Understanding ATI driver schemes

Ok, i've always been an Nvidia guy where its been easy for me to see which driver package ive got installed.

This ati CCC report gives me like 5 different numbers...

How can i tell which driver version i have? I read that 10.5 is out. Since i got my R2 with the 5870's today im not really sure if i need to update.

thanks

Here's what CCC says:

driver packaging: 8.692-2...gibberish...Dell
2d=8.01.01.994
direct3d=8.14.10.0723
OpenGL=6.14.10.9263
CCC ver: 2010.0203.2211.39787 (0203...feb 3rd?)

 

I would like to know the answer to this too because I am in the same boat with my 4870s.

 

did u run gpu-z what does it say in the driver version section....

 

it mostly say that your driver is out of date

 

So im calling BS on the ATI 10.5 drivers....i ran the install twice, express and custom.

my CCC doesnt report a single difference. In fact it still reports the dell package.

Ati?

Sending back and waiting for 480 is starting to look attractive....

 

I think I have the 10.4, does the 10.5 improve preformance any or am I besst staying with the 10.4?

 

Use GPU-Z to identify which driver you have. It'll say under driver version ATI 10.3 or similar.

 

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This is what 10.5 looks like:

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The 10.5 designation simply means that it is the reference driver and graphics utilities package released for or during May, 2010. The date referenced designation appears at several points in CCC, as indicated by the red circles. The driver itself is formally known as 8.732 (the blue circle) dated May 4, 2010. That is the driver name that will appear in Device Manager. The ATI at the end of the driver version indicates that it was published by ATI.

You have driver 8.692, which was published by Dell and appears to be based on the ATI 10.2 reference driver set. It's hard to tell without the gibberish. That's all it means.

As TheWhiteWizard said, GPU-Z also provides that info:

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do it, maybe they'll learn how to make drivers properly

 

You mean the card that (with just one 480) is inferior to 5870 crossfire, and won't be able to run in SLi on the M17x without a complete refresh for reasons of power consumption and heat?

Seriously. The 480 is not worth it; both on desktop and laptop. It'll produce so much heat and use so much more power for an increase in performance over a 5870 that's not worth it, and at a much higher price.

I've always found ATi drivers to be superior to nVidia drivers. I'm running an 8800GT in a desktop, so I'm familiar with both.

 

thanks for the clear response. It appears that it just wont update over the other driver so im going to uninstall and try again.

 

i really dont understand this ATI driver crap!....I downloaded what ATI identified as the 10.5 package and unistalled my previous drivers...

All the new package installed was the CCC...no freakin drivers...

what the heck is wrong with ATI that they think that's the way to update (or not) thier drivers....

 

Sure you downloaded the mobility 10.5 drivers?

If not, link below is for the notebook driver.

ATI Catalyst 10.5 Mobility Display Driver

 

soooo....ive been on hold with ati for at least 15 after being transferred from the level 1 guy. if I get through and actually get a solution i'll share it.

 

Just a heads up about ATi driver updates, it really helps if you uninstall the previous driver using the normal ATi CCC uninstaller, and then using a driver sweeper (Guru3d has one that works well). I've seen this problem before on the Asus G73 boards and more success was found using the above method.

Also, I did have issues last month accidently downloading the desktop drivers. ATi sure doesn't make it awfully clear when you navigating for their drivers and I ended up with the wrong ones. The more upsetting part is that the installer runs and everything looks like it works without any indications that you picked up the wrong drivers.

 

ok, so here's a fix to get the installer to see that CCC and drivers need to be updated...

goto the c:\ATI\SUpport\10-5\COnfig folder and find the installmanager.cfg file.

find the workaroundinstall=false and change false to true.

save the file and run the installer from c\ati\support\10.5..\ and run setup. It will see the updates now.

So far for me the drivers keep failing and im getting bluescreens. so i'll update if i can get it stable.

 

Hi Aranthira

Unfortunately Rep Power is awarded based on popularity. Enthusiasm also often passes for knowledge on this forum. Very vexing for new Alienware owners looking for straight forward answers.

Like yourself I contacted AMD Canada tech support (yesterday) and here is what they told me:

1) All laptop users are to install drivers from THEIR laptop manufacturer. Do not use the AMD mobile drivers.

2) The Catalyst 10.4 mobile driver IS NOT compatible with any Alienware laptops.

3) I asked the tech than "who" is suppose to use the Catalyst 10.4 mobile driver if all customers were to use their laptop brand of driver? His answer was very blunt. "it was a mistake for AMD to post that driver as only a select few customers should use it under select circumstances." An example would be someone who has added a game or piece of hardware that no longer works with Alienware driver. In that case the AMD driver may solve the problem but also may create new ones as it is not 100% compatible with Alienware. It is a pure trade off as AMD drivers do not have support for vender specific features. Only Alienware drivers have all the vender specific features supported.

4) All laptop manufactures must write their own drivers to keep control of their systems. Each manufacturer customizes the GPU to match their LCD requirements. The Alienware GPU driver is finely tuned to Alienwares specific RGB Screen. AMD does not recommend Alienware laptop customers use AMD drivers from AMD website.

5) Only desktop customers should update AMD drivers from AMD's site. All laptop owners should only use their Laptop manufacturers drivers.

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When I ordered my laptop I was told by the rep that the delay has been due to the problems they had encountered with the 5870 CF drivers. (go figure)

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Most of the regulars on this forum use the latest ATI mobile drivers. I credit those people for getting it to work but I don't think they are being honest about the downside. There is a herd mentality on this forum that someone tries something once than they rationalize it should therefore work for millions of other people. Some have installed the driver you are trying to install and have actually worsen frame rates, others have improved frame rates, and others can't get it to work.

Dell is the only source of Alienware laptop GPU's. If you go to tigerdirect and try to order an Alienware GPU they tell you they can't and to go back to Alienware as these GPU's are very custom. It seems pretty obvious to me that if a GPU is custom than you will have marginal success with a standardized AMD driver. The Alienware M17x with 5870 CF is the fastest (and perhaps the most sophisticated- feature rich) laptop on the planet. If it is not fast enough than perhaps people should switch to desktops or stop playing crappy games.

The mobile 5870 is based on the desktop 5770. The desktop 5770 uses a maximum power consumption of 108 Watts per card. The alienware M17x R2 comes with a 250W power supply. In Crossfire in theory they would consume 216 watts leaving 34 watts for the CPU, Ram, Fan, LCD, Speakers, lights and dozens of other accessories. Obviously Dell had to cut some bells and whistles from the card in order to make it compatible with their feature rich laptop. This is also why Dell doesn't want the GPU overclocked. Falcon Northwest for example told me December 2009 that they won't overclock GPU's. In their experience it led to too many failures and problems. They feel that GPU manufacturers have already throttled them hard enough. However they overclocked to the max, my CPU. Each his own.

A generic driver is not a magic bullet that will factor in every manufacturers hardware & software. This I think is why it is a hit and miss game. Also some are quick to point it works for them. However these same people don't have a clue as to the failure rates after modifying them. I can see both sides of the coin, I really don't want to destable my system or replace my GPU next year but also don't want a slow system if I can upgrade for free. It would be nice if some would engage in meaningful conversation rather than just cyber bullying to make their point.

Cheers