m17x R3 - ati drivers

Hi, sounds like you've had some fun :P

What OS are you running Win 7 or 8?

Is this the AMD/ATI driver you have tried:

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/mobile?os=Windows%208%20-%2064#amd-catalyst-packages

What happens during the install process, do you get any error messages?

Strange that your 6970M will not accept standard AMD drivers, I had a M18x with dual 6970M's for a while and used the AMD drivers without any issues

> sounds like you had some fun :P
Yeah, really. I think I've found my dream job :p

Let's see, I'm running Windows 7 x64, I've tried that driver and the new beta as well (14.6).

I don't get any error messages, but during the installation my resolution flips over to 1024x768 and stays there. When I restart, it says there's no ATI device to manage, or there's no driver installed.

If this is fixable, I won't have to spend another heap of money on a new laptop, so I'd be incredibly grateful if you have a solution of some kind!

Hi again, I had something similar happen to one of the laptops I was working on but that was quite some time ago.

Just to confirm, if you use the Dell driver your screen res is normal, but if you use any other it turns to 1024 x 768???

It's so long ago I had this issue I'm having trouble remembering how I fixed it.

Have you tried this:

Install the lastest AMD driver, do not reboot.

Go to cat control centre and click screen res, try to adjust it to what it should be - If that setting is not available look for something on the same page that says "Show all screen res settings" or "Show hidden screen res setting" the correct setting should be there, make it your default setting and click OK

Try a reboot then.

If that does not work restart machine and hit F2, go into the system BIOS and make sure your graphics cards setting defaults are on "discrete" and NOT "Intergated"

Save, exit and reboot.

If that does not work, try an external monitor to see if it will present the correct res on the external.

If that does not work, try swapping between your discrete and integrated graphics via the F7 button.

Let us know how you go.

Goodluck

Hey! Sorry for not having responded sooner, my life took a swing for the busy.

I've tried to do as you said - now, the driver is installed and everything seems to be in working order, 'cept for one thing.

When I maximize a window, it maximizes it only up till about ¾ of the full screen width. It's weird!
Even pushing a window up to the top or the side gives me the same effect, as though the working area of the desktop suddenly shrunk, even though it does display everything beyond that area as it should, and I can still resize windows manually. (Regardless, it's kinda annoying that I can't properly utilize the maximize button)

At least Watch_Dogs is running now, and I'm hoping GW2 will too (because it had this weird thing where I'd get 30+FPS in the first few minutes and then after about 5 it'd drop down to like 8). Haven't yet tried playing that game though.

Hi Aephion!

When I maximize a window, it maximizes it only up till about ¾ of the full screen width. It's weird!   Even pushing a window up to the top or the side gives me the same effect, as though the working area of the desktop suddenly shrunk, even though it does display everything beyond that area as it should, and I can still resize windows manually. (Regardless, it's kinda annoying that I can't properly utilize the maximize button)

Can you test this on Safe Mode?

Some of the symptoms indicate there could be a video card problem. Try the troubleshooting steps in this article for FPS drops and low performance in games and let me know the results.

I have the same Alienware, sadly no drivers or work around will work, it is a pretty basic machine that does not meet expectations. I fought with this for months, so what I did was upgrade my graphics card to an ati 6990, and only now things are running they way they are. problem is I had to get the card on ebay as it is a fraction of the cost that Dell will sell them at. dell price for upgrade 600 pounds, ebay price 120 pounds

that is the truth M17x r3 is not the best it is below average and I wish I had bought something else.