graphics driver question on T60p (Vista)

[npish]

there is a new set of OpenGL-based features in the CS4 version of Photoshop that is not properly supported with the latest ATI FireGL V5250 driver available from Lenovo, released back in Sept 2007; as a test, I downloaded and manually installed the latest driver from the ATI website for the FireGL V5200 (ver 8.523.1.1 released in Sep 2008), as that appeared to be the closest match (a driver for the 5250 is not available on their site). My system seems to be stable, and the Photoshop feature now works properly-- my question is whether or not this installation of a driver for what is technically a different card can be potentially harmful to the hardware on the system (?) I am by no means an expert on this subject, and clearly if system stability starts to be affected, I'll roll back the software; I'm just wondering if, particularly with respect to fan/heat-related concerns, if running this alternate driver can prove damaging in any way.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[DAH]

Can you explain just what you did? My experience was that one can download the driver, run the install program and while it appears to update the actual drivers are not updated in Device Manager.

Thanks

[Marin85]

@DAH: Have a look here. Basically, if you want to successfully install the desktop FireGL driver, you will have to modify the driver files using the suggested utility (i.e. start the Mobility Modder, then browse to the folder where the ATI installer has unpacked the driver files -> modify -> install the driver in the usual way by running ATI setup from within that folder).

Cheers

Marin

[npish]

all I did was d/l the latest driver from ATI, unpack the files and then manually install the INF file via device manager... is there a reason why this "MobilityModder" approach is a better way to go?

I'm also assuming, with respect to my initial question, that implicit in others' replies here that installing a different driver cannot, in fact, be harmful to the hardware?

[npish]

well, huh.... I just tried Marin85's suggested method, and it definitely seems the way to go, but I'm totally confused as to what's just occurred here; I followed the instructions on the MobilityModder site-- i.e. d/led the MobilityModder as well as the Catalyst 8.10 suite from the MM website; everything seems to have installed perfectly and even FireGL V5250 is now listed in the device manager...

so is this "Catalyst 8.10" package a generic suite for multiple graphics cards? It's just fascinating to me that it's actually listing the proper graphics card (as the ATI site does not appear to offer a specific V5250 driver download, just the V5200).

thanks for any explanations..... whatever the case, I'm a happy camper in that everything seems to be perfect (even if I have no clue what's been done, ha )

[Marin85]

My understanding is that ATI basically has only one driver for a given generation of cards (or even more generations of cards), but depending on the graphic adapter different features are unlocked, and also the driver works with different parameters for different cards. I believe the most of that stuff is included in the driver package(s) provided on their web site.
I´m surprised that you were able to install a desktop driver by just adding the inf file under device manager It´s actually not supposed to work like that

[npish]

hey Marin85; the driver I manually installed from the ATI website was for the FireGL V5200, Vista 32-bit-- is this actually a desktop driver? I assumed it was the closest laptop driver...but yeah I had no problems using "Update Driver" and locating the extracted INF file...

but I guess where I'm still confused is where the MobilityModder site has gotten this "Catalyst 8.10" suite, as it does seem to be a generic driver package, but doesn't appear to be available on the ATI site (only card-specific drivers for the latter, at least that's how it's presented)

[npish]

ok... think I've just answered my own question: guess selecting varying FireGL cards on the ATI site just links to a global FireGL package....... but these are technically desktop drivers?

[Marin85]

Well, regarding Vista now, these are FireGL drivers, but not Mobility FireGL drivers (like Radeon and Mobility Radeon). ATI resp. amd doesn´t currently support Mobility FireGL for Vista (I believe the corresponding statement can be still found on their website). Regarding the instructions on the DH Modder site I don´t quite follow them: I pick whatever Vista driver package for FireGL 5200 / Radeon x1600 /Mobility Radeon x1600 is available and I can then install it without problems using the Modder utility However, I have never tried to install a driver listed in another cathegory (e.g. like one for FireGL V7200), I don´t believe it would change anything though, since it seems to be this kind of universal driver. I guess in the worst case the driver would not install.

Cheers

Marin

[xbytes]

the only difference between the v5200 and v5250 is clock speed, and the ATI drivers will pick up the hardware ID of the chipset and get the name from that, v5200 is 71c4. anyway it won't harm your system to run the desktop generic drivers, doesn't change the clock speed, my t60p is more stable with the newer drivers from the AMD/ATI site.

[npish]

thanks for the responses... xbytes: did you use the MobilityModder tool to get the driver d/l'ed from ATI's site to install? if not, how did you do it?

btw, ATI posted a new FireGL suite on 12 Nov, ver 8.543

ps. I'm seeing in the release notes for this driver suite that the Mobility FireGL V5250 is listed; so this package does contain drivers for laptop cards (I thought it was only desktop ones, which were being allowed to install via MobilityModder... but no matter)