVIDIA plans to add multi-display Adaptive-Sync support later.

NVIDIA also addressed a number of issues. To begin with, it fixed the problem of the GeForce GTX 1080 not dropping down GPU clock-speed to idle when three displays are connected. Also addressed is a black-screen noticed on monitors connected via DisplayPort, when resuming from S3 sleep. Also fixed is black screen noticed on BenQ XL2730 when the refresh-rate is set to the monitor's advertised 144 Hz. A Windows 7-specific error in which game frame-rates drop when both G-Sync and the in-game V-sync are enabled. Multiple apps throw up artifacts on Windows RS5 when resolution is changed, on machines with RTX 2080, which NVIDIA fixed with this release. An occasional crash on "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" with the game running in DirectX 12 mode was fixed.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 417.71 WHQL
The change-log follows.

Product Support
  • Added support for GeForce RTX 2060
New Features
  • G-SYNC Compatible Support
  • NVIDIA G-SYNC can now be used to activate the VRR features of G-SYNC Compatible displays. G-SYNC Compatible displays have been validated by NVIDIA to not show pulsing, flickering, or other artifacts during VRR gaming. See https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/products/g-sync-monitors/specs/ for the list of G-SYNC Compatible displays.
  • G-SYNC on G-SYNC Compatible displays is supported only with NVIDIA Pascal and later GPU architectures.
  • Only single displays are currently supported; multiple monitors can be connected but no more than one display should have G-SYNC enabled.
3D Vision Profiles
Added or updated the following 3D Vision profiles:
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Not Recommended
  • Darksiders 3 - Fair
Fixed Issues in this Release
  • [GeForce GTX 1080]: GPU clock speed does not drop to idle when three monitors are enabled. [2474107]
  • Black screen when resuming from monitor sleep on some DisplayPort monitors. [2457142]
  • [Notebook]: Fixed lockup that occurred when resuming from sleep on MSI GT83 notebook [2456849]
  • [GeForce GTX 1060 Notebook][Gu Jian Qi Tan 3]: The application hangs during launch. [200477252]
  • Fixed black screen on BenQ XL2730 monitor at 144Hz refresh rate [2456730]
  • [Windows 7][G-SYNC]: Game FPS drops when G-SYNC is used with V-Sync. [200473408]
  • [SLI][3D Gaming][TU104][PG 180][Multiple apps][Win10RS5x64]Blocky Corruption when application is switched to certain resolutions [200465152]
  • [Shadow of the Tomb Raider]: Fixed occasional application crash in DirectX 12 mode. [200464716]
Windows 10 Issues
  • [SLI][Shadow of the Tomb Raider][G-SYNC]: Flickering occurs in the game when launched with SLI, HDR, and G-SYNC enabled [200467122]
  • [HDR][Ni no Kuni 2]: Enabling HDR causes the application to crash when launched. [2483952]
  • [ARK Survival]: Multiple errors and then blue-screen crash may occur when playing the game. [2453173]
  • [Firefox]: Cursor shows brief corruption when hovering on certain links in Firefox. [2107201]
  • [G-SYNC]: Random flickering occurs when connecting G-SYNC monitor + non-G-SYNC HDMI monitor with G-SYNC enabled. [2399845]

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79 Comments on NVIDIA Releases GeForce 417.71 WHQL Drivers with FreeSync Support

