M17x Drivers thread

There is a new CF profile for 10.3 here:
http://www.rage3d.com/xmp/
May help with some BF2 issues.

 

Sorry if this has already been posted, search didn't find anything

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/19/...titouch-gestures-on-older-trackpads/#comments

Driver from HP that has multitouch scrolling, It works for me - love 2 finger scrolling

 

Just tried the 197.13 beta drivers from laptopvideo2go. They installed fine but caused a blue screen on logging in after the reboot. Have reverted back to the 196.86 drivers.

Only tried these because supposedly (according to a few users on nvzone) they have fixes for Bad Company 2 in SLI. I just can't get SLI working with this game on the 196.86 drivers no matter what SLI setting I use.

 

Try this Kracs - I just updated the Profile Modder.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zh1ymmmzn3r

 

Only got 5 mins to test it last night but I think it's working as both cards were round the same temps. Will give it more of a go tonight.

Cheers mate.

 

Yep - if temps are the same then it certainly is using both GPUs. Good to hear its working for you. The beauty of this updater is you no longer have to rely on a specific driver version to incorporate these SLI profile updates. NV should, IMO, package these updates apart from an actual driver update and post them as they become available. My advice, take the driver which has performed the best for your needs in terms of functionality, apply the SLI profile and enjoy.

 

Not sure what's happening. Had a chance to try properly tonight, 2nd card remains low on temps, no SLi indicator, nothing. Frustrating.

 

Hmmmm... very interesting. I'll take another look at the BC2 profile. The SLI indicator should at least show. Are you seeing the indicator at all?

 

After reapplying the XML files I have it back again, odd, the only thing I changed in the Profile was Prefer Maximum Performance. After reapplying your XMLs it's back to Adaptive and SLI is working for the game. Odd.

 

Nice - at least its working now. This is most likely related to or the same issue with the Verde release drivers which NV still needs to get this right. i mention this in Post#1 of the Beta driver thread.

 

Sounds like it. Thanks for the help mate. Will leave it as Adaptive and see how it goes over the next few days.

 

On side note on this though, I had TF2 and ME2 both with Prefer Maximum Performance and they were still using SLI (and that was testing straight after BF:BC2 was failing).

 

Right, but when you exit out of the game (TF2/ME2), watch your GPU clocks. One should DC to 2D and the other will be locked. Best to go with Adaptive.

 

NVidia Geforce 197.01 beta driver just got posted on Dell site.

Release Date: 4/5/2010
Version: 197.01, P04
Download Type: Driver
File Format: Hard Drive
File Size: 161 MB

1.Fixes the white lines issue on reboot.
2.Fixes the flashing red, blue, and green backgrounds on reboot.
3.Has DPC latency update from 196.86 Beta

Known Issues:
1.Low performance on Crysis and Crysis Warhead. (Fix to come in later driver)

This Beta Driver has been through limited compatibility and stability testing by Dell on Dell platforms.
There may be more stable drivers, including the drivers originally shipped with your computer, available under the video section.

 

I've been running 197.25s with no issues. Both cards clock down for me, I've heard some say that some of the 19x.xx series don't downclock the second card, but this is the first 197's that I've tried. Performance *just* outedged the 182.67s that I've been running up until now. First driver since then that's been able to do that for me.

 

the .25s were no good for me, recreated the DPC issue causing pops/crackles in music/audio with games like Fallout 3 etc...

 

I updated to 197.16 this weekend and it fixed the awful frame rate drop I had with Startrek Online when on ground missions.

Using Hybrid-SLI but the only thing that isn't working for me is the Fn-F7 to switch between 9400/280m so I have to use the tray icon. No big deal.

 

do the 197.01 only fix the sartup of the machine?

because if it is i only got the blue/red/green screen on the first boot... no point in changing drivers if their is no performance improvement over the 196.86

it's under vista though

 

Does the Fn+F7 work with other drivers? which BIOS version r u using? For my case, FN+F7 function wont work anymore after flashing A03

 

Yes, it did with the previous set, I don't recall the exact version right now, 19x.xx something, but I also have A03 BIOS. Sometimes though it wouldn't and I had to switch the power settings for power-supply from balanced to performance, wait for it to change to the 280Ms then change the setting back. After that Fn-F7 would work for a while, but randomly stop again later.

 

thx 4 ur reply, nice find. Actually i found that if i disable hybrid and discrete (only integrated available), the Fn+F7 combi will work, saying 'Binary GFX something something'. hopefully this will be fixed in the next BIOS rev.

 

Hey,

I've an M17xR1 and I've a small problem that I'm pretty sure is being caused by my 280ms. I tried to update my drivers two nights ago, got latency spikes, reverted to the drivers from here http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...dpc-latency-for-alienware-m17x-customers.aspx , and now I get latency when starting or exiting games, not during, but terrible performance in game and generally on the desktop. Tested with Mount and blade Warband and Assassins creed 2. Should note that while booting to install drivers was greeted with a message accusing me of not having a genuine version of windows, which I have, and a command prompt displaying something like C:\Nvidia* y/n (yes/no).
It's as if the GPU has failed or is not up to the task or something, but it's only happened after two nights ago.
If anyone has any insight it would be very much appreciated, thanks.

Zeal

 

I would suggest to perform again a clean uninstall of all the nvidia drivers (including storage driver and chipset drivers)
Follow Batboy's procedure http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5699970&postcount=26

Then install first the chipset and then the display drivers (the beta ones from Dell that fix the latency issue)
Did you install the drivers having hybrid on or off?

 

Release Date: 4/13/2010
Version: 197.31, P05
Download Type: Driver
File Format: Hard Drive
File Size: 152 MB

Dell recommends the customer review specifics about the update to determine if it applies to your system. The update contains changes that impact only certain configurations, or provides new features that may/may not apply to your environment.

NV Graphics Driver Update for M17x (April 2010)

Fixes/Enhancements:
1. Fixes LCD color cycling and horizontal flickering lines during the Windows startup process on the initial boot found in 196.86 beta driver.
2. Fixes the clocks locking at max clock state found in 197.01 beta driver.
3. Includes the DPC latency fix within 196.86 Beta.

Known issue:
1. Low performance on Crysis.

 

Hi

Just a question please can I maybe use the Nvidia Video Card Drivers from Nvidia itselfe or will this gonna brake my Video Card or so?

Alienware M17X, GTX 280 M, Vista 64

Thanks

 

It won't brake anything, though if you use a different driver than that from Dell, you will suffer from stuttering

 

I know this has probably been asked already but is there a way to get youcam for free? because when I reformatted it I did not know how to get it back and the webcam driver isn't working for me

 

Windows 7 default driver should work fine with the webcam. As for the actual youcam app, you will need to contact Dell Support.

 

ok thank you

 

New chipset and NV beta video drivers up. Anyone know if they're any good?

 

See the related threads - no need to have it running in multiple threads. Closing this one as we now have

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...river-discussion-help-suggestions-thread.html

and this thread is no longer being updated by the OP.