Complete noob looking for help :)

paskal1979 · Jun 2, 2009, 08:24 PM

Hi,

I just bought a new Asus W90 laptop gaming system ( ATI Radeon HD4870 x2 )

I am, however, totally new to ATI.

I understand I cannot install the new catalyst drivers ( 9.5 ) as they are not compatible with a laptop.

However, my current drivers are dated november 2008, and I would like to update them.

Also, how do I make sure I am using both cards? They are in crossfire technology, would like to make sure I take advantage of that.

I looked at the mobility modder ( 1.2, may 2009 ) but I understand it doesn't support the 4870 yet?

So, any tips?

**kris23** · Jun 3, 2009, 01:35 AM

hello and welcome paskal1979 to DH!

the reason why the drivers wont install is because Asus doesnt allow any drivers not certified by them to be installed.

a workaround though is the use of Mobility Modder

EDIT: i just noticed the part where the Modder doesnt work with the 4870, not sure how to go about that, you can try installing anyway and see how it goes and uninstall if theres issues.

or you can PM one of the admins or maybe Spike if he can tell you how to manually mod the drivers.... worth a shot

Judas · Jun 3, 2009, 02:28 AM

btw... crossfire mode doesn't show up in the CCC for x2's due to them being natively crossfired right on the board already.. although it should them in say the program "GPU-Z" as 2 gpu's

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 05:12 AM

Thanks for the answer, 2 more questions though : the asus drivers ( 8.60 ) doesn't install either ( it shows my 8.55 are up to date ) so I really wonder what is my problem.

I also understand your comment relatively to the crossfire, but when I run 3dmarks06, I get around 10700 mark, then I overclock the Graphic cards and the CPU ( with the available software given with the computer ) Then I score 12700....but it seems that if both my cards were running, I would score upwards of 15,000 without overclocking, so it is a mystery right there....

Judas · Jun 3, 2009, 05:49 AM

You may have to completely remove all traces of the previous drivers before attempting to update to the latest....

btw

considering it's a laptop.... i think that kind of score seems about right.. but i honestly don't know..

ORB - Compare

compare that

and

compare to this

ORB - Compare

lastly try to compare to this

ORB - Compare

CPU and Memory power makes a HUGE difference in 3dmark06... so check the graphical powess and see how your doing in comparison....

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 05:53 AM

ok, checking that.....any idea why I can<t install a newer driver? I have UAC off, and even the asus drivers won't work.

I mean, I run the program correctly, but it ends up leaving me with the same drivers I had before.

Judas · Jun 3, 2009, 06:05 AM

that is a question i can't really answer as i'm really not sure... i haven't dealt all that much with laptops not to mention x2 variants lol.. (actually never had a laptop with anything more powerful then a x1600 or a HD3470 to be honest..)

You could try MANUALLY installing the driver for the gpu's via the device manager and point it to the mobility modded ati folders. then pick the card that matches the best.

**kris23** · Jun 3, 2009, 06:22 AM

laptop vendors generally have DRM that keeps users from installing drivers other than their own

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 07:01 AM

Problem is, even their own drivers won't install....

I must admit I am kinda mad...I paid good money for this laptop, and now, trying to install asus own drivers, my cards changed in system setting.

When I read my device manager, it says they are ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 x 2. It doesn't even seem to exist on ATI's website, there is just ATI Radeon HD 4870 x 2.

But this is not the main point. When I restored my initial drivers, I first deleted the old ones with the device manager options. Now, in Catalyst control center, it seems that my second card is disabled. Before, on the hardware information pane, they presented it as a linked adapter, and now its identified as disabled adapter.

So, I'm pretty beat.....how could it be so hard and problematic to update drivers...I am not even trying to get the cat 9.5, just the ones on the asus website, that are my manufacturer....

Anyone knows how I can reactivate my second card?

