7970M Dim Screen Fix on R3, Sort Of....

While trying to get switching to work and failing at it, I decided to just give up. Since I didn't like the screen dim issue, I reinstalled HWiNFO64. I had to do a clean install of Windows (don't remember why), and just used the newest version of HWiNFO64. When it loaded up, my screen stayed dim. This was strange because before I did a clean install, HWiNFO64 would brighten my screen up.

I realized that previously I used an older version, version 3.96-1640, and it worked perfectly. I uninstalled the newest version, and reinstalled version 3.96-1640. Once it loaded up, my screen dim issue has been fixed. I remember stating a few times on some threads for others to try and run HWiNFO64 to fix their dimming issues. They reported back that it didn't work for them. I now realize that they may be using a different version. I have tried a few versions, and for some reason, only version 3.96-1640 works for me.

I have to run HWiNFO64 every time I start up my laptop. Not too big of a hassle for those of us that can't get switching to work properly on the R3s. If you guys are having issues with the dimming, give HWiNFO64 version 3.96-1640 a try. I'm curious to see if this helps others out. Please chime in if it does or doesn't.

You can download the portable version here or the installer here. I did a google search, and these are the only 2 sites that still have this version up. The second site is in Polish, but all you have to do is click on the orange download button. I hope I'm not breaking any rules posting these links.

Edit: I've uploaded the file on MediaFire. HWiNFO64 3.96

 

I must agree with you that if you have only the AMD 7970m enabled on the R3 and you remove the driver (control panel remove all amd drivers / driver sweeper / ccleaner) reinstall the latest AMD driver and have the only version you mentioned of the hdinfo the brightness does go up at 100%. Great fix, thank you +rep. Don't you love this forum?!

 

No matter what I did, I always ended up having 2 monitors showing. So I just said forget it and disabled the iGPU. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out sooner or later.

 

Great Stuff! Thanks for the fix. +1Rep. Hopefully lots of people will see it and have their computers running at 100%.

 

Easiest fix so far. Any chance you can upload the program to mediafire or some other file host just in case?

Rep.

 

thanks for posting this Sky...I'll rep when i get home

Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk 2

 

I'll do that after I get home from work.

 

Luis, that's not actually running at 100%. If you do not use your computer for a while, you will still have the dim issue until you restart hdinfo. It is a temporary fix and I hope that one of your tech team will look into releasing some kind of a driver (which I think is impossible since 7970m is not released with this model). Many will love to see the switch working on this system and make use of the IGP.

 

Guys what is this dim screen issue? Will it effect me connecting to an external monitor?

 

The screen issue is because of turning off the IGP... We have to keep it that way until we will have a driver to fix this issue (or maybe there will never be one); most probably you should not have any problems with an external monitor, I tried it on an 50" plasma tv and it worked just fine...

 

Did you not say you had it working, Juliant? On the other thread?

 

Updated the OP with a link I uploaded.

 

Yes indeed I do. But you see on this forum is not only about me, it's about all of us having issues. Everyone that comes with problems or solutions, we post them so that we can help eachother. '2 heads are better than 1'. And I am 100% sure this issue has something to do with the driver. It is not a hardware issue.

 

No, i understand that. I just wanted a bit of confirmation that you had IGP switching working, is all.

 

Yes, it does work with the switch, on the other thread guide http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...bility-7970-m17x-r3-illustrated-guide-67.html I have even added pictures confirming this.

However, I do not use the IGP but I am happy that I solved the issue of the brightness. If you tried several times ways of fixing this issue and nothing has yet succeeded, I recommend to just leave the IGP switched off from bios and use the mod explained in this thread for the moment. You do not want to damage the card and throw away $600

 

You are right we should take a look into that, however since the platform is not verified yet with engineering it'll be kinda hard.

 

Finally able to test this, and it works perfectly. Thanks

 

Not sure if anyone has noticed, but if you install the modded 12.8 drivers, the screen dim issue is resolved. At least it is for me.

 

If I was you, I would immediately make a backup of the system, as you may never get this solved again Sometimes crazy things happens with those drivers / cards

 

Sorry guys, I lied. My screen dim issue wasn't fixed. It appears that it was working, but then when I shut down and turned it back on, I needed to run HWiNFO to fix the issue. My bad....

@Juliant: what do you mean? I'm not having/nor have I ever had any issues with installing these drivers. The only issues I've had with my 7970M is getting the switching issue resolved, which I haven't yet.

 

I was wondering how was that working with you while I had installed both mod 12.8 (mobility and desktop) and the brightness issue was still there... If you make sure that you install the intel driver which I mentioned in the other thread, I am prity much sure the switch will work. I have tried several times and it worked all the time. But make sure you install the driver from dell and not the one from windows update...

^^^ I was referring at the britness issue that you fixed it without any mode (just with the new driver), but it end up to an error from your side...

 

I've tried installing the driver from the download you provided on the other thread. I still get a BSOD after restarting. I've tried both the modded and unmodded 12.8 drivers, no luck....

Edit: I wouldn't say it was so much an error from my side, more of a misleading by the system. After the driver install, I restarted and my brightness seemed fixed. I even ran HWiNFO and the screen stayed, so I figured it was good. After the next restart, the dim issue returned. Not a big deal, I run HWiNFO whenever I game, so the fix is always there.

 

So I've been on the fence on upgrading my 6990m to the 7970m for a while now and have been reading a bit here and there; but with all the small issues (with integrated graphics, dimming), I didn't want to jump on it yet. What are the chances of the 7970m ever working 100% perfectly in the R3 without 'workarounds', or would I just be better off swapping to the R4 in the future?

 

thanks ill see if it works was just about to start a post for my r1

 

can I dim and brighten the screen with the program,cant get windows to change the brightness

 

the fix didnt work for me, but i found that when i put my system to sleep, then wake it, the brightness is back to normal, sometimes it will need to sleep and wake 2 - 3 times, but mostly, it works

7970m on m17x r3, 2860qm cpu, 12.8 modded driver

 

Okay i have tried this fix multiple times to no avail. Any ideas?
-update: Figured it out:thumbsup:

 

SkylineLvr thanks for this help of the solution of a problem with the dim screen, everything works for me I am happy!

 

This fix is not required for Windows 8 as the brightness works as it should with the latest drivers.