What if your LCD can look better on ATI graphics? Try this...

I wasn't around this forum for a while so I apologize in advance if it was mentioned before.

I use Vista Ultimate - so it may be a Vista issue too. I recommend trying this on XP machines too.

Well I was happy with ATI Catalyst 7.2 for a while, and then decided to install 7.8. Modded with DH modder and installed without a glitch. During install screen flickered and changed somehow. Hm. I was thinking it was normal. And then I restarted as usual....

And somehow colours on the screen were not what I was seeing before. "washed out" feeling and strange gamma settings. Contrast was awful. I have not seen that before with ATI drivers updates. It was also "cooler" - or more blueish. I played FEAR and it looked like my gamma settings are way high. Black colour was "dark grey black" and I could see the LCD backlight much more while the screen was black. Ok drivers changed something right? I know Catalyst Control Center (CCC) is awful, but in Vista it actually forks fine (fast) (put aside 150 MB of wasted space)

I opened CCC and finally found this under Color (after playing with gamma and contrast settings - but it didn't help too much).
Scroll down the window and you will see something like Black and White levels settings Despite the recommendation given by ATI I always change things if I have problems.

It is set to PC standard black and white levels - change it to Microsoft MCE black and white levels and hit Apply.

In my case I got my old perfect picture. Gamma excellent, contrast too, Black is black and white is white (more "warmer" feeling), colours are great again.

Just in case you are having this problem and think how bad LCD you have (or you don't know it can be better), try this... Give it a shot, and use it for some time while your eyes adjust to the warmer "white". Set brightness to max and enjoy. Then go back to the "standard levels" and see the difference. Decide what looks better.

Hope this helps,

Ivan

 

Is powerplay working normaly for you with these drivers? I just went back to manufactures because 7.7 was screwy. But i think it had something to do with the ati tray tools playing i did. I removed ati tray tools!

 

I use the latest ATT 1.3.6.1053 and ATI 7.8.
Powerplay works normally
Maximum battery life: 209/130
Balanced: 391/247
Maximum performance: 425/373
I use ATT since it is possible to use it on Vista - works perfectly. Have you read the step by step guide for overclocking ATi with ATT?

Hope that helps,

Ivan

 

Nvidia's digital vibrance is a pretty neat feature. It seems to increase contrast & over-saturate colors to create a nice image.

 

Yes i have, and you responded to me, i see now.

I just went and updated the ati drivers to 7.8 and i dont have a color problem, though i will go and see about all these settings you mention, later on. See if it does anything

Powerplay is working nice!!

I use vista battery saver for a couple reasons. Windows Vista ultimate wont change my power scheme according to power source, and i like to disable aero and sidebar.

Right now im using NHC for brightness, and thats it. If vista battery saver gets to adding brightness, i wont need NHC anymore

So, anyways, i have 128/130 on the gpu for all power settings, except High Performance. That will run 446/364. My balanced clocks run a bit high, so i dont bother with that setting.

I tried messing with ATT the other day and i didnt get very far. I was using the sliders a little at a time and for some reason, when i hit apply, they would automaticly slide back down a little bit. I did have powerplay turned off, if that was your first thought

I just ended up removing the application before i messed something up to bad. Im more concerned with undervolting my CPU than overclocking the GPU, since the only games i ever play are fine with my GPU's performance.

Ill get back to you in the other thread later tonight

Thanks,
Jon

 

Hey Jon,

Well, yes Powerplay can reset the clocks. You guessed that right. I am glad that 7.8 works right with your comp. I wonder what is your Color setting in CCC in 7.8?

Cheers,

Ivan

 

Heres the color settings. Thats all default. Never played with these settings.
Bottom is set to "Microsoft MCE black and white levels" by default

 

I have CCC open, and I'm in the color menu, but I don't see anything for black/white settings. Where can I find it?

 

Well that is interesting since mine was set to Standard PC....

To Mr. Anderson:
Scroll down that window if you can.

Ivan

 

Nothing to scroll down in my version of CCC. Mine doesn't look like that one that got posted. No scroll bar down the side.

 

And I presume you have installed the 7.8 version too? Well I don't know then. If you are satisfied with your colours I guess it is ok to forget the whole thing.

Cheers,

Ivan

 

That's the thing, I don't know what version I have. It was preinstalled on the Vista machine I just bought, and I don't know what verison it is. Should I just go ahead and download 7.8?

 

you have xpress chipset - I guess you download integrated drivers from ati then. I cannot see xpress1270 anywhere?

I have never tried it. It is up to you. 7.8 are good drivers to upgrade to. Better than 7.2 and 7.7. I can say only that.

Ivan