Thursday, February 22nd 2024

NVIDIA GeForce 551.61 WHQL with RTX HDR Released, NVIDIA Finally Has a Modern Control Panel

by
btarunr
 Discuss (75 Comments)
NVIDIA today released the latest version of GeForce drivers. While the actual driver package of the new GeForce 551.61 is WHQL, it also includes a beta version of the NVIDIA App. This is NVIDIA's take on a modern control panel application that combines functionality of the classic NVIDIA Control Panel that hasn't quite changed in 20+ years; and the GeForce Experience application that not everyone likes to have installed. The new NVIDIA App has a lot in common with the AMD Radeon Software application, in that you can configure your displays, monitor and tune your GPU, as well as manage and optimize your installed games. The app also helps gather and present software update options spanning both the main drivers and application profiles for DLSS and other technologies. Most importantly, the NVIDIA App provides a comprehensive performance overlay suite. We will be doing an article detailing the NVIDIA App before the weekend.

NVIDIA is also debuting RTX HDR, a technology that adds HDR capability to games that otherwise lack it. It does so by utilizing Tensor cores and an AI model that attempts to add HDR to SDR content. The driver adds optimization and optimal settings for Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Nightingale, Pacific Drive, and Skull and Bones. A stability issue with Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege running using the Vulkan API has been fixed. Among the general issues fixed concern incorrect tone mapping for RTX Video HDR; poor SDR video playback quality in Chromium-based web-browsers with Windows HDR setting enabled; filter settings not carrying over with NVIDIA Freestyle; and a couple of bugs with Adobe Substance 3D.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 551.61 WHQL
Game Ready
  • Nightingale
NVIDIA App
  • Supports the beta release of NVIDIA App, which unifies GeForce Experience and the NVIDIA Control Panel
GFE Optimal Settings
  • Granblue Fantasy: Relink
  • Nightingale
  • Pacific Drive
  • Skull and Bones
Fixed Gaming Bugs
  • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege: Stability issues when running Vulkan API [4460050]
Fixed General Bugs
  • RTX Video HDR: Tone mapping not working properly with custom HDR brightness values in Windows [4472972]
  • Chrome/Edge Browsers: Poor black level quality in SDR video playback with Windows HDR setting enabled [4492243]
  • NVIDIA Freestyle: Filter settings are not saved after quitting game [4472656]
  • Adobe Substance 3D: Stager unable to initialize the viewport [4403960]
  • Adobe Substance 3D: Vulkan version of Substance Painter cannot be launched [4425856]
Known Issues
  • [Netflix] Display issues for videos when using Edge browser. Recommend using Windows Netflix application as workaround. [4388454]
  • GeForce GTX 10/RTX 20 series: PC may randomly freeze when Windows Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling and NVIDIA SLI are both enabled [4009884]

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75 Comments on NVIDIA GeForce 551.61 WHQL with RTX HDR Released, NVIDIA Finally Has a Modern Control Panel

#26
Onasi
Oh god, please no. I noticed a definite pattern - once something stops being a “program” or a “panel” and starts being an “app” it instantly becomes about 100x more annoying and less useful to deal with. The NVCP has its issues, undeniably, but it’s a solid piece of software and definitely better than whatever Electron abomination with 25+ active processes we will end up getting.
I know I am being, perhaps, unnecessarily pessimistic, but experience tells me that the new CP will probably be pure cancer.
Posted on Reply
#27
rv8000
OnasiOh god, please no. I noticed a definite pattern - once something stops being a “program” or a “panel” and starts being an “app” it instantly becomes about 100x more annoying and less useful to deal with. The NVCP has its issues, undeniably, but it’s a solid piece of software and definitely better than whatever Electron abomination with 25+ active processes we will end up getting.
I know I am being, perhaps, unnecessarily pessimistic, but experience tells me that the new CP will probably be pure cancer.
Nah all the nvidites will be praising it in a few months calling it the next best thing since sliced bread. I can hear it already…
Posted on Reply
#28
Halo3Addict
The RTX HDR feature is annoying to use in a mutli-monitor setup.. for some reason it only works with ONE monitor connected, even if both monitors support HDR.

Not sure I understand this restriction. Windows Auto-HDR I can enable with two monitors connected, with one HDR turned on and the other HDR turned off.
Posted on Reply
#29
orbz
Why is Nvidia even bothering to do this? They have maybe 1 or 2 more gens left until they pull out of the GPU market and focus entirely on AI.
Posted on Reply
#30
Pooch
jsfitz54@W1zzard , is this going to cause a problem with NVCleanstall, where you could omit this?
Just install driver with nvcleanstall as normal and then install the beta APP. its that simple. the uninstall app if you dot like it. i would say the current usefull feature is the overlay support and specific game rtx enhancments. you cant acces those with out the app
Posted on Reply
#31
R-T-B
mrnagantHDR stuff is honestly the most exciting thing. For me, more exciting (not that they aren't, just not as much) than things like RT/PT, upscalers and frame gen.
Meh. I just use SpecialK and generally end up with better results.
Posted on Reply
#32
Luke357
orbzWhy is Nvidia even bothering to do this? They have maybe 1 or 2 more gens left until they pull out of the GPU market and focus entirely on AI.
I doubt that very highly. One day in the future I could see them slowly move from AIB cards to just FE then eventually move to some all in one package but it will be a long time until they stop producing gaming hardware.
Posted on Reply
#33
Onasi
R-T-BMeh. I just use SpecialK and generally end up with better results.
SpecialK is a cool tool indeed, one of the ways that shows how useful for players the flexibility of PC as a platform is. Kaldaien is… a bit of a prick, to be honest, but that’s just usual modder prima donna behavior. Still a shame Valve denied the tool from being just listed on Steam, would probably widen the potential audience quite a bit.
Posted on Reply
#34
chrcoluk
Modern UI tends to suck, so I dont consider this good news.

