We have found that some games running under Windows Vista enable 16x Coverage Sampling Antialiasing (CSAA) when 4xAA is selected in the game menu, resulting in deflated performance on Geforce 8800 cards.

The problem occurs with NVIDIA Vista drivers 100.54 and later. The same effect will occur in future "Release 100" Windows XP drivers.

Affected applications found to date include:

• Battlefield 2
• Battlefield 2142
• Sin Episodes
• Half-Life 2
• Half-Life 2 Lost Coast

To set standard 4xAA in these applications, please set 4xAA in the game, and also enable "Enhance the application" antialiasing mode with a 4x antialiasing setting in the NVIDIA graphics driver control panel.

We are working with developers to implement better in-game CSAA support. You can see CSAA menu selections in Half-Life 2: Episode One and Supreme Commander.

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• EVGA GeForce 7600 GS Video Card from $69.99 after rebate
  

• Command and Conquer 3 Demo
  
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• Windows Vista Limitations
• Application Limitations
• NVIDIA Features Not Implemented Yet
• Product Support Limitations
• NVIDIA Vista Graphics Driver Issues
  

Here is an important tip concerning vsync, which can be globally disabled (for benchmarking purposes) under Windows XP by NVIDIA's driver.

Due to architectural changes in the new Windows Vista Window Display Driver Model (WDDM), the graphics driver can no longer disable vsync from its own driver or Control Panel. Selecting this option from the NVIDIA Control Panel will have no affect on DirectX applications. For applications that use Direct3D on Vista, use the vertical sync setting within the application. We are adjusting the help text in the NVIDIA Control Panel to make this clearer to our customers.

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• R600 Delayed again!!
  
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NVIDIA Corporation today released the world’s first WHQL-certified drivers for Microsoft DirectX 10, coinciding with the release of the first DirectX 10 test kit from Microsoft, which allows other hardware vendors to test their graphics processors using the DirectX 10 WHQL tests.

Microsoft DirectX 10 is included with Windows Vista and delivers unparalleled levels of graphics realism and film-quality effects for games, all rendered in real-time on NVIDIA GeForce 8-series GPUs. GeForce 8-series GPUs are the first and only Microsoft DirectX 10-capable GPUs currently available.

The new ForceWare 100.65 drivers support GeForce 6-, 7-, and 8-series NVIDIA GPUs. NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GPUs now meet the Vista Premium Device Logo requirements, in addition to GeForce 6- and 7-series GPUs which previously met the requirements.

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GPUs are the reference GPUs of DirectX 10 application developers as they create and test groundbreaking next-generation content. Several of the most anticipated titles for 2007—including Crysis (published by Electronic Arts), Hellgate London (EA/Namco), World in Conflict (Sierra Entertainment), and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (Funcom)—are designed on NVIDIA hardware to exploit the new features of DirectX 10. Several other titles are being adapted to support DirectX10 features, including Company of Heroes, Eve Online, Lord of the Rings Online, and Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

NVIDIA GeForce 8-series GPUs include all required hardware functionality defined in the Microsoft Direct3D® 10 specifications, with full support for the DirectX 10 unified shader instruction set and Shader Model 4 capabilities.Driver feedback here.

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• FiringSquad
  
• Hothardware
  
• HWUpgrade
  
• Penstarsys

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• NVIDIA Wallpapers
  
• Sunbeamtech Quarterback Case at Madshrimps
  
• ForeSight Systems Pertelian X2040 at TechPowerup
  
• PixelClean LCD Screen Cleaner at VirtualHideout
  
• Setting Up a Virtual PC at PCMech

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• Gainward Bliss 8800 GTS 320 MB at HWUpgrade
  
• Asus Commando at XBit
  
• Intel Core2 Q6600 CPU at OCC
  
• Networks Using a Broadband Router at Hardwaresecrets
  
• Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard at XYZComputing
  
• GIGABYTE 3D Rocket II CPU Cooler at Virtual-Hideout
  
• Logitech Revolution isn't so Revolutionary at OCModshop
  
• 8800 GTX Corall: ECS vs OCZ at Hexus
  
• Intel GMA 3000 Performance Q1-07 at Phoronix
  
• upreme Commander graphics and gameplay at BitTech

NVIDIA'S GEFORCE 8800 SERIES is a jaw-dropping marriage of performance and image quality that has raised the bar for PC graphics substantially. Not since ATI's Radeon 9700 Pro have we been so impressed by a single graphics card. The G80 GPU is simply a marvel, and if you're looking to buy a high-end graphics card today, it's the only chip you want.

