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    5870 showing as 5800 series

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Brodieman, Jan 6, 2013.

  1. Brodieman

    Brodieman Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have purchased a set of 5870's for my 17xr2, I see there is a VBIOS update for them. When I install the latest drivers from ATI they are showing as 5800 series, the Dell VBIOS program says it's only for 5870's and can't install. I have tried to install the drivers from dells site, but that doesn't appear to be working either. I have searched and come up empty. Anyone have a link saved that could help?

    Thanks!

    Screenshot attached
     

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    Brodieman, Jan 6, 2013
    #1
  2. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    Brodieman, what's your system BIOS version?
    You can find it by tapping the F2 key at POST, under BIOS Version (should start with A).
     
    katalin_2003, Jan 7, 2013
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  3. Brodieman

    Brodieman Notebook Enthusiast

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    A10

    I think I have narrowed it down to running Windows 8. I am going to try and Install Windows 7 on a separate partition and see if I can get Windows to read it as 5870
     
    Brodieman, Jan 7, 2013
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  4. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

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    All right and to answer your vBIOS question, if it reads 012.020.000.027.037640 for both cards, then you have the latest version.
     
    katalin_2003, Jan 7, 2013
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  5. Brodieman

    Brodieman Notebook Enthusiast

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    Would you look at that. You are right.

    Thanks!
     
    Brodieman, Jan 7, 2013
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  6. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    And for reference Brodieman, the 5870m is supposed to show up as "ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series". That's what it's labeled as in my R2.
     
    radji, Jan 7, 2013
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  7. Brodieman

    Brodieman Notebook Enthusiast

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    It's not supposed too. They have a VBIOS update for it that won't run unless it shows as 5870. The driver version dictates what it shows as.
     
    Brodieman, Jan 7, 2013
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  8. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    My R2 has always shown it as 5800 series, A10 BIOS and any ATI update.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Jan 7, 2013
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  9. Brodieman

    Brodieman Notebook Enthusiast

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    "ATI update"----exactly. You are "not supposed" to use ATI driver, the Dell drivers will show it as 5870, but they suck.
     
    Brodieman, Jan 7, 2013
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  10. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    Never have for me. And I do a clean install once a year. Even with Dell's Catalyst drivers the 5870m always shows up as ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series
     
    radji, Jan 7, 2013
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  11. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    I also have always seen them as 5800 Series.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Jan 9, 2013
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  12. Necrotopsy

    Necrotopsy Notebook Consultant

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    in my experience, if you use the Dell drivers, it shows up as 5870.
    if you use ATI drivers, it shows up as 5800 series

    you can modify a file in the ati drivers to make it show up as 5870 but i don't remember what it is
    it's really not that big of a deal
     
    Necrotopsy, Jan 9, 2013
    #12