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    Best way to install new video drivers?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by IntenseIGFX, May 28, 2011.

  1. IntenseIGFX

    IntenseIGFX Notebook Deity

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    What is the proper way to install new drivers and clean the old ones? Do I need to disable windows from automatically detecting my cards and downloading its own driver (making it the VGA Adapter as I recall).

    I use the dell approved gpu drivers. A month or so ago, I updated to the ATI official drivers and I had a performance drop. I just did a benchmark test and my score is a lot lower than other's with similar configs. I think it may be worth another go @ the newer drivers. I'm trying to figure out the best way to install them so that there are no conflicts. I also need to install the newest application profiles and I have old ones so any info on that (cleaning and adding new ones) would be great. Thanks

    EDIT: I see, when I search for 11.5 application profiles, that the official AMD site has 11.5 CAP 1 but some other sites carry CAP 2. Which should I download? I read on the forums that some people downloaded the profiles and had performance issues in some games. The only games I play are Mass Effect 1 (soon 2), TF2, SC2, Portal 2 and some occasional WoW. With those profiles, am I safe?
     
    IntenseIGFX, May 28, 2011
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  2. IntenseIGFX

    IntenseIGFX Notebook Deity

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    I installed the new drivers. Got P4255 instead of 4000. SC2 performance has same FPS but feels choppier. Any ideas?

    EDIT: WOW!! I figured out how to make SC2 run much better. All I did was disable Catalyst AI and it runs much better than it did with the old drivers!

    EDIT2: Even after disabling Cata AI I'm still getting a score p4244. Someone else on the forums (TurbodTalon) with the exact same config (excluding HDD) has p4905. Any ideas?
     
    IntenseIGFX, May 29, 2011
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  3. pepemosca

    pepemosca Notebook Evangelist

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    pepemosca, May 29, 2011
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  4. IntenseIGFX

    IntenseIGFX Notebook Deity

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    Yea, I got the new driver working fine. I found out that the guy with the P4900 score was heavily overclocked and that my score (with the new drivers) of P4244 is normal. I used driver sweeper in safe mode after uninstalling everything fully.
     
    IntenseIGFX, May 29, 2011
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  5. Flame113

    Flame113 Notebook Geek

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    Erm, I can't find the Driver Sweeper download link on their website.
    There is no link below Select Download Location :(
     
    Flame113, May 31, 2011
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  6. pepemosca

    pepemosca Notebook Evangelist

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    You are right... it says:

    Source: Guru3D - Driver Sweeper (Setup) download from Guru3D.com
     
    pepemosca, May 31, 2011
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  7. wacdag

    wacdag Notebook Consultant

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    1) Before starting, download the appropriate driver needed and ccleaner.
    CCleaner - Download
    2) Uninstall old graphics card driver.
    3) Restart machine into safe mode.
    4) Run ccleaner to clear the computer of the old driver.
    5) Restart.
    6) Install new graphics card driver (don't worry if windows automatically installs the standard VGA driver first).
    7) Restart.
    8) Finish.
     
    wacdag, Jun 1, 2011
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  8. GabeZ

    GabeZ Information Technology

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    Driver sweeper is alive and well. You can download it here:

    Phyxion.net

    I strongly recommend not using this if you are an R1 user. This will wipe out chipset drivers even if you select only video and physx.

    Thanks,
    Gabe
     
    GabeZ, Jun 1, 2011
    #8