Unofficial ForceWare driver brings Nvidia Pascal support to Windows XP

Pascal support for Windows XP 32-bit

Techie SupraGSX has brought support for Nvidia's Pascal-era cards to Windows XP 32-bit with ForceWare 382.69. The custom-numbered software is a spin-off of the existing 368.81 driver, which seemingly was Nvidia's last Windows XP release supporting 9-series GPUs. It also pulls card firmware from the Quadro 376.84 driver and takes Video Protected Region support from the Windows 7 GeForce 378.78 driver.

Broad desktop GPU compatibility

The supported list includes the GeForce GTX 970, 980, 980 Ti, 1060, 1070, 1070 Ti, 1080 and 1080 Ti, along with Maxwell and Pascal TITAN models. Quadro coverage includes the M4000, M5000, M6000, M6000 24GB, P2000, P2200, P4000, P5000 and P6000. Desktop OEM variants of the GTX 950 and GTX 960 are also listed.

The GT 1030, which uses the GP108 chip, is the notable omission. The repository also provides an experimental build with GTX 1050 Ti support. Because SupraGSX is releasing new versions, its README may contain updated compatibility information.

DisplayPort and HDMI improvements

SupraGSX added DisplayPort HBR2 and HBR3 support, HDMI 2.0 identification, HDMI mode-retry fail-safes, HDMI and DVI handling, and improved scaling and aspect ratio settings in the Nvidia Control Panel. These additions address high-resolution and high-refresh displays. Some testers report mostly fine operation, including good results with ultrawide screens at high refresh rates.

Unofficial release and compatibility

SupraGSX is active in the Vogons forums, where the project appears to receive bug reports and feature requests. Installer packages are available through its releases section, while extensive build instructions may interest modders who want to create their own versions. A fork supporting Windows XP 64-bit previously existed but has been deleted, although its binaries remain on Mega. The drivers are unofficial, so users should exercise caution and avoid installing them on systems where data safety is a concern.