Dell ATI 8.763 (M15x/M17xR1/M17xR2) Driver/AMD 5870 VBIOS **READ POST 1 AND 2!!!!!**

I just signed off on the new Dell ATI beta driver, version 8.763. It will hopefully show up online in the near future! I'll be in touch with those of you are going to test the beta VBIOS in the near future, possibly later today but more likely tomorrow morning.

Batboy, please start a new thread so we can keep track of this new version and any issues that are experienced.

Thanks!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FORUM MOD ADDING ADDITIONAL INFO -

Several have asked when this will be made public on the dell support site, see Brian's additional post:

See Brian's post here:

ALSO A NOTE ON HWIDs and changing the HWIDs relating to the VBIOS -

 

Done - post copied to a new thread and stickied. Brian - a big thanks to you and your team for the continued updates!

ALL - I'm sure Brian will post specifics if needed however please do post any issues you find and when doing so include as much detail as possible.

If posting an issue and your signature line does not include system information, please include sys specs.

ATTENTION M15x ATI 5850 OWNERS:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ATI Graphics Driver Update for M17xR2/M17x/M15x (August 2010):

Drivers and Downloads - Public Sector


IMPORTANT NOTE:
Install latest system BIOS

A07 for M17xR2
A05 for M17xR1
A07 for M15x

Systems:
Alienware Laptop M15x
Alienware Laptop M17x
Alienware Laptop M17xR2


Fixes/Enhancements:
1.Driver updates
2.Support for new game titles
3.Fixes reported power management issues (Sleep and Hibernate)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pertaining to AMD Crossfire Application Profiles

 

The driver is showing up under M17x downloads now.

Direct link to download page.

 

Do we need the beta vbios to have it work properly? Also i would be happy about some official word on how to install these drivers / uninstall any previous driver we have installed before.

It is still not going to sleep for me, as previous beta and official cats. Did an express Uninstall of previous cat, booted in safe mode used ccleaner and driversweeper, so i was back on barenaked 6.962 driver without catalyst or software i guess.

Also i'm on latest system bios A07. And Catalyst Info looks like this (note the CCC version looks a bit older than official whql ati driver i had installed before xxxxx.36491 dell10.8 vs xxxxx.36577 ati10.8)

 

Please let us know how the driver performs. I'd be interested to know whether or not it still contains the power issues, and whether or not it has increased / decreased performance.

 

Hey guys im dling it now i will be testing out like 8 games wow aion L4D2 ffxi fallen earth SC2 Mafia2 Alien swarm & movies because i notice some issues where my pc would goto sleep while watching movies with last driver .

 

uhhh, just unplugged the power cord, tried again to let it sleep and it actually went to sleep, turned off. Pressed Power Button, Windows was initialized again, but like 10-15 seconds later the system would lock up (i think after aliensense loged back to windows). When i tried to reboot on battery again, the system would boot right past aliensense recognizing and login, then it immediatly locked up again.

I'm on A/C back again now, doesn't look too good with sleep for me

 

grim, you may need the VBIOS update Brian posted about a few days ago. Did you ever PM him to check to see if it was needed?

Good job on the details!

 

I must have missed this post listing a new vbios, can someone please link to the thread/post? Thanks.

 

reference post:

 

I have read that as you have to pm him, to get eligible for a download and tester, and he will use a personal email to send it or something like that. Don't think something like that should be freely posted here, should be for those with a lot of courage

 

So are we saying that even though the new drivers are available, they arent gonna work until the new vbios is released? - if thats the case, i dont see the point in releasing the drivers to the masses if only a select few have the correct vbios to make them work???

 

Well, maybe we can say that they don't work without it, but i wouldn't assume too much. We don't know exactly how they get it to work on their rigs, and on ours they don't. I'm still voting for some more info on how to correctly install so it is also reproducable for others and everyone? and what this vbios that will be up for testing later on is exactly?

I mean, i'm not really willing to give up on the only drivers 6.962 that have no issues in windows 7, to change for any 7.xxx drivers that are all not working properly on battery and i cannot revert back when i flash it with that vbios.

 

I think Brian stated early on that if anyone was "game" to try Dells new vbios and run the risk of brickin their cards, then they should PM him to try it out....dont know who has done but I would imagine a fair few including Joker......

Lets just hang fire before we get the FULL picture here....

Oh, and thanks Brian for working so hard for us all in relation to these drivers/cards. Definetly deserve a pay rise! - good man!

 

Yeah, i have no problems messing with any software, but messing with hardware should stay something delicate for the more willing people that don't care as much about losing an actual backwards compatibility...

I'm betting on Joker aswell, also if Brian could confirm that with the vbios official Ati drivers are supported, and everything does work as it should, then i would reconsider it again of course. But we need some details aswell here.

Point 3 and 4 worry me the most on what he posted about the vbios.

 

Still waiting on the vbios but when brian sends it I will install it before I install the new drivers.

