E1505: Slow X1400 after reformat

Hey, sorry but I can't seem to be able to figure this one out. I recently bought this laptop 6400/e1505 core 2 duo 1.66ghz 1gb DDR ram ati x1400 256mb hyper memory.

It originally came with Windows Media Center edition, but i decided to try out a copy of Vista that was free with it. Didn't take long for me to want XP back, so i formatted and installed XP professional. It was a real pain to get all the drivers back the way they were and i'm not even sure if i did it correctly. Anyway, everything seems to be working fine, except the X1400 has REALLY slow framerates on any game i try.

I tried all the drivers possible, off the dell support site, ati catalyst drivers, omega.. Seems like this is a common problem too- I know it's possible to run these games/applications because it did when i first got the laptop!

Thanks-

 

What drivers did you try and what are your in game setting?

 

Drivers that i tried include:

From the Dell support site, Video: ATI Radeon Mobility X1300, Radeon Mobility X1400, Driver, Windows XP, Multi Language, Inspiron MM061, v.8.261-060523a1-033841C, A03

Radeon Omega Drivers 3.8.330 (Catalyst 7.1)

The in-game settings, it doesn't matter what speed i set them to, the fps remains slow. I've also tried now with a fresh install of windows media center edition and i'm getting the same problem. Dell computers aren't supported for the ati catalyst drivers on the ati site under xp professional, so that didn't work.

 

Have you installed chipset drivers?

 

Sounds to me like a driver issue, but since you have already tried many drivers, it puzzles me. Close all unnecessary background apps (including any Virus guards or firewalls if you have any) and try. Also check to see if there are any processes with high CPU usage. Did you install chipset drivers ?

 

Think we posted same time

 

Try following this, upon a quick glance it looks good and exactly what you need.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=105916

 

I did install the chipset drivers, i actually followed that guide that Iceman posted perfectly, and i'm still getting the same problem. I'm also finding that when i start up the computer an error pops up that says.. "failure to load cli.exe", something to do with the catalyst driver program i think.

 

You need to install .net framework from microsoft.

 

That is Net Framework 1.1. it's on Microsoft's website. Fixed the same problem i had with cli.exe. But there is a lot about this ATI control panel being a resouce hog so I ditched it completely. My 1505 runs great. Don't need no stinking resouce hogs...

 

ok cool, no more cli.exe problem, thanks!

Still having the same problem with my games and stuff though, guess i'll email Dell and see what solutions they can come up with. Doesn't make any sense, it's just the frame rates that are slow-

 

Doesn't the CCC manage Powerplay? If you don't have that (or manual underclocking) you may be missing out on some battery life.

 

Are you fully removing your old drivers before you install new ones? If you arent that could be a problem. Also are you having the problem plugged in?, or just on battery? It would be normal on battery, as everything downclocks to conserve power, you can adjust the 1400's pwer modes in the CCC. ( thanks for inadvertantly reminding me of that Lysander) If you can, post your current 3dmark 05 score.

 

Ohh yeah, i JUST did a reinstallation of winxp professional, formatted the partition (not the other ones though, is that a problem?) and installed the
drivers in the correct sequence, or according to that guide earlier posted.

I'm having problems plugged in, just checked out the "Power play" settings too, and it knows that i'm plugged in, and is set to optimal performance- maybe i'm automatically downclocked or something..

I'll post my 3dmark05 score tomorrow, thanks for your help so far everyone!

 

You mentioned trying dell,ati,omega drivers, you need to uninstall a previous driver before installing a new one, otherwise bad things can happen.

Have you fully updated windows XP yet? I'm running out of ideas, a clean install usually results in improved performance.

 

Definitely did ok with the drivers, as i was updating windows it was actually working! ..but then it stopped.. now i'm trying to figure out what changed between the waves of it working hahah. It seemed to stop when i went to move files over from my other computer, through my home network, but i have no idea if that has anything to do with it.

Another strange thing!.. i'm looking at my device manager and i don't have drivers installed for a.. modem device on high definition audio bus. But that doesn't really explain why it was working for short periods of time before.. and now it's stopped totally-

 

Still haven't figured this out, I'm thinking it has something to do with the bios now, because when i install the flash Bios off the dell support site, it shuts everything down, reboots the computer and the problem goes away, but after a while it slows down again. It also slows down if i restart the computer normally- i'm going to try looking for an updated video bios, or try A13 dell bios, but if anyone knows anything.. please help me out!