Nvidia Drivers and Odd Benchmark Results

[rjbarker]

Hey guys...been playing around with this Tri Sli 280 set-up, Drivers, Vantage and FC2 Benchmarks...just when I thought I had it figured out something odd happens (always the case with these things eh)...
Anyhow I installed the 3rd Card and started monkeying around:
Original Driver: 182.08 WHQL w PhysX 9.09.02.03
GPU's OC'd 729 / 1458 / 1250
Vantage - Best I could do was P31,968K
FC2 Benchmark Short Ranch - All Ultra 1920 x 1200
No AA - 132.34 Avg FPS Max: 197 Min: 87
8X AA - 104.35 Avg FPS Max: 139 FPS Min: 85.3 FPS

so, I really want to try and get that Vantage score a little higher, figure I'll do "clean install" of new Drivers, Driver Sweeper yada yada yada:
New Driver: 186.18 v PhysX 9.09.0428 (plus the 3D Package / Cudos etc...)
GPU's OC'd 729 / 1458 / 1250
Vantage - Best run P34,168 ( I was like ..wow..)
BUT....run FC2 Bench all same settings:
No AA - 91 Avg FPS
8x AA - 81 Avg FPS

So...no idea whats up here: are the new Drivers "optimized" for Vantage?....but what a hit on the FC2 run!!

Anyhow, I have re-installed the older 182.08 WHQL Driver, of course the "gameplay" means more then the Vantage run..odd eh...
Anyhow, if you guys have any ideas I'd like to hear em.

Perhaps it was just a poor 186.18 Driver intallation, but why the big jump in the Vantage run...now I know Vantage / 3DMK scores can vary considerably, but not by 2K on my Rigs...usually in the 300 - 400 Marks.

As I keep mulling through it.............

[upcoast604]

I noticed a drop in fps using the 186.18 , I ran some quick benchies furmark(droped 5fps) and fluidmark (droped close to 1000 points). I'm going to try the beta drivers 186.24 or go back to 185.85.

[rjbarker]

What I found is ensureing that you use the latest PhysX Software with the older 182.08 Driver improved a nukmber of things...sticking with it as FC2 seems to really take a hit with the newest!