EDIT: Ok, even worse than I thought, even though both my card are showed as functionning, I cannot start any game, or 3dmarks, because it says 3d acceleration is unavailable.....sigh

So, after ALL of this, it seems that the driver I had with the computers are the most up to date ( Even though age of conan tells me that my drivers are too old and constantly crashes on me saying ATK something stopped working and then recovered. )

So, I am stuck trying to reinstall the drivers I add on my cd, but it still will not re-enable to second card and activate crossfire. it still says I have no 3d acceleration also.

Judas · Jun 3, 2009, 09:08 AM

i would contact Asus... there support service when it comes to laptops are very good... not to mention accidental warranty coverage and 2 year overal warranty...

they may be able to assist you...

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 03:18 PM

thank you all, you have been very helpful. Reinstalling allowed me to correct my card problem, but now I cannot run my overclockking software....will work on that with the tech if necessary.

**kris23** · Jun 3, 2009, 03:25 PM

do NOT overclock a laptop, it is just not worth it, a laptop cooling system has almost no headroom whatsoever

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

do NOT overclock a laptop, it is just not worth it, a laptop cooling system has almost no headroom whatsoever

Thanks, you seem to know about overclocking, so I would take the ball in flight and ask your opinion on this.

I use the software that the manufacturer gives with his computer, and it overclocks CPU by 15% ( from 2.00ghz to 2.29 ghz. ) I assume it is safe since it is given by the manufacturer.

As far as being worth it goes, my 3dmarks 06 benchmark skyrocketed from 10700 to around 13000 by overclocking both the graphic card with ATI software and the CPU from Asus software.

The difference with games is very noticeable.

I am getting an internal temperature rise from the cards of around 3 celsius ( 60 to 63 ) so it seems minor.

Anyway, just wanted to get your input with all the facts. Thanks a lot!

**kris23** · Jun 3, 2009, 04:07 PM

60 is really high man.... be careful

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

60 is really high man.... be careful

Well, then it might have a problem, because it is running at 60 without any overclocking

Judas · Jun 3, 2009, 05:28 PM

60*C seems about accurate considering..... Those crazy high performance laptops generally DO run that hot..

so a 3*C change shouldn't be a bother... just make sure to every once in awhile check it cause as the laptop fills with dust and plugs up, that 60/63*C may change to 80/90*C down the road..

keep the laptop as clean as possible..

and i'd even suggest investing in a laptop Cooling pad.... this should cool it further, and preserve the laptop longer....

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 07:03 PM

Good, really good advice.

I stumbled upon another overclocking guide that had me, in a matter of seconds, download SetFSB. I also downloaded CPU stress mt, Core Temp and CPU-Z. I am now trying to overclock the CPU ( I found out that overclocking the graphic cards had no impact on my FPS, so the CPU is the bottleneck ) and will run 3dmarks06 for a test as soon as my stress test is done and the my computer is stable.

Now, I am running around 66-68 celsisus. Don't expect to get much more than that now, I don't want to damage or blow things up. It should be even better with a cooling pad.

Will OC'ing really help with framerates and game performance? I expect so, but I don't know how much....

Thanks!

Judas · Jun 3, 2009, 07:41 PM

yes it can significantly improve performance...

however it also reduces the lifespan of your laptop and components.... personally i don't like any of my machines running above 50*C

paskal1979 · Jun 3, 2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

yes it can significantly improve performance...

however it also reduces the lifespan of your laptop and components.... personally i don't like any of my machines running above 50*C

Do you have any experience on how a laptop cooling pad reduces this heat? I'll probably refrain from overclocking until I get one, then decide how much I do it depending on its performance

Judas · Jun 3, 2009, 09:05 PM

There are a number of cooler pad solutions.... obviously finding the right one for your laptop would be ideal.

I haven't don't have any emperience with cooling pads, i just know many people swear by them for doing a good job at cooling an already hot machine, or for overclocking a laptop..

