[Ars] Should we be required to create an account to get drivers?

[SirPauly]

It only works if nVidia continues to invest and innovate the experience and worth the modest hassle.

 

[Teizo]

From a tweaker point-of-view; as long as things are compatible to nVinspector -- I'm all for tools to simplify and enhance the gaming experience for PC gamers. I would like to see the NVCP incorporated into the GeForce Experience tool.

I have not used nVinspector in a long time. I know for a fact GFE messes up your memory OC in Afterburner, but I have not tested out NVI. Perhaps if I can be half arse bothered to uninstall AB and install NVI and GFE again I can test it out to see if I messes that up as well.

Messing up overclocks won't fly with the enthusiast community. That much you can bank on. Sure that can be fixed, but the fact that it even happens at all and is something you have to keep an eye on is a problem in and of itself.

 

[tential]

I have not used nVinspector in a long time. I know for a fact GFE messes up your memory OC in Afterburner, but I have not tested out NVI. Perhaps if I can be half arse bothered to uninstall AB and install NVI and GFE again I can test it out to see if I messes that up as well.

Messing up overclocks won't fly with the enthusiast community. That much you can bank on. Sure that can be fixed, but the fact that it even happens at all and is something you have to keep an eye on is a problem in and of itself.

I expect it to be fixed very soon.

But yes, these issues are a problem but give them 1-3 months with all users on gfe and most issues will be ironed out.

Has the update even rolled out yet with all of the upgrades they are putting into gfe?

 

[Ranulf]

Yeah, just like heaven forbid I should want to run an older version of one of my Steamworks games because the latest patch has broken it on my PC. Steam forces you to install the latest version, because Valve knows best.

Although I am loath to agree with Tential, he's right in this one instance. Steam is a perfect analogy for what is happening here. If the morons at Nvidia go ahead with this ridiculous plan, then it won't be long before everyone just bends over, falling again for the "friendly DRM" trojan horse.

I pretty sure you can tell steam not to auto update games but yes, in some circumstances it sucks and that is one reason why I dislike steam and favor non DRM.

But, games/software are not the same as HARDWARE DRIVERS. And no, in five years if Nvidia does this insanity, I won't be a customer because my 970 and 960 cards will be the last I own. In fact, I'll probably be out of the PC gaming hobby. Well, unless Nvidia wants to give me a 3-4 free AAA games a year and drastically drop their prices on hardware.

 

[tidy]

I pretty sure you can tell steam not to auto update games...

No, the options are update automatically any time or update automatically on game launch, and there's no way to roll back because if you uninstall and reinstall the game it will install the latest version.

But it sounds like we're in agreement that a GOG style model is best.

 

[BFG10K]

Look how much people hated steam at first? The steam hate when it was mandatory for the new cs was unreal and rightfully so steam was atrocious. Now people use steam as a selling point of pc gaming....

People tolerate Steam DRM because it provides dirt cheap games. If nVidia starts selling flagship GPUs for $4.95 then I'll happily install their client if required.

Until then, there's really no comparison with forcing a client down your throat to get the drivers you need to stop that $1000 card being a paper-weight.

 

[Dribble]

People tolerate Steam DRM because it provides dirt cheap games. If nVidia starts selling flagship GPUs for $4.95 then I'll happily install their client if required.

People use steam because it works. They click on the game they want to play and it runs. Gone are the days of trying to install the scratched DVD on an OS newer then the game, then find the right sequence of patches off some dodgy malware enfested download site, then work out how all the on line stuff works for this game. Then have the outdated DRM for this game break other random stuff.

If nvidia do the same - you click install and everything just works that's fine by me. I like most bought the card to play games not fight with drivers. If I have to give an email address so what - I have to give on for everything anyway. I have multiple email addresses so if I don't trust the company I don't need to read their spam, although in this case I do trust nvidia not to send me spam or sell my email on.

 

[Mem]

Should we be required to create an account to get drivers?

Simple answer is no, I hope no other company trys the same thing and hope Nvidia do a "u turn" on this matter.

 

[imaheadcase]

Simple answer is no, I hope no other company trys the same thing and hope Nvidia do a "u turn" on this matter.

They don't require a email or any signing up, everyone in this thread just jumped on the title without actually doing research. Its like most threads on the internet, people play the jump to conclusion game without actually reading.

You don't need a email or sign up to get geforce drivers from geforce experience.

 

[Techhog]

They don't require a email or any signing up, everyone in this thread just jumped on the title without actually doing research. Its like most threads on the internet, people play the jump to conclusion game without actually reading.

You don't need a email or sign up to get geforce drivers from geforce experience.

Where's you proof that it won't require registration? The article hasn't been updated.

Nvidia will still release quarterly driver updates via its website and through the OS-level Windows Update feature. But the Game Ready Drivers, which have included optimizations for every big-name game released in the past few years, will soon only be available to people who have signed up for GFE with an account tied to their e-mail address. The GFE app currently has no such login requirements.

EDIT: Based on my research, you're the one who hasn't done any research... or even read the OP. Oh, the irony.

 

[tential]

People use steam because it works. They click on the game they want to play and it runs. Gone are the days of trying to install the scratched DVD on an OS newer then the game, then find the right sequence of patches off some dodgy malware enfested download site, then work out how all the on line stuff works for this game. Then have the outdated DRM for this game break other random stuff.

If nvidia do the same - you click install and everything just works that's fine by me. I like most bought the card to play games not fight with drivers. If I have to give an email address so what - I have to give on for everything anyway. I have multiple email addresses so if I don't trust the company I don't need to read their spam, although in this case I do trust nvidia not to send me spam or sell my email on.

You guys are talking about TODAY steam.
I'm saying, lets compare the RELEASE of steam, to the release of GFE.

At release, you could not just click on a game and play. I mean you could hope it would work. Friends list? That was really just there for show. Not actually working.

So many things were broken with steam, and steam has no way to speak to a CSR. Don't act like steam is some amazing platform, or ALWAYS was. Steam was literally trash when it started.

GFE is starting from a good point, it only needs to refine the process.

Point I'm making is, people HATED steam for 100s of reasons when it first released. I despised how bad it was so much. And today, you are now sitting here defending steam to me.

GFE is no where near as bad, and you'll be mildly upset at having to give an email (a throw away email because none of you are giving your real emails anyway), and you'll be upset that you can't use DDU. Then, 1-2 years later, it will work perfectly, and you'll be saying how great GFE's driver installs are compared to AMD and use it as a selling point.

 

[Techhog]

You guys are talking about TODAY steam.
I'm saying, lets compare the RELEASE of steam, to the release of GFE.

At release, you could not just click on a game and play. I mean you could hope it would work. Friends list? That was really just there for show. Not actually working.

So many things were broken with steam, and steam has no way to speak to a CSR. Don't act like steam is some amazing platform, or ALWAYS was. Steam was literally trash when it started.

GFE is starting from a good point, it only needs to refine the process.

Point I'm making is, people HATED steam for 100s of reasons when it first released. I despised how bad it was so much. And today, you are now sitting here defending steam to me.

GFE is no where near as bad, and you'll be mildly upset at having to give an email (a throw away email because none of you are giving your real emails anyway), and you'll be upset that you can't use DDU. Then, 1-2 years later, it will work perfectly, and you'll be saying how great GFE's driver installs are compared to AMD and use it as a selling point.

So, you're saying that Steam was hated when it only got in the way, and liked later on when it provided benefit. In other words, the exact same thing as what we're saying, but with some added spin to support Nvidia's actions. GFE's features are only useful if you use them. If you don't all that this is doing is removing an option. Again, comparing it to Steam is comparing apples to oranges and only works if you oversimplify the issue, which you keep doing. I really hope that you don't seriously believe that what you're saying makes as much sense as you imply it does.

 

[Ranulf]

No, the options are update automatically any time or update automatically on game launch, and there's no way to roll back because if you uninstall and reinstall the game it will install the latest version.

But it sounds like we're in agreement that a GOG style model is best.

This shows how I don't often update my steam games and have problems, thankfully. I shouldn't be surprised though. Steam can be a pain in the ass when something goes wonky with their installs/updates. The worst has been some .exe file gets corrupted in an update and you have to run a scan of the install to redownload it.

You guys are talking about TODAY steam.
I'm saying, lets compare the RELEASE of steam, to the release of GFE.

...

GFE is no where near as bad, and you'll be mildly upset at having to give an email (a throw away email because none of you are giving your real emails anyway), and you'll be upset that you can't use DDU. Then, 1-2 years later, it will work perfectly, and you'll be saying how great GFE's driver installs are compared to AMD and use it as a selling point.

It is not just an email, but a verified account that you will have to log into. You have to run their software all the time, FOR A DRIVER. For a graphics card. How does that not worry you? It is giving up more control over your PC for some supposed benefit, at a hardware level. Things will go bad and often have far more consequences to your system stability than Steam or Origin etc. type services.

Your assumption that GFE will just work a few years down the road is well, an assumption. Valve had good reason to work the bugs out. Nvidia does not have so stellar of a track record lately and they're a near monopoly. If this is all about making it easier to get new drivers, why not just put a button/link in the control panel for the card like AMD does? This is ultimately a marketing scam to get you to hand over more of your data they can use to sell you more stuff.

To me, the GFE requirement offers me very little benefit, even if it did work. Most of the time I want to manually deal with graphics settings since they can be so tempermental between games or driver versions. I remember when learning about shadowplay that it required running GFE... well, no thanks then.

 

[stahlhart]

EDIT: Based on my research, you're the one who hasn't done any research... or even read the OP. Oh, the irony.

http://www.sadtrombone.com/

So, you're saying that Steam was hated when it only got in the way, and liked later on when it provided benefit. In other words, the exact same ****ing thing as what we're saying, but with some added spin to support Nvidia. GFE's features are only useful if you use them. If you don't all that this is doing is removing an option. Again, comparing it to Steam is comparing apples to oranges and only works if you oversimplify the issue, which you keep doing. I don't know how much Nvidia is paying you, but I really hope that they actually are and that you don't seriously believe that what you're saying makes as much sense as you imply it does.

Neither one of these posts demonstrates behavior appropriate for this forum. Start acting like an adult, or you're going to get kicked out again.
-- stahlhart

 

[Techhog]

Neither one of these posts demonstrates behavior appropriate for this forum. Start acting like an adult, or you're going to get kicked out again.
-- stahlhart

Sorry. Bye.

EDIT: Okay, I fixed the posts. Happy now?

 

[cmdrdredd]

I have not used nVinspector in a long time. I know for a fact GFE messes up your memory OC in Afterburner, but I have not tested out NVI. Perhaps if I can be half arse bothered to uninstall AB and install NVI and GFE again I can test it out to see if I messes that up as well.

Messing up overclocks won't fly with the enthusiast community. That much you can bank on. Sure that can be fixed, but the fact that it even happens at all and is something you have to keep an eye on is a problem in and of itself.

I've had GFE installed before and my memory overclock wasn't changed. Was there some specific settings or usage that caused the problem?

 

[Teizo]

I've had GFE installed before and my memory overclock wasn't changed. Was there some specific settings or usage that caused the problem?

To be specific, I like to use automatic 2D and 3D profiles. To me it is much easier and it is a really nice function to utilize. Just set it and forget it. However, when that happens AB scans for active 3D processes and just about every GFE background process gets picked up as a 3D process by AB. You can go into the RTSS CP and go one by one telling it to ignore those processes, but for some reason you then can't overclock your memory.

I saw on one particular update when I was experimenting with GFE that the update log mentioned a fix for not being able to overclock your memory. I think that was a build that was not Beta, but I did not check my OC at the time (was unaware of the conflict). The Beta GFE update (I know it is Beta, but still)...is having conflicts with vRam overclocking.

When I left off the auto profile and let all the 3D background processes stay, and just did it manually I don't think I had any issue. But, I am not fond of having to hit a function key to enable the OC. As mentioned, that is a really good ease of use function of AB.

 

[BFG10K]

People use steam because it works. They click on the game they want to play and it runs. Gone are the days of trying to install the scratched DVD on an OS newer then the game, then find the right sequence of patches off some dodgy malware enfested download site, then work out how all the on line stuff works for this game. Then have the outdated DRM for this game break other random stuff.

What a load of nonsense. Steam breaks so many times it's not even funny (google "this operation cannot be completed in offline mode").

How many times are people told to delete the blob, verify the cache, or even redownload entire games when it behaves oddly? I’m not interested in downloading 35GB for a game I’ve already download because this bloated DRM payload system masquerading as a "service" can’t get elementary fundamentals correct.

As for DRM, there are many games with multi-layer DRM being sold. So you have to deal with Steam authentication, then the third party one.

I mean if Steam is so great, you must be absolutely thrilled that we also need Origin/Uplay/Rockstar Social Club/GFWL. Steam started it and now we basically need a different client depending on what game we want. Again, this benefits consumers how?

If nvidia do the same - you click install and everything just works that's fine by me. I like most bought the card to play games not fight with drivers. If I have to give an email address so what - I have to give on for everything anyway. I have multiple email addresses so if I don't trust the company I don't need to read their spam, although in this case I do trust nvidia not to send me spam or sell my email on.

We aren't talking about an email, we're talking about the GF client being required to constantly run to get a driver for a $1000 graphics card.

Have you ever tried to run a bloated client like GF straight after installing Windows while running a standard VGA driver? Do you feel this is a pleasant experience that enhances customer satisfaction?

Will you be happy if Intel/Realtek/Creative/CoolerMaster/Asus start requiring their own clients to be running in order to get drivers? Steam already caused that for games, and now nVidia has taken the first step to force it for hardware.

Again, this is better for customers how?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Will you be happy if Intel/Realtek/Creative/CoolerMaster/Asus start requiring their own clients to be running in order to get drivers? Steam already caused that for games, and now nVidia has taken the first step to force it for hardware.

Again, this is better for customers how?

This "app-ification" of everything is a major step backwards. Every web site does NOT need its own app, nor does every driver package need its auto-update service.

 

[Ranulf]

But it will come with contests and prizes!

 

[Dribble]

What a load of nonsense. Steam breaks so many times it's not even funny (google "this operation cannot be completed in offline mode").

How many times are people told to delete the blob, verify the cache, or even redownload entire games when it behaves oddly? I’m not interested in downloading 35GB for a game I’ve already download because this bloated DRM payload system masquerading as a "service" can’t get elementary fundamentals correct.

As for DRM, there are many games with multi-layer DRM being sold. So you have to deal with Steam authentication, then the third party one.

I mean if Steam is so great, you must be absolutely thrilled that we also need Origin/Uplay/Rockstar Social Club/GFWL. Steam started it and now we basically need a different client depending on what game we want. Again, this benefits consumers how?

Competition shows they are doing something right - that's why competitors want in on the game. It's also good because if one service sucks we can go use another one. Didn't steam just hit a new record of about 13.5 million concurrent users, clearly with that many users their will be issues, but equally they are doing something right. That's 13.5 million people who could use a console instead but have stuck with pc gaming, whether it makes you happy or not the ease of use and low prices steam provides is part of the reason why.

 

[railven]

Got drunk over the weekend, wanted to stream girlfriend and I playing Gary's Mod to a few friends. Ended up re-installing NV Experience (or whatever it is called). Worked fine without an issue. Not sure if I'd want to keep it, though.

I didn't even let it scan for any games.

 

[tidy]

Competition shows they are doing something right - that's why competitors want in on the game.

Valve found a very effective way to line it's pockets, and of course this was bound to inspire copy-cats. That's the reality of it. You think these Steam clones were born out of EA and Ubisoft's dedication to PC gaming and a charitable will do right by their beloved users?

 

[Mushkins]

They don't require a email or any signing up, everyone in this thread just jumped on the title without actually doing research. Its like most threads on the internet, people play the jump to conclusion game without actually reading.

You don't need a email or sign up to get geforce drivers from geforce experience.

I was gonna say. I use GFE on my gaming PC, my laptop, and my HTPC and update drivers regularly on all three. I have never been required to make any sort of account even on a fresh installation of the driver package.

This whole thread is FUD.

 

[Teizo]

I was gonna say. I use GFE on my gaming PC, my laptop, and my HTPC and update drivers regularly on all three. I have never been required to make any sort of account even on a fresh installation of the driver package.

This whole thread is FUD.

They don't now, but are going to in the future....that was explicitly stated in the first paragraph of the article. I doubt they simply made that up out of thin air...Come December, things are going to change:


"That's when the company will begin pushing out its regular "Game Ready Driver" updates exclusively through the existing GeForce Experience (GFE) app and will begin requiring users to register an account to get them."