Last CUDA and NVidia driver compatible with Windows 7?

[DM7412]

Hello

What are the last versions of CUDA and NVidia driver that still work with Windows 7? I mean the versions that do not officially support it but still work if you install them manually.

(Sorry if this has already been asked but I cant find this information anywhere.)

Right now I am using CUDA 11.7, and the 473.62 driver because it's the last one being signed and I never managed to have a non-signed driver work. My problem is that these versions are becoming too prehistoric, the recent versions of Forge Neo (Stable Diffusion) don't work with CUDA 11.7 anymore. Can't more recent versions of CUDA and driver be installed manually? I remember reading somewhere that CUDA 12 actually works, and even CUDA 13 may partially work.

Thanks.

 

Edited May 3 by DM7412
typo

[user57]

that might be something for j7n

we recently disgusted a related problem in relation to your question

often new drivers use a engine that is written for a engine in newer windows (like 10+)

this is called a kmdf driver or wdf engine

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/wdf/building-a-wdf-driver-for-multiple-versions-of-windows

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/wdf/kmdf-version-history

 

it often comes like this and says something like "install windows 10/11 i got this"

but its not true

reality is that it is a software engine not a hardware

but the maker (nvidia) dont open source their driver (for whatever reason ? they sell hardware after all ?)

then important to see there is a usermode cuda what later gets translated to kernelmode cuda

the kernelmode cuda controls the real things

like input output and control (like settings) (that are the 3 basics) 

and this part is not operating system based - the real questions would be like

how the nvidia driver is doing that, or what is the real code ?

they do offer a SDK but that SDK dont offer the real thing - its a pre-engine and highly written for win10+

having the right control codes i/o could be done from any operating system - but we dont have that

cuda is the real code that control the things on the hardware video card

 

then somebody said they managed to fix your answer:

https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/3-posts-for-extending-win7-on-new-hardwares.89805/

 

notice also nvidia can change that cuda functions or versions

[ED_Sln]

Here is the solution signed by the driver: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/resolve-the-issue-of-nvidia’s-latest-win7-driver-not-working-due-to-the-signature！.87141/

But as for updating CUDA, I haven't come across that—it's probably not possible.

[DM7412]

4 hours ago, ED_Sln said:

...

Thanks! I'll try. It seems easy.

5 hours ago, user57 said:

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Thanks! Newer Cuda and newer drivers will work if I apply these modification to my system files?

[user57]

18 hours ago, DM7412 said:

Thanks! I'll try. It seems easy.

Thanks! Newer Cuda and newer drivers will work if I apply these modification to my system files?

i do not think so

 

from what point on you are coding it or how do the code actually looks ? if you code a usermode based code it probaly use some "cuda dll´s to name one nvcuda.dll" - if it dont have the right functions there it already fails there

they might use already functions that win7, xp dont have 

the same goes the the kernelmode programming (to name one involving driver nvlddmkm.sys) (both missing functions, or os missing functions) - cuda is a code there that control the graficcard 

going from a usermode solution probaly ends then right way because the kernelmode cuda cant do it either 

 

 

here somebody probaly tryed something on usermode:

https://discuss.pytorch.org/t/error-loading-c10-cuda-dll-or-one-of-its-dependencies/208539

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CUDA

https://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-programming-guide/index.html

 

unless you have insight into the nvidia code it will be hard depending on how independend you want your solution

for a short term smaller gap maybeing in fixing some of the missing functions, would be a idea

there are also some other grafic cards makers who dont have nvidia´s cuda

[modnar]

You might want to try the 475.14 (latest) driver with this github workaround, if you feel like it.

[user57]

interesting they do not talk about missing functions only of different problem

"driver submissions for WHQL certification" from what i remember there was problems with the driver signatures in win7

there was a older version and a newer version (what later got used in windows 10)

you actually could fix that problem in disabling the driver signature, then you either could use a elder driver or a newer driver - then it did not make a difference you also could load up multiple drivers (like from nvidia and blackmagic design)