dv7 with HD 6770M 2GB has HORRIBLE d3d performance even AFTER current drivers and BIOS updates

[50cal0311]

I am currently in Afghanistan.  During my little spare time, I hoped to relax and enjoy my new HP Pavillion dv7 (Product Number QB648AV) with:

Radeon HD 6770M 2GB

Intel CORE i5 2410M CPU @ 2.3 Ghz

8GB DDR3 RAM

Running Win7 x64

After years of buying HP products, each time getting better and better as technology improved, I thought this purchase would set a new bar.  HOWEVER...with this "high performance latop" I get slower frame rates than my antique Atari 2600.  I currently only have two games here with me that I have available to use (FSX and Arma2).  Both games are fully updated (and I have over 10 years expereince in how to tweak them for performance) and run directx, not openGL  Yet, after attempting every single suggestion on HP support forums, external related sites, etc.....and I mean trying EVERY single in game option, from disabled..to low..to high..to ultra, both seperately, combined, with and without the use of sliders in ATI Catalyst....you name it....nothing seems to get acceptable FPS for this type spec machine.  

I have updated the BIOS to F.1A and enabled FIXED graphics mode. 

I have also installed the latest HP supplied AMD HD graphics drivers(which by the way took over 2 days to download with my only available internet service on my base....thanks for wasting my time) :

Driver Packaging Version 8.83.6.3-110507a-119506C-HP 
Provider ATI Technologies Inc. 
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1134 
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0001 
Direct3D Version 7.14.10.0817 
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10600 
Catalyst Control Center Version 2011.0508.224.2391 

I AM running in High Performance Graphics mode.  But just to give things a try, I've tried the above descirbed trials of settings and sliders on both High Performance mode and Power Saving, for both games, but with minimal differences, and still poor gameplay.  

I HAVE conducted the memory tests and hd test in the BIOS, both passed.  I have tried fresh installations of both games, (both with and without tweaks) still no acceptable performance.

I searched all over the internet, and everywhere I look, both here and other forums, contain the same problems and complaints with your customers.  Now, my purchase is recent..but it appears there have been KNOWN issues with my laptop and its conterparts since at least July...and people have been waiting for months for HP support to release the new drivers that were hopefully going to address these problems.  Customers were reminded that while AMD/ATI may have a new released driver/software....HP must complete testing before it's released from HP.  SO WHY, AFTER WEEKS/MONTHS OF "TESTING" WAS THIS RELEASED IF THIS DIDNT RESOLVE MOST EVERYONES PROBLEMS...AND EVERYWHERE YOU READ, IT'S MADE THINGS WORSE??. 

Even if I wanted to return this laptop;...WHICH I DO NOW...I can't, because I was past the 21 days or whatever by the time it got mailed to me (not to mention the time it would take to mail back).  So if Im gonna be stuck with this....how bout someone ACKNOWLEDGE there is a major issue with this and take their time to SOLVE it before I waste all my free time being dissapointed again.

[Cioroianua]

Hi,

Let's hope we can fix something. Try to run this software: ftp://ftp.cpuid.com/hwmonitor/hwmonitor_1.18-64bit.zip and tell me what video card is listed.

Please post the model no. dv7-xxxxx

Best regards,

Andrew

[50cal0311]

it only shows Radeon (TM) HD 6770 and the trees bellow it show voltage and temps

[Cioroianua]

Is ok until now.

I suggest to update DirectX by following this link: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=35

Please post the model no. dv7-xxxxx

I will leave for about 30 min. but I will read your reply.

BR,

Andrew

[50cal0311]

I've already installed that dx update, but I will attempt again.

As for my model information...eveywhere in windows (system and system information..linked from CCC hardware), dxdiag.exe and HP support assitant, my model number is listed the same, as "HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook PC"

The system board is 3389 10.31,  

Another bug that just recently started after the graphics driver update is the anti-aliasing problem with java, causing text to be jagded and weird blurring of java windows......the text is also like this in the drop down menu's of fsx, even in full screen mode (I realize this my be an issue with direct x itslelf, but it is very annoying to have to manually un-check the boxes for all the features in CCC and turn AA back to "use application settings" to not have this problem while running any java app (to include HP support assitant!)

[Cioroianua]

Sorry for delay...

The laptop model no should look like this dv7-4050ea. Look under the battery. Please edit your post and erase the serial number.

I think is something related to your graphics driver... We'll see.

BR,

Andrew

[50cal0311]

 dv7t-6100

completed the dx update, rebooted, no performance changes.

[Cioroianua]

Ok,

Until I look at the drivers, please install this: http://www.passmark.com/ftp/petst_x64.exe and make a 3D test to see the results. Post them here.

BR,

Andrew

[Cioroianua]

So...,

Before this, make first a windows system restore point.

Download this driver (only for 64-bit) http://dl.transfer.ro/6770_v11.8_64_HP-transfer_RO-06nov-d5baca.zip

Then, follow this instructions posted in a another thread for ATI 5650.

This driver it must be installed as update driver. I assume that you have Windows 7 or Vista installed.

Go to Start > type in search box Device Manager then click on it

After you click on Device Manager a new window will open and in this window look for Display adapters. Double click on Display adapters and you should have ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5xxx or 6xxx and Intel(R) HD Graphics.

Right click on ATI Mobility Radeon and select Update Driver Software... In this new windows select the second option, Browse my computer for driver software.

In the next screen , select Let me pick pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

Click on Have Disk... button and then Browse for the driver .inf file. It is located where you gave extracted the driver.

For example: C:\Temp\Display\W76_INF\C7124445.inf This ex. is for 64-bit windows platform

Click on Open and then on OK. Now you should have a window with ATI Mobility Radeon video. Bellow is a warning that the driver is not digitally signed. Is OK.

Now press Next and your driver update should start. Because the driver is not digitally signed, windows will prompt you with a warning. When this windows appears, please select the second option Install this driver software anyway.

After the update complete, the display may flicker. Don't panic, is ok. Wait until the screen looks ok again.

REBOOT THE LAPTOP AFTER THE DRIVER WAS INSTALLED!

After reboot, run a 3D test again to see if any changes.

BR,

Andrew

[50cal0311]

3D Graphics Mark
 This Computer 1227.5

Graphics 3D - Simple
 This Computer 1659.9

Graphics 3D - Medium
 This Computer 485.5

Graphics 3D - Complex
 This Computer 69.9

Graphics 3D - DirectX 10
 This Computer 16.8

I will follow your instructions on the driver update method and attempt again.