NVIDIA, AMD Ready to Roll with Windows 8 Certified Graphics Drivers
Do you see that over on the horizon? It's Windows 8 -- we'd recognize it anywhere with its luggage of tiles in tow. Some of you might even be playing with Windows 8 already, courtesy of an official Release Preview made available just a few days ago. If so, and if you're rocking discrete graphics from AMD or NVIDIA, we have some good news to share. Both GPU designers announced they've received official certification for Windows 8 in regards to graphics drivers.
"NVIDIA’s Windows 8 drivers support all the features in the new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) v1.2," NVIDIA said in a blog post. "The drivers also support award-winning NVIDIA 3D Vision and 3DTV Play products, allowing you to play more than 600 games, watch Blu-ray movies and view photos – all in 3D."
Image Source: Deviant Art (Brebenel-Silviu)
NVIDIA's new Windows 8 WHQL-certified GeForce R302 drivers will be available "early next week," though keep in mind they're for Windows 8 only; if you're running Windows 7 or earlier, you'll continue to use R300 drivers, NVIDIA said.
As for AMD:
"Today, we are proud to announce that AMD has received Windows Hardware Certification (WHC) for an AMD Catalyst graphics driver on Windows 8," AMD announced in a blog post of its own. "Formerly known as the Windows Logo Program, WHC is a rigorous mark of compatibility and reliability for products intended for use with Microsoft Windows. It also allows AMD to serve as an official partner in the upcoming Windows 8 release, use the 'Windows 8 Compatible' logo (seen here), and offer the drivers on Windows Update."
AMD's WHC driver will be posted later this summer, the company said.
"NVIDIA’s Windows 8 drivers support all the features in the new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) v1.2," NVIDIA said in a blog post. "The drivers also support award-winning NVIDIA 3D Vision and 3DTV Play products, allowing you to play more than 600 games, watch Blu-ray movies and view photos – all in 3D."
Image Source: Deviant Art (Brebenel-Silviu)
NVIDIA's new Windows 8 WHQL-certified GeForce R302 drivers will be available "early next week," though keep in mind they're for Windows 8 only; if you're running Windows 7 or earlier, you'll continue to use R300 drivers, NVIDIA said.
As for AMD:
"Today, we are proud to announce that AMD has received Windows Hardware Certification (WHC) for an AMD Catalyst graphics driver on Windows 8," AMD announced in a blog post of its own. "Formerly known as the Windows Logo Program, WHC is a rigorous mark of compatibility and reliability for products intended for use with Microsoft Windows. It also allows AMD to serve as an official partner in the upcoming Windows 8 release, use the 'Windows 8 Compatible' logo (seen here), and offer the drivers on Windows Update."
AMD's WHC driver will be posted later this summer, the company said.
