I recently installed an RTX 4070 Super and I'm unsure which NVIDIA driver version to use. I've heard that some newer releases can cause performance drops, HDR problems, display issues, or trouble waking a monitor from sleep. I'm currently seeing what may be an HDMI-related problem, so I'd prefer a driver that has been tested and is generally reliable. Should I install the newest release, or stick with an older version known for stability?
3 Answers
Start with the newest driver, especially if you’re installing Windows or the GPU from scratch. After that, there’s no need to update every time—only upgrade when the release notes mention a game or fix you actually need. If the new version causes trouble, roll back to a known-good release.
Versions 591.86 and 591.74 have been reported as solid choices while still supporting the newer DLSS features. The main version people specifically had trouble with was 616.64, which caused browser flickering and was quickly replaced with a hotfix.
If your priority is stability rather than having the newest game optimizations, older releases such as 581.94—or possibly 596.36—may be worth testing. Use a clean driver installation when changing versions, and compare the result with your HDMI, HDR, and sleep-wake behavior.
I’d still try the current release first, since stability can depend on the specific monitor, HDMI setup, and games being used. If HDR or wake-from-sleep problems appear, then test one of those older versions.