Should be able to give accurate feedback that way.

Once question to Brian though, do both cards use the same bios, or does one card act as a 'master' and use a different bios?

-Ash

 

I asked several times on these forums and was always given the same answer that the new VBIOS was only for people having issues with their current VBIOS. That the new video card driver was independent of that. Am I to understand that is incorrect and you need both? That would really suck. I want to get new drivers, but that's only because I'd like to get SC2 aa and resolve the sleep / unplugging issues. I have no VBIOS errors and have no intention of flashing them. Again, I asked SEVERAL times in various posts and I was ALWAYS told that the VBIOS was only for people who were haiving issues and the new driver would be for everyone. I hate to think that's incorrect now, but I would love some clarification.

 

Just to clear up the confusion - this driver DOES NOT require the new VBIOS. Load the driver at will.

For those of you that are going to test the new VBIOS, you MUST have the new driver installed BEFORE loading the VBIOS or you'll get a no POST...

Load away!

 

The new VBIOS should help here. If you aren't on my list already, PM me.

 

The VBIOS flash will flash both cards, or one if you only have a single config.

 

Great, I am going to spectate at first Brian but can you tell us any eta or even if the newer vbios will be released.....i presume its subject to a kind of guinea pig testing on those who have volunteered to test it out.....

Anyway, good to know those new drivers are good to go.....gonna watch this space and see how others get on as im waiting on a new system.

Thanks!

 

Now that that's cleared up, can we have some people vouch for its performance? Will the power issues only be fixed by the VBIOS? I hate to think that the only way I'll be able to sleep my machine or run it on battery I'll have to flash my cards with a beta vbios that, if doesn't work, I'm screwed. Is there any chance that the driver will amend the power issues without the risk of a vbios flash? Also, why would a 10.8 Dellized driver have the GUI of an older version (according to Grim's 1st page post).

 

You will not have to flash the cards with the beta bios because eventually they will have a final version of that new Vbios for public consumption ... So for now just keep doing what your doing even if its not perfect and wait till the final release hits ....

 

I don't have access to send PMs, but I'm very interested in testing this new VBIOS. I have a brand new (less than 1 week old) M17xR2, and am having serious issues with the graphics. I have dual 5870s and on StarCraft 2 (the main reason I got this thing) the performance is barely better than on my year-old MacBook Pro 17" with a single 512MB graphics card.

I hope the new driver and VBIOS solve the issue, b/c otherwise I'll probably end up returning this machine. My MBP is lighter, smaller, and has a much nicer trackpad.

 

Could someone remind me again why we can't have a flash to the original vbios that ATI released with the cards so we can actually use our laptops until Dell finishes mutilating their own version?

 

So... if we need the driver installed before using the vbios...

What about a fresh windows install with the default VGA save or microsoft driver? Will that cause a BSOD as well?

-Ash

 

That will be fine. The new VBIOS requires the 8.7xx video driver stack or VGA only... It will BSOD with the 8.6xx stack.

 

Game test results:
Fixed/Improved: FPS high and stable now Aion was at 80-110 avg before was hard to break 70, Wow remains fps cap at 60, FE slight improvement in fps way better lighting and fixed wavy lines. SC2 fix aswell so far fps seem to be fix and wavy lines too.

Problems: I notice my load times have decrease alot trouble starting up some games like aion i got an error saying Failed to Load Graphic acceleration Prefrences and my system crash for the first time ever after opening wow for first time. Sleep is still fail aswell. I an concerned about the loading having effect ingame load aswell maybe i notice my loads kinda slacking off causing my dps to drop abit in highly populated areas. I will continue to play all night keep testing other games aswell ima reboot and see if i get similar errors / crash same routine.

 

Were you using just the new driver or driver + vbios? Just out of curiosity.

 

I am only using the new driver i have Pm brian for vbios no word yet

 

Hmm, the game should actually run fin with these drivers, make sure you installed the latest Apllication Profiles 10.8 along with it. They are essential for AA and CF support in SC2 i would say.

 

Hey guys, i'd like to give some information out if i'm allowed, about the new vbios for the HD5870 Brian is offering for people having issues with sleep/hibernate booting up on battery and what not, that with said new vbios i am finally able to do again anything i want so far. And it looks stable aswell to me.

The Flash process is actually EASY, and i mean very easy lol

Didn't have enough fate in Brian, but now i definatly do, that guy is doing absolutely the right job. And with finally offering a solution for me, i'd like to give him a big thank you for his endless efforts in achieving what we really want.

Also i'd would speculate, that with the new vbios previously mentioned issues should also be gone now with official 7.xxx drivers. Although i have to test that from a clean install, since i don't want any old drivers lying around when i change/uninstall drivers now and the system will revert back on the previous drivers.
(Looks like that's what Dell calls Reverse Engeneering : Before: Old vbios didnt work with newer drivers. Now: New vbios doesn't work with old drivers anymore *grin*)

Here are some pics with the new GPU vbios flashed:

 

I am tempted to use the flash bios, but given my remote location in Iraq, I cannot risk bricking my system. Looking at minimum 8 weeks replacement time.

