M11x R3 Noob Driver Questions

So I've had this machine for about a year now and figured it was time to start updating the drivers. (Never bothered, because I didn't use it for much initially.)

When I run "Service Tag" from Dell's website it generates a list of drivers for this machine.

1.) I notice that there is a BIOS update "PHMLKA04.exe (3MB)"
I've had trouble updating BIOS on machines in the past (many years ago) so I don't usually bother with it unless It's vital. It says "Optional" beside the upgrade - So my question - Is there a difference with the BIOS update and is there a procedure I'd follow to install?

2.) There's also 4 chipset drivers - worth updating?

3.) 4 Dell Drivers - Which looks to me like they are for Cell Phone Broadband?

4.) 8 Network drivers - Whoa

Basically want to know if I should install/update all of these drivers?
Will I have to adjust any settings once installed? I lost all my NVIDIA tweaks once I updated the graphics driver for that. Boo!

5.) Also one other thing. I have the latest video card driver listed on Dell's website - 285.62.P08
Yet when I open Nvidia control panel > Help > Updates > Updates Tab. It says there's this "Verde 296.10 Driver" Is that the latest graphics driver for the R3? If so why isn't it listed under Dell's drivers and downloads page?

 

I think Verde 301.42 is the latest driver for the r3 going by the nvidia website here

Tom.

 

Yeah I always go through the nvidia website for video drivers myself. The video drivers are updated about once a month or so, it is good to keep it updated.

I would not really worry about any of the other ones though, unless you have issues with something or something does not work, then take a look at them then.

 

For the R2&3 - You can use the latest Nvidia drivers. For the R1 - You need to download them from Dell as they are the only ones which support the switchable graphics.

I wouldn't bother with most of them, i removed most components of the chipset drivers when i tweak my system anyway and i don't recall there being many changes in the BIOS update but mine had it from the factory.

Yea there are a few WWAN and LAN drivers,but really there's no need to update those unless you're having issues. If you do decide to though, check device manager to check and make sure you have the correct brand network card(s)... Or just pop open the back panel and take a peek.

 

Actually, if the system is doing what it needs to do and you are not lacking in performance or trying to solve a problem you have zero need to update video or any other driver.

 

Hmm I noticed when I updated my NVIDIA graphics card it changed some settings....

NVIDIA control panel > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings.

I used to have VLC Media Player and Windows Media Classic Home Cinema set to NVIDIA graphics, but now I notice that it has a default of Integrated Graphics set and it will not let me switch to NVIDIA (Option isn't there like it used to be.)

It also won't let me remove and re-add those programs. I wonder if the only option I have to switch them back to NVIDIA would be to uninstall and re-install those programs then add them back to Program Settings in the hopes that I can select NVIDIA graphics.

Edit - Nope - Tried uninstalling/re-installing those programs to see if I could select NVIDIA for them, and no dice.

Any ideas?

So any help on this?

 

What driver did you update to? If you haven't, try 301.42. I updated to that the other day and all is fine. I've tried doing what you stated and it works as it should.

 

I'm on 301.42 but I can't change the graphics to NVIDIA for those programs.

Was able to add XBMC and switch that from Integrated to NVIDIA.

I used to be able to switch every program on an earlier NVIDIA driver...
So I'm not sure what to do now. I'm kinda irked that I can't set those 2 programs to NVIDIA.
I mean I can even switch Google Chrome to NVIDIA if I want to. So any other suggestions?

 

Hi I think that you may find this information very useful, it explains that you don't need all the drivers but only the important ones and the ones that your system currently has, for example, if you have a DW1501 you dont need to use any other network driver but that one, it also has direct links to all of your system's drivers. Alienware M11x R3: Initial Drivers Installation | Dell .#IWork4AW

 

L_Porras - Being that you're an Alienware company rep -

Would you be able to shed some light as to why since upgrading my NVIDIA graphics card driver I can no longer set certain programs to utilize the NVIDIA graphics card in the NVIDIA control panel? They are automatically defaulted to INTEL. These programs would be VLC and Media Player Classic Home Cinema. I used to be able to set these programs to NVIDIA on a much older NVIDIA driver.