If its anything like AMDs I probably wont like it, their control panel is like a mobile phone UI.

I guess nvcleanstall can remove the entire component and replace with nvidia profile inspector?
rv8000It’s entirely out dated and lacks clarity imo, glad they’ve finally put the effort in to updating it; AMDs overlay and driver offer much better/quicker access to settings on the fly.

Was actually just attempting to mess with some AA and AF settings last night through control panel on Helldivers, and its just a very clunky process with Nvidia.
What do you mean by outdated though? Changing for sake of it?
Posted on Reply
#35
Yttersta
Space Lynxbuilt in frame rate like AMD... I have no need for RTSS anymore regardless of company now lol

looks alright, I didn't mind the old control panel though

on second thought, I like the old UI way better than this. meh oh well
You used RTSS for solely frame rates? You're right you don't need RTSS.
Posted on Reply
#36
Klemc
Halo3AddictThe RTX HDR feature is annoying to use in a mutli-monitor setup.. for some reason it only works with ONE monitor connected, even if both monitors support HDR.

Not sure I understand this restriction. Windows Auto-HDR I can enable with two monitors connected, with one HDR turned on and the other HDR turned off.
But, even if second monitor is OFF ?

Incredible crap.
Posted on Reply
#37
lexluthermiester
btarunrSupports the beta release of NVIDIA App, which unifies GeForce Experience and the NVIDIA Control Panel
Oh hell no! GFE needs to die not get integrated into the CP...
Event HorizonThey've removed the forced login.
What forced login?
Posted on Reply
#38
rv8000
chrcolukModern UI tends to suck, so I dont consider this good news.

If its anything like AMDs I probably wont like it, their control panel is like a mobile phone UI.

I guess nvcleanstall can remove the entire component and replace with nvidia profile inspector?


What do you mean by outdated though? Changing for sake of it?
Quicker access to game profiles/driver tweaks as opposed to alt tabing, windowing out, and otherwise waiting for nvcp to open; I dont know if its an NVCP thing, but my rig with my 7900xtx generally has better game detection so you dont have to spend additional time searching or adding the exe.

Currently the AMD driver/overlay will notify you if settings require game restarts or if theyve been enabled, NVCP does no such thing that I’ve seen with my 2070/3080/4080s. If Nvidia deploys something similar youll better understand if settings have been properly applied, require a restart, and again are much faster/easier to access.

Built in tweaking and monitoring is a great feature, and Nvidia being a “software” company, im honestly surprised it hasnt been integrated sooner. You don’t even have to overclock, simply changing a fan profile, setting TDP limit for a specific game etc… would all be improvements for the end user.

So no, not just changing for the sake of things. I very much dislike Experience, and have never installed it, but if the new implementation is anything like the radeon driver and suite it is absolutely an improvement.
Posted on Reply
#39
ThrashZone
Hi,
Looks like I'll be using the driver I have for the foreseeable future lol
Posted on Reply
#40
lexluthermiester
ThrashZoneHi,
Looks like I'll be using the driver I have for the foreseeable future lol
Kinda feeling that myself. I am going to do some testing. Will chime back in with the experiences discovered.
Posted on Reply
#41
Halo3Addict
KlemcBut, even if second monitor is OFF ?

Incredible crap.
That's my point, I have to turn the second monitor OFF in order for the feature to work, which is perplexing to me. I guess it is a beta after all
Posted on Reply
#42
Lycanwolfen
yay GFE built in more telemetry tracking and your privacy out the window.

Remember the days when Nvidia cared what the gamers wanted. Now they only care what the shareholders want. Gamers who are they but money grabs for us.
Posted on Reply
#43
Eiji
So does RTX HDR work on Windows 10?

Apparently it requires Windows Display Driver Model 3.1 which is only available in Windows 11.

Can someone confirm?
Posted on Reply
#45
N/A
I can't find this APP with this driver, downloaded separately.
Well there is nothing there, for a 132MB bloatware this. As if the driver wasn't 2.5GB of crap already.
Still have to bring up Control Panel for 90% of the stuff.
Posted on Reply
#46
lexluthermiester
Solid State Soul ( SSS )About time, the old ui looks straight from windows xp
That's not a bad thing. Function over fashion...
Posted on Reply
#47
chrcoluk
EijiSo does RTX HDR work on Windows 10?

Apparently it requires Windows Display Driver Model 3.1 which is only available in Windows 11.

Can someone confirm?
I think it needs Auto HDR as it essentially enhances that, and Auto HDR is Win 11 only.
Posted on Reply
#48
wheresmycar
I dunno what to make of it.

Mandatory log in removed - great!

Dark mode - great!

Faster/more responsive cycling between settings - great!

But those huge images, thumbnails, lots of scrolling, loads of colours, big and small fonts all over the place - dunno i kinda didn't mind the previous layout. It would have been nice preserving some of that more simpler feel with the above 3 perks included or any other added features (driver update reminders/etc). Maybe Nvidia will throw in a toggle switch to revert back to a more simpler UI. Not the end of the world... i used to hate netflix and its super size me UI, eventually what can you do - we get used to it.
Posted on Reply
#49
wolf
Better Than Native
new control centre - meh, will keep using NVCP as much as possible till I assume it gets phased out.

RTX HDR for games sounds really promising, and the DF video on it made me very keen to try it on some games, lets goooo.
Posted on Reply
#50
ThrashZone
Hi,
Yeah what NV has noticed is a lot of downloads and not matching gfe calling home
No gfe not enough telemetry.

That is not what NV expected when 500 series drivers were put in the MS store lol
Thank you @W1zzard keep up the good fight :cool:
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