I have a brand new Dell XPS L502X with NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M and I had notihng but problems with this video card.
The NVIDIA video driver (nvlddmkm.sys) causes a BSOD Windows 7 when running the Windows Experience Index or Corel VideoStudio. I've been running Windows 7 for years and this is the first time that I've seen a BSOD in Windows 7. The BSOD problems started after installing the NVIDIA 8.17.12.8577 driver.
Before I bought the Dell XPS L502X, I ran Corel VideoStudio in Windows 7 on my Vostro without any problems but then the Vostro does not have a NVIDIA video card.
Before installing the NVIDIA 8.17.12.8577 driver, I was able to run the Windows Experience Index with the older NVIDIA video driver installed and got the following results:
Processor: 7.5
RAM: 7.6
Graphics: 5.4
Gaming graphics: 6.7
Hard disk: 7.9
After unistalling the NVIDIA driver and rerunning the Windows Experience Index with the Intel Graphics driver, I got the following results:
Processor: 7.5
RAM: 7.6
Graphics: 6.3
Gaming graphics: 6.3
Hard disk: 7.9
Hence the Windows Experience Index basic score increased by 16.7% from 5.4 to 6.3 by removing the NVIDIA driver and using the Intel Graphics driver. As well since removing the NVIDIA driver, the laptop is much more stable and faster. For me the NVIDIA video card is useless and a waste of money.
Has anyone else found the NVIDIA 8.17.12.8577 driver to cause BSOD problems and slow down their laptop's performance?