Key Takeaways
1. Nvidia’s 576.02 driver update improves performance for RTX 50 series GPUs, with gains of 3% to 8% reported in synthetic benchmarks.
2. The update addresses various gaming and bug issues, including black screen problems for some RTX 50 series users.
3. Users have observed a reduction in power consumption by up to 7W while idle.
4. Some gamers report instability with the new drivers, including frame rate fluctuations and thermal sensor issues.
5. Users experiencing black screen issues should consider updating, while others may want to avoid the new drivers due to performance concerns.
Nvidia has rolled out the 576.02 driver update together with the RTX 5060 Ti GPUs on April 16. This update is accessible for all RTX GPUs, but it appears to give a performance increase especially to the 50 series cards, at least according to synthetic benchmarks. Many users have noted that their GPUs are performing significantly better, with increases ranging from 3% to 8%. Conversely, some individuals are reporting problems in games, pointing to issues with thermal sensors that have arisen due to the latest drivers.
Performance Improvements and Fixes
The recent Nvidia driver update comes with a specific PDF containing the release notes, which outline various fixes related to gaming and general bugs, including the black screen problems encountered by some RTX 50 series users. Notably, certain users have observed enhanced performance in synthetic benchmarks, with some gains reported to be as high as 6%.
German digital outlet Computer Base conducted a 3D Mark test on all RTX 50 series GPUs, including the RTX 5060 Ti. They discovered that the RTX 5070 and higher models exhibited performance improvements between 6% and 8% with the new drivers when compared to the original launch drivers.
Power Consumption Observations
Additionally, some users have reported a reduction in power consumption of up to 7W, as the clock speed dropped to just 22 MHz while the card was idle. Videocardz tested an RTX 4090 in 3D Mark Steel Nomad but only saw a mere 1 FPS gain, indicating that the boost in synthetic benchmark performance is mainly impacting the RTX 50 series cards.
Gaming Performance Concerns
However, when it comes to gaming performance, the situation is quite different. Numerous Reddit users have noted performance instability with the updated drivers. One user mentioned that their GPU displayed “odd clock behavior” with frame rate fluctuations causing stutters, while others reported higher clock speeds accompanied by increased temperatures. It seems there is a glitch with the thermal sensors due to the new drivers, which is causing clocks to exceed normal levels and hindering thermal monitoring software from providing accurate readings.
Given these reported instability concerns, it may be wise to refrain from updating to the latest drivers, particularly for RTX 50 series users. Nevertheless, those facing black screen issues should either update to the new drivers or revert to a previously stable version.
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