Should I update my video drivers? (r2)

Am still using the 8.763 Dell drivers. Should I get the AMD ones instead? I have some odd stutters in several games and Assassin's Creed Brotherhood has insanely low fps in certain areas even with minimum settings.

M17x-R2 owner here.

I'll appreciate any help that I can get. A how-to install new drivers instructions would be very helpful too.

 

Also, I'm thinking of cleaning my system. Been months since I got the r2, and it gets so hot sometimes. I tried opening the back cover and looking around the insides, but I don't see any dust. Where should I be looking? And is it necessary to remove all the components just for the sake of cleaning it?

 

new 11.4 or 11.5 drivers are amazing, so i highly recommend updating.

you don't have to take everything apart, just open the bottom panel and blast it with some compressed air, especially the fans and heatsink vents.

 

Thanks inap. 11.4 / 11.5? Which is better? Or is it entirely up to personal perference?

As for the steps to install new drivers, here's what I got from reading a few other similar threads, do correct me if there's anything wrong / missing.

1. Download new drivers from AMD
2. Uninstall every single video driver (Not sure how. Control Panel > Add/Remove programs?)
3. Boot into safe mode
4. Run CCleaner to delete remaining drivers
5. Install new AMD drivers
6. Restart system

 

Use GPU-Z to determine your vbios version before attempting to install new AMD drivers. Should be 012.020.000.027.037640. You won't be able to install AMD drivers without this vbios. If you have it, which you should already, then you can uninstall Dell drivers through Add/Remove, run CC cleaner in safe mode then reboot and install new drivers from AMD.

As far as the heat issue goes, download HWinfo32. Click on the sensors button to get temps of your cards. Monitor them under heavy load to see if you need to possibly clean fans or repaste CPU/GPUs. Max temps around 85-90C would indicate possible overheating. There are M17X R2 teardown videos on youtube that show you how to take apart the laptop. YouTube - M17x Teardown Video1 of 2 **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video)
You need to have some computer knowledge and be confident in what you are doing. But it is easy if you have taken apart a laptop before.
If you get really brave and want to mod your cooling system, this is a really good thread that shows you everything you need to do.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ll-internal-cooling-mod-huge-improvement.html

Opening your laptop without a Dell representative walking you through it may void your warranty. And doing any kind of cooling mods or repasting will void your warranty if they can find evidence of it. So if you are still under warranty and you are running too hot it may be a good idea to call Dell first.

 

Thank you so much!

I installed the new drivers and they were amazing (11.5 with 11.4 CAP application profiles). When I was on the Dell drivers, I get crap fps in AC: Brotherhood, even on minimum settings. Now I can play it on max (8xAA, max settings, no V-sync) with over 60fps. Awesome.

And I checked my graphics card temps, they were peaking at 90-92 celcius. Guess it's time to do some serious cleaning.

Should I call Dell to send someone down to take a look first though?

 

Btw, when you said fans, do you mean just the system fan? Or does that include the graphic card fans as well (the ones that require removing the keyboard).

And heatsink vents?

I'm a newbie when it comes to technical terms.