X200M Tweaking

Hello guys. I'm going to attempt to help the X200M users. There seems to be alot of us so I'm going to tell you what I've done to improve my performace.

I am not responcible for any harm done to your computer by following this guide. Do this at your own risk!!!

I. X200M Overview
There are different versions of the X200M. Each with different numbers. Some have 128 MB dedicated memory and others only have the 128 shared. Of course the 128 dedicated is best. With the X200M you can give the card an extra 128MB from your RAM giving you a total of 256MB so the good card will have 128 dedicated + 128 shared. If you're using shared it's 128 + 128 but the bad news here is that's 256 MB of RAM taken from your system RAM.

Recommendations:
-I suggest you updgrade your ram. 1.5-2GB is a great number.
-If you're buying a low-end notebook and it comes with the X200M look for the one with 128 dedicated!

II. Driver
The bad news here is that ATI no longer supports drivers for the X200M. So you're stuck with two choices. You can either go with the Omega drivers or you "hack" an ATI desktop driver .

Omega: I can't say much on the omega drivers because I can't get it installed on my comp any longer. There is an older version that works great. Whether or not it improves performance I can't say. Though I do say many people have said that by updating to the Omega Drivers they have gotten a definite boost in the GPU's performance. I have noticed that when I install the Omega Drivers I have a resolution problem. My computer will reset it's resolution on startup, this isn't a big problem but it's definitly a nuisance.

www.omegadrivers.net/

"hacked" Catalyst: A group of very smart people figured a way to get the ATI Catalyst drivers for the desktop to add the data for the X200M so that when the ATI Catalyst Driver is installed it will recognize the gpu. I suggest this method. I have seen a definite boost and I have also seen an increase in stability.

http://www.driverheaven.net/modtool/
**This link will show you how to install the Catalyst Driver.**

III. GPU settings
I'm going to attempt to show you how to setup your GPU.

Opening the GPU Settings:-Start
-Control Panel
-Apperance and Themes
-Display
-Settings
-Advanced

DirectX Settings:
**These settings will improve performace but will lower quality.**
-Go to GPU settings (see above)
-Go to the Direct3D tab
-Select Custom
-Go to the last section and change the following
--Pull Texture Preference to the left all the way
--Pull the Mipmap Detail Level to the left all the way
--Set V-Sync in middle or all the way right.
-Click Apply

OpenGL Settings:
**The X200M is a horrible OpenGL card I suggest not even trying to play OpenGL games. The following settings should already be selected if not, make so.**
-Go to GPU Settings
-Go to the OpenGL tab
-Do the same as Direct3D, except V-sync all the way left
-Click Apply

Make my 128 X200M a 256 X200M:
**The first thing I wanted to do when I got my comp was to change the settings from 128 to 256.**
-Go to GPU Settings
-Go to Frame Buffer tab
-Select 256
-Apply and restart

IV. Games
So now you're probly wondering can I play any good games with the X200M? Well you can play most games, but play them well, that's something you have to decide for yourself. Remember most games have the ability to adjust the details of the game. By doing this you can increase the playability of the game.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=26318
**This is a great thread to read. Alot of games have been mentioned here.**

http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest
**This site tests your system and sees if it's able to play a specific game.**

Recommendation:
-Try the game before you buy. (DEMOS I'm not telling you to go and pirate anything.)



I'm not responsible for any harm done to your computer by reading this thread. Do this at your own risk. I had to resinstall windows several times during learning to do this. Many times because of problems with the Omega Drivers. I'm not putting the Omega Drivers down! Alot of work had been put into these drivers and I have alot of respect for them. My comp just doesn't like them lol.

 

Tried the hacked Catalyst on my 200m and it didn't work. Oh well, omega for me!

When you installed Omega did you install Multires?

 

Yup. I like the Catalyst more though . Btw when you do the Catalyst get the desktop driver not the mobile.

 

I did! I got desktop but it still wouldnt install. You cant get Mobility ones anyway because it runs a system check for compatible cards before it even tried to install.

Any other tips you can give me?

 

Did you follow the guide in the link? Go to

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

If you're like me you'll have to pay special attention to the last half. You'll have to go and select the driver itself.

 

For some reason Omega wont install on my computer because my x200 is a chipset and is not a graphics processor. Omega reqires GPU and doesnt like chipset so i have to stick with default drivers.
Id like to know how did you install Catalyst drivers? I looked on ATi website and it doesnt support x200 since its chipset not GPU.

 

Yeah I tried the "hack" also, followed every single one of the steps (even did the backup process in case the first didnt work) and it didnt work, it gave me the same error as always (cannot find some driver, try installing it again with normal drivers).

 

I had a Compaq V2000z w/ a 200m 2 months ago and the ATI desktop and omega drivers installed just fine. ATI is still "supporting" them. The desktop drivers usually get updated a little slower than the GFX only ones.

The ATI desktop drivers and Omega series do NOT require a dedicated card.

Just make sure you are removing the old drivers before you install the new ones. (go into sage mode and uninstall them from control panel) Also you need to have microsoft .net installed if you want the ATI CCC.

 

Tips and Tricks:
If for some reason the installer does not install you're card try the following:
Go to the device manager, select the currently installed card and choose update driver.
Select the option to display a list of devices.
Select HAVE DISK, and specify the files under C:\ati\support\...\driver\xxx.INF
if you extracted it to the default location that is.



Please be sure to try that. If you're running XP use the file with an X in it if you're using 2000 use the one with a S in it... I believe that's right. I could get my driver to install the way the site says either I had to do that I listed above, it's at the very bottom of the modtool page.

ATI has left the drivers in the hands of your computer manufacter. If you have a Toshiba, Toshiba will provide you with a driver, if you have a Compaq, compaq will provide you with one. I suggest the "hacked" catalyst for performance though.

--I'm sorry guys I'm not an expert at this, this is just what I did to get it to install. If you have any questions ask and If I know the answer I'll help, if not, hopefully someone else will --

 

The official ATi Mobility Catalyst drivers do support the X200M. If you check the stickies in the gaming section for the upgrading video drivers thread, on the first page, is a direct download link to the mobility catalysts. I know the 6.9s work, because I installed them on a Compaq v2627AU.

This may be needed by some people, as the Omega 6.9s do happen to have some compatibility problems. Ive noticed on 2 computers they dont colour some videos correctly. And crash during some games.

And also, I question the wisdom in setting your 200M to use 256MB. I dont think it can even use 128MB effectively.

 

If u read in my post I specified that I tried the backup plan since the first was not succesful, and it didnt work either. And its exactly what u wrote there.

Guess im unlucky as I see a whole bunch of pple installing them yet I cant do squat no matter what I try.

 

I wish I could help you but I really don't know a whole lot about it. I just posted what worked for me. I tried to install the catalyst drivers for my X200M but none of them worked, I tried the mobility and the desktop and neither worked but the "haked" verison does work.

 

I have Windows Vista, and the way you gave to get to your GPU setting seems to be the Windows Xp version. Can you help me out and give me a step by step of how to get to your GPU settings on Vista?