I would probably run a cooling pad while overclocking and without a cooling pad run default clocks.

paskal1979 · Jun 4, 2009, 05:15 AM

Great, Thanks

willjames007 · Jun 9, 2009, 07:12 PM

I have the same machine. There are 2 versions from my understanding. One has the quad-core and the other has the T9300 CPU. Which do you have? I have the quad core...Good machine, but not as good as I had expected. Currently, I am getting about 5.7 on the Windows rating system. The HYNIX RAM is just RAM. Not a good and reliable brand. I am looking to upgrade to some Kingston or similar sticks. Secondly, I went ahead an did the "SIN" and broke down my computer and got rid of those damn OEM cooling pads on the heatsinks and replaced with good thermal compound. I have lowered my temps from ~ 57-59 area to around 50C. When under the stress test, highest was 59C. I replaced the pads on everything...even the CPU. Maybe I shouldnt have, but what the hell, I live on the edge anyway.

How is that SetFSB working for you? Have you found a 64Bit version? I will OC the crap out of my system...

Also looking for an upgraded 4870 driver. ASUS drivers suck.

Pictures of the dismantle and reassemble available, hit me a willjames007@yahoo.com. I will send.

tutaction · Jul 7, 2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

60 is really high man.... be careful

You say that 60 is high? This is my first laptop and also ist got a ATI Gpu. During gameplay my temp runs between 60 & 70 deg C. And I have to add that this is still factory setting from the box. The bios controlls the fan meaning this should be safe oparating according to Toshiba.

I have used the mod tool on 9.6, firstly it worked, secondly I got a 10% improvement. What i found is during any 3d mark the spike in frames per second does not spike so high but the average is higher. The average is after all what we all want to be higher.

So to the writer of the mod tool. Damn good job!! Thanks

Jun 2, 2009, 08:24 PM	#1
paskal1979 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Complete noob looking for help :) Hi, I just bought a new Asus W90 laptop gaming system ( ATI Radeon HD4870 x2 ) I am, however, totally new to ATI. I understand I cannot install the new catalyst drivers ( 9.5 ) as they are not compatible with a laptop. However, my current drivers are dated november 2008, and I would like to update them. Also, how do I make sure I am using both cards? They are in crossfire technology, would like to make sure I take advantage of that. I looked at the mobility modder ( 1.2, may 2009 ) but I understand it doesn't support the 4870 yet? So, any tips?

Jun 3, 2009, 01:35 AM	#2
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) hello and welcome paskal1979 to DH! the reason why the drivers wont install is because Asus doesnt allow any drivers not certified by them to be installed. a workaround though is the use of Mobility Modder EDIT: i just noticed the part where the Modder doesnt work with the 4870, not sure how to go about that, you can try installing anyway and see how it goes and uninstall if theres issues. or you can PM one of the admins or maybe Spike if he can tell you how to manually mod the drivers.... worth a shot __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums! Last edited by kris23; Jun 3, 2009 at 01:41 AM.

Jun 3, 2009, 05:12 AM	Thread Starter #4
paskal1979 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) Thanks for the answer, 2 more questions though : the asus drivers ( 8.60 ) doesn't install either ( it shows my 8.55 are up to date ) so I really wonder what is my problem. I also understand your comment relatively to the crossfire, but when I run 3dmarks06, I get around 10700 mark, then I overclock the Graphic cards and the CPU ( with the available software given with the computer ) Then I score 12700....but it seems that if both my cards were running, I would score upwards of 15,000 without overclocking, so it is a mystery right there....

Jun 3, 2009, 05:53 AM	Thread Starter #6
paskal1979 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) ok, checking that.....any idea why I can<t install a newer driver? I have UAC off, and even the asus drivers won't work. I mean, I run the program correctly, but it ends up leaving me with the same drivers I had before.

