Nvidia releases new driver for Ampere graphics cards, SLI support moving to graphics APIs

Nvidia's latest graphics driver introduces support for the recently launched RTX 3080 and the upcoming RTX 3090 cards. The 456.38 WHQL graphics driver also introduces Nvidia Reflex, Nvidia Broadcast, and the typical set of optimisations for some games. Additionally, it disables implicit SLI on Ampere graphics cards, but explicit SLI will still work through graphics APIs such as DirectX 12, Vulkan, and OpenGL.

The latest Nvidia graphics driver brings DLSS and RTX to Fortnite on all RTX graphics cards. Halo 3: OSDT and Mafia: Definitive Edition received in-game optimisations for improved performance and stability, but a set of features that includes an in-game performance overlay, one-click performance tuning, HDR ShadowPlay Capture, and AV1 decoding, was also added. GeForce Experience’s one-click optimal settings support 13 new games and the list of G-Sync compatible displays also received 5 new monitors: Acer XV253Q GW, Asus VG27AQ1A, LG 27GN600 and 27GN800, and ViewSonic XG270Q.

Nvidia Reflex (in-game latency reduction feature) was also added, but it will only be compatible with Fortnite and Valorant, for now. All GPUs from the GTX 900 series and beyond will support Nvidia Reflex. In mid-range cards such as the GTX 1660, users can expect a latency improvement of up to  33%. On the new RTX 3080, the in-game latency is already better than mid-range cards, but it can be further improved by up to 40%.

Another interesting feature that comes with this driver is Nvidia Broadcast, an application that “upgrades any room into a home broadcast studio” through the use of AI. Nvidia Broadcast brings three AI-powered features: Noise removal, to remove background noise, Virtual Background, allowing to change your background without the need of a green screen, and Auto Frame, which tracks your head movements to follow them.

The changelog of the new driver also states that the new Ampere graphics cards won't support implicit SLI. Only explicit SLI will be supported, and it will be handled by APIs like DirectX 12, Vulkan, and Open CL. This was expected given that the only RTX 30 series card featuring the NVLink interface is the RTX 3090 graphics card.

Anyone that buys selected GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs or selected pre-built PCs with RTX 30 series GPUs will receive a bundle including a digital copy of Watch Dogs: Legion and 1-year membership for GeForce NOW.

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KitGuru says: Have you already downloaded the new Nvidia graphics driver? What do you think about Nvidia Reflex and Broadcast? How do you feel about the changes to SLI?

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