NVIDIA’s recent GPU driver updates have stirred up quite a storm for both the GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards and older models, yet the company has remained silent on addressing these concerns.
### Emerging Problems with GPU Driver 572.XX on RTX 40 Systems
Ever since the RTX 50 lineup made its debut in January, NVIDIA seems to have shifted its focus away from their RTX 40 series GPUs, especially when it comes to resolving bugs. Of course, it’s not unusual for a tech giant to concentrate its efforts on its latest releases, and the RTX 50 series itself hasn’t been free from hitches like the infamous Blue Screen of Death. However, the older RTX 40 series had been relatively stable until the rollout of RTX 50-compatible drivers, which have since caused a host of headaches for RTX 40 users.
One Reddit user, going by the handle u/Soctty1992, shared his unsettling experience after upgrading to the 572.XX driver. His post highlighted multiple reports echoing similar frustrations, such as sudden system crashes, persistent black screens, and other display errors that were scarce before these updates.
Surprisingly, many users have found respite by reverting to the 566.XX driver versions that were operational before NVIDIA’s 572.16 update on January 30, which aimed to accommodate the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 models. This update brought exciting new features like DLSS 4, Multi-Frame Generation, and DLSS Override into the mix. Interestingly, these updates don’t always lead to problems, but rather, it’s a complex cocktail of causes that needs careful examination.
One gamer reported that their RTX 4080 would crash as soon as they loaded up Cyberpunk 2077, an issue that disappeared when they switched back to older drivers. Meanwhile, another person with an RTX 4090 faced numerous blackouts, freezes, and even monitors that refused to wake up — issues that also dissipated once they reverted to version 566.XX.
Nevertheless, despite users flagging these bug fixes since late January, NVIDIA has seemingly chosen to prioritize tackling BSODs on the RTX 50 machines, and even that took several weeks to address. This situation has left many RTX 40 owners feeling compelled to roll back to earlier drivers, but at the cost of missing out on newer perks like DLSS 4’s Transformer Model, enhanced Ray Reconstruction, and access to the latest DLSS-supported games.
In sum, it’s clear that while taking steps to innovate and push forward with new technology is applaudable, neglecting existing issues with older models can leave loyal customers frustrated and searching for solutions on their own.
