Issues Installing Updated ATI Catalyst Drivers

[johnnybogota]

Hey all, I have had my x100e now for nearly 5 days and I hate it.

Anyway, I come to this party a bit late, I too followed the instructions of Peter Wong on the website above.

I got my 1080HD working in YouTube, then got the error "EXT_framebuffer_object extension was not found" which is how come I arrived at this forum.

So I decided to start it again. I deleted CCC and uninstalled the adaptor. I cannot reinstall the driver, I go through the whole process then select ATI Radeon 3200 Graphics from the list of compatible hardware. Then "Have Disk", point it to the extracted driver files and when I click OK, the list repopulates and gives me AMD760G, I can scroll right down and choose ATI Radeon 3200 Graphics again from the list but it defaults to AMD760G

It was at that point that I broke my laptop and had to start it in safe mode. In safe mode I managed to install the brand new driver from 10-6. rebooted in normal mode and I had no "EXT_framebuffer_object extension was not found" and had perfect 1080HD on YouTube.

Alas, I didn't have CCC, nor could I reinstall it, it goes through the motion then nothing happens. I was interested in the CCC console because I wanted to turn off the Vari Bright feature. Oh Catalyst install manager did install a free trial of Lord of the Rings (Thanks...NOT)

As an unwanted side effect of my new HD capacity. On boot up, my x100e failed to auto detect the monitor, I had to go screen resolution>detect before it would recognise the thinkpad monitor. I cannot see how it can be linked but my Fn+Delete or Fn+Home hotkeys stopped working (adjustment of screen brightness)

Anyway (sorry to tell such a long tale) I noticed up above that ATI Catalyst version 10-6 installs with no probs and without the jiggery pokery, meanwhile Windows Update advises me there are new ATI drivers to install. So I figured what the hell? I will let it have a stab at it.

Voila! I have my auto detect screen resolution back, I have my hotkeys back, but oh! I also have the original driver that came with my laptop last week, the one from August last year. So I now no longer have the 1080 HD performance.

Dagnamit. This is my 4th ThinkPad and most possibly my last, I hear Toshiba makes a nice laptop

[johnnybogota]

Update on the above, my x100e just went to sleep. When I woke it up i had the error message "EXT_framebuffer_object extension was not found" again and the nasty washed out screen appearance that I spent half a day trying to get rid of.

Darn that thing

[crystal castle]

Hey all, I have had my x100e now for nearly 5 days and I hate it.
I cannot see how it can be linked but my Fn+Delete or Fn+Home hotkeys stopped working (adjustment of screen brightness)

I have this same problem, can't adjust screen brightness. Can't say for sure, but this problem seems to have appeared after I installed: Driver Packaging Version 8.741-100527a-100954C-ATI
I'd like to keep accelerated video though. Anyone know a work around for this problem?

[JaimitoBond]

cant seem to install the new 1.6 from AMD site, but was able to update CCC to the latest. the driver version is the latest one from lenovo, 8.something released this july. any ideas?

[JaimitoBond]

so I got 10.5 installed, but not 10.6. Does 10.5 enable you to play 1080p youtube videos? so far I it doesn't seem to do it. I dl flash 10. 720p playback is fine. are there settings that need to be adjusted to get the hardware acceleration?

[The Solutor]

You need at least the drivers 9.11 (november 2009) to get HW acceleration.

The drivers provided by lenovo are 9.6 (august 2009) so they aren't working.

You need also the flash player 10.1 (beta or final) to get HW acceleration working whit flash videos.

[JaimitoBond]

You need at least the drivers 9.11 (november 2009) to get HW acceleration.

The drivers provided by lenovo are 9.6 (august 2009) so they aren't working.

You need also the flash player 10.1 (beta or final) to get HW acceleration working whit flash videos.

thanks. I assume driver version is the one shown on device manager. that is different from the catalyst version 10.5 or 10.6 right?

[crystal castle]

I'm a little confused. The driver I have installed right now (with hw video acceleration) is ATI driver version 8.741.0.0000. The latest one offered from Lenovo is version 8.663.2.1000. And if I'm understanding things correctly, I need at least driver version 8.7xx.x for hw accel? I guess I also don't understand why people are tossing around numbers like 9.5, 9.6, 10.5, 10.6, etc.

[The Solutor]

I'm a little confused. The driver I have installed right now (with hw video acceleration) is ATI driver version 8.741.0.0000. The latest one offered from Lenovo is version 8.663.2.1000. And if I'm understanding things correctly, I need at least driver version 8.7xx.x for hw accel? I guess I also don't understand why people are tossing around numbers like 9.5, 9.6, 10.5, 10.6, etc.

People are "tossing" 10.x or 9.x because this is the official release number used by amd http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

And is used to identify quicly and easly a release (10.6 = june 2010 is easier to understand and remember than 8.xxx.yyy-zzz, isn't it ?)

