167, 169 and 171?

[bumblebee_tuna]

Since I have a laptop, I get me drivers from http://www.laptopvideo2go.com and use their modded .inf. I currently use the 169 version of the Forceware but I've noticed that LV2G gets updates for other versions of drivers, 167 and 171. The 167 are labeled mobile drivers and I assume they are released from the manufacturer's website with an WHQL although I still don't quite know the purpose of the WHQL other than they are 'digitally signed' or something. As for the 171, they are not labeled specifically as anything. So what's the difference between the 167, the 169, and the 171?

 

[hermeslyre]

The 171's are geared towards a limited amount of cards, the Tesla, G92, etc. The 169's are the recommended stable drivers for all other 7/8 series. The 167 are the laptop branch. WHQL is a testing procedure for compatibility among other things. If it passes it gets digitally signed, and you won't get those warnings when installing them. The advantages of WHQL are esoteric however.