Help me install ATI drivers on my 1737 ATI 3650

I need some help from the more seasoned veterans here.

ATI does not as far as I can tell separate Desktop Catalyst Drivers and Laptop Drivers.

http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx?p=vista64/common-vista64

I went to the above link and downloaded and Installed the Software it asked for a restart but as far as I can tell it didn't change anything

My Stock Drivers DELL shipped the 1737 with are

Under Device Manager are

Driver Date: 7/3/2008
Driver Version: 8.512.0.0


But after downloading both files the 60.7MB Catalyst Software Suite and the Standalone Driver

Both Dated 12/10/2008 which is newer, nothing on my Machine changed at all I still have the old drivers.


am I doing something wrong?

 

ATI does not provide mobile drivers, you'll have to use a program called Mobility Modder in order to modify the driver INI files so that the drivers you downloaded will work on a mobile GPU.

Linky: http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool.php

^ contains instructions as well.

 

no way so how do I officially get drivers from DELL?

they must be posted somewhere on Dell right

 

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...=WLH&hidlang=en&TabIndex=&SystemID=STUDIO1737

I would recommend modifying ATI's desktop drivers though, they really do yield the best performance.

 

Thanks for that but I have 1 important question that is bothering me.


My 1737 shipped with the A04 BIOS which I can only guess is newer or better than the A02 BIOS shown on that link.

Is the A02 BIOS newer or better than the A04 BIOS.

I just ordered and got my new system from 12/9 ordered to 12/15 delivered.

 

I could not find the A04 BIOS on the webpage for 1737 drivers; however Dell and every other manufacturer always includes release notes with every peice of software that details what changes or improvements have been made to the latest version. So yes, in a sense the A04 BIOS is probably "better."

 

Dell is pretty absurd.

After much work for no reason I found that

Dell has the same driver listed on their website as

11/3/2008 so of course I think its newer than my

7/3/2008 driver right??

Wrong they are both the same Driver

Driver Version 8.512-080703a-066874C-Dell

 

You means use desktop version of driver for ATI then mod into INI files?

I used had iMac with 2400 HD and hate it due had trouble to install recent driver then sold it last year.

Use INI files on end of file like Vista.ini?

 

Anyone who insists that using a modding tool is the proper way of installing the latest Catalyst Vista driver just doesn't know what they are talking about.

If you can't get the 8.12 ATI Catalyst to install then browse over to http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/ and grab the latest ATI Mobility unified driver and install via the device manager.

Modding Catalyst drivers hasn't been required since before XP...doing this under Vista is useless and can actually cause problems with blu-ray disc playback when using unsigned (hacked drivers)

 

Interesting, so you're saying you can just grab the new drivers from Microsoft and those work okay (and don't wreck Blu Ray playback?) But you have to actually browse that web site for them versus grabbing them through Windows Update?

The way I've done it on Nvidia hardware was to just download Nvidia's newest reference drivers, and force those to install through device manager-that seemed to work just fine, and I'd assume you could do the same with ATi's drivers (though I don't know for sure, and plus I don't know if Blu Ray and/or 64-bit Windows throws any wrinkles in there).

I really want to understand all this too as I'm really looking at this system, but uncomfortable with the ATi video card. Personally I'd only want to use a third party modding tool as an absolute last resort, given that you can never know for sure what it's really doing (and there's never been any need, at least with Nvidia's drivers...which most people don't seem to realize).

 

Okay, all I'm seeing on that Microsoft Catalog Update site for the mobile 3670 are drivers from June of last year.

I'd assume you just need to force install ATi's reference drivers, but confirmation that that works okay (and doesn't break Blu Ray) would be nice!

 

I have posted the drivers already modified and ready to be installed
for the Studio 17 or other laptop with the ATI 3650 running Vista 32-bit.

Download Driver

Here are the instructions.

Step # 1 -
Remove the existing driver

Go into device manager, under "Display Adapters"
find the "ATI Radeon HD 3650" and right click
on it and choose "Uninstall." You will
get a warning screen asking to confirm the action.
Be sure to check "Delete the driver software for
this device" and press OK.

It should ask to reboot the computer. You should
reboot the computer.

Upon reboot, your screen will look funky. This is
good.

Step #2 -
I recommend disabling the UAC first.
Unpack the RAR file and run the "Setup" program.
Choose "Express" install when prompted.

Go through the defaults and it should start the
install. You may be prompted that the driver
is not Microsoft signed. Choose to install the
driver anyway.

Once completed you should be prompted to reboot.

Reboot the PC.

Don't forget to turn the UAC back on.

Once rebooted, you should have

Driver Date: 12/1/2008
Driver Version : 8.56.1.0.0

In device manager under the driver properties.

 

how about some for us 64-bit people

 

Why not just install ATi's reference drivers? Why use third party stuff?

 

MobilityModder breaks bluray because the driver is no longer whql...

 

*shrugs*

I am giving advice based on my own experiences; ATI drivers obtained through Windows Update have only been a little better than Dell's drivers. I have personally seen up to 20% improvements in FPS in games like Bioshock, Witcher, and BIA: Hell's Highway. So yeah, I don't know what I'm talking about; I just pulled the advice out of my rear end.

