Nvidia pops open drivers for Intel dual-core

Graphics chipmaker Nvidia released three new software upgrades for motherboards and PC systems powered by Intel processors including its latest batch of Extreme Edition Pentium 4.

Version 7.13 is designed for computers using Nvidia nForce4 SLI (a technology the company makes that allows for two graphics boards in one box), so these are not your run of the mill PCs we're talking about here.

Currently, the drivers are compatible with Intel 32-bit and 64-bit processors, even the newer dual core ones, which are computer processors with more than one brain. By the end of 2006, Intel expects that 70 percent of its server chips and 85 percent of its desktop and notebook chips will be dual core, Intel has said. A similar driver package for AMD platforms will be posted within a week, Nvidia said.

The software is also WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certified for Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Professional x64, and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition.

Nvidia warns that Windows XP users need to have Service Pack 1 at least before installing the new software or else the update will not support USB version 2.0.