I have GeForce 8400 GS Video Card on an AMD Quad system, 64 bit of course, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

I've been using a driver from last year, spring, I think, and it was stable.  I tried the one after that, and it all my 3d apps would crash...saying the driver failed.  So I rolled back and now, after Windows Update nagging me to do so, I tried their latest driver and still...problems everywhere, specifically when doing camera moves or anything that requires real-timey updates quickly.

What gives, Nvidia?

Do I just need a new video card, is that it?

Getting fed up.

don't use the Windows update ones at all.

get them directly from Nvidia. I've had no issues with drivers directly from their site, (running Windows 7 64bit, Geforce 9500GT).

you say you tried the one after that. there was a bad driver out there that was withdrawn because it caused overheating issues.. I'd make sure your not using that one at all. that was numbered 196.75 and was quickly withdrawn.**
**

It's not the Windows one, it's from their site, and it's not the one you mentioned by number.  It's the one that's up there now.

ah I'm running that one with no issues at all (and I'm pushing the card, dual LCD's at 1280x1024). it could be the card is showing it's age a little or you have something else running thats draining resources.

Thats why I finally went back to ati. (I have zero brand loyalty!) I was seeing too many various issues with nvidia drivers on one of my systems here, and other than an opengl issue about 2 years ago for a few months, ati drivers have been problem free, when updated monthly.

My biggest video card issues though haven't so much been driversof late, but dust and intake clogging on video cards causing them to overheat. Have you checked to see if you have good cooling airflow on it? Maybe you are seeing overheating issues increase over time?

I hate those cards with tons of metal channels that get clogged with dust, and so far ones with larger fans instead seem to correct that issue at least with me.

Nvidia cards are not identical, even though they may be based around the same chip.  I highly recommend EVGA, I've almost never had any problems - I have an 8800GTX running the 6.14.12.5721 driver, works perfectly in all my apps.

(I meant I'm running that Driver - not chip)

Sure - I was addressing the original post really.

I have a policy of NOT updating unless there is a problem to fix. I am running an nvidia card with a driver dated Jan 2009.   

Is OpenGL something that needs to be updated?  And if so, where from?

Quote - Is OpenGL something that needs to be updated?  And if so, where from?

Yes, and that is basically what installing a driver means (at least for the 3d-part). So you install the NVIDIA-driver version 266.58, and in the Readme of that driver you can read, what that driver supports (OpenGL 4.1, DirectX 11, etc). Apart from the driver there is not much required for OpenGL (unless you program using OpenGL yourself).

Quote - I have a policy of NOT updating unless there is a problem to fix. I am running an nvidia card with a driver dated Jan 2009.   

This is usually pretty wise, especially regarding OpenGL applications like Poser and Cinema4D; OpenGL is a pretty old spec and rarely changes much these days.

I reset my Card to default settings.  Maybe I revved something up a little too high that worked with older drivers but taxed newer ones that unlocked more resource hogging "features" all of which do nothing in Poser.

Actually the advise from the developers is exactly the opposite.  When we are beta testing new versions of 3d apps, they ALWAYS tell us to make SURE we are using the latest drivers, because in some cases, there are enhancements of changes in the drivers specifically for new app changes.

I've beta tested 5 different 3d apps, plus the last 3 or 4 generations of poser, and they all require installing the latest driver versions.

Typically when we DO see a graphic glitch in testing, very commonly its because we have not updated to the current driver build, which they are developing on.

Nvidia released new cards not too long ago and most likely is the reason for new drivers being available. Your card and the new ones all use the same drivers.

I had an 8400gs and Posers preview would max it out easy. Also some of those cards have passive cooling so make sure yours isnt overheating.

An upgrade would be beneficial. But if you dont then go back to drivers that were stable and tell windows to leave you alone about it. :-)

I just installed the 195.62 for Vista64. It seems like my 8800GT is running a bit smoother now (windows open and icons refresh quicker). Also, CS4 likes this driver a lot better that the last one (from Jan 2010). Poser8's library also quit throwing up an error everytime I restart.

So far, so good.

Rule 0 of system admistration (both hardware and software):

If it ain't broke, don't fix it

My corollary: When you change, usually you change for worse.

Bye.

Quote - I've beta tested 5 different 3d apps, plus the last 3 or 4 generations of poser, and they all require installing the latest driver versions.

While that's a pretty standard thing that any support staff will tell you, in my own experience with 3 generations of Poser it hasn't been necessary at all, nor for a couple of generations of Cinema 4D or Zbrush.  I had a problem with Cinema when I first installed the card, but that was probably because the 8800 series was brand new and the drivers I had were the initial release that supported the 8800s.  It may be that the hardware has been a factor though (again I highly recommend EVGA).

Quote - Rule 0 of system admistration (both hardware and software):

If it ain't broke, don't fix it

My corollary: When you change, usually you change for worse.

Bye.

Interesting strategy, i for myself usually prefer the exact opposite:

 Upgrade drivers when everything works fine.

By doing so, if the driver is bad, i know that the driver is bad and can install the old one again. But if i would wait with the upgrade until i get a new graphics card (which will happen inevitably anyway), i would need to install the card and driver the same time, and if something does not work i would not know if it is the driver or the card or both, usually resulting in hours of plugging/unplugging and installing/deinstalling.

It depends on personal preferences, in the end you weight some small hassles (upgrading now and then) against one big hassle (defer all upgrades till you must).

The latest version of the software is designed with the latest version of the Drivers for the various Video Cards. This is why you should have the latest Driver. With few exceptions, if you are using Poser 8 with SR3 and have a driver from early last year, you will want to update.

NOTE: It is not just the software. Sometimes the OS updates things that require a new Driver. This is why you should always keep your driver up to date. You can check the Readme. In some cases, if you have an older card, you will not need to update, because the update does not have any new files for your Card.

Drivers sometimes get corrupted. ATI and nVidia, both, have released some bad drivers in the past. You may just need to remove the device from your system using Device Manager, reboot, let windows find the device, then only install the latest Driver. That may fix the issue.