Or should I try to contact NVIDIA for assistance?

 

set them for intel, then open back up and set to nvidia? I imagine it like setting the flag then removing or making "any" change.

 

They are set to Intel.... There is no drop down menu to switch to NVIDIA. That's the point I'm trying to make.

 

Can you "add" then browse rather than use drop down? Or, can you set general pref to nvidia for all apps?

 

VLC and MPC HC are already added under "Select a program to customize"
Trying to re-add them does nothing.

Under "Select the preferred graphics processor for this program:"
It states "Integrated graphics" which is where you'd go to set a program to NVIDIA, but that is the only option. There's no NVIDIA for me to swap to.

However other programs - Chrome/XBMC I can switch to NVIDIA from Integrated graphics.

For "Preferred graphics processor:" I have it set to "High-performance NVIDIA processor" under "Global Settings"

Yet when I run VLC and check my taskbar to see if the NVIDIA GPU is active - It isn't. So clearly there's an issue here. I can only select Integrated for those programs even if I have NVIDIA listed as a global choice.

 

My understanding is the HDMI/DPort ports are only used under nvidia... what happens when using external monitor in projector mode?

You might also start over with reinstalling the drivers OR downgrade to what was working before.

 

No, you can set any program to NVIDIA. I've done it before on an earlier driver, and tomcannon on the first page of this thread confirmed that VLC/MPC-HC (the programs I mentioned) are select-able for NVIDIA on the latest driver for him... Just not for me.

I think this NVIDIA Optimus suff is bull. Reading on the NVIDIA forums there's A LOT of people having issues with this it seems. No one blows $1400+ on a gaming notebook to use Integrated graphics for anything.....

I sent an e-mail to NVIDIA hopefully they get back to me with an answer.

As for "reinstalling the drivers" are you referring to uninstalling the NVIDIA graphics card drivers and reinstalling the latest, or re-downloading and installing the latest over the latest - if that works...

As far as downgrading - I don't remember what NVIDIA driver I was on before - one that would have shipped with my system. But when I launch games like Diablo 3 it always prompts me to update the drivers, because they are quite old (the driver that shipped with the system) and I don't want my performance in games to suffer because of one silly issue like this.

 

Hey! since that computer has the optimus technology you may need to do a full reinstallation including driver sweeper. Here is how.

After uninstalling the nVidia driver, run driver sweeper in safe mode. Then uninstall the intel one and then start the reinstallation.

 

When you say "full reinstallation" you're specifically referring to the NVIDIA graphics card and Intel graphics, NOT the OS, right?

What is "driver sweeper" and how do I access/use it? There is no mention of it on the page you linked.

Also why do I need to log into administrator mode to do this procedure?

Is there a number I can ring instead to talk to a rep about this so I can get some guidance via this process I'm really way too busy right now to fiddle with this on my own.

 

1) Yeah, I meant only the drivers.

2) Driver sweeper is a 3rd party software, you can download it from here

3) You gotta do it this way so that you don't get error from windows saying that you cannot delete some registry entries.

4) Yeah definitely, instead of that you can send us an e-mail to [email protected] and we will have somebody calling you as soon as possible, please include your phone number and service tag on the e-mail.

Glad to be of your help

 

1.) L_Porras - Can you explain to me why the Alienware Dell recommended drivers for the M11x are so ancient compared to what is offered via the manufactures website?

2.) Example: NVIDIA has released version 301.42 of it's GeForce drivers, yet when I look at the NVIDIA driver on the website you've provided it goes back to version 267.21. There have been many driver updates since that release. Also when you allow Dell to scan your system for driver updates it suggests NVIDIA driver - 285.62. This makes no sense to me and I'm feeling regretful for buying this machine. You suggest 2 different drivers, yet both of which are outdated. This is extremely confusing to the consumer. How about a little continuity.

