[Info] Updating ATI Drivers on Switchable Systems While Preserving Switching Functions

Just thought I'd share this little tip somewhere, as I'm not aware it's ever been posted anywhere (maybe it's common sense, but it took me a while to work on getting working right, so felt I should share it).

I have the Acer TravelMate 8371G, which has dual switchable ATI and Intel graphics. The ATI card is the Mobility Radeon 4330, and the Intel is a 4500MHD chip.

Recently, I reformatted my PC again, and checked for updated drivers, to find the same old Acer ones on their site, despite a BIOS update and a couple of updated applications like the biometric app. To my dismay, there was no updated graphics driver...

So... Here's how to use the latest ATI drivers, while preserving full switchable functionality, and keeping power consumption low. Given you can use 10.12 catalyst drivers, there should be benefits in this. I get an Experience Index in Windows 7 of 4.4 now, as opposed to 3.x before, using same configuration, just new drivers...

1) Download the original Acer driver, and install it. Reboot as requested, and follow all instructions. This was "VGA_ATI(M92)_v8.652.1_Win7x86x64" for me, and is a pretty old driver containing Intel and ATI combined drivers, in the catalyst installer.

2) After rebooting, switch to dedicated graphics using the usual method of right-clicking the desktop and selecting to switch.

3) Now install the latest Mobility Radeon Drivers (these can be hard to find, but the latest ones I used were "10-12_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc", which can be found at ATI Catalyst 10.12 For Toshiba/Sony/Acer Notebooks - Get it here! (pick x64 or x86 as required. I am on x64)

4) This should give you the latest Catalyst and drivers, and keep the switching feature in both Intel and ATI modes. I don't know if you can update the intel driver in the same manner, but I don't think it is possible, as it appears to be modified to give the switching menu while the Intel card is enabled too... But you can try if you want. Worst case, just remove all drivers and start again with the stock Acer one.

Hope this helps someone get some proper graphics drivers onto their laptop, given nobody ever seems to release new switchable drivers...

 

Every time I try installing a new ATI driver on a 64 bit Win7 5820TG (HD5650) it simply fails to start after running the initial setup and clicking install.

 

Updated my 4810TG. The only glitch was during the installation screen gone blank and didn't come back. Turned the computer off (after some time) and everything is working OK so far, new driver installed, switchable graphic works as before, more update as it happens...

 

At least in the 3820TG, the installation of non-Acer catalyst drivers affects the switchable graphcis and some of the keyboard functions. Although the unit will switch under some circumstances, it does not work 100%. My unit will stay on the AMD card, even on battery power at times. The light on my P button does not work and my brightness keys don't work. I use the 3DGuru 10.10e for its parallel processing capability and am willing to deal with these minor issues. Otherwise, I would probably stay with the Acer drivers.

Bronsky

 

If you have an 8371/3810tg/tzg then I believe installing the 10.12 drivers actually removes the ability to change screen brightness when bios is switched to switchable mode and ati card is selected in windows.

 

On the ATI-ATI system I have I didn't have to remove old drivers / no need to switch (well, both of them are ATI anyways). It was just a bit of a search to find the Mobility Catalyst downloader. I did install 10.11 though as it was the latest when I upgraded a few days ago. reading weird stuff about 10.12 like the post above keeps me away for a while. I dl'd the utility for downloading the latest mobility catalyst from the amd site itself: ATI Catalyst? Mobility Display Driver

No isssues with the driver for me @ Acer Aspire 5553G-N934G64MN, everything is working like it did before (only the ati icon at rightclick on desktop is changed ) and having better performance than stock (Acer) drivers.

 

Will try that, Thanks!

 

So, that's what had happenned to me aswell...

@pulser,
good info for those wanted to install this catalyst mobility CC 10.12, i can confirm it does work but remain still some little probs in the automatic mode switchable graphics between ATI and INTEL...
I'm afraid to say that the new Catalyst Control Center is not entirely compatible, but at least updated the AVIVO, PX Profile, Visual C++2010, and some other components well.

I had to switch back to Acer Stock drivers v 8.653.2 & the Catalyst Control Center to keep the system more stable for my needs. But the rest had been updated well and is working fine.

Good try anyway!

 

In order to have the brightness function back, I had to roll back to Acer drivers 8.653.2 but still using CC10.12.

Happy New Year to all!

 

The issue is only with Intel chipsets with switchable graphics containing the ATi GPU methinks. Hopefully they streamline it in future driver updates.

 

Happy New Year too, you All!

You still can uninstall from the "program & features" (Ati Catalyst Install Manager) in windows 7, just choose "modify" then check the box Catalyst Control Center 10.12(CCC) only. The rest will be kept safe!

The Catalyst Control Center 10.12 is not compatible with the driver v8.653.2...

Reinstall CCC from the Acer stock driver v8.653.2. and most of the components will be updated & refresh such as AVIVO, Visual C++2010, Px Profile, Install manager, all inside the Acer v8.653.2 (3811TZG series ATI drivers) Catalyst Control Center!!

This solution is the more stable at the moment, and we all expecting an update from Acer somedays....perhaps from the timelineX series...(i'm testing some of them but none works perfect). Those on acer support are still messing around the switchable ability from ATI to Intel in automatic mode.

 

It worked on my Aspire 7745G althow I got a message drivers wont work on this machine,but I reboted and it showed the new drivers.
Wonder why Acer are slow on releasing new drivers?

 

It was quite predictable after reading how to install those ATI Mobility 10.12 drivers...Got the same Blank screen and after rebooting and then were the new drivers.

I do think Acer is not in a hurry to provide new drivers as the first timeline series is quite old by now. Even for the timeline X series, it tooks nearly 9month to have them refresh.

 

New drivers uploaded, thread updated.
ATi Catalyst Mobility 11.1 , released 26/01/2011 .
The new Control Center 2 is included in these drivers !!!

Updated ATI Catalyst on my 4810TG to the latest 11.1 and the new Catalyst Control Center 2, the brightness function is working now

 

Works with Catalyst 11.2 (11-2_mobility_vista_win7_32-64_ccc.exe) as well on my Aspire 4810TZG installed as per the first post. Still lists the driver as stock 8.652.1.0 in Device Manager, though, although presumably some of the actual driver files are updated. Haven't dug that deep.
Switching and brightness work fine and the new Control Center allows for auto-switching to the Intel GPU when going on battery.
Nice, thanks for the thread.

 

I've just had 3 hours battle to install intel new drivers so that switching graphics card would work - no luck, anyone found an idea to update intel?
Newest ATI update works fine for me

Using 3810TG

 

I don't think this is easily possible.

I do recall there was a thread whereby someone had managed to update the intel drivers on these switchable builds but there was a something that meant I couldn't use them on my 3810tg - I think those drivers only worked with the newer intel integrated graphics but I can't remember.

If I can find the thread again I'll post a link.

 

New drivers uploaded, thread updated.
ATi Catalyst Mobility 11.4 display drivers (27/04/2011)