What is NVAPI, and Why Do You Need It?

NVAPI is NVIDIA's core software development kit that allows direct access to NVIDIA GPUs and drivers on all windows platforms. NVAPI provides support for categories of operations that range beyond the scope of those found in familiar graphics APIs such as DirectX and OpenGL.

Initially exposed only to OEMs and game developer tools, NVAPI is now available for download to all developers interested in building Windows applications on NVIDIA GPUs.

Application Types

NVAPI allows full access to NVIDIA GPUs and drivers in any UI and non-UI application. Under Windows Vista, the application context using NVAPI must be launched in Session 1 or higher.

NVAPI Feature Categories

Driver Management

Initialization and driver version controls.

GPU Management

Enumeration of physical and logical GPUs. Thermal and Cooling controls.

Display Management

Enumeration of NVDIA displays, display postion and timings controls.

GPU Topology

Ability to enable SLI and Hybrid GPU topologies. *

Frame Rendering

Ability to control Video and DX rendering not available in DX runtime.*

System Management

Ability to query chipset and system specific information.

HDTV Controls

HDTV format and overscan controls.*

Video Controls

Extended video engine controls.*

Connecting and Configuring Monitors

Ability to set views on multiple target monitors.

GPU Overclocking

GPU overclocking APIs allows apps to run apps at maximum possible clocks. *

NVAPI Components & Documentation

NVAPI components includes the header, lib files for each platform - x86 and x64 respectively.

Documentation is provided as a compiled HTML help (.chm) file, or readable online here on NVIDIA.com.

NVAPI Support

NVAPI is constantly and rigorously tested not only for end-users, but for internal use at NVIDIA and our closest partners. To discuss common issues regarding NVAPI with NVIDIA and other developers, click here for a direct link to NVIDIA's developer forums.

NVAPI NDA Customers

NVAPI comes in two "flavors" -- the public version, available below, and a more extensive version available to registered developers under NDA. Registered developers can log in here, or contact your NVIDIA account manager to make sure you have the latest NDA edition of NVAPI.

Not a registered NVIDIA developer? Sign up here.

* Use NDA edition for full control of this feature.

Download Links:

Latest Edition: September 2008

NVAPI_Sept2008_32b.zip for 32-bit systems

NVAPI_Sept2008_64b.zip for 64-bit systems

NVAPI Documentation

Reference (HTML)
A .chm-format copy of this same reference documentation is included in the NVAPI packages listed above.

NVAPI_Reference_Developer_Sept2008.zip contains just the .chm file (already included in standard distributes of NVAPI, as listed above)

Previous Editions

NVAPI_July2008_32b.zip for 32-bit systems

NVAPI_July2008_64b.zip for 64-bit systems