Of course, your quest for the best graphics card won't end there; you also have to choose between GTS and GTX flavors of the GeForce 8800. And you're still not done, because GeForce 8800 GTS and GTX cards are available from a wide variety of manufacturers, each of which tries to bring something unique to the table, be it through bundled extras, tweaked clock speeds, or exotic cooling.

As daunting as the selection of GeForce 8800 series graphics cards may be, choice is a good thing. To help you wade through the options, we've rounded up a collection of GeForce 8800 series cards from BFG Tech, EVGA, Foxconn, MSI, OCZ, PNY, and XFX to see how they stack up. Read on to see which cards rise to the top and which get lost in the reference card shuffle.

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• GeForce 8900GTX and 8950GX2 Pricing and Information
  
• DX10 Demo: Cascades available for download
  
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• Sharkoon Rush Laser Mouse at Techpowerup
  
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• Silverstone Products Reviewed at Virtual-Hideout
  
• XFX 7600GT Fatal1ty Professional Series Video Card at OCC
  
• Zalman Reserator 2 Fanless Water Cooling at Techgage
  
• B3yond The Hype at TrustedReviews
  
• Abit IN9 32x Max Intel Socket 775 Motherboard at Overclocked3D

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb 13, 2007 NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and the fiscal year ended January 28, 2007.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, revenue increased to a record $878.9 million, compared to $633.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, an increase of 39 percent. Net income computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 was $163.5 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to net income of $97.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, a net income increase of 68 percent.

Revenue for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2007 was a record $3.07 billion, compared to revenue of $2.38 billion for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2006, an increase of 29 percent. GAAP net income for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2007 was $448.8 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $301.2 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2006, a net income increase of 49 percent.

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• Gainward BLISS 8800 GTS 640MB HDCP at MVKTech
  
• ASRock AM2NF3-VSTA AMD AM2 Mainboard with AGP Review at OCInside
  
• Mushkin XP2-8500 DDR2 2GB at Overclocked3D
  
• SteelSound 3H and 4H Headsets at XYZComputing
  
• HIS X1950 XT 256MB Video Card at BonaFideReviews
  
  
• Logysis PC Extension Station at Hitechreviews
  
• Thermalright Ultra-120 CPU Cooler at PCApex
  
• XIGMATEK 055 Cooler at TechPowerUp
  
• AlphaShield Personal Firewall at TechWareLabs

ForceWare driver 100.64 fixes include:

• A black screen bug with Quake 4
• an issue with the NVIDIA DirectX 10 demo Cascades
• a control panel bug
• a flat panel scaling issue
• a number of other bugs to improve overall stability

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• Dell 2707WFP 27" LCD Monitor from $1150
  

• GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB at TechReport
  
• GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB at Bittech
  
• Foxconn GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB O.C. at Hexus
  
• nVidia GeForce 8800GTS 320MB at Tweaktown
  
• Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GTS 640 MB at Penstarsys
  
• Spire Rocketeer VI 600w SLI PSU at VirtualHideout
  
• Zalman Fatal1ty Chassis Review at XYZComputing
  
• SilverStone HDD enclosure at Modders-Inc
  
• A-DATA PD7 atChileHardware

Check it out here!

• EVGA 8800GTS 320MB
  
• BFG 8800GTS 320MB
  
• XFX 8800GTS 320MB

• AnandTech
  
• FiringSquad
  
• Guru3D
  
• HardOCP
  
• Madshrimps
  
• PCPerspective
  
• The Tech Report

Roy’s passion for gaming stems from years of game play, starting with the original Sim City and he still remembers the first time he installed the OpenGL patch for the original Doom. As well as time in spent in two clans, plus doing level design Roy has a strong personal interest in the developer market. As a part of NVIDIAs charter with developers, Roy believes that open nature of the PC platform gives artists and programmers the freedom to bring their ideas and dreams to life.

