In a surprising turn of events, NVIDIA's latest driver update, version 576.40, has reinstated support for older CPUs lacking the POPCNT instruction, such as the Intel Core 2 Duo. This development allows users to pair these legacy processors with modern NVIDIA GPUs on Windows 10 systems without encountering the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).
The POPCNT (Population Count) instruction, introduced with Intel's SSE4.2 extension in 2008, counts the number of bits set to one in a binary number. While this instruction has been standard in CPUs for over a decade, older processors like the Core 2 Duo lack this feature. In mid-2024, NVIDIA's Release 555 drivers began requiring POPCNT support, leading to compatibility issues and system crashes for users with these older CPUs. This move aligned with Microsoft's decision to enforce POPCNT support in Windows 11 version 24H2, effectively phasing out support for pre-SSE4.2 processors.
The recent rollback by NVIDIA, as highlighted by user TheBobPony, indicates that the latest drivers no longer mandate the POPCNT instruction. This change reopens the possibility for enthusiasts to pair vintage CPUs with cutting-edge GPUs, albeit with potential performance bottlenecks due to the older processors.
It's important to note that while Windows 10 remains compatible with these older CPUs, Windows 11 continues to require POPCNT support. Therefore, users aiming to utilize this newfound compatibility should remain on Windows 10 to avoid system instability.
This development underscores the delicate balance between advancing technology and maintaining support for legacy hardware. While the practical applications may be limited, it offers a nostalgic opportunity for users to experiment with unconventional hardware combinations.
Source: inkl The latest Nvidia driver lets you run ancient CPUs in Windows again without crashing
