Custom Switchable Graphics Driver

If you have switchable graphics and are tired of waiting for HP to release anything that resembles a recent driver version, keep an eye on this thread (or hopefully contribute as well):

Modified ATI Catalyst 11.2 Switchable Graphics Driver - Guru3D.com Forums

 

Nice find. If he can get the intel drivers to sign, then it may well be worth it for most of us.

 

Yeah. Having to hit F8 at boot is kind of a hassle.

 

*shrugs* While nice I really don't see the purpose of this when you can just use the latest HP drivers and then toss the latest AMD on top of them and have switchable work still (I mean yeah you have to find a direct download to AMD's drivers but still)

 

The latest drivers do not install properly. The new CCC will install successfully, but the drivers themselves never update.

 

they do update just fine. i had always used the newest ATI drivers when i had my envy 14. only "problem" i ran into was that the Fn + F2/F3 for brightness control is lost once you update past 10.8 or above. the latest one i've used was 11.1a (awesome performance gain compared to others) before i returned it.

 

Doesn't that kind of defeat the point?

 

*shrugs* you could still change the brightness when on the intel gpu.

and you could change the brightness by opening up the windows mobile center. (windows key + x)

not that I really bothered updating above 10.8 until 11.1 came out

 

Sorry for going slightly off topic in regards to the custom graphic drivers but...

Im using 10.09 (if im reading CCC correctly) and I can still use F2/3 to control my brightness, though thinking about it now, I think I got the installer for this from HP so that could be why.

I see on the AMD site that 11.2 is the latest version, is it worth updating?

 

If you are using the HP drivers, the driver version is 10.8.

11.2 will not install over the latest HP package (after installing the driver package, look at the report -- it will not show the graphics driver being installed). There are mixed success stories with 11.1 and 11.1a.

 

download 11.2 from opendrivers and it will update with fully working brightness keys

make sure you search 5650

 

That's because the driver didn't install. If I'm wrong, please post a screen capture of CCC showing the driver version information.

 

*shrugs, tries installing 11.2 over 11.1*

 

Alright check the attachments down there.

11.2 installed with no problem over 11.1 which installed with no problem over HP 10.6 (second HP driver release).


I didn't know HP 10.8 and/or 10.9 (those two newer releases) existed.

I'm on an envy 14 cto-1000

the executable I used to install 11.2: http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/11-2_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe

 

Interesting. I've tried numerous times installing over the HP 10.8 drivers. The 11.1 broke the switchable graphics and 11.2 never installed properly.

I may take the time to test over the 10.6
If that's the case, it's a bummer since HP updated the 10.8 drivers with newer Intel drivers (which are able to support hardware accelerated browsers)

 

Well, I'll be damned, Magus. The driver you linked installed without issue over the 10.8 drivers.

Gonna go eat my foot now.

 

Try playing a game like SC2, to check the driver didn't goof up...

Updating directly over the current driver is not always perfect....

 

The envy 14 is like a sony laptop or something.


You need a direct link to the drivers (and you also need the correct direct link sometimes). Otherwise you won't get the drivers (but may get the CCC and other stuff) or it just won't install at all due "this laptop is not supported"

 

yeah exactly. also another "issue" i ran into at first was that i tried to install the desktop drivers. make sure it has "mobility" tagged on.

 

well yeah. installing desktop drivers will cause all sorts of problems (if you can even get them to install)

 

Can you link those HP drivers for me? I can't seem to find them, all I see are the 8.77 drivers.

 

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp50001-50500/sp50027.exe

August 19th Drivers. 8.741.1.3000

There's an older pair of drivers not linked (8.713) but those drivers have biiiiig issues.


Well not big but if you tried to ever update the amd drivers you will get a semi-permanent black screen (til you reboot, but if you reboot immediately you won't finish updating the drivers so you had to wait like 10 minutes before restarting your laptop).

Caused a lot of headaches for the people who first got the laptop. We couldn't figure out a way to update the drivers til well..we realized it was still updating even though there was a black screen (we were just turning the computer off too soon)

 

But the one you linked, should isntall just fine, and still be switchable?

 

yeah.

any of the HP sets SHOULD install fine and still be switchable when you put 11.1/11.2 ontop of it.

Even the original ones that aren't on HP's website anymore worked fine and were upgradeable (you just couldn't see it upgrading stuff since well..yeah...)

 

I just tried it and I can confirm that this works! Screen went black for 5 secs or s, but worked fine, didn't even ask for a reboot!

Thank you!

 

Hey guys i got this envy in january and w/ driver version 8.771.1..... I downloaded and tried to install from the link posted on page 2 of this thread and after it was done it still says 8.771.1? any ideas what i'm doing wrong?

 

Do you mean this link or a different one?

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/11-2_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe


That link should work, gpu should be 8.821.

I mean it worked for my envy. Now I may not have been on 8.771.1 (was one 8.473.1 or something) but *shrugs* can't see why it won't work unless HP does something weird with the latest gpu drivers.


Did you do a custom install to make sure the new gpu driver WAS being installed?

 

Btw, CIV 5 works much better with the new drivers, I'll try Dragon Age 2 next.

 

Well for me the ATI installer says:
ATI Display Driver is already installed and up to date
but the version it shows is: 8.771...I tried the latest 11.3 and also the 11.2 you lined, but still..

Do I have to uninstall first the old ATI driver? Is it possible?

 

It took me a few tries to get 11.2 to install since i was having the same problem. Give it a few tries.

 

I have stock drivers installed, whats the best way to install the latest 11.3 and still maintain switchable graphics, and brightness controls?

 

For the F8 during bootup, you can use this:

Force Load Unsigned Drivers In Test Mode Easily in Windows 7 or Vista with Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider My Digital Life

It forces test mode in Win7, so you can use unsigned drivers w/out having to f8.

 

Download this:
http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/11-3_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe

You should have the ATI GPU enabled in switchable graphics, then start the installer. Then you should choose Custom to check whether it is updating your drivers or not (for me it did the update only when I had the ATI GPU enabled).
After that my computer's screen went black and it restarted itself, but now without having any ATI driver installed, so I started the installer again and it went all the way till the end. After an other reboot my computer has the latest drivers installed, brightness controls work too, so I am satisfied.

Good luck.

 

Or use ReadyDriver Plus.

Has anyone tested the Guru3D modded drivers on an Envy 13?

 

Thanks, I will try this out tonight.

Seen any difference having updated the drivers?

 

This worked for me too. Previously I was running the stock HP 8.771 driver version. I downloaded and ran the Catalyst 11.3 installer. The screen went blank then the system rebooted, but said there was no driver installed - same thing after another reboot. So I ran the installer again. After it finished it still said there was no video driver installed. I rebooted one more time and lo and behold I now am running the 8.831 driver version.

 

So, I upgraded and lo and behold...the next day my battery meter is giving an accurate reading....I had done a clean install and it had always been wildly off. Crazy.

 

I did what you guys are saying and it installs the driver but CCC will not open and the brightness keys fail to work. I tried running it from the Start Menu and by right clicking the desktop but nothing opens. The tray icon is also not there. It never prompted me to restart after installation but I did anyways. You meant to install 11.3 over the legacy drivers drivers right? Are you using the Envy 17 3D with the 6850M?

 

I installed over the standard HP ATI video drivers (version 8.771), but I'm using an ENVY 14 with an ATI 5650 (switchable) graphics card. Does the Envy 17 i7 with the 6850M even have switchable graphics? Maybe that's the difference.

 

It does but I wish it didn't because there doesn't seem to be any official support from with new AMD drivers.

 

What do you know..it worked!

Now. Can I do the same thing with the Intel HD GPU?
And if so, how would I go about doing that? Enable the HD GPU or keep the ATI enabled?

 

nuD, your brightness controls, switchable gfx both work just like HP stock drivers? What was your exact install procedure?

Can any of u guys tell me if hdmi audio Works fine after installing 11.3?

 

I think theres probably a way to use another program to control brightness using the buttons and programming them. I came across one last night, but decided against it for now.

 

So your brightness controls dont work? This is why I'm aprehensive to upgrade to 11.3 because I keep hearing different things from different people. Can someone update us all with what does/doesnt work after the upgrade?

 

I actually just insalled domi's file for 11.3 and everything seems to work. On 11.1 I had brightness controls breaking and Ill let you know if anything changes.

 

I'm using 11.3 on my new Envy 17 3D SB. It took about four tries to install correctly but the brightness keys do not work.

 

Yup. Ah. I just installed that link that was poster earlier. That's about it. First time I installed it it failed. I tried again after a restart and it worked. Oh, and I had the ATI GPU working. To be honest it's actually better than the older stock drivers. I've got higher WEI scores and when you switch GPUs, it updates the name of the GPU you're using automatically.

I tried to install the new Intel GPU drivers while the ATI GPU was running but it didn't work. I was going to try to enable the Intel GPU and then try, but figured no point in messing with a good thing.

EDIT: This is all regarding 11.2, and NOT 11.3.

 

Anyone figure out how to update the Intel GPU drivers?

 

Took me two tries to get 11.3 installed properly. Two anomolies after that.

1. Brightness hotkeys no longer worked...

2. Switchable graphics still works..BUT...with default HP drivers, when you switch back and forth. Radeon refresh should be 120 HZ and Intel 60. With 11.3, when you switch back and forth...refresh stays at 60 HZ and you have to manually set the Radeon back to 120...

Other than that...works OK.

 

Just updated to 11.4. I was suffering from the refresh rate going to 40hz when I would switch to the Intel GPU, but that now seems to be fixed, so I'm assuming it would probably be fixed with you.

My brightness control worked on 11.2 or whichever version the drivers were that were posted earlier in this thread...was worried another version might break them but I'm happy to say that they still work. No issues so far.
Just wish there was a way to update the Intel GPU...