Links to helpful threads for new users...

Hi all,

I should be receiving my m860tu tomorrow, so I was wondering if somebody could link the threads that have been created that tells new recipients which programs or drivers they should be installing to: (a) monitor their system; and (b) make sure it runs optimally.

I'm going to be spending most of tomorrow setting up the laptop and making sure that everything is updated so these threads and suggestions would really help.

A tip on where to find the latest drivers for things that people have been having difficulty with would also be very helpful.

Thanks!

 

Are you installing your own OS? Is it XP? Make sure to install SATA drivers during the XP setup (need to slipstream these into the XP disc) if so. I made a how to post here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3993720&postcount=17

I would recommend not installing some of the drivers that come on the Clevo cd - notably realtek ones, unless you want a resident audio program that isn't removable. The ones on the cd are also outdated and aren't that great. Grab these: ftp://61.56.69.18/pc/audio/WDM_R204.exe (extract and point device manager to them - installs drivers, not program). Ugh the Realtek program is annoying and buggy for me

Newest video drivers are from laptopvideo2go, 179.13: http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/

Jisaac's good recent XP tweaks & optimization post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=305223

Most of this is irrelevant if you're using Vista (ick); in that case check the stickied Vista optimization guide in the windows forum.

Download CPUID's HW Monitor first thing & monitor temps. Check the windows forum sticky guide for free benchmarking software.

 

Thanks for the advice! My laptop will be coming with Vista Home Premium x32. Is it still best for me not to install Realtek if using Vista?

 

dont forget to add soon to be owner of a Nexus

you can find all the software you will need to monitor all the temps and benchmarks on the kobalt forum.

 

I think it's bloatware, yeah and like having as few memory resident programs as possible - especially if they don't seem useful (fingerprint software went too ). Definitely grab the updated ones I linked regardless. You can try using them and see if you like the program (has some echo settings, replaces the volume control, takes up more memory) and always uninstall it if you don't like it. The Realtek drivers on the Clevo cd apparently bluescreened some people who didn't update, and personally I experienced significantly crackling in games until I updated.

The nVidia drivers on the Clevo cd are outdated as well - and worse, the nvidia control panel was actually missing some options that are present in the standard nVidia driver install (powermizer, etc).

Grab the latest Intel Matrix Storage manager (v 8.5, intel's site) as well, and don't install the chipset drivers that come on the clevo cd - they're outdated as well. The rest of the drivers are the latest on the cd.

 

Can you rehost this one? I'm stuck between 0.0 and 5kbps. Also, is this an updated realtek driver, or a different program entirely?

 

Checklist so far then... Don't install Clevo's graphics drivers, chipset drivers, and audio drivers...

 

Sig changed.

 

My attempt at downloading timed out too.

 

Oh huh, hm. Try at another time, it's slow/sluggish for me too. It's one of Realtek's servers for the official latest Realtek driver set (2.04, released Sept 26, 2008)- servers are in Taiwan, and I guess 7am PST (what, 3pm in the UK I think?) is lagtime in Taiwan? It was really fast for me a few days ago (8pmish PST/4am UK haha) but I've since deleted the file.

Realtek HD AUDIO drivers (only, not the NIC drivers):

Server list, Realtek's servers:

Oh, XP drivers I guess:

ftp://66.104.77.130/pc/audio/WDM_R204.exe
ftp://152.104.238.19/pc/audio/WDM_R204.exe
ftp://202.65.194.211/pc/audio/WDM_R204.exe

Vista drivers:

ftp://202.65.194.211/pc/audio/Vista_R204.zip
ftp://66.104.77.130/pc/audio/Vista_R204.zip
ftp://61.56.86.122/pc/audio/Vista_R204.zip

Here we go! Alt server (US) links:
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/SO...High-Definition-Audio-Codecs-R204-Vista.shtml (Vista)
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/SOUND-CARD/REALTEK/Realtek-High-Definition-Audio-Codecs-R204.shtml (XP)


----
Intel's chipset/motherboard drivers (Ver:8.5.0.1032 release 8/18/2008):

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101 (installer)
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/det...01&DwnldID=16759&strOss=&OSFullName=&lang=eng (just a zip file with the chipset drivers)

----
nVidia drivers: http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/ (links on right, replace .inf with modded inf provided at laptopvideo2go)

 

the stickies! at the top of each section of NBR (optimizing vista, hardware,taking care of your notebook, all of that good stuff

 

milcs are u using the 179.13 drivers? Are they gd, still using the ones on the cd atm.

And as i havn't updated laptop gfx card drivers before noob question so i don't screw up my laptop do i just dl'd the installer file and run it. That it or do i need to do more?

DK

 

Cath precious.
Here are my advises (few, not very knowledgeable and very humble):

- For Vista 32bits:

• Install Intel Data Matrix drivers from Intel (the latest you can find. Refer to the following thread to find the link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=292624

• Install the latest drivers directly from Realtek website (search for them on their website, if you don't find them drop me a pm).

• Install L2VGO drivers. I recommend 178.13 (I'm actually using some unreleased drivers from Dox that are working great, I'm sure he will be releasing them soon enough).

For monitoring, the essential:

• Rivatuner (for GPU temps, clocks, etc...)

• HWmonitor (good for keeping track of all the temps of the different components of your laptop, maintaining a record of the higher temps during a session)

• RMClock (essentially to have a graphical display of your CPU clocks and voltage)

For testing your laptop:

• GPU- Furmark (run it for one hour or so, while monitoring temps with both RMclock and Rivatuner)

• CPU- Orthos (run it for as long as you wish while monitoring clocks with RMclock and temps with HWmonitor)

• HDD- use HDtune and run some benchmark tests to see to which temperature can your HDD rise to. Alternatively, run an error scan test and that will drive your HDD to high temps (don't forget to install the intel matrix driver)

And I think that's all I can think of right now.
Any other specifics, PM me and I will help as I can.

Hope you will love it as much as I love mine!

 

Thanks Milcs! Have you slept with it under your pillow yet?

 

Of course... its my precious. It keeps my feet warm on these long winter nights!

 

Funny... I was thinking about sandwiching mine between my frozen feet too. My thinning hot water bottle is due for an upgrade.