Nvidia GeForce driver 390.65 WHQL security update
Nvidia released the Nvidia GeForce Game Reader 390.65 WHQL driver for GeForce graphics cards on January 8th, 2018.
The update improves support for specific games, includes fixes, and patches The Spectre variant 2 security issue.
The CVE ID of the issue is CVE-2017-5753; Nvidia's issue number is 1975134.
Computer systems with microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and branch prediction may allow unauthorized disclosure of information to an attacker with local user access via a side-channel analysis.
It is recommended to install the driver update asap to patch the security issue. The latest Nvidia graphics drivers are available on the company's driver downloads website already. The driver update is also available in GeForce Experience if the software is installed on the computer system.
As always, it is recommended to uninstall the driver completely before installing the new one and to install only the driver for Nvidia graphics cards that you require.
Nvidia GeForce driver 390.65 WHQL
Nvidia GeForce driver 390.65 WHQL is the first driver version that supports Nvidia Freestyle. The technology lets you apply post-processing filters to games.
Nvidia Freestyle is part of GeForce Experience. In other words: you need to install the GeForce Experience component to use Freestyle on the system.
Not all games are supported by Freestyle. Nvidia published a list of games that support the feature; the list includes games such as Call of Duty: WWII, Cuphead, Dota 2 and PUBG among others.
You need to enable "Enable Experimental Features" in the GeForce Experience client after driver installation to enable the feature. Note that you need the latest version of the GeForce Experience app as well (version 3.12) which Nvidia plans to release tomorrow.
The feature can be used to apply filters to games. Most of the filters change the aesthetic of the game, but there is a filter for colorblind players as well which may make it more than just a gimmick.
Another new feature is support for eGPU. The driver informs users with pop-ups if an eGPU has been connected or disconnected. An eGPU is an external graphics processing unit.
The new GeForce driver comes with game improvements. It adds Game Ready support for Fortnite and updates SLI profiles for Dirt4, Total War: Warhammer II and X-Morph: Defense.
The GeForce driver 390.65 WHQL fixes three issues and has six open Windows 10 issues:
- Fixed incorrect surface rendering in Batman Arkham Knight on GeForce GTX 970 systems.
- Fixed artifacts appearing in Gamestream on GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, Titan X and Titan XP devices.
- Fixed error message when enabling stereoscopic 3D on notebooks with Fermi GPUs.
- An issue in Dirt4 that causes corruption and flickering in the game when SLI is enabled.
- Issue: G-Sync displays may go blank when you switch between different overclocked memory clocks multiple times.
- Issue: No display output when connecting Geforce GTX 780 Ti to the DisplayPort and two DVI monitors.
- Issue: OS fails after installing the Geforce Titan graphics card on a Threadripper-enabled motherboard.
- Issue: Gears of War 5 may crash with a blue-screen on Pascal GPU systems.
- Issue: Star Wars Battlefront II may hang during game launch in DirectX 12 API mode on Kepler GPU systems.
Read the full release notes for the 390.65 release (PDF) with a click on this link.
You may find the following guides useful:
- Disable NVIDIA Streamer Service and other NVIDIA processes
- Disable Nvidia Telemetry tracking on Windows
- Software to disable Nvidia Telemetry
We need your help
Advertising revenue is falling fast across the Internet, and independently-run sites like Ghacks are hit hardest by it. The advertising model in its current form is coming to an end, and we have to find other ways to continue operating this site.
We are committed to keeping our content free and independent, which means no paywalls, no sponsored posts, no annoying ad formats (video ads) or subscription fees.
If you like our content, and would like to help, please consider making a contribution:
You write a lot about this or that for/about Windows 10. What about Windows 7 and 8.1 ?
Those are dead, give it up…
True.
@ ShintoPlasm,
My Windows 8.1 machine is running optimally and is very much alive.
But you’re welcome to use Windows 10 and have Microsoft peering over your shoulder watching everything you do and listening to everything you say.
@Shinto, if you really believe that you are not being watched because you are using 8.1, then you are sorely mistaken.
@ Genisis,
What Shinto is running seems to be a mystery. It could be Windows 10, or maybe it’s an Apple Mac, or a Linux distro even. He doesn’t say.
In any event though, I’m the one running 8.1 and believe me, I’m not being watched. If you think otherwise, provide some evidence to demonstrate why you think that way.
Has anyone figured out how to get a permanet link to the most recent driver for a certain product series/product/OS/language on the Nvidia? That is, without have to go through at and set those dropdown menus each time there is a new update. Or a RSS with direct download links to the latest driver.
@Genisis: think you’ve got the wrong person mate.
@TelV: that’s all right, I’m on a Mac… ;)
That would explain your lack of insight on the subject at hand. I enjoy prolonged security patches on a telemetry free W7. Cheers.