NVIDIA’s GeForce driver version 535.98, released on May 30, 2023, was intended to enhance gaming experiences, particularly for titles utilizing DLSS 3 technology. However, many users have reported a range of issues following its installation. This article delves into these community discussions, highlighting the problems encountered, potential causes, and suggested solutions.
Overview of Driver 535.98
The 535.98 driver update aimed to provide optimal performance for new games featuring DLSS 3, such as Diablo IV, and to support titles utilizing DLSS 2, including System Shock. The release notes mentioned support for CUDA 12.2 and included various performance improvements, bug fixes, and driver enhancements. Notably, it addressed issues like game crashes when applying GeForce Experience Freestyle filters and monitor flickering upon waking from display sleep when DSR/DLDSR was enabled.
Reported Issues Post-Installation
Despite the intended enhancements, users have reported several issues after updating to driver 535.98:
Performance Degradation
Many users have observed significant performance drops, especially in memory-intensive applications. For instance, a user reported that with driver 535.98, the system consumed considerably more memory during high-resolution steps, leading to frequent failures in generating high-resolution images. Rolling back to driver 532.03 restored previous performance levels.
Similarly, users of Stable Diffusion have noted that the 535.98 driver causes substantial slowdowns, with some experiencing a 12.6x decrease in performance. Reverting to driver 531.79 reportedly alleviated these issues.
Application Crashes
Certain applications, notably World of Warcraft (WoW), have exhibited increased instability post-driver update. Players have reported random crashes and significant frame rate drops, particularly in high-density areas. One user noted that uninstalling the 535.98 driver and reverting to version 528.49 resolved these issues, restoring smooth gameplay.
Additionally, there have been reports of the graphics driver crashing during gameplay, leading to system freezes of about a minute before recovery. Event logs often point to ‘nvlddmkm’ as the culprit.
System Slowdowns
Beyond individual applications, some users have experienced overall system slowdowns after installing the 535.98 driver. For example, a user on the RHEL 7.6 platform reported significant system lag post-installation, with logs indicating potential thermal or power issues related to the GPU.
Hardware Detection Issues
There have been instances where the driver fails to recognize certain hardware components. For example, users have reported that the driver causes specific fans to disappear from detection, leading to potential cooling issues. EVGA acknowledged this problem and stated they were investigating the issue internally.
Community Discussions and Workarounds
The NVIDIA community forums and other platforms have been abuzz with discussions regarding these issues. Users have shared various workarounds and solutions, including:
- Rolling Back Drivers: Many users have found that reverting to earlier driver versions, such as 531.79 or 531.41, resolves performance and stability issues. This approach has been particularly effective for applications like Stable Diffusion and WoW.
- Adjusting Application Settings: Tweaking in-game or application-specific settings, such as graphics quality or memory allocation, has helped mitigate some issues. For instance, adjusting the GPU power slider in tools like EVGA Precision X1 has been suggested to address performance drops.
- Monitoring GPU Usage: Keeping an eye on GPU temperatures and usage can help identify if the driver is causing the GPU to overheat or underperform. Some users have reported that the 535.98 driver leads to increased GPU temperatures, suggesting potential inefficiencies.
Official Responses and Future Updates
NVIDIA has acknowledged some of these issues and is actively working on driver updates to address them. Users are encouraged to monitor official NVIDIA channels for announcements regarding new driver releases and updates. In the meantime, utilizing community-shared solutions, such as rolling back to previous driver versions or adjusting application settings, can help alleviate some of the reported problems.
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Conclusion
While NVIDIA’s driver 535.98 introduced features aimed at enhancing gaming experiences, it has also been associated with a range of issues reported by users across various applications. Community discussions have shed light on these problems, offering workarounds and solutions. Users experiencing difficulties with this driver version should consider reverting to earlier drivers or adjusting application settings as temporary measures until official fixes are released.
