Audio Driver Matching

The reason for this new post is because I found out something interesting about MSI Release Audio Drivers.
Compared to Acer Default drivers they are richer in sound yet utilities the same audio chip.
However going by their filename I believe it is device id optimized.
So how do you find out the audio chip in your laptop desktop?
Go to Control Panel, open up Realtek Audio Driver Control Panel and check the audio chip used.

The Audio Codec will be listed.
Further proof that Audio Codec is dependent on Audio Chip installed and not device driver:

So which MSI driver to use?
Check the filename: ad_alc888s_vc2_6.0.1.6151_al00.zip
This indicates the driver is optimized for the ALC888S Audio Chip in the laptop.
I listed all the device driver on MSI by the Device ID just download & install!

"THX Certified + 4 Premium Sound Speakers" Driver

ad/ad_alc269q_X_al00.zip

ad/ad_alc269_X_al00.zip

"Sound by Dynaudio with DTS Surround" Driver

ad/ad_alc888s_X_al00.zip

ad/ad_alc888_X_al00.zip

ad/ad_alc662_X_al00.zip

This entry will be updated from time to time just check the last modified entry.

Acer Aspire 4740G Optimal Drivers

If your EFI/BIOS version < 1.05 please update the firmware to enable DEP.
Because I am using AS4740G therefore I will be sharing my Driver Findings here.

1. Intel Chipset Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20chipset.htm
2. Intel Rapid Storage Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20raid.htm
3. Intel Management Engine http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20chipset.htm
4. Nvidia Graphics Driver http://www.nvidia.com/page/drivers.html
5. Nvidia High Definition Audio Driver (Included in the Display Driver)
6. Realtek High Definition Audio Driver http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=nbdriverfile&driver_no=832 (Why this driver is the best? The MSI Gaming Notebook using this driver uses the same AL888 Realtek High Def chip, it has excellent driver customisation better than Acer Drivers)
7. Acer Launch Manager (Get it from Acer Site Don't use the 4740G Launch Manager use the 4540G if you want to customise the Backup Manager Shortcut Key)
8. BroadCom Bluetooth Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
9. Finger Print Driver (Available from Windows Updates Optional Driver updates)
10. SuYin/Chicony WebCam Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/camera.htm#chicony or get the Chicony Driver from the newer Acer Laptop models eg Download the Chicony Driver for the Acer Aspire 4551G.
11. Conexant Modem Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much who the h*ll uses Modem nowadays anyway??)
12. Synaptics/ALP Touchpad Driver ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp48001-48500/sp48337.exe
13. Intel Management Engine Controller http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20chipset.htm
14. BroadCom NetLink LAN Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
15. Atheros/Intel Wireless Driver http://www.station-drivers.com/page/atheros.htm http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20lan-wan.htm
16. Realtek Card Reader Driver (Get it from Acer Site driver updatedness doesn't matter too much)
17. Acer Smart Power Manager & Optical Driver Power Manager (Get it from Acer Site)
18. Turbo Boost (Only for Core i5/7) http://www.station-drivers.com/page/intel%20chipset.htm

The Correct Way to install Wireless Adapter Drivers

The question is how do you actually install a Wireless Adapter Driver with the maximum feature possible?

This blog entry will show you the way to install Wireless Adapter Driver in Windows to utilise the maximum feature possible.

1)After you reformated the Harddisk and clean installed Windows, do not be in a hurry to install the Wireless Adapter Driver's "Setup.exe". If you execute Setup.exe immediately before Windows has the chance to detect it and install the Windows Driver from Microsoft Updates, the virtual miniport adapter will not be pushed into the system.

By defaults Windows will autodetect the Wireless Adapter just go into Device Manager and Click "Detect Hardware"

Why do we do this?
This is because if you follow this method Windows will create a Virtual Device WiFi Miniport Adapter.
It is a new Windows 7 feature that allows your laptop to act as a Wireless Access Point (AP).
It will create a New Virtual Adapter Connection as shown below.

If you get a extra "2 or 3" behind your default Wireless Network Connection (which means your Virtual Miniport Adapter shows up as 3 or 4), that means the last time you removed the Wireless Adapter Driver it wasn't cleaned up properly, resulting in  "Wireless Network Connection 1" occupied by a Non-Existent Device in the Windows Registry.
Do a search in Regedit.exe and remove it if you find it irritating.

After that to update the Device Driver to the latest version do the following:

Extract the Latest Wireless Adapter Driver to a location.

Make sure the inf file exist.

Update the driver through device manager.

Point the update location to the driver location.

Acer Aspire 4530 Drivers

**New
WebCam Driver:
I found new WebCam Drivers for Aspire 4530.
It can be found here: http://www.station-drivers.com/page/camera.htm
Download the
SuYin 0.3MP WebCam driver.
It will produce better images without Flickering can add a new Video Record Function.

For Windows 7 (Install 64bit Driver Version whenever applicable to a 64bit Windows OS, some drivers include a 2 in 1 installer to detect what OS you are using)

Chipset Driver:
Go for Nvidia NForce Driver 15.45 at Guru3d Site or ASUS Download Site(For their Mainboards)
Make sure 3 things are installed

• SMU Driver
• SMBus Driver
• Nvidia Storage Driver

Audio Driver:
Go for Realtek Website or Mirrors at Guru3d/laptopvideo2go
Any Version will do preferably latest.

VGA Driver:
Go for Nvidia Download Site Version 195.62 at the moment.


Launch Manager:
Acer Download site

Wireless Driver:
Just do a Windows Update from the OS the latest driver will be pushed down to the system if you included optional updates.

Card Reader Driver (Look for Card Reader Driver Download Section in Realtek Site):
Realtek Website (Not Available on Acer Site because it can work using Windows 7 Generic Driver however a Driver is recommended to maximize USB power savings.

Modem Driver:
Acer Download site since Foxconn don't provide 3rd Party Driver Support

Bluetooth Driver(Look for Bluetooth Driver Download Section in BroadCom Site):
From BroadCom Site or Acer Download site

Touchpad Driver:
LaptopVideo2go Site (For Extra MultiTouch function) or Acer Download site (No MultiTouch)

FingerPrint Driver (For Selected Models):
Acer Download site

Ethernet Driver(Look for BroadCom NetXtreme for Mobile Driver Download Section in BroadCom Site):
From BroadCom(Update Manual Via Windows Device Manager there is no installer) Site or Acer Download site

For Windows Xp users you need to install AMD Processor Driver from AMD Sites otherwise 'Quiet n Cool' wouldn't work.
Anyway I don't recommend Windows Xp when Windows 7 is out.

Nvidia Driver Release

3D Mode

2D Mode

Windows Desktop Default Mode

Nvidia WHQL Notebook Driver version 195.62 is released.

Download them from Nvidia Website here

Please note that the new Nvidia Driver fