nVidia are really pumping out the drivers from November on, they are also working on a number of different series.

Here are my thoughts on them:

Forceware 185.xx

185.20 introduces us to possibly Windows 7 style drivers, it includes a new setting ‘Ambient Occlusion’

The driver INF has been completely reworked what I assume is to get ready for Windows 7.

But saying that, the old style INF works just as fine, as both are really the same, but nVIDIA are tidying up years of pumping out GPU’s.

Forceware 181.xx

Not sure about this, it may just be one of continuation of 180.xx series, bit to early to tell, it does look like a 180.xx driver.

Forceware 180.xx

Latest desktop driver set, mostly tweaking the GX2x0 series GPU’s

Forceware 179.xx

latest Mobile driver set, look here for the newest drivers for Notebooks, filling up now with OEM versions

Forceware 178.xx

This was the old Desktop driver series now gone to 18x.xx but still used by Quadro drivers

Forceware 177.xx

An even older Desktop driver series but now used as overflow for 176.xx mobile drivers.

Not sure why nVIDIA use the lower numbers to continue on from 176, does not make for easy driver finding

Forceware 176.xx

The be all and end all in Mobile Drivers, nearly every single OEM has a version here, this section is huge and a good place to start with drivers if you prefer OEM WHQL drivers.

Now no longer used, the latest versions are numbered 177.xx (early numbers)

I keep the 177.xx mobile drivers in the 176 section for ease of finding them.

Previous drivers are no longer updated, occaisionally one will pop up for a special nVIDIA release, but not worth worrying about.