That said the drivers itself and the ccc are identified by their own build number as appen elsewhere.

windows 7 sp0 = windows 6.1.7600

windows 7 sp1 will be windows 6.1.xxxx

and so on

[JaimitoBond]

I'm a little confused. The driver I have installed right now (with hw video acceleration) is ATI driver version 8.741.0.0000. The latest one offered from Lenovo is version 8.663.2.1000. And if I'm understanding things correctly, I need at least driver version 8.7xx.x for hw accel? I guess I also don't understand why people are tossing around numbers like 9.5, 9.6, 10.5, 10.6, etc.

where did u get that driver from? I can only get 8.732.0.0 installed so far.

[The Solutor]

where did u get that driver from? I can only get 8.732.0.0 installed so far.

the drivers 8.732 are from the release 10.5, but 10.6 are out since mid june (10.7 should be out in few days)

[crystal castle]

(10.6 = june 2010 is easier to understand and remember than 8.xxx.yyy-zzz, isn't it ?)

Not exactly. Not when the problem is figuring out what I actually have installed and reconciling that with what other people have. When I go into device manager and lookup my driver version all I see is "Driver version 8.741.0.0". Is that 10.6 or 10.5?. or 9.x? Or something else entirely? Why should I even have to map one version number to another. There is only one driver.

Anyhow, the screen brightness adjustment issue may not be driver related. I plugged my x100e in yesterday and I was able to adjust the brightness. Only briefly however, I haven't been able to adjust the brightness again, trying different combinations of unplugging/plugging in. I started removing a lot of the Lenovo software that came with the unit, I wonder if I removed one package too many.

[The Solutor]

Not exactly. Not when the problem is figuring out what I actually have installed and reconciling that with what other people have. When I go into device manager and lookup my driver version all I see is "Driver version 8.741.0.0". Is that 10.6 or 10.5?. or 9.x? Or something else entirely? Why should I even have to map one version number to another.

Ok, is matter of opinion/preference.

But all in all this is the amd choice, there is release number, a catalyst CC release number and a driver package number and they can easily figured with the info panel of CCC or with a free utility like Gpu-z.

There is only one driver.

No, not only one driver.

There is a 2d driver, a d3d driver an opengl driver and so on, and sometimes they are nor upgraded on every catalyst release, every component has it's own evolution path and it's own version.

Anyhow, the screen brightness adjustment issue may not be driver related.

This is likely.

You should have at least the hotkeys package, the power management driver, and the catalyst drivers installed to have the full functionality (maybe also the power manager package).

The bios is also involved in the process, so better to have the latest version flashed.

[crystal castle]

No, not only one driver.

I don't understand what you're saying here. There is only one driver package or release from AMD. Inside that package there are multiple components and drivers. But all these different software components can all be considered part of one monolithic release, correct? I mean, you can say "I have OpenGL driver version X.XX" but you can also say I have "Radeon Display Driver 8.7.x" or something. That should be all you need to know.

[The Solutor]

I don't understand what you're saying here.

Just look at the info page of catalyst control center.

BTW I'm not AMD. I'm just explaining how the amd versioning works. Maybe not the best way, but surely a well known way, just because this method is in place since a lot of years.

[johnnybogota]

I have this same problem, can't adjust screen brightness. Can't say for sure, but this problem seems to have appeared after I installed: Driver Packaging Version 8.741-100527a-100954C-ATI
I'd like to keep accelerated video though. Anyone know a work around for this problem?

The screen brightness hotkeys isn't the driver, it is embedded in Catalyst Control Centre. If you download the driver package from Lenovo's x100e support site, you get the hotkey funcionality back as it installs the Lenovo release of CCC. If you install CCC and the new drivers from AMD then you lose the screen brightness funcionality.

Seems to me like a lose lose situation. You either have jumpy HD flash video reproduction or you lose your hotkeys, I got fed up tinkering with it, I have the official Lenovo release of CCC and the August 2009 dirvers, I don't have graphics acceleration. I will simply wait for Lenovo to repackage and release the newer drivers.

[The Solutor]

The screen brightness hotkeys isn't the driver, it is embedded in Catalyst Control Centre. If you download the driver package from Lenovo's x100e support site, you get the hotkey funcionality back as it installs the Lenovo release of CCC. If you install CCC and the new drivers from AMD then you lose the screen brightness funcionality.

Seems to me like a lose lose situation. You either have jumpy HD flash video reproduction or you lose your hotkeys, I got fed up tinkering with it, I have the official Lenovo release of CCC and the August 2009 dirvers, I don't have graphics acceleration. I will simply wait for Lenovo to repackage and release the newer drivers.

The screen brightness control works perfectly with the 10.6 drivers, and works even when windows isn't loaded at all, just because it is basically managed by the bios.

Works also in ubuntu and in most (but not all) linux distro.