3.) The only reason I updated my NVIDIA driver is because Diablo 3 was prompting me to update the drivers. I could play the game without, but it was a bit annoying to have a prompt pop up every time I logged in to play. And I kinda felt the game should have been running faster based on the computers hardware. So what is wrong with acquiring the most recent driver updates?

 

The drivers there work 100%. They are the tried & tested "safe" drivers which will work for everyone and are known to be compatible with all hardware variations for our model. The new ones from Nvidia have not been confirmed to work with everyone, some people have issues, certain newer games have bugs, or the new drivers might even have removed a module or setting which we as M11x owners require. Hence when we use the drivers from the site we know that they are tested working drivers so if there are any issues you can instantly take driver issues/incompatibility off the board.

They really aren't that old either, i've never had any issues running those drivers, nor have i received any messages from Diablo 3 to update my drivers.

There is no necessary "benefit" you gain by always having the latest drivers for everything. Alot of the time, the new drivers bring up issues which later have to be dealt with with hotfixes and such. Everytime a new driver is released, it gives a performance upgrade on a few titles and maybe fixes a bug or two, not much more than that. And unless you're directly affected (ie. play those games which were affected by the patch) then you wouldn't actually see any difference because that update hasn't actually done anything for you.

 

For the majority of games you can go back to even older drivers... no benefit. If trying to solve a problem or squeak out a few FPS its worth trying an update - even using experimental is ok! As Rish mentioned though most do not need to chase driver versions.

I understand your frustration with the prompts so either way I hope its working well for you now.

I've got an old XP desktop with old AGP card running drivers several versions newer (few months ago). Sure, I installed them, it works fine, but there hasn't been any boost in performance or function since double digit driver versions. M11x will run into that someday also.

Anyone remember the days when the only "good" drivers were modded ones? Nobody bothered complaining about OEM since they lagged so bad. lol.

 

Link does not work anymore :O

 

Hmm, so I'm trying to find out which drivers are installed on my computer doing this:


> Click on Start and right click Computer
> Choose Manage
> Click Device Manager in the left panel
> Double click on a device to view its properties
> Click the Driver tab. The driver date indicates how old the driver is.

It states my NVIDIA graphics driver is version: 8.17.13.142
Yet NVIDIA Control Panel says my driver is version: 301.42. I know 100% I'm on 301.42, so is the 8.17 driver in "Computer Management" for something else related to NVIDIA?

What's up with that?

 

It's the same for me pal. Confusing but not your problem, must be something else.

 

Ok, so I need your guys expert opinions on something...

After playing around with the different NVIDIA drivers - the only driver that allows me to switch VLC or MPC-HC from "Integrated" to "NVIDIA" is version
267.21

This was the original NVIDIA driver that came with my notebook I believe...
It is old.
Even the more recent Dell approved 285.62 version does not allow the NVIDIA switching on these programs.

I still get prompted via Diablo 3 to update my graphics every time I launch it. It probably does it with every driver that isn't the most recent.
Annoying!

1.) Any way to turn off that prompt?
2.) Will I see a performance hit in D3 running 267.21 vs the more recent driver updates? How do I check FPS or compare?
3.) Why can I only get NVIDIA switching on these two programs with 267.21 when there are other people on here using 301.42 who can set those two programs to NVIDIA?

The only way I can enable graphics switching on VLC or MPC-HC on 301.42 is if I rename the VLC or MPC-HC exe's to include Optimus in the name. I.e. VLC-Optimus.exe - then adding it to the NVIDIA control panel. This leaves 2 entries in the control panel for VLC and MPC-HC though with no way to remove.

I also came across this forum post with a video detailing how you can
switch the GPU.
Optimus never switches to nvidia gpu - NVIDIA Forums

I'd rather not use either of these methods however.

 

I can only help with number 2. You will probably see a difference however I wouldn't have thought it would be major. Check your fps by downloading and running fraps in the background. You can run benchmarks with both drivers then and compare the difference. Hope that helps.

Tom.