 

no matter what I try the driver will not update or change even from the Vista Catalog Site and going through device manager it will not take a new driver

 

I don't see any new drivers on that catalog site.

What happens when you try to use device manager? You should be able to choose "update driver", and then point to the inf file in the directory where you extracted ATi's reference drivers to.

 

Well I finally installed the newest Driver, This was way harder than It should have been.

3DMark 06 Scores Improved from 2999 to 3034

compared to the Stock Studio 17 Notebook Review tested 3DMark 06 scores were 2974.

With the new driver system is Snappier.

But even with a 3DMark 06 Score of 3034 the Studio XPS 16 ATI 3670 scored 4855 vs. my 3034

can anyone else run 3DMark 06 and see what you get.

 

How did you install it? Just the regular reference driver?

 

Okay. Here is the 64 bit.

You should be able to follow the same intructions for the 64 that I posted
for the 32.

The reason I did not post it before is because I could not test it since
I don't have the 64 bit Vista.

But here is the link.

If someone gets this to work..and it should work..let us know.

Thanx!

64 Bit Modified Driver

 

Again though...why are you guys using modified drivers? Why not just install the reference drivers?

 

The Modder is not that big of a deal.

I've used in other older laptops when installing XP driver for Vista
when Vista did not have drivers.

From what I understand, the modder simply disables the Catalyst from
auto-detecting the video card and deciding if the software is correct
or not. It simply installs the software and drivers no matter what.

If the driver is wrong. it won't install, anyway..modder or not.

After I installed the modded driver, in my device manager it reports
"ATI Mobility Radeon 3650" which is what it should report. So..
it is the correct driver.

Like I said..since I am familiar with Mobility Modder..I used it.

I am sure each person will use what they are most comfortable with.

 

But it will though. It should at least. Nvidia's drivers do, and I'm fairly sure I've had people report back that they had success with ATi's drivers. I just don't see the point in using third party modified drivers when the reference drivers should install.

 

No I tried the Legit Reference drivers from Vista Catalog.

So far so Good. 3DMark 06 improved from
2999 out of the box
3034 Pre-release drivers
3042 8.533 9/16/2008 driver

I am fine with 3042.

But its still a pain when it should be easier.

 

What drivers did you use, and how did you install them? The only drivers I saw on that catalog for that card were old-June '08, if I'm recalling correctly.

 

http://catalog.update.microsoft.com

Search ATI Mobility at link above then sort by last updated...should populate latest ATI driver near top of list

Click driver title to verify if its X86 or X64(tends to be larger .cab file)

Download then extract .cab file w/WinRaR and install via device manager...simple and straightforward...

No modding/hacking/cracking, ect. involved! K.I.S.S. method...

 

I'm just seeing Windows 7 stuff at the top of the list, and then old Vista drivers (?)

Plus how's that different from just grabbing ATi's newest reference driver from their site? I'm hoping that'll work-that's what I'll plan to do.

I'm not sure you even need a special tool to extract them. With Nvidia's drivers at least, you can just launch setup, and it'll error out, but leave behind the extracted files, which you can point device manager at.

 

Fine..just stick with what works for you then.

Just pointing out to those who may be interested in running latest ATI Mobility WHQL-signed unified driver with all bugfixes/enhancements that is fully compatible w/Windows7 & Vista.

 

Okay, first, I don't know that installing the regular reference drivers works for sure. Second I don't know why you wouldn't if it does, and third, I still don't see these updated drivers on that site. I mean I'm glad you're helping, but I still don't see the drivers you're talking about, or understand their benefit versus the drivers ATi hosts.

 

Search for vista mobility 3650 and than click on "Last Updated"

 

That works as well although you are limiting yourself to just Vista drivers while the Windows7 drivers are also backwards compatible w/Vista...

Depending on driver you download, there may be several .inf files to choose from after extracting the cab file. Best bet is to just install the largest file size in bytes .inf out of the group from the update driver option under device manager...

 

I can't get the drivers from Microsoft to work. I used WinRar to extract the files (it unzipped a TON of files) but every time I try and install it with Device Manager, it claims that the drivers are up to date.

 

Do you click on "Browse my computer for driver software"?

 

Yes. As soon as I direct to the folder, it automatically says that the drivers are already up to date, but they're showing the ones from July.

 

Try to uninstall the current ones in safe mode with Driver Sweeper, and than try to update to the latest.

 

Oh christ, that was terrifying for a second there. The drivers are up to date now, but apparently Driver Sweeper deleted something called the MOM.implementation' because I keep getting this error that it can't be found every time my computer boots up now.

 

I had the same exact thing happen and Catalyst Control center was gone, I was in a panic to get it back, But I finally did

 

How'd you do it? I just tested out the new drivers in WoW and my fps cranked up a bit, so I don't mind that much, but if it's something important, I want to try and get it back.

 

Mostly trial an error for 1 hour, my Catalyst Control center was gone. I had no color control or graphics settings.

So finally I Un-installed everything ATI everything.

I rebooted then inserted the DELL DVD with the original drivers, and that finally got everything back to normal.