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    Help A Noob Please

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by FiveEyedDuck, Sep 7, 2012.

  1. FiveEyedDuck

    FiveEyedDuck Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi, I ordered an m17x with the 7970m and I was just wondering what updates I need to do or drivers that need downloading when I get it. And I've searched the forums and saw the windows 7 clean install, but is that really necessary for getting the best performance?
    Thanks :)
     
  2. jaeyang9

    jaeyang9 Notebook Consultant

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    alienwares don't really come with a lot of bloatware.. you don't REALLY have to do a clean install.. unless you're changing a new hard drive or something.

    everything should be up to date already. just power it on and enjoy! :thumbsup:
     
  3. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    Agreed. If you don't plan on adding any extra upgrades after your receive your R4, then don't worry about doing a clean install. But, you can still do it if it means that much to you. Most of the drivers and necessary software on there doesn't need to be updated right out of the box. Post back when you get your new machine. We will look at what Catalyst version you are running for the 7970m, and if necessary, upgrade it.
     
  4. FiveEyedDuck

    FiveEyedDuck Notebook Enthusiast

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    I got my alienware and i was wondering how i check to see what Catalyst im running for the 7970m. And when i go to the dell driver site it tells me i need to downlaod 13 drivers but some of them are from like 2011 and wouldnt they already update everything when they were building the system?
     
  5. CptXabaras

    CptXabaras Overclocked, Overvolted, Liquid Cooled

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    To check catalyst version, open catalyst control center (right click on desktop, on the menu you should see it) go on the left tab and search for "software" it will tell you the version. I'm on the corporate laptop now and i don't have access to catalyst (only igp, lenovo t420) so i don't recall exactly the path to reach the software version on ccc. But it is there
     
  6. FiveEyedDuck

    FiveEyedDuck Notebook Enthusiast

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    I searched for software but its giving me zero results.
     
  7. navdeepz

    navdeepz Notebook Consultant

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    Just go to start and type in device manager. When device manager is opened check the display adapter and double click on the AMD 7970m a pop out window will open. Click on the drivers and you can see the driver version there. Anything lesser than a 8.982.0.0 (i.e 12.8) you can download the drivers from the net.
     
  8. FiveEyedDuck

    FiveEyedDuck Notebook Enthusiast

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    I checked and i have 9.0.0.0 but for some resaon my killer wirless insent working and i cant open the qualcomm atheros killer network manager.