***Updating Mobile Graphics Cards Drivers (Windows 7 and Vista)***

[Finzy]

Is there any way whatsoever to update the graphics driver on an Acer 8935G with switchable graphics? I'm getting sick of the fact that I can't upgrade just because it happens to have a useless switchable intel graphics chip that I never use. So I'm stuck with the official Acer drivers from late 2009 *shudders*.

After many trial and error I managed to update the catalyst control center before by just installing it over the factory drivers, but it still didn't update the actual drivers. And now my laptop refuses to update the catalyst control center either (from 11-1 to 11-3). The CCC update app just reports that errors occured during the installation and cancels.

If I try to uninstall ANY of the graphics drivers, either intel or Ati, my laptop will show a black screen on boot and I'll have to reformat the entire hard drive. True story since it happened to me twice, so I'm very paranoid of uninstalling any drivers now.

I'd contact Acer support about it if I could, but they're so crappy that they only seem to handle repair issues. Lame. Well, it's a good way to lose customers I suppose...I don't think anyone would want to buy a laptop that can't be updated at all, if their newer models are anything of the same...

[ArDarsh]

In terms of driver upgrades on switchable graphics laptops, which company seems to do it right? nVidia or AMD

I assume that nVidia is more seamless, and I can always go to their website and get updated drivers versus waiting on the laptop maker. Or is the manufacturer still a bottleneck?

[Falco152]

Nvidia , does the best so far. You can just go to the Nvidia website to download the updated drivers but you also have to download the Intel drivers as well. Downside is you cannot just install Nvidia without the Intel portion.

For the current AMD switchable, you are dependent on the OEM to release the drivers. Sure you could mod the newer generic drivers to work but at a risk of reduced functionality or increased temps.

However, I haven't tested if I update the intel after installing nvidia...

[WARDOZER9]

For an 8800m GTS should I stick with DOX optomized 195.62 driver, go to Nvidia's official 267.76 driver or is there a better modified driver for W7 x86?

GF mainly plays CoD4 on this laptop but occasionally I play Fo3 on it but 99% of the time it's CoD4 if that matters.

[NightGoon]

For an 8800m GTS should I stick with DOX optomized 195.62 driver, go to Nvidia's official 267.76 driver or is there a better modified driver for W7 x86?

GF mainly plays CoD4 on this laptop but occasionally I play Fo3 on it but 99% of the time it's CoD4 if that matters.

I would rec. the 267.31's or 266.87 both seem good on "older" HW, dont bother with 270's they suck if you're not on a 5xx series. The two i said supp newer games while maintaining good perf. The 267.76 are also very bad, try them in 3d mark and comp to 195's and see for yourself...Lately NVidia has been doing a bad job with these verdes

[WARDOZER9]

I would rec. the 267.31's or 266.87 both seem good on "older" HW, dont bother with 270's they suck if you're not on a 5xx series. The two i said supp newer games while maintaining good perf. The 267.76 are also very bad, try them in 3d mark and comp to 195's and see for yourself...Lately NVidia has been doing a bad job with these verdes

Ahh, will try the 267.31 and compare to the Dox drivers.

[Phistachio]

Hello there guys! I have made a guide, that might help on getting newbies into installing drivers in a more easy way. In this case, I use the 11.4 drivers as example. Enjoy

WARNING : I take no responsabilities if something goes wrong. I have done this 10+ times, and never went wrong.

THANK YOU, MagusDraco : Do not install these drivers if you have switchable graphics like in the SB CPUs, and some i5s. If you have switchable, you must install the OEM drivers first, and then these ontop, without uninstalling anything.

THANK YOU, ViciousXUSMC : You should only use the "super clean" method if the first easy method brings you problems like worse performance, BSOD's, etc.

If you want to do a simple uninstall/install, then :

1. Download the driver : AMD_Catalyst_11.4_Preview_Win7_Vista_March23_MobilityMod_asder00@Guru3D.7z
2. Execute it
3. Install the ATi CIM
4. When in ATi Catalyst Install Manager, press uninstall
5. Select the mode you want. If custom, choose everything
6. Reboot
7. You will see everything big, it's OK. Just run the file again, and this time, press INSTALL.
8. Select the mode you want. If custom, tick everything.
9. Reboot.
10. Profit

BUT, if you want thorough and clean uninstall/install, do these steps :

1. Download driver sweeper : Phyxion.net - Driver Sweeper and install it
2. Download CCleaner : Download CCleaner 3.05.1409 - FileHippo.com and install it
3. Download the driver : AMD_Catalyst_11.4_Preview_Win7_Vista_March23_MobilityMod_asder00@Guru3D.7z
4. Execute it, install ATi CIM, and when in it, select uninstall
5. Uninstall EVERYTHING ( choose "custom" and tick everything )
6. Reboot
7. Enter to safe mode
8. Get into driver sweeper and CLEAN AMD - Display ONLY. If anything else, bad stuff might happen.
9. Reboot
10. Enter Safe mode
11. Get into CCleaner, go to "Registries", and "Scan for issues"
12. Reboot
13. Run the driver installer ( as in 4. )
14. Select INSTALL, CUSTOM and tick EVERYTHING
15. Reboot
16. Mega profit

Cheers!

[MagusDraco]

side note: Don't do this if you're on a computer that uses switchable graphics. You'll clean out the switchable graphics (and then you'd have to install your OEM's amd gpu package before putting the latest ati drivers on top of it)

[Phistachio]

Thank you Magus, for remembering me about it! Cheers!

[Amnesiac]

Sticky or a link to this in the main driver thread pl0x.