#26
silentbogo
Sammy U24E590D up and running!
Time to test it in some games. The only thing that sucks is overclocking. At most I could get out of it is 75Hz in 4K or 85 in any other resolution.... :shadedshu:
Posted on Reply
#27
P4-630
btarunr[Windows 7][G-SYNC]: Game FPS drops when G-SYNC is used with V-Sync. [200473408]
I assume this is fixed for windows 8.1 as well?
Posted on Reply
#28
Zubasa
INSTG8RSame monitor on Vega. Good to hear you get all the functionality. I’m very curious about Fast Sync +Adaptive. Enhanced Sync and Freesync are meant to work together wondering how it works for the other side now that there’s some kind of “parity”
So far it is "It just works" for my Freesync 2 Monitor.
Despite the shit talk that Jensen Huang spit out about Freesync never works etc.
nVidia has basically been running Freesync on notebooks for years now, because the G-Sync module would simply kill the battery life on notebooks.
Posted on Reply
#29
INSTG8R
Vanguard Beta Tester
ZubasaSo far it is "It just works" for my Freesync 2 Monitor.
Despite the shit talk that Jensen Huang spit out about Freesync never works etc.
nVidia has basically been running Freesync on notebooks for years now, because the G-Sync module would simply kill the battery life on notebooks.
Yeah I expected to be on the list TBH it’s got all the latest and greatest stuff in it. So I was a little surprised it wasn’t there when many that were were far from new models.
Posted on Reply
#30
IceScreamer
I'll check on my brothers' PC, 1050Ti with LG 23MP68VQ-P.
Posted on Reply
#31
Zubasa
INSTG8RYeah I expected to be on the list TBH it’s got all the latest and greatest stuff in it. So I was a little surprised it wasn’t there when many that were were far from new models.
My conspiricy would be Jensen Huang literally came up with the idea of supporting Freesync on the last minute, and nVidia only managed to test a bunch of monitors properly before CES.
So in the end it might be nVidia that "came up with it this morning" instead :roll:
Posted on Reply
#32
champsilva
CandorThere's nowhere to enable freesync in my monitor's menus (AOC Agon AG271QX - 30-144hz freesync range).

It's supposed to be enabled when a compatible gpu is connected.

I've enabled g-sync in the nvidia control panel, but I can't tell if it's working.

Gameplay is nice and smooth but it was before anyway.

All my monitor's manual says is:
drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B0RkAW7Y4oRSd1gtSkFPcXB6RGM

Here you can test freesync
Posted on Reply
#33
net2007
Honestly.. as someone who games 4k 60 no vsync.. when I upgraded to 4k 120hz no vsync.. I could have sworn it was enabled.
Posted on Reply
#34
hyp36rmax
INSTG8RI’ve never gotten Freesync working in FO4 on Fury or Vega or Freesync 1 or 2. Granted it’s really not needed it’s pinned at max FPS all the time except for the places it tanks for everyone. On Vega FO4 doesn’t even fully boost my card it sits at 1000mhz or so because it’s all it needs 76 is a little more demanding. I could go .ini editing and unlock it but we know what happens at high FPS...72 is fine by me.
I’m rather curious if Fast Sync+Adaptive works the same as Enhanced Sync+Freesync does.
Fallout 4 was the only game Freesync was disabled by design.

Home: community.amd.com/thread/221782
by amdmatt on Nov 3, 2017 8:05 AM
This is expected, FreeSync has been disabled in Fallout because of flickering that could not be overcome due to the way the game engine presents new frames.
Posted on Reply
#35
Casecutter
Jen-Hsun Huang's finally accepted that mid-range Gamers are finding 1440p as the upgrade path that it was to be more 2 years ago. (for a lot of reasons now). The data said, not many in mainstream gaming saw the value of G-Sync and knew he need this before Navi details start arriving.

Let's say save all your nickel's and dimes to get a RTX 2060, that then makes you skimp-n-save again for a G-Sync? Or, you start hearing Navi could be a excellent 1440p graphics option, while history indicates AMD won't be charging near the 350+. Then you start seeing great deals for FreeSync monitors, and say... Forget-it I'll get a panel now and play on a RX580 I have while I wait. Jen-Hsun Huang saw the predicament going forward and cut his losses.
Posted on Reply
#36
net2007
I tested Gsync with SLI.. Gsync couldn't keep up. Cards would not run at full usage.
Posted on Reply
#37
sam_86314
Cool, my monitor shows as officially supported. I've never used VRR, so I don't really know what to expect.
Posted on Reply
#38
GoldenX
Nice, something great from Nvidia finally.
That Pascal support thou. Must be a hardware limitation.
Posted on Reply
#39
CoCo.F
Crazy zookeepsterI cant seem to enable it on my alienware aw2518hf. there is no setting in the monitors OSD or display manager
Works perfect with displayport. GSYNC compatible was even turned on by default :)
Posted on Reply
#40
Zubasa
sam_86314Cool, my monitor shows as officially supported. I've never used VRR, so I don't really know what to expect.
The thing to expect is everything just works as normal,
the whole point of VRR is to make sure there is no tearing or stutter when the FPS doesn't match the fixed refresh rate of non-VRR.
Posted on Reply
#41
INSTG8R
Vanguard Beta Tester
hyp36rmaxFallout 4 was the only game Freesync was disabled by design.

