GPU Driver Revisions
GPU Driver Revisions
This question comes from my curiosity (and the difficulty in finding a straightforward answer through online sources). It’s a simple issue, yet I feel awkward asking. Here’s what I’m trying to understand: Whenever a new GPU driver version is released, it usually includes fresh updates—possibly new features, minor adjustments, some tailored for specific games, and others that aren’t.
My concern is whether every tweak or modification ever made to a driver remains in the latest release, even those from five years ago or more. To be clear: A year ago, “Detroit: Become Human” was released for PC, and the Nvidia driver 461 had particular fixes for that title (due to launch issues). Now, as of February 2022, the newest driver version is around 511.
If the answer is yes (which I’m assuming it is), then another thought arises: After all these years of updates, adding so few major changes seems unusual. Over time, drivers would have grown extremely large—wouldn’t they? Or is the amount of data required for these fixes so minimal that it doesn’t accumulate like this? Or are old, unnecessary details being removed from the driver files over time...? For instance, I recall the last driver version with 3D Vision (425.31 in 2019) no longer includes that feature in current drivers since Nvidia discontinued it. (I still enjoy using my 3D screen with glasses sometimes… I’m an old fogey).
Is this the pattern? Do drivers end up with very small sizes now, or is it just a matter of keeping only what’s still useful? Thanks for any thoughts!
Most game updates are handled through app profiles, which can be examined using NVIDIA Inspector. Otherwise, drivers become increasingly larger until they eventually fail due to outdated technology.