Whilst in sales Roy used his experience and knowledge with applications/games to help expand the use of GPU’s so he was a natural choice to run Content Relations where he is able to connect everyone from the artists, programmers, publishers, retailers, etailers and NVIDIA board partners together to help strengthen and grow the PC gaming business.".

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• Vista vs. XP vs. Linux at Viper Lair
  
• Memory Overclocking Guide at EclipseOC
  
• Asus' Vista Edition Motherboard Features at Techreport
  
• Experiences with Core 2 Duo E6300 at techHounds
  
• Brando USB Chiller & Warmer at techArp
  
• Biostar T-Force 550 Motherboard at Penstarsys
  
• Razer Barracuda AC1 Sound Card at OCC
  
• Twinhead Durabook D14RI at Techgage
  
• Noctua Chipset Cooler at Tweaknews

One difference between developing SLI for Windows XP was drastically different than it was for Windows Vista is that the NVIDIA hardware and driver could basically work together to make SLI function without letting the OS know what was going on. This put the entire software stack in NVIDIA’s hand, making it easier to find patches and loop holes to get SLI performance to scale well.

Discussion here.

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• Geforce 8800 320MB GTS
  
• Sunbeam Quarterback ATX Chassis at VirtualHideout
  
• OverClocker's System Building Guide at OCIA
  
• Mushkin XP2-8500 2GB DDR2 RAM Kit at PCApex

The interview is followed by a 3D game performance comparison of NVIDIA-based graphics cards running under Windows XP and Vista. Here's a snippet from the Q&A.

FiringSquad: One of your stated goals is to deliver Windows Vista performance that is comparable to Windows XP in games. Realistically how long do you think it will take to truly accomplish this goal?

Dwight Diercks: Optimizing drivers for any new operating system is a key focus for a core team of software engineers here at NVIDIA. We focused first on implementing the major driver model architectural changes in Windows Vista without focusing solely on performance, and that’s why our initial drivers are slower on some applications compared to Windows XP. Now, we are making sure performance optimizations are at the top of our list.

We expect to deliver frequent driver updates over the next few months that will show strides in performance for top 3D applications and games. Over the next couple of weeks we are going to have more details on our driver release plan, and we will be happy to share these dates with Firing Squad readers and end users.

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• Samsung 22" WideScreen LCD Monitor at LANAddict
  
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. preview at BitTech
  
• Intel Discrete GPUs plans at VRZone

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• nForce 15.00 Vista 32/64-bit nf680i WHQL Certified Drivers
  
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• ASUS EN7950GT and ASUS EN7900GS at XBit
  
• ASUS WL-500W SuperSpeed N Router at Techgage
  
• Asus P5N32-E SLI at BitTech
  
• Logitech LX 710 at ModdersInc

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• NVIDIA cards Much More Popular Than ATI's
  
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• XFX GeForce 7900 GS 256MB DDR3 RoHS ExTreme at ModdersInc

Having purchased an EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS off the shelf a couple of months ago, we recently approached EVGA and asked if they would be willing to chip in another card for an SLI review.

A couple of weeks ago we witnessed the GeForce 8800 GTX in SLI delivering the performance to conquer the uber-resolution of 2560x1600. Is the EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS in SLI up for the challenge? Read on to find out!

• eVGA GeForce 8800 GTX Video Card from $549
  
• eVGA GeForce 8800 GTS Video Card from $384
  
• eVGA GeForce 7950 GT KO Video Card from $256
  

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• Hiper Type R 730W PSU Review at Ninjalane
  
• Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 at BitTech

• Windows Vista 32-bit
• Windows Vista 64-bit (page is not displaying properly - direct link to file)

For additional information about NVIDIA products and Windows Vista, please see their Windows Vista FAQ.

Driver feedback here.