Nvidia today released the new GeForce 337.50 Beta drivers, along with the GeForce Experience 2.0, which introduces enhancements, such as Desktop Capture for GeForce ShadowPlay.

Nvidia today released the new GeForce 337.50 Beta drivers, along with the GeForce Experience 2.0, which introduces enhancements, such as Desktop Capture for GeForce ShadowPlay.

Headline features of the 337.50 Beta driver include DirectX 11 and SLI performance optimizations of up to 71%, game load time reductions, new and updated SLI profiles, and 3D Vision optimizations that enhance DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 3D titles.

The Direct X 11 optimizations are boosting performance in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Batman: Arkham Origins, Battlefield 4, BioShock Infinite, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Far Cry 3, Hitman Absolution, Sleeping Dogs, Sniper Elite V2, Star Swarm, Thief, Titanfall, Tomb Raider, and Total War: Rome 2, to name a few examples.

Nvidia also compared the new 337.50 Beta drivers with AMD's Mantle API and claisms that its latest drivers offer a faster experience with suitably-matched hardware:

In 337.50 Beta Nvidia has also reduced multi-GPU CPU overhead, resulting in performance gains in CPU-bound games, and additional performance gains in the majority of SLI-enabled titles, as the chart below illustrates:

As with 337.50 Beta?s single-GPU DirectX 11 optimizations, CPU overhead reductions apply globally, benefitting the majority of DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11 games the instant they go on sale.

Again, Nvidia attacks AMD's Mantle and sys that NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs should be your first choice:

In 337.50 Beta Nvidia also updated the Diablo III SLI profile for compatibility with the Reaper of Souls expansion, introduced a Total War: Rome 2 profile to enable SLI, which now works flawlessly thanks to a new game update, updated our Watch Dogs profile in anticipation of the game's May 27th release, and added a War Thunder profile to enable SLI in the free-to-play flight combat game. Please note that the War Thunder SLI profile requires the latest publicly-available version of the game to function correctly.

In 334.89 WHQL we introduced a new proprietary 3D Compatibility rendering mode for 3D Vision that has enabled the ongoing improvement of the 3D experience in key DirectX 10 and 11 games.

With the launch of 337.50 beta Nvidia also enhanced its new proprietary 3D Compatibility rendering mode for 3D Vision, which was introduced in the previous Beta drivers. Now the feature supports more games adding a toggle key to dynamically enable and disable the mode in-game.

Games with 3D Compatibility Mode will launch in this new mode by default. To change the rendering mode back to standard 3D Vision press CRTL-ALT-F11 while in-game; press CRTL-ALT-F11 again to reenable 3D Compatibility Mode. To use this toggle ensure that "advanced in-game Settings" is enabled in the NVIDIA Control Panel before you start a game.

In addition, 337.50 Beta adds new 3D Compatibility Mode profiles for the following games:

• Assassin's Creed Liberation - previously "Not Recommended", now rated as "Excellent"
• Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army - previously "Good", now rated as "Excellent"
• Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army 2 - previously "Good", now rated as "Excellent"
• Strike Suit Zero - previously "Not Recommended", now rated as "Good"
• Watch Dogs - rated as "Good"

Note that above games must be run in DX10 or DX11 mode; 3D Vision Surround configurations are not supported at this time.

Finally, 337.50 Beta introduces "Good" and "Excellent" 3D Vision profiles for Path of Exile and KickBeat, respectively.

GeForce Experience 2.0 and NVIDIA SHIELD April 2014 Software Update Support

The new 337.50 Beta driver is required to activate all of the new features found in GeForce Experience 2.0 and the NVIDIA SHIELD April 2014 software update.

GeForce Experience 2.0 introduces the Desktop Capture mode for ShadowPlay, enabling the recording of windowed and borderless windowed games, as well as the capture of OpenGL and Java games. Also included is notebook support for ShadowPlay, notebook support for GameStream, and Twitch quality options for all users.

Notebook gamers can also capture their greatest gaming moments everywhere they go, with GeForce Experience 2.0 and its new GeForce Shadowplay updates. All of the most popular features are available to Kepler and Maxwell based GTX notebooks, including Shadow mode capture and Twitch streaming.

Last but not least, GeForce Experience 2.0 enables desktop and notebook gamers to stream gameplay to SHIELD at home, at the office, at a friend's, or on the road via the new Remote GameStream function.

Nvidia also today released an update for its SHIELD handheld.

NVIDIA GameStream has to date enabled gamers to play PC games on SHIELD from the comfort of their sofa, and remotely via the cloud in select areas with the NVIDIA GRID Streaming Beta. With the launch of the latest SHIELD Software Update, any supported PC game can be played on SHIELD from outside of the home. All you need to do is connect SHIELD to your network, activate GameStream as normal, and take to your Titan for a short multiplayer session in Titanfall.

Since launch last July, the streaming of PC games to SHIELD has only been possible via a GeForce GTX-powered desktop PC. This latest update enables PC games to be streamed from notebooks with GeForce GTX 800M, GTX 700M, and select GTX 600M GPUs, with the same set of features enjoyed by desktop gamers.

With the launch of Console Mode, the ability for SHIELD to evolve was readily seen, transforming SHIELD into a portable game console capable of playing any PC or Android game on a big-screen HDTV at 60 frames per second, with the aid of a Bluetooth gamepad.

The latest SHIELD Software Update transforms SHIELD into a portable PC, courtesy of support for Bluetooth mice and keyboards, enabling 1080p, 60 frames per second HDTV gaming in League of Legends, Diablo III, Civilization V, and other games that support and play best with keyboards and mice.

Gamepad Mapper is a software feature that enables SHIELD users to play touch-control Android games using the physical, console-quality controls found on SHIELD itself. By downloading, uploading, and sharing Mapper profiles, every hardware-compatible Android game becomes playable on SHIELD.

In the new Software Update, Gamepad Mapper has received a fresh coat of paint and a few tweaks, including the addition of a quick-access shortcut found when holding down the illuminated NVIDIA button.

TegraZone brings SHIELD's many features into one central location, giving instant access to streamed PC games, Android games, GameStream settings, and the TegraZone store. In the new update, Nvidia has revamped TegraZone to improve accessibility, discoverability, and usability. Additionally, a news feed brings you the latest Android, SHIELD and TegraZone info, and an optional notification system delivers news and announcements direct to your SHIELD home screen.

For a limited time, the NVIDIA SHIELD is available for $199.