Installing AMD's regular drivers on 2011 Macbook Pro (in Windows?)

Quick question-can you install AMD's normal drivers from AMD.com on Windows on the 2011 Macbook Pros?

The very similar HP Pavilion it turns out uses switchable graphics and you CAN'T use normal drivers-which rules it out for me. I know in OS X Apple uses both, but I've heard in Windows only the real GPU is accessible...so hopefully the normal drivers will work?

I HATE this new switchable video thing. As though drivers aren't complex enough to begin with! This narrows down my choices to MAYBE HP's Envy 17 (not sure), or Dell's M17x, or Asus G73...or MAYBE the Macbook Pro.

 

when you say "normal drivers", what do you mean, exactly? You can use the regular AMD mobile drivers, yes. I'm running the 11.4 Beta drivers on my Windows install.

You can't use the desktop drivers.

 

These guys:
ATI Catalyst? Mobility Display Driver

Just the normal ones you grab from their site?

 

Yea, kinda. I actually had a bit of trouble trying to figure out how to install the 11.3 drivers.

But I went from Stock Bootcamp Drivers -->11.2-->11.4 beta with no problems.

I then tried to uninstall the 11.4 drivers (Driver Sweeper + uninstall) and install 11.3 clean and couldn't figure out how to. The installer system didn't give me an option to install the driver. weird. I would up removing it, then going from Stock Bootcamp --> 11.4 again.

Maybe someone else can answer how to put 11.3 on, but 11.2 and 11.4 installed normally...just like the desktop drivers.

 

Can't switch to integrated graphics still, right?
Backlit keyboard still on 24-7?
Trackpad gestures crippled?

 

Okay, well that's good to know they apparently install okay if you've got the Apple drivers on there!

Wanted to double check since I'd been looking at that Pavilion for a while, and wouldn't have had I realized normal drivers won't work on it

I hate that these don't have built in Blu Ray though I've had bad luck with external optical drives, but maybe I'll just try another one...

 

no, of course not. that has never been something that worked under Windows. updating some AMD drivers aren't going to change that.

what? no...

not sure I follow? 2 finger scrolling still works?

I had a BD drive in my Vaio AW290...only used it like 1x/month. I've moved almost my entire DVD collection to mp4/avi/mkv. it's the only way to fly.

 

I mean 3 finger swipes and what not. I swear to the sweet LJ himself if someone can just get me Apple trackpad functionality in Win7, I'll dump this computer tomorrow.

How many hours are you getting under Windows, BTW?

 

haha.

no, multitouch beyond 2-finger touch has never worked under bootcamp on any unibody MBP ever. nor has graphics switching.

Do any Windows laptops have multitouch beyond 2-finger gestures?

 

Yes they do. I have two + one (2 fingers touching the pad and a 3rd finger tapping) set to right click. 3 finger tap is assigned to button 4 which I assigned to back on Chrome and Firefox. All this is with my HP notebook.

I am pretty sure other laptops have 3 finger swipes and things like that too. I find them useless so never tried configuring them.

 

Yah. I think the new ASUS ones have three finger actions.

 

I abhor trackpads, so I woudln't know...I disable my trackpad first thing on a notebook :laugh:

Dang, this Blu Ray thing...*sigh* I sure wish Apple would just build it in. Would make me feel a LOT better about buying one

 

yea, that's because you've been stuck using Windows trackpads...many of which are horrible.

when you come to this side of computing, you'll find a whole new experience awaits. I used to be like you..but now...when I use my MBP in OS X, I hate having to use the mouse. Because the multitouch trackpad is functionally superior in all but a few very specific cases.

In Windows, I think the trackpad is merely "okay". But in OS X...it's gravy.

you'll see.

 

Yeah, a lot of Windows users just have no idea. I hate MacOS. But I'll stay as long as they are the only ones with this trackpad. It's just that big a deal.

 

I agree with that.

 

11.4 drivers are out and they work just fine. go get 'em:

AMD Catalyst Mobility 11.4 Win 7 | Vista (64-bit)

AMD Catalyst Mobility 11.4 Win 7 | Vista (32-bit)

 

Awesome! Soooo glad to hear Macs can use these things. It's amazing how many notebooks can't, making them IMO pretty terrible buys.

I guess now I'm down to a 15" Macbook Pro, or an AMD based HP Pavilion, since the Intel models are all out.

Just wish Apple supported Blu Ray, and the choice would be a lot easier

 

I tested the new Samsung 9 series and was really impressed with their clickpad. I think they got that right even if I didn't love the overall feel of the laptop (nor the price).

I would, however, argue that Blu Ray and other media of this type is becoming less important. Even with the HD (1680x1050) 15" screen, there are limitations to how good something is going to look/sound.

 

Hm...are you doing a clean install or directly from boot camp drivers?

 

Are you having problems?

Regarding Blu Ray, it's a requirement for me.

 

ATI's download checker refuses to download for me. Wondering if it's worth my time to run driversweeper.

 

Dang, that stinks. I am officially sick of how notebooks are treated regarding GPUs and drivers! This is 2011! This was supposedly fixed years ago on the Nvidia side, and last year on the AMD side...but it's not completely

 

Btw you can get an external blu ray player for movies on the Windows side. OWC makes some.

 

Thanks, yeah that's why I'm still looking at Apple...hoping that works okay. I've had bad luck with external optical drives for some reason (both USB and eSATA), but hopefully that OWC drive (or Sony, or Lacie) actually works right!

Dang, I have such a hard time picking out a computer :lol: Thought I had it nailed last fall, and it (Dell's M15x) had HORRIBLE hissing/static audio through the headphone jack!

 

No one else has any issues installing the 11.4 drivers?

 

None for me..... use this link for drivers

http://www2.ati.com/DRIVERS/mobile/11-4_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe

This for CAP hotfix
http://www2.ati.com/DRIVERS/hotfix/catalyst_application_profiles/11-4_ATICatalyst_AppProfiles.exe

D.

 

no issues here, no. I did a straight upgrade from the 11.4 beta drivers.

 

On OSX atm, but I'll try this out later tonight. Thanks.

 

The direct download that bypassed ATI's downloader worked. Thanks so much!

 

Weird...so the AMD downloader program is saying the MBP isn't supported, but directly installing them is?

How hard is it normally to find the direct full download?

 

Easy for me..... but a lot of people seem to have issues.
Main thing is to make sure you have the mobility ones (it will say so in the file name).

D.

 

sometimes, even the mobility ones don't install new drivers, depending on the release.

Easiest upgrade paths:

Code:

Stock bootcamp video drivers --> 11.4 (final)

11.2 drivers (assuming you upgraded from stock) --> 11.4 (final)

11.4 beta drivers --> 11.4 (final)

There is no need to do a DriverSweeper cleaning of drivers before installing the 11.4 and doing so may even cause problems (installer may not recognize you have an AMD card on board...happened to me forcing me to reinstall the bootcamp drivers first).

Some releases I couldn't get to install in the past. For example, I was never able to install the 11.3 drivers no matter what I did. I'd go with one of those approaches and call it a day.

 

How's 11.5 doing? Anyone successfully installing these using the completely normal method?

These guys, for Windows 7 64-bit?
ATI Catalyst? Mobility Display Driver

 

I'm using those. Works fine. No hacks.

 

Okay then...a Macintosh is safe for me I guess, so long as I can actually find an external Blu Ray drive that works :laugh:

Dang, I've kind of narrowed things to three systems now, at least...

 

My external OWC BD player works fine.