I'll have to wait for the final VBIOS...

 

This is music to my ears, that means Dell is on the right track and that vbios should be available to the gen public soon!

 

I don't have the vbios update, but sleep is still the issue with the new drivers(without vbios update). I uninstalled drivers reboot, driver sweeped all ati drivers, reboot, installed dell beta drivers, still not sleeping. I hope the vbios will give all us M17x owners a good nights rest from this drivers nightmare.

 

I'm very satisfied at the moment, even i'm still a bit in the blue of what might not work at the moment. But it's something everyone should be able to use in it's current state (better than old vbios with 10.6+ drivers).

I am able to sleep on A/C, wake it up properly, unplugging on the fly, let it go to sleep on battery, wake it up, rebooting on battery, letting it sleep again, wake up, plugging the power cord back in. CrossFire gets enabled again, running Vantage. Performance is a little lower than 10.6 and 10.7 official drivers, from what i measured before (~40-100 points).

Brian surely DELL-ievered something great to actually build up on it.

 

I installed these and my laptop crashed when I ask it to go to sleep. This is a major issue, as I tend to move the laptop around the house quite a bit and sneak in a bit of gaming here and there. Having to fully shutdown and startup is a major pain.

Brian: please add me to your list and send me the new VBIOS. I can't PM you because the forums won't let me send PMs.

 

Grimfan, wanna try something for me?

Im just curios.

Can you try removing the Dell ATI drivers, and install the STOCK ATI drivers (with workaroundinstall=true if necessary) and see if sleep/etc all work?

Thanks

Im just curious...

-Ash

 

Haha, did another reboot and run vantage again, got my 100 points back

(P14133, without 3rd party tools or overclocking with i7-720qm)

Sure let me see, gonna uninstall 8.763.0.0 and will install official cat 10.8 whql 8.762.0.0. Hope i don't end up with a lockup frenzy

 

Ok so does this download include a new Diplay Drvier or is it just a C++, CCC, and a Audio Driver??

 

Ugh wish I was home to test the new vbios + drivers out. I'm at the Phoenix airport right now and won't be home till about midnight. Soon as I get home I plan to run it though. Looks like grimfan is having good luck with it, I'm looking forward to see if your test with stock ati drivers goes well.

 

Yeah, cos if it does, I think the engineering team may have just restored the default vbios and added a dell hwid to stock drivers, than repackaged them.

That is the LEAST amount of work, and knowing dell engineers....


Yeah, heres hoping!

-Ash

 

You need to send me your email address, so until you can PM, that isn't going to happen... I can't send files over the forum. Sorry.

 

If they did do that, I'd be grateful they did. `

 

I can confirm that after installing official ati 10.8 driver 8.762, sleep mode is working on A/C (gonna do the full cycle/circle now with unplugging and rebooting), remember you still have to use the workaround install as dell has to use that aswell.

 

NICE! Looks like our wish of default AMD Vbios has come true. Though I bet it's a bit more involved than that because it doesn't work with older driver stacks so Dell obviously made some internal changes. As long as we can use official releases from this point forward I'll be ecstatic.

 

Woot!

And... im willing to bet if a clevo user tried to install the original dell drivers they would get the same BSOD... so maybe the internal dell changes were in fact undoing the original dell changes?

All speculation at this point, but its looking really good.

Now, tonight I will test to see if I can use AFR Crossfire with 2 displays plugged in.

Im guessing no... but we will see.

-Ash

 

Just did the whole cycle of rebooting, shuting down on battery A/C, Sleep on Battery on A/C, Wake up on Battery/AC. Succesful!

This is a 100% WIN with the new VBIOS. Oh and no need to change anything besides the workaround install, ULPS is ON.

Gonna have to rep+ Brian as often as i can from this day on forward

 

OK, so the real fixes look like they are in the VBIOS.

Sounds like they did indeed restore the original ati vbios + a few tweaks (maybe).

This is totally freaking awesome.

We know have a system that can last after dell releases an R3 and stops supporting the R2.

Now I can consider my purchase as money well spent!



THREE CHEERS FOR BRIAN!

-Ash

 

Yeah i'm sure it's something with the vbios. Of course, as with most companies, you cannot give too much detail about that, i'm sure they won't confirm anything that is releated to something not officially supported by them e.g. ATI's unmodified drivers. And everything i tested so far looks the same as with dell's 10.8 release. Furmark runs stable from 85fps to 182fps in windowed mode 640x480.

But you're right, it does comfort one very much if it stays like this. Very happy about that conclusion now

Oh and from what i see in the bios version, its quite newer i guess (but not that modified maybe) ...