New nVidia drivers - options?

[Bhuna50]

Been a while since I actually had to give this some thought as it got to the stage with my last laptop that it was getting so old and so much on it that at the end I just let GeForce experience update my drivers for me, however with a new laptop that is working really well at the moment, what's the best option now that a new GeForce driver is out?

Current nVidia driver 457.30
New release is 461.09.

Whats best,

i) If not experiencing any problems, leave as is at 457.30

ii) Update through GeForce experience - custom installation, perform a clean installation.

iii) Update through GeForce experience - Express installation.

iv) Use DDU to remove drivers, then install 461.09 directly.

(I assume ii and iv are very much the same though.)


If I update and then start experiencing problems, is it easy to revert back to 457.30?

Thanks in advance for your opinions (my spec is in my signature).

 

[FerrariVie]

Been a while since I actually had to give this some thought as it got to the stage with my last laptop that it was getting so old and so much on it that at the end I just let GeForce experience update my drivers for me, however with a new laptop that is working really well at the moment, what's the best option now that a new GeForce driver is out?

Current nVidia driver 457.30
New release is 461.09.

Whats best,

i) If not experiencing any problems, leave as is at 457.30

ii) Update through GeForce experience - custom installation, perform a clean installation.

iii) Update through GeForce experience - Express installation.

iv) Use DDU to remove drivers, then install 461.09 directly.

(I assume ii and iv are very much the same though.)


If I update and then start experiencing problems, is it easy to revert back to 457.30?

Thanks in advance for your opinions (my spec is in my signature).

Not sure if it's the best option, but I always go with option 2. If I have problems with that, then it's either reverting to an old driver or finding a hotfix by Nvidia (not available on GeForce Experience, only on their website or on guru3d).

I know most people recommend using DDU, but it's a bit time-consuming to go through safe mode and back to install the drivers at every update. I agree with you that in most cases a clean custom install should be fine, but DDU could be an option if you still have issues with the "clean install".

 

[Gavras]

Have used Custom install via Experience for eons.

select clean and deselect sound bit.

never had a problem to date.

 

[scarpa1]

Any reason the express option isn't ideal?

Ive been using it with no issues I know of, every time I see custom I worry that I will do something wrong.

 

[Gavras]

Any reason the express option isn't ideal?

Ive been using it with no issues I know of, every time I see custom I worry that I will do something wrong.

It’s not bad, but it’s just best practice to clean install drivers ( where possible ).

 

[scarpa1]

It’s not bad, but it’s just best practice to clean install drivers ( where possible ).

So just do what you said above for custom, select clean and deselect sound bit.

 

[Bhuna50]

Thanks @FeVieira and @Gavras

Why deselect sound bit?

 

[Gavras]

Thanks @FeVieira and @Gavras

Why deselect sound bit?

I don’t have speakers in my Monitor.

for me, sound comes from my sound card to surround sound speakers and not from video HDMI / DP

 

[Bhuna50]

ok thanks @Gavras

 

[SpyderTracks]

I don’t have speakers in my Monitor.

for me, sound comes from my sound card to surround sound speakers and not from video HDMI / DP

There have also been recent reports of Nvidia HDAudio drivers conflicting with on board drivers and causing issues.

But yes, you almost never need the nvidia audio drivers unless you've got a media PC hooked up to a TV.

 

[ubuysa]

Been a while since I actually had to give this some thought as it got to the stage with my last laptop that it was getting so old and so much on it that at the end I just let GeForce experience update my drivers for me, however with a new laptop that is working really well at the moment, what's the best option now that a new GeForce driver is out?

Current nVidia driver 457.30
New release is 461.09.

Whats best,

i) If not experiencing any problems, leave as is at 457.30

ii) Update through GeForce experience - custom installation, perform a clean installation.

iii) Update through GeForce experience - Express installation.

iv) Use DDU to remove drivers, then install 461.09 directly.

(I assume ii and iv are very much the same though.)


If I update and then start experiencing problems, is it easy to revert back to 457.30?

Thanks in advance for your opinions (my spec is in my signature).

Option 1 - with a caveat. If you're having no problems then leave drivers alone - but do research the new release to see whether there is anything in there that you need.