By harnessing the parallel processing power of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs and DirectCompute, a new technology in Windows 7, developers can take the power of graphics processors and make it available for general-purpose computing and create digital media applications. Today NVIDIA received Windows Hardware Qualification Lab (WHQL) certification for a driver supporting DirectCompute and Windows 7. With hundreds of applications that take advantage of the power of NVIDIA GPUs in development or already available, DirectCompute enables users of GeForce GPUs to run applications optimized for DirectCompute so they can spend less time waiting and more time creating and sharing content with friends and families.

In addition to multimedia content, Windows 7 is proving to be a powerhouse platform for gaming too. Windows 7 and NVIDIA SLI technology will deliver the fastest gaming platform in the world, exceeding the performance of previous operating systems by up to 14% across top gaming titles, Nvidia claims. Windows 7 also adds GPU accelerated H.264 high-definition video playback to Windows Media Player, enabling smooth playback with low CPU utilization.

HP, Dell and Acer, have selected GeForce GPUs to help lead the transition to Windows 7. Shipping systems incorporate a variety of NVIDIA GPUs, including the newest GeForce GT220 and G210 GPUs, all of which fully support DirectCompute.

DirectCompute will be distributed as part of the DirectX 11 API and is supported by NVIDIA’s current lineup of DirectX 10 GPUs.

Users already running a GeForce GPU with Windows 7 can download the new WHQL-certified drivers supporting DirectCompute directly from www.nvidia.com/drivers later this week.