173.14.25 vs. 190.53

[ant]

Hello.

Why are two non-beta NVIDIA driver releases for Linux? I saw these two:

173.14.25 (2/11/2010; http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_d...173.14.25.html)
190.53 (12/16/2009; http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_d...32_190.53.html)

What are the differences between them? Which ones should I use for my old dual core AMD Athlon X2 939 Debian box with 2.6.30-2-686 #1 SMP Fri Dec 4 00:53:20 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux, an EVGA GeForce 8800 GT video card (512 MB of RAM), an old 19" LCD monitor with VGA connections due to an old Belkin OmniCube KVM switch, etc.

Both driver versions work with my video card. I am confused.

Thank you in advance.

[zander]

173.14.25 is the current legacy graphics driver release for Geforce 5 series GPUs (see e.g. http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=122606). 190.53 is the most recent graphics driver release for more recent GPUs.

[ant]

Originally Posted by zander

173.14.25 is the current legacy graphics driver release for Geforce 5 series GPUs (see e.g. http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=122606). 190.53 is the most recent graphics driver release for more recent GPUs.

If it is for legacy cards, then why does http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_d...173.14.25.html 's "Supported Products" tab show these newer cards:

GeForce 9 series:
9800 GT, 9600 GT, 9800 GX2, 9800 GTX/GTX+, 9600 GSO, 9500 GT

GeForce 8 series:
8200, 8300, 8600 GS, 8400 GS, 8300 GS, 8800 GTS 512, 8800 GS, 8200 / nForce 730a, 8600 GTS, 8100 / nForce 720a, 8800 GTS, 8800 GTX, 8400 SE, 8800 Ultra, 8500 GT, 8400, 8600 GT, 8800 GT

GeForce 7 series:
7900 GTX, 7950 GT, 7800 SLI, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7050 PV / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7900 GT/GTO, 7300 GT, 7300 LE, 7300 GS, 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 620i, 7050 / NVIDIA nForce 610i, 7025 / NVIDIA nForce 630a, 7600 LE, 7350 LE, 7300 SE / 7200 GS, 7800 GTX, 7100 GS, 7550 LE, 7950 GX2, 7650 GS, 7600 GT, 7600 GS, 7500 LE, 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7800 GS, 7150 / NVIDIA nForce 630i, 7900 GS

GeForce 6 series:
6200 LE, 6800, 6800 GS, 6600 GT, 6150SE nForce 430, 6800 XE, 6200, 6150, 6200 TurboCache, 6800 GS/XT, 6250, 6800 LE, 6800 GT, 6200SE TurboCache, 6800 XT, 6600 LE, 6610 XL, 6150 LE, 6600 VE, 6100 nForce 405, 6100 nForce 400, 6600, 6500, 6100, 6100 nForce 420, 6700 XL, 6200 A-LE, 6150LE / Quadro NVS 210S, 6800 Ultra

[AaronP]

Because those cards were supported when the 173.14.* driver series was the current release series, before it became the legacy branch for GeForce 5xxx cards. Support for those GPUs was dropped in 177.*. For newer GPUs, you can think of 173.14.* as just a very old version of the current driver series.

[ant]

Originally Posted by AaronP

Because those cards were supported when the 173.14.* driver series was the current release series, before it became the legacy branch for GeForce 5xxx cards. Support for those GPUs was dropped in 177.*. For newer GPUs, you can think of 173.14.* as just a very old version of the current driver series.

Ah, thanks.

What is difference between the two .run files in the beta releases in ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/195.36.03/?

[AaronP]

Originally Posted by ant

What is difference between the two .run files in the beta releases in ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/195.36.03/?

See Chapter 7 - Frequently Asked Questions: "What is the significance of the pkg# suffix on the .run file?".

[ant]

Originally Posted by AaronP

See Chapter 7 - Frequently Asked Questions: "What is the significance of the pkg# suffix on the .run file?".

Thanks again. I will just pick one.