End of NVIDIA Driver Support for 32-bit OSes

[pyf]

After Release 390, NVIDIA will no longer release drivers for 32-bit operating systems (*) for any GPU architecture. Later driver release versions will not operate, nor install, on 32-bit operating systems. Driver enhancements, driver optimizations, and operating system features in driver versions after Release 390 will not be incorporated back into Release 390 or earlier versions.

This impacts the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows 7
• Microsoft Windows 8/8.1
• Microsoft Windows 10
• Linux
• FreeBSD

NVIDIA intends to support critical driver security fixes until January 2019.

*: Applicable to operating systems running on x64 and x32 CPU architectures.


Source:
End of NVIDIA Driver Support for 32-bit Operating Systems | NVIDIA

 

[HappyTauren]

You mean, people still use 32bit hardware?

 

[pyf]

Does that surprise you?


Now believe it or not, but I was also told that some people stubbornly keep playing 32-bit video games from 2002 like, say, Warcraft 3, on their 64-bit OSes for some reason.

Incredible, huh?





** Update **

You mean, people still use 32bit hardware?

This should answer your question:
VOGONS • View forum - Marvin, the Paranoid Android

Read and learn.

 

[HappyTauren]

That's possibly one of the worst website themes I have seen in my life.

 

[pyf]

It is a discussion forum, not a website.

 

[chobibo]

I'm still using my 32-bit PentiumPoor, 512MB x2 RAM, 512MB ATI x1650, computer to play Skyrim. LOL

 

[Chaosy]

Somehow I fail to see that new drivers are needed on an old OS.

You probably wont run a GTX 1080 with windows 7, I've yet to see it happen personally anyway.
And if you do not have a new graphic card you should be totally fine with the existing updates.

 

[pyf]

Somehow I fail to see that new drivers are needed on an old OS. [...]

Maybe you will find the answer in the changelogs?
Version history for Nvidia GeForce Desktop Display Drivers (Windows Vista & Windows 7 & 8)

At random, three ones with all the gory details:
- Drivers | GeForce (2011)
- NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce 337.88 Driver WHQL (2014)
- Vulkan Driver Support

 

[andreasaspenberg]

windows 7, 8.1 and 10 is available in both 32 bit and 64 bit versions so it would only affect the 32 bit versions of those systems. certain games however will only run in in 32 bit systems so i hope that microsoft creates a workaround so that 16 bit games can run in 64 bit systems. it is possible through emulation software. dosbox runs 16 bit software by being 32 bit and running in a 64 bit system.

 

[Dr Super Good]

certain games however will only run in in 32 bit systems so i hope that microsoft creates a workaround so that 16 bit games can run in 64 bit systems.

Its called a virtual machine... I ran a 16 bit game in a 32bit XP OS running as a virtual machine on a 64bit OS.

Its about time support for 32bit was dropped. It should have happened at least 5 years ago.

 

[andreasaspenberg]

virtual machines lack both direct 3d and direct draw which prevents multiple games from running.

 

[Dr Super Good]

virtual machines lack both direct 3d and direct draw which prevents multiple games from running.

No they do not. One can install graphic drivers to them. In worst case a software emulator for the graphics APIs can be used. Since 16bit games are not resource intensive this is viable.

 

[andreasaspenberg]

yes they do, just ask microsoft.

 

[pyf]

virtual machines lack both direct 3d and direct draw which prevents multiple games from running.

Not all Virtual Machines necessarily have the same set of features.

As an example, regarding 3D acceleration:
- 3D acceleration in virtual machines - Part 1: VMware & DirectX - Tutorial
- Enabling Accelerated 3-D for a Virtual Machine - VMware Workstation 5.0

VMware Workstation Player - Wikipedia
VMware Workstation - Wikipedia

Comparison of platform virtualization software - Wikipedia