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ManufacturersNVIDIA

NVIDIA driver families

DriverHub US documents 6 NVIDIA families across 4 hardware categories. Each entry below explains what the family covers and links to the full on-site reference page for that hardware.

Listed families

6

Hardware categories

4

Families with cautions

6

How to use this page

DriverHub US does not host installers. Read the family page for the hardware you own, work out which package applies to your exact model and Windows edition, then use the official-source citation provided for that decision. A component-branded family may still require the company that built your computer or motherboard rather than NVIDIA; follow the declared package source on the family page.

Where NVIDIA appears in the directory

Windows coverage recorded for these families: Windows 10, Windows 11. Coverage describes the Windows releases the family is documented against on this site, not a promise that every model in the line is supported on every release.

Every listed NVIDIA family at a glance

6 documented NVIDIA families

FamilyCategoryDocumented Windows releasesCaution on file
NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready DriverGraphics & VideoWindows 10, Windows 11Yes, see the card below
NVIDIA graphics driver (resolution, refresh rate, HDR, G-SYNC)Monitors & DisplaysWindows 10, Windows 11Yes, see the card below
NVIDIA High Definition AudioAudio & SoundWindows 10, Windows 11Yes, see the card below
NVIDIA RTX / Quadro Enterprise DriverGraphics & VideoWindows 10, Windows 11Yes, see the card below
NVIDIA Studio DriverGraphics & VideoWindows 10, Windows 11Yes, see the card below
NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (companion feature)Virtual DevicesWindows 10, Windows 11Yes, see the card below
Find the row that matches your hardware, then open it for the full reference.

Listed families in detail

Graphics & Video

NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Driver

The Game Ready driver is NVIDIA's mainstream release for GeForce desktop and laptop GPUs, timed to major game launches so new titles run correctly on day one. It installs the display stack, the HDMI and DisplayPort audio component, and a control app for resolution, color, and per-game settings. On hybrid laptops where the generic installer is blocked, the OEM display build from your computer maker is the equivalent source.

Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11

For GeForce desktop and laptop GPUs; laptop users with hybrid graphics can also use the OEM build if the generic installer is blocked.

Read the full family reference

Monitors & Displays

NVIDIA graphics driver (resolution, refresh rate, HDR, G-SYNC)

Unlike the monitor files above, the NVIDIA graphics driver is what actually drives the picture: it negotiates resolution and refresh rate over the cable, manages HDR output, and enables G-SYNC. On any PC with an NVIDIA GPU, this is the driver to keep reasonably current when you are chasing a missing high refresh rate or a sync feature. On a prebuilt or laptop, prefer the OEM's validated build so it matches the panel and firmware in your machine.

Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11

Controls the modes and adaptive-sync features a display can use; keep current for display features and performance.

Read the full family reference

Audio & Sound

NVIDIA High Definition Audio

NVIDIA High Definition Audio is the sound component that travels over HDMI and DisplayPort from a GeForce or NVIDIA workstation GPU to a display with speakers. It is installed automatically alongside the Game Ready or Studio driver and updated with them, so it is not a standalone audio download. Like other display-audio devices, it appears as a selectable output only when a suitable monitor or TV is attached.

Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11

Installed alongside the GeForce or Studio driver to carry audio over HDMI and DisplayPort.

Read the full family reference

Graphics & Video

NVIDIA RTX / Quadro Enterprise Driver

This is NVIDIA's professional workstation driver line for RTX professional cards and the older Quadro range found in engineering, design, and content-creation workstations. It is certified against professional applications and released on a slower, more conservative schedule than consumer drivers. Because these cards ship in workstations from major vendors, a validated build may also be available through the system maker for that model.

Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11

Professional workstation graphics drivers for RTX and legacy Quadro cards.

Read the full family reference

Graphics & Video

NVIDIA Studio Driver

The Studio driver targets the same GeForce and workstation GPUs as Game Ready but is validated for stability in creative applications rather than day-one game support. Video editors, 3D artists, and photographers who value predictable behavior over the newest game optimizations choose this track. It is a full display package, so pick either Studio or Game Ready for a given card rather than layering both.

Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11

Tuned for stability in creative applications on supported GeForce and workstation GPUs.

Read the full family reference

Virtual Devices

NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (companion feature)

This is a virtual audio endpoint that NVIDIA installs alongside its graphics driver to support certain broadcasting and capture features. It is not a standalone product; it appears because you installed the GPU driver, and it is refreshed whenever you update that driver. To fix or remove it, work with the NVIDIA graphics package rather than treating the endpoint as separate hardware.

Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11

Installed with the graphics driver to support certain streaming features.

Read the full family reference

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