Get your Catalyst 10.7 (non-WHQL) here

Thats good spotting.....he seemed pretty interested in my power adaptor issue, maybe someone could get him to drop by here by way of a PM?

 

good one mfractal.

You should go to AGT and show us you talent there especially against Peter ^^

 

I'm on 10.7s, have been playing since 10:30 and have not seen this problem. sc2 acutally warns you to update drivers if you are on 10.5s.

 

Is it too much to ask for Dell to keep up with the driver releases?..

 

Ok... sorted it out.

If anyone would be so kind as to try play a game on a monitor connected to their displayport or hdmi out, you will all see what I am experiencing.

The 10.6 drivers were giving out the wrong signal or whatever, causing the lockups I had - 10.7 is a little more lax, and accepts the signal - its just borked.

Take a look.

GG Dell.

-Ash

 

I thought I followed every step correctly yet I'm still having issues with this driver. I uninstalled 10.5 (Dell Driver) from Control Panel. Restarted. Used Driver Sweeper and got rid of all ATI files. Restarted. Installed by doing the True thing. Restarted. Yet when the computer starts, screen is very dim and I can't seem to make it bright again. I tried running SC2 and it looks like as if the computer wants to go back to the original brightness yet it can't so it looks like its flickering. As soon as I uninstall the 10.7, screen goes back to normal. Any ideas?

 

OK guys, some important information!

This pertains mainly to Dual Display Users of the 10.7 drivers with crossfire enabled on their hd5870's

When running an external monitor with crossfire enabled in an extended desktop mode, any game you try to run will not be visible.

There will be massive graphical corruption, the best way to explain it being the game takes the first line of pixels from the top of the monitor, and stretches them all the way down the screen creating a nice ugly smear.

Every now and then the actual game will flicker through.

The solutions are 2 fold:

1: Disable crossfire (not really a good solution)
2: Disable the laptop display (better solution, still sucks)

Disabling the laptop display allows me to play all my games with the 10.7 drivers fine at a MARKED performance increase especially in older games.

NWN2 framerate has more than doubled at 2650x1400 resolution! (used to be 20-30fps, not getting 45-70fps)

Hope this helps those who thought a U2711 would go nicely with their M17xR2 and also wanted to play something like starcraft 2!

-Ash

 

Quick question, I heard one of the main problems with the 10.7 drivers is that they BSOD on boot if you boot while running off the battery, is this problem and the others listed through out this thread strictly limited to crossfire 5870s or does it also affect the single 5870 too? Thanks in advance.

 

I was able to install 10.7 by running the normal ATI setup (same with 10.6)
No issues so far, machine sleeps, wakes and boots on power or battery with no problems.

Have only run 3dmark06 using external monitor, installing some games now.

 

gl2009, did you need to use workaroundinstall=true method to install?

Also, do games work in crossfire with both monitors enabled?

Let us know asap plz.

-Ash

 

How do I manually install the display driver? Which folder is it in? I am using Vista 64bit.

 

Can you post your power settings ?

C:\ATI\Support\.......\Config\installmanager.cfg (WorkAroundInstall=true).

or
C:\ATI\Support\.......\Packages\Drivers\Display\

 

Hey for the guys who got the drivers to work, are you using the new bios or the stock one?

 

I just run ATI setup to install drivers, no workaround.

I installed Metro 2033, set it to highest settings and it plays fine. When I have both displays running the laptop LCD turns off and the game plays in the external.

So far i have seen no issues with 10.6 or 10.7.

 

I am using A06 and power is set to high perf, I also set powerplay to high perf for power and battery for no particular reason.

 

Hmmm, maybe I should install the new bios, see if that helps

 

Well that answers my question. Good to know this is only a Dell thing, and not ATI. Not even my desktop Nvidia cards were this cumbersome to update drivers...