Jun 3, 2009, 06:22 AM	#8
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) laptop vendors generally have DRM that keeps users from installing drivers other than their own __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 3, 2009, 07:01 AM	Thread Starter #9
paskal1979 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) Problem is, even their own drivers won't install.... I must admit I am kinda mad...I paid good money for this laptop, and now, trying to install asus own drivers, my cards changed in system setting. When I read my device manager, it says they are ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 x 2. It doesn't even seem to exist on ATI's website, there is just ATI Radeon HD 4870 x 2. But this is not the main point. When I restored my initial drivers, I first deleted the old ones with the device manager options. Now, in Catalyst control center, it seems that my second card is disabled. Before, on the hardware information pane, they presented it as a linked adapter, and now its identified as disabled adapter. So, I'm pretty beat.....how could it be so hard and problematic to update drivers...I am not even trying to get the cat 9.5, just the ones on the asus website, that are my manufacturer.... Anyone knows how I can reactivate my second card? EDIT: Ok, even worse than I thought, even though both my card are showed as functionning, I cannot start any game, or 3dmarks, because it says 3d acceleration is unavailable.....sigh So, after ALL of this, it seems that the driver I had with the computers are the most up to date ( Even though age of conan tells me that my drivers are too old and constantly crashes on me saying ATK something stopped working and then recovered. ) So, I am stuck trying to reinstall the drivers I add on my cd, but it still will not re-enable to second card and activate crossfire. it still says I have no 3d acceleration also. Last edited by paskal1979; Jun 3, 2009 at 08:25 AM. Reason: added info. Edit 2: more info

Jun 3, 2009, 03:18 PM	Thread Starter #11
paskal1979 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) thank you all, you have been very helpful. Reinstalling allowed me to correct my card problem, but now I cannot run my overclockking software....will work on that with the tech if necessary.

Jun 3, 2009, 03:25 PM	#12
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) do NOT overclock a laptop, it is just not worth it, a laptop cooling system has almost no headroom whatsoever __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 3, 2009, 04:07 PM	#14
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990 Rep Power: 121 System Specs	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) 60 is really high man.... be careful __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jun 3, 2009, 07:03 PM	Thread Starter #17
paskal1979 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) Good, really good advice. I stumbled upon another overclocking guide that had me, in a matter of seconds, download SetFSB. I also downloaded CPU stress mt, Core Temp and CPU-Z. I am now trying to overclock the CPU ( I found out that overclocking the graphic cards had no impact on my FPS, so the CPU is the bottleneck ) and will run 3dmarks06 for a test as soon as my stress test is done and the my computer is stable. Now, I am running around 66-68 celsisus. Don't expect to get much more than that now, I don't want to damage or blow things up. It should be even better with a cooling pad. Will OC'ing really help with framerates and game performance? I expect so, but I don't know how much.... Thanks!

Jun 4, 2009, 05:15 AM	Thread Starter #21
paskal1979 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) Great, Thanks

Jun 9, 2009, 07:12 PM	#22
willjames007 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Re: Complete noob looking for help :) I have the same machine. There are 2 versions from my understanding. One has the quad-core and the other has the T9300 CPU. Which do you have? I have the quad core...Good machine, but not as good as I had expected. Currently, I am getting about 5.7 on the Windows rating system. The HYNIX RAM is just RAM. Not a good and reliable brand. I am looking to upgrade to some Kingston or similar sticks. Secondly, I went ahead an did the "SIN" and broke down my computer and got rid of those damn OEM cooling pads on the heatsinks and replaced with good thermal compound. I have lowered my temps from ~ 57-59 area to around 50C. When under the stress test, highest was 59C. I replaced the pads on everything...even the CPU. Maybe I shouldnt have, but what the hell, I live on the edge anyway. How is that SetFSB working for you? Have you found a 64Bit version? I will OC the crap out of my system... Also looking for an upgraded 4870 driver. ASUS drivers suck. Pictures of the dismantle and reassemble available, hit me a willjames007@yahoo.com. I will send. Last edited by willjames007; Jun 9, 2009 at 07:16 PM. Reason: additional info