[HP Pavillion dv6] Updating ATI video drivers

[Harry28]

Hey, i have an HP Pavillion Dv6, with an ati mobility radeon HD 5650, and switchable graphics, are there any problems if i want to update my video drivers? Currently using the ones that came with the notebook, but they are a bit old already.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

As long as the update to your graphics driver is from HP, there should be no problem - to find the latest drivers available, start Here.

What you can't do, is try to update the driver from the ATI website - you need the customised ATI driver from HP as it includes the Intel graphics driver to allow your switchable graphics.

Regards,

DP-K

[Harry28]

That's what im trying to do, update from the ATI website, since HP didn't release any new drivers for it...

I would like to add, the onboard video card is also from ATI, since the system itself is an AMD. The secondary video card is: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250.

So, would i lose the switchable graphics function if i get a driver update from the ATI website? Since both cards are from ATI...

[DavidPK]

Hi,

I'm pretty certain you would loose the switchable option - there is also an added problem if you are using the operating system that came with the notebook ( ie the original OEM installation ) - you will find that if you try and install a driver from the ATI website, as soon as you run the installer, you will almost certainly see a message saying something like 'There are no supported devices detected, setup will now exit'.  There are ways around this which normally work Ok, but I don't think they will in your case, again because of the switchable graphics aspect.

I guess if you have everything backed-up and have created your set of Recovery DVDs, you could always try it if you really want to.

Best regards,

DP-K

[Harry28]

I see, well i wont be risking then, i wish HP could add some newer drivers.

[Blake_One]

Will HP kindly release some new updates for switchable graphics.

This is really stupid, last update for the ati 5650 was about a year and a half back. Half the games and softwares coming out these days require updated graphic drivers. Laptops which have half the configuration of what I am using are getting updated drivers.

Why do all other brands offer updated drivers, and HP DOES NOT?

[Harry28]

I have suscefully updated my drivers some months ago, i cant remember exactly where did i download it from, and also im not really sure if the drivers were updated or just the CCC (catalyst control center), im sure CCC was updated since the graphics api changed. With this update i can still use switchable grafics.

You can try out and google for this, this is the file name "11-12_mobility_vista_win7_32-64_ccc", hope it helps. If not i can upload it for you to some site just send me a mail i dont check this site very often.

[Blake_One]

With all due respect Harry, I've tried all the possible methods to get this thing to work. Tried each and every update from 11.6 --- 11.12. Only other packages such as redistributable packages and stuff like that update on the installer. The driver installation displays failed.

I am getting really annoyed with HP. Never knew buying this laptop could be such a big blunder.

[Harry28]

If it is of any help, this is the driver i downloaded, and its working fine for me.

PS: I uploaded it myself since i lost the actual link of where i got it from.

http://www.gamefront.com/files/21454189/11-12_mobility_vista_win7_32-64_ccc.exe

[Blake_One]

Well did your installation, and sorry to say that only CCC got updated. The display driver hasn't been updated.