 

Here are some new files:

1. Catayst 10.8 Beta 5 (Desktop release)

2. Modified INF file to replace the desktop version


You have to extract #1 and replace it's .inf file with the file in #2. Then you have to manually install the driver only using the device manager. If none of this makes sense to you when reading this then that means it isn't for you so please don't ask what to do or how to get it working--stick to the Dell drivers. This is for the advanced users on the forum that are comfortable with changing out drivers and testing betas.

The reason I posted the link here is because I found these boot on battery just fine and I can unplug the AC adapter. I haven't tested sleep mode or any games yet.

 

Even thought that process certainly wont be for me a a non advanced user, it does seem to suggest (to me anyway) that the likelihood for a fix for this issue would come about soon in another release that us lesser experienced users could simply use later on?

 

Maybe, hard to tell right now. I uninstalled them already after trying bad company 2, the performance hit was too high. They're just desktop betas and posted for those that are bored and want to tinker with newer drivers.

 

does it solve sleep/ display off hang up as well?

 

the amd gpu clock tool program no longer works

 

After I got 10.7 working, every time i shut it down, the AlienFX stays on, and it requires me to hold down the power button to shut it down. No problems with turning back on or anything, its just strange.

 

Thanks gl2009.

Could you please post your bios file here, or even just a screenshot of GPU-Z?

It seems you have different cards or different bios than the rest of us.

Thanks

-Ash

 

Joker I will try these tomorrow when I finish work - the mobile cards run the desktop drivers manually all ok?

-Ash

 

There is a mention of a trojan on the 10.8 beta megaload on other forums with this download. anybody know anymore?

 

Welp, I've tried every other way to try to get these to work, even installed the new bios but still nothing. Oh well I'll just wait for Dell to put out new drivers

 

Dear Joker
It's hard to believe that you can be bored @ any time or anyway...

 

I'm working with engineering to find out what the delay is in getting up some newer ATI drivers on support.dell.com. I should have an update by end of week.

 

That will be great, you know the target customers of these systems are used to having a updated video driver in a timely matter

 

Hi ALIENWARE-erawneila.

Interesting choice of words. Unfortunately this crew will not be satisifed with updated Dell Stock Drivers. Clearly nothing short of monthly Catalyst Mobility Driver updates as promised to them by ATI will suffice. As a seasoned Dell owner I know all too well they only update video drivers a limited number of times on Support.Dell.Com. For people that have spent $5000 on a gaming platform that is not acceptable. Why are people having such a hard time adopting the generic Catalyst Mobility to the new 5870 CF?

 

Relax. As he stated he's going to look into it. Give him time.

 

And not being a monumentally cumbersome procedure either looool...

 

We always appreciate it when someone from AW is on the forum but for the cost of these system the monthly catalyst drivers should be working without issues such as they do on the 4870 crossfire.

The only reason I am not re-purchasing the system is due to this.

 

Here is everyones golden chance to get some straight answers from Alienware. Ask away.

 

Well, when do we get a M17x with GTX460M/GTX480M or GTX460M SLI?
Or when will the ATI driver Issues be solved. This is what keeps me from buying an 3500 € notebook from Alienware.

 

so whats the crack with these cards then whats in 5870s other than it been faster etc that stops it from been able to use ati drivers unlike the 4870s... is it bios hardware is it coz its 128 not 250 bus id love to know..

 

Don't be so much in a hurry for the 480M. They might come out soon in a revised M17X but in between the time you order the PC, you get it at home, you play with it and issues are resolved, 2 years will have passed and 5 new models will have been issued.

 

Now that really would be some good news for a change.....I hope you can get this mess sorted out for us all.....i, for one like many others am absoluetly appaled that i have just spent several thousand on a gaming latop that doesnt work right for gaming......may has well bought an xbox or ps3 and a lesser pc. Add on top of all this, the whole point that Falcon raised........not to put to fine a point on int...this needs sorting and sorting in double quick time!!

My two pennies from the UK

 

To Erawneila/Alienware:

I think the best and easiest solution is to give is a GRAPHICS CARD BIOS that is compatible with the ATI drivers - then the engineering team doesnt have to keep playing catchup.