Home: community.amd.com/thread/221782
Yeah I never questioned why I know how much trouble I had using odd refresh rates so them turning it off was no surprise at all.
Posted on Reply
#42
silentbogo
Tested on some older games, and it's kind of a mixed bag on my Samsung....
Maybe I'm missing something? So far the only game that works is [oddly] Bioshock 2 (original one, not remastered).
The rest is stuttering and frame-jumping unless I tune down settings to run above 100-ish FPS (my monitor is only 60Hz BTW). Witcher 2 was the worst, with blocky distortion when I move my mouse around very fast.
I think NVidia's fast sync worked better for me...
Posted on Reply
#43
fullinfusion
Vanguard Beta Tester
:eek: OMG, finally a thread that the red and green camp are getting along!

Nexius monitors was saying that they sell more freesync monitors to Nvidia users due to their high refresh rates. This is sure going to put a smile on all of their faces. I'm actually glad Nvidia is using this free technology. Nothing like having The Best of both worlds right ;)
Posted on Reply
#44
B-Real
This driver is the confession that the G-Sync ship has sunk. It isn't a big problem to say it failed and there is better price-performance option for Sync technology.
Posted on Reply
#45
Unregistered
Still some major problems with the 417.xx drivers. Not sure why they didn't list all the problems with it in the release notes - just as an fyi for folks if you visit the geforce forums drivers section Manuel Guzman has a thread for the driver release that lists some major bugs for 417.xx including causing random BSOD in Witcher 3 amongst other issues.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#46
Gasaraki
TheLostSwedeWell, that was quick, now let's wait and see what the feedback will be.
Thanks, nVidia. You guys are the best.

*runs away*
Posted on Reply
#47
INSTG8R
Vanguard Beta Tester
silentbogoTested on some older games, and it's kind of a mixed bag on my Samsung....
Maybe I'm missing something? So far the only game that works is [oddly] Bioshock 2 (original one, not remastered).
The rest is stuttering and frame-jumping unless I tune down settings to run above 100-ish FPS (my monitor is only 60Hz BTW). Witcher 2 was the worst, with blocky distortion when I move my mouse around very fast.
I think NVidia's fast sync worked better for me...
Well it’s never going to work outside of your range...
Posted on Reply
#48
silentbogo
INSTG8RWell it’s never going to work outside of your range...
But that's the only way it feels "bearable". If capped at 60, I get even worse performance comparing to regular VSync (I'm talking about stuttering on the monitor, not PC lagging).
Constant frame jumping and image distortion.
Before this update I was using fastsync, which gives best of both worlds with less performance impact. I guess I'll have to stick with that until I get a proper 144Hz 4K in about 4-5 years :banghead:

EDIT: Found the culprit. My 24E590 has two Freesync modes: Standard and Ultra, whatever that means. Initially I set it to ultra, thinking that it's gonna be better, but that's what gave me all the issues.
Switched to "Standard". Witcher 2 is smooth. Haven't tested Warframe or other games yet, but I hope It'll be better. Will post an update later.
Posted on Reply
#49
sam_86314
noel_fsPeople should be angry at them that it took many years LOL
I agree. The fact that it took NVIDIA this long to support a feature that is part of DisplayPort is kind of sad. I also find it sad that NVIDIA can't support this open standard as well as AMD and Intel can.
Posted on Reply
#50
INSTG8R
Vanguard Beta Tester
silentbogoBut that's the only way it feels "bearable". If capped at 60, I get even worse performance comparing to regular VSync (I'm talking about stuttering on the monitor, not PC lagging).
Constant frame jumping and image distortion.
Before this update I was using fastsync, which gives best of both worlds with less performance impact. I guess I'll have to stick with that until I get a proper 144Hz 4K in about 4-5 years :banghead:
Exactly you need to have an be within your actual range for it to work. On AMD the ideal setup is running both Enhanced Sync with Freesync so Enhanced cover when it goes outside of the Freesync range making the transitions between the two seamless for your case for example allowing that kind of extremes without any penalty in theory. I’m still sceptical of it but I’ve been assured by AMD this is the ideal setup. I’m still waiting for someone combine Fast Sync and VRR to see if that combo produces the same results.
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