"Patok" wrote in message
...
Jo-Anne wrote:
Using Windows XP. I run Filehippo to let me know about updates. It's been
telling me for a while that I should download NVIDIA Forceware 280.26
WHQL XP to replace version 111.9. I checked my computer with Belarc
Advisor and found the following NVIDIA items:

NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M [Display adapter]
NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version 101.19 Version 6.14.11.0119

I have no idea whether I should install this update. I'd be very grateful
if someone could let me know if updating NVIDIA Forceware is important
and if the update could cause any problems.

Thank you very much!

NVIDIA is your display adapter. It makes sense to update the display
drivers *only* if you are not happy with what you have (video is not
smooth or is jerky, programs (especially games) complain about missing
features, the screen freezes.
If everything is running smoothly, there really is no need to update the
driver. It is even likely that with the new driver video may run slower
than before. That's because manufacturers optimize their drivers for the
newer hardware; if the card is an older one, the new drivers may be
optimized for newer hardware, and be sub-optimal for the older one. In
such cases, getting newer and newer drivers will make the video perform
worse and worse after each subsequent update. So, especially if you're not
a gamer, updating the video drivers is not necessary.
(The reason, if you're wondering, is that Nvidia drivers are universal -
the same driver works for *all* cards. If it is optimized for the newer
ones, it necessarily neglects the older ones. There is an optimal driver #
for every video card model, but figuring which one that is and downloading
that particular one, is more hassle than it's worth, IMHO.)

--
You'd be crazy to e-mail me with the crazy. But leave the div alone.
*
Whoever bans a book, shall be banished. Whoever burns a book, shall burn.


Thank you very much, Patok! Would the NVIDIA display driver have any effect
on watching DVD movies on my computer? I've had a lot of trouble with
freezing on many of the DVDs I've tried to watch. Some of them are season
compilations of TV programs, and usually the first show works OK and the
rest freeze and then continue many times within each show.

Jo-Anne