[JaimitoBond]

the drivers 8.732 are from the release 10.5, but 10.6 are out since mid june (10.7 should be out in few days)

I follow you there. But every time I try to update the driver from the files downloaded from AMD site, the install will say the laptop isn't compatible. If try the driver only version, the only thing yo u can install is that lord of the rings free trial thing. updating the driver was not even an option. So now I have CCC 10.6, but 10.5 driver only. Are you able to playback 1080 videos form Youtube with perfect audio sync and without any drop frames?

[The Solutor]

I follow you there. But every time I try to update the driver from the files downloaded from AMD site, the install will say the laptop isn't compatible. If try the driver only version, the only thing yo u can install is that lord of the rings free trial thing. updating the driver was not even an option.

Reading before writing is always helpful

BTW i link the correct files again.

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-6 ... dd_ccc.exe

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-6 ... dd_ccc.exe

So now I have CCC 10.6, but 10.5 driver only. Are you able to playback 1080 videos form Youtube with perfect audio sync and without any drop frames?

Yes youtube is perfect, but some background activity can interfere so shutting down any unneeded wireless function,and kill a any unneded sw can be helpful.

Keep in mind that I'm using the dual core version.

[JaimitoBond]

Reading before writing is always helpful

BTW i link the correct files again.

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-6 ... dd_ccc.exe

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-6 ... dd_ccc.exe

Yes youtube is perfect, but some background activity can interfere so shutting down any unneeded wireless function,and kill a any unneded sw can be helpful.

Keep in mind that I'm using the dual core version.

thx for the correct link, it worked this time.

I have the dual core version, 4 gb ram, but youtube 1080p feeds are still sluggish on 10.6 driver. If I dl a 1080 trailer, say from apple, it plays fine though. is there any tweaking needed? I have flash 10 installed.

but in reality, 1080 is not really necessary, since the resolution on x100e display can only play 720p.

[The Solutor]

I have the dual core version, 4 gb ram, but youtube 1080p feeds are still sluggish on 10.6 driver.

I don't know what do you mean for sluggish.

Just for an example I used this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKTP1wUichM @1920x1080 and it runs w/o any noticeable dropped frame on my samsung fullHD monitor connected via vga.

The average processor load is about 55/60%. I haven't measured the real framereate but I suppose that it is around 20/25 fps. It's far from what I see on my main pc Phenom II 720 @3200Mhz, radeon HD 4650, but is surely enough for a pleasant reproduction.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I'm using Opera 10.70, but I tried explorer 8: slightly more cpu usage (60/70%) but the video is still enjoyable.

[JaimitoBond]

I don't know what do you mean for sluggish.

Just for an example I used this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKTP1wUichM @1920x1080 and it runs w/o any noticeable dropped frame on my samsung fullHD monitor connected via vga.

The average processor load is about 55/60%. I haven't measured the real framereate but I suppose that it is around 20/25 fps. It's far from what I see on my main pc Phenom II 720 @3200Mhz, radeon HD 4650, but is surely enough for a pleasant reproduction.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I'm using Opera 10.70, but I tried explorer 8: slightly more cpu usage (60/70%) but the video is still enjoyable.

I can play that clip you posted without problems. I think it's not true 1080p, as it's a home video it's likely 1080i source or 720p.

I cannot play this smoothly under 1080p youtube settings on either IE or chrome:
http://www.youtube.com/user/canuckshd?blend=2&ob=4

[crystal castle]

The screen brightness control works perfectly with the 10.6 drivers, and works even when windows isn't loaded at all, just because it is basically managed by the bios.

Works also in ubuntu and in most (but not all) linux distro.

I could see that. But it doesn't help explain what happened to me. I've only been messing with the video drivers, CCC, Lenovo video driver packages, etc. Not BIOS software. But, I will grab the latest BIOS release for the x100e and see if that solves my problem.

[crystal castle]

I updated the BIOS and got screen brightness control back. But trackpoint and trackpad control. I'm using an external usb mouse now.

Edit: And an ultranav update from Lenovo fixed that problem.

Edit 2: Something is still wrong with the screen brightness adjustment in windows. I can adjust it when not in windows, like in the bios config for example, but once I boot into Windows it has problems.

[random]

It doesn't work like you hit it, the number comes up, but never changes? That's what I'm seeing now. I updated the BIOS, Power Manager, and installed the 10.6 graphics package lately, as well as a slew of other things. I didn't notice it until today though, though I couldn't say for sure that I had or had not tried changing the brightness yesterday. Not only does the hotkey not work after Windows starts, but setting it in the Power Manager doesn't change it either.

[The Solutor]

10.7 are out

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-7 ... dd_ccc.exe

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-7 ... dd_ccc.exe

[control]

So it is possible to have 1080p youtube videos not lag, I never got it working before. 10.7 ftw!

[random]

I updated to 10.7 and brightness hotkeys are working again.

[JaimitoBond]

10.7 are out

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-7 ... dd_ccc.exe

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-7 ... dd_ccc.exe

thx for posting. the 10.7 is noticeably better, and does play 1080p youtube smoother.

[The Solutor]

10.8

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-8 ... dd_ccc.exe

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mobile/10-8 ... dd_ccc.exe