Nvidia GeForce Driver 397.31: RTX Support, file cleanup

Martin Brinkmann
Apr 25, 2018
Hardware
|
12

Nvidia released the NVIDIA GeForce Driver 397.31 WHQL to the public today. The new driver includes support for a new feature called Nvidia RTX Technology, updates to components, a new file cleanup operation after installation of drivers, and several fixes of issues.

The new driver is available as a direct update via GeForce Experience if it is installed on a client machine and as a separate download from Nvidia's download site. It is compatible with Windows devices running Window 7 and later.

Just like version 396.x of the driver, driver 397.x won's support 32-bit operating systems anymore.

Computer users who use the standalone installer to install and update drivers benefit from a new file cleanup feature that removes installation files after a successful installation of the graphics driver.

Previous versions of Nvidia's driver installer did not remove the driver installation files which it placed into c:\nvidia by default. A single driver package pushed the size of the folder beyond the 1 Gigabyte mark.

Note that this did not work correctly on a Windows 10 RS4 Insider Build PC. The Nvidia folder remained on the system after installation of the graphics driver.

Nvidia GeForce Driver 397.31

nvidia graphics driver 397.31

Nvidia cleans up the folder automatically after installation which means that you don't have to take care of that manually anymore to free up disk space.

The new driver adds development support for Nvidia RTX Technology, a ray tracing technology for DirectX 12 which has the following requirements:

  • Windows 10 RS4 (April 2018 Update)
  • Nvidia Volta GPU
  • Nvidia driver version 396 or higher
  • Microsoft DXR developer package

Driver 397.31 adds support for Vulkan 1.1, a new HD audio sample rates (32 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 176.4 kHz for all GPUs, new libraries (nvdlist.dll and nvdlistx.dll to support Optimus and MSHybrid notebooks), and a new NVDECODE API which lets clients reconfigure the decoder resolution and postprocessing parameters.

The driver adds Game Ready support for BattleTech and FrostPunk, and updates or adds SLI profiles and 3D Vision profiles for the following games: Descenders, Frostpunk, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Far Cry 5, and Eve Valkyrie - Warzone.

The new Nvidia graphics driver version fixes several issues that users experienced with previous driver versions:

  • Fixed a game crash in Doom on GeForce GTX 1080 Ti devices when HDR was enabled.
  • Fixed a game crash in Far Cry 5 that occurred after some minutes on GeForce GTX 1060 devices.
  • Fixed NvfbcPluginWindow  prevented Windows from shutting down if Steam was launched.
  • Fixed a driver error when using Firefox.
  • Fixed flickering and corruption in Rise of the Tomb Raider in the in-game options interface on GeForce GTX 1060  devices.
  • Fixed a V-Sync and SLI issue in Diablo III

The following issues are new or remain issues in the new driver:

  • Video and desktop corruption in Microsoft Edge with HDR turned on and video playback in full-screen mode on HDR displays.
  • Green flickering in Far Cry 5 with HDR and non-native resolutions.
  • G-Sync displays may go blank when switching between overclocked memory clocks.
  • No display output when connecting the DisplayPort and two DVI monitors.
  • The OS may fail after installing the graphics card on Threadripper-enabled motherboards.
  • Blue Screen crash in Gears of War 4.
  • TDR errors in Warhammer Vermintide 2 when changing resolutions.
  • Nvidia Surround hotkeys may not work.
  • In-Game overlay cannot be enabled and ShadowPlay does not work.

Click here to open the release notes PDF document.

Related articles

Summary
Nvidia GeForce Driver 397.31: RTX Support, file cleanup
Article Name
Nvidia GeForce Driver 397.31: RTX Support, file cleanup
Description
Nvidia released the NVIDIA GeForce Driver 397.31 WHQL to the public today. The new driver includes support for a new feature called Nvidia RTX Support, updates to components, a new file cleanup operation after installation of drivers, and several fixes of issues.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
Logo
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. NewsTip said on September 27, 2018 at 5:14 pm
    Reply
  2. NewsTip said on August 2, 2018 at 1:14 am
    Reply
  3. ULBoom said on April 28, 2018 at 6:30 am
    Reply

    I installed this a few days ago and it works! No tearing, no delays, no weird behavior at all. Also updated the Intel driver that feeds the nVidia card. Had to completely install that first, since the two year old dell version of the older Intel driver won’t allow an Intel driver as an upgrade.
    Vids, pics and graphics are noticeably better now, my video editor works more smoothly, too.

  4. Fred said on April 26, 2018 at 7:47 am
    Reply

    v397.31 has issues (boot loops with certian cards). Don’t install it.
    https://www.hardocp.com/news/2018/04/25/nvidia_game_ready_drivers_so/

    1. Belga said on April 26, 2018 at 12:04 pm
      Reply

      I just can’t install it on Win 8.1 x64 !

  5. Steve said on April 25, 2018 at 7:57 pm
    Reply

    I have Ver. 391.35 from March 27/18 and when I check for updates, it states that I have the latest version. Strange or what? :)

  6. Tom Hawack said on April 25, 2018 at 7:26 pm
    Reply

    Just installed Nvidia GeForce Driver 397.31 : the driver installation files (c:\nvidia) hasn’t been cleaned, I deleted as before the folder, 1110.4 MB.

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on April 25, 2018 at 7:47 pm
      Reply

      I wonder if the “standalone installer” refers to a different installer.

      1. Tom Hawack said on April 26, 2018 at 10:22 am
        Reply

        Martin, you mean that the “standalone installer”, that is the driver installed as a separate download from Nvidia’s download site could differ from the one installed as an update via GeForce Experience? I have no idea but if true could trigger a few questions…

        I had forgotten to mention that,

        – my install of Nvidia GeForce Driver 397.31 took place on Windows 7;
        – my graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GT 730;
        – the installation was performed after having disconnected from the Web;
        – the installation was made clean;
        – the installation included the Graphics driver only.

        Those are the parameters of my installation of the driver.

  7. Bobo said on April 25, 2018 at 6:30 pm
    Reply

    And that’s the end of the road for support to my GPU http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4654/related/1

    1. Mola Ram, CEO Microsoft said on April 26, 2018 at 3:48 am
      Reply

      RTX won’t go mainstream for years. Too much of the installed base doesn’t support it.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.