WIndows 7 RC ATI 7500 Driver for Older Thinkpads

[Harryc]

I found a thread with what seems like a viable solution for a 3D accelerated driver in Windows 7. I am running this on an R51 and so far it works well, but I have not tested much yet. It is actually the Vista 7500 driver but slightly modified.
Reference thread:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/for ... 9c/#page:2

Instructions:
Download and unzip this file into it's own folder. Remember the location.
http://mysite.verizon.net/hjc56/files/ati_7500.zip

Start button, right click on 'Computer', select properties, then device manager.
Under 'display adapters' , right click on the VGA adapter, then select 'update driver software'
Select 'browse my computer for driver software'
Select 'let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer'
Select 'have disk'
Browse to the folder the drivers were zipped into above
Ignore all warnings and follow any prompts
Reboot

[sojourner]

Thanks for the post Harryc. Have not tried those drivers but have been using these for some time with good success: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41918

Wanted to post some benchmarks for the drivers I use, perhaps others can post their results and we can find the 'ultimate' T and X series drivers.

SOFTWARE: Wintune 98 (v1.043)
SCORES:
Video 2D = 62.4277 MPixels/s
Direct3D = 162.7854 MPixels/s
OpenGL = 111.564 MPixels/s

see sig for system

[lifrancis]

Thanks for the link. There is slight improvement in video performance, Google Earth can now work properly. Also, with the proper ATI driver, sleep mode is operating again.

[lifrancis]

Interesting comparison:
SOFTWARE: Wintune 98 (v1.032)
___________Harryc Driver_______________________sojourner Driver
Video(2D)__54.88245 MPixels/s__________________54.58609 MPixels/s
Direct3D___160.6723 MPixels/s__________________311.3054 MPixels/s
OpenGL____47.48782 MPixels/s__________________142.6927 MPixels/s

Test bed: My T41 (see signature)

[lifrancis]

Good benchmark test results can mean absolutely nothing, if it does not perform in real life. In this case, using sojourner's driver suggestion, I got the BSOD twice while opening Google Earth. So, back to Harryc's driver suggestion, until I can find something better.

[sojourner]

lifrancis, what Google Earth version are you using? Also, v4.?? will not even install on my setup, keeps giving some error. Did you have any trouble installing?

EDIT: just tried the altered Vista drivers and receive an error "Access is denied", they won't install !!

[lifrancis]

For my Win 7, I am using Google Earth 5.0.11733.9347, with DirectX 9. For Win XP, I use the pro version. Since the Win 7 is not my working platform, I just installed the free version on it.

[GomJabbar]

EDIT: just tried the altered Vista drivers and receive an error "Access is denied", they won't install !!

Try turning off UAC before installing the ATI drivers. After the drivers are installed, then turn UAC back on.

[sojourner]

Try turning off UAC before installing the ATI drivers. After the drivers are installed, then turn UAC back on.

Thought about that but UAC is already turned off!

Any other ideas why it won't install?

[lifrancis]

Latest development:
I downloaded a free program "DriverMax" (one of those that put a lot of limitations on the free version user in order to get you to pay up for the pro version). Using it, I located and downloaded version 8.241.0.0 of the ATI driver. So far, it seems to work fine on Win 7 (no problem with Google Earth).

Benchmark results with Wintune 98:
Video(2D) 49.34938 MPixels/s
Direct3D 309.9113 MPixels/s
OpenGL 153.0649 MPixels/s

[sojourner]

I located and downloaded version 8.241.0.0 of the ATI driver. So far, it seems to work fine on Win 7 (no problem with Google Earth).

Can you post a link to the SW?

[plympton]

Bump for download link to driver please!

Thanks!
-Dan

[nickleics]

Thank you all for your help with this issue. I have followed all of the links provided, and would like to share with you my feedback. Please note that I have an X31 running Windows 7 RC.

What I started with

Download location: Windows 7 RC installation
Driver reported as: ATI Mobility Radeon 7500
Stability: Poor. Required modification of settings in "Troubleshoot" tab to be two notches from the left (i.e. disable all DirectDraw and Direct3D) to avoid BSOD errors.
Performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw
In SD: ok, a little choppy
In HD: very choppy
Windows Experience Index: "Graphics" and "Gaming graphics" both 1.0

Option 1: the Harryc version

Download location: http://mysite.verizon.net/hjc56/files/ati_7500.zip
Driver reported as: ATI Mobility Radeon7500 (Microsoft Corporation - XDDM)
Driver version: 6.14.10.6606 (15.Aug.06)
Stability: Good. No requirement to use "Troubleshoot" tab.
Performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw
In SD: very smooth, no glitches
In HD: a little choppy throughout
Windows Experience Index: Does not complete

Option 2: the sojourner version

Download location: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41918
Driver reported as: ATI Mobility Radeon
Driver version: 6.14.10.6547 (6.Feb.07)
Stability: Good. No requirement to use "Troubleshoot" tab.
Performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw
In SD: quite smooth, some glitches
In HD: a little choppy throughout
Windows Experience Index: Does not complete

Option 3: the lifrancis version
Note: I did not have the direct link to the lifrancis version, but I found it (I think) on CNET. This may not be the exact version that he used.

Download location: http://download.cnet.com/ATI-Mobility-R ... 31442.html
Driver reported as: ATI Mobility Radeon X1300
Driver version: 8.241.0.0 (21.Mar.06)
Stability: Good. No requirement to use "Troubleshoot" tab.
Performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw
In SD: quite smooth, some glitches
In HD: a little choppy throughout
Windows Experience Index: Does not complete

Summary

• The Radeon 7500 drivers supplied with Windows 7 were not stable
• The "Harryc" drivers performed well and provided best performance
• The "sojourner" drivers produced a disappointing performance
• The "lifrancies" drivers were clearly for another card but produced performance comparable with the "Harryc" drivers
• Best bet: Option 1 (the "Harryc" drivers) above

Hope this helps someone.

Nick

[marYn]

Could somebody upload Harryc version drivers (or some other suitable for video playback in Win7 on X31? It can't be downloaded from the link above.

Thanks in advance.

[Harryc]

http://k1dugar.110mb.com/~downloads/atiixpag.zip

You can try this one too -
http://mobilityradeon7500vistadriver.webs.com/

[nickleics]

I've tried the DNA drivers, but found them not to be so great (others may have better experiences).

The link to the harryc drivers no longer works, but I've re-uploaded them here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B0GIOPRK

I still think these are the best drivers, in terms of performance.

[marYn]

Thank you all!

Meanwhile I've tried to install XP drivers and it works fine. Video playback is smooth and even old CounterStrike was running fine..

I'll download uploaded drivers anyway because you never know when it comes handy. Thanks again!

[helpme_1]

I've tried the DNA drivers, but found them not to be so great (others may have better experiences).

The link to the harryc drivers no longer works, but I've re-uploaded them here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B0GIOPRK

I still think these are the best drivers, in terms of performance.

Thanks for sharing your experience of different drives with win 7. Amoung them, do you find any of them allow the use of Aero effect on win 7?

[nickleics]

Thanks for sharing your experience of different drives with win 7. Amoung them, do you find any of them allow the use of Aero effect on win 7?

No. This is definitely not possible. Sorry.

[T400plus]

I got the drivers from the other site mentioned....Thanks..


cancelled...
T41 1.7GHz cpu 1.5GB memory 160 GB pata HD 14.1 " Tubelight LCD

[Michelle]

I recently installed Windows 7 RC and am using an Radeon X700 AGP card and found a way to get the card to work. I don't have full capabilities, (like AGP acceleration or fast write or Smartgart) but the screen is not boggy and slow anymore. The main reason for that, I believe is due to insufficient drivers for my motherboard for this version of windows, so I cannot use it to it's full potential. I'm not sure if it would be the same for each card, but I can't imagine it being much different. Here is how to get yours to work.

1. Download the latest drivers for XP for your card and run it in XP SP3 compatibility mode. Install everything and restart the computer to make sure everything on that end is settled in. You should now have a folder in C:\ATI\Support for the version of Catalyst you installed. We'll call this folder "X".

2. Go to your device manager. Your Radeon should still be sticking out like a sore thumb. Right click and select "Update driver software".

3. Select "Browse my computer for driver software", then "Let me pick...", then "Have disk", then "Browse"

4. Go to "C:\ATI\Support\X\Driver\Driver\XP_Inf" and it should find the .inf file (at least with mine it did, but it was version 8.12 of Catalyst). Click "open", then "ok" and then select your card on the next screen. Proceed through the rest of the installation procedures, and restart.

5. Enjoy!

[T400plus]

Harry's version works for me.
The problem is that with w7 updates done the hibernate featre on T41 ...is not working anymore.
It starts saving to the hard disk but after some time hoots at me and is back to where i gave the hibernate command.! .Sleepworksproperly.

[D-XX]

I know it has been a long time, but could somebody re-upload that harryc driver for WIN7 that seemed to work well. I'll upgrade T41 laptop to Win7 and I need the best possible video/display drivers for ATI 7500. Thanks in advance!

[GACrabill]

I know it has been a long time, but could somebody re-upload that harryc driver for WIN7 that seemed to work well. I'll upgrade T41 laptop to Win7 and I need the best possible video/display drivers for ATI 7500. Thanks in advance!

The "one that works" with Win7 T40-T42 models with ATI 7500 or ATI 9000 graphics chips is "6.14.10.6606".

Try this one :
http://www.mediafire.com/?5tieomimroy#!

[s07h]

I know it has been a long time, but could somebody re-upload that harryc driver for WIN7 that seemed to work well. I'll upgrade T41 laptop to Win7 and I need the best possible video/display drivers for ATI 7500. Thanks in advance!

The "one that works" with Win7 T40-T42 models with ATI 7500 or ATI 9000 graphics chips is "6.14.10.6606".

Try this one :
http://www.mediafire.com/?5tieomimroy#!

Hi, Any chance you could re-upload the harryc driver?
Thanks

[GACrabill]

The "one that works" with Win7 T40-T42 models with ATI 7500 or ATI 9000 graphics chips is "6.14.10.6606".

Try this one :
http://www.mediafire.com/?5tieomimroy#!

Hi, Any chance you could re-upload the harryc driver?
Thanks

You can try this one (use the 2nd 'download' icon - in the center of the screen) :
http://www.magicdriver.com/driver133572 ... .6606.html