Even just the OEM bios that came with the cards before any dell tinkering would be fine - we can then do our own powerplay fixes/etc.

-Ash

 

I agree with the sentiment that we should not be constrained by Dell drivers. Dell should forget about it's powerplay tweaks and just upload the standard vbios for us to use like Clevo has. I can deal with the powerplay not underclocking properly if it means I can use reference drivers.

The 5870s have been out a sufficient time for Dell to have sorted this mess out by now. Compromises like this is what turns customers off from wanting to purchase an AW. Dell always seems to want to tinker with things they shouldn't--just like the Streak.

If we don't get an update that allows us to use reference ATi drivers without issue, I'm going to start recommending against purchasing the M17x to people that ask on these forums and else where. It's not acceptable to have customers wait on Dell's schedule for updated drivers. There's probably customers out there right now that want to play Star Craft 2 and can't because the Dell drivers don't work and they don't know how to install these reference ones if they haven't visited NBR.

 

The guys in the benchmarking thread say 10.7 isn't showing much of a gain in Vantage or 3DMark'06. I suggest we use the one that's tried and true, fire up our favorite game, and forget about it. It's not like there are thousands of people out there with useless 5870s just chomping at the bit for a driver to make them work. They already work.

 

The reference dell drivers do not work okay. There is horizontal flickering in several games that for some is unbearable and newer games like StarCraft 2 are not supported. The latest drivers remedy this problem but at the cost of not being able to put the laptop to sleep or use it in battery mode without lockups.

 

Additionally - anyone that currently has a dell notebook with a HD5xxx card CANNOT play starcraft 2.

Thats a lot of people and thats a big problem.

-Ash

 

I bet if we started a thread with a poll that asked something along the lines of, "Would you purchase the M17x with 5870 Xfire if you had to depend on Dell for drivers?" there would be a huge slant towards NO. I'd hate to say it but despite Clevo's ugly brick designs, the no compromise openness of their platform is becoming more and more appealing. If Eurocom really does offer the X7200 with RGB LED, I might just have to ditch this M17x and get another Clevo.

 

I'm not personally attacking anyone. There are probably hundreds of people, who, as we speak, are hitting the 'Personalize with Core i5 or i7' button on the AW website. I don't want to go as far as saying that they don't care, but they don't care. As long as people keep pumping money into Dell's pockets, working drivers will get here when they get here.

 

They do care and eventually they have to address problems. It's when these issues get enough traction (e.g. engadget seems to get Dell's attention) they start to work on solutions--even if they are half baked like in the Studio XPS's case. Word of mouth for an enthusiast system like the M17x is a huge factor and Dell knows it. If a lot of the regulars on NBR stop supporting the M17x, where do you think the new users will turn for help? Dell support which will fall flat on it's face. Dell just got fined around $100 million for shoddy business practices, do you think they can afford to keep pissing on customers?

 

I agree Joker, IF enough of a stir could be created to get Dell's attention. There is strength in numbers, but there are too many people out there who aren't aware of this situation. And there are too many more that would rather say they have a semi-working Alienware than a fully functioning Clevo. Only hardcore enthusiasts even know that Clevo exists. You've got to create mass awareness. And when some accountant sees a dip in some powerpoint graph months down the road, something might get done.

 

The problem isn't that they don't care, it's that they don't know. The game states that it needs Radeon 3800 or better ATi card, and the 5870 in the M17x fits that bill. It's only later on, after the laptop has arrived and the user finds that SC2 doesn't work right, when the flood of complaints will start.

If Dell can get some "official" 10.7 drivers out ASAP, that will stem the worst of the problems. However, the only long-term solution is for there to be true compatibility between the Dell 5870s and the ATi reference drivers. I don't know if this will be in the form of a video BIOS update, code changes from ATI, or what, but it needs to happen and it needs to happen fairly soon.

 

i don't have any problems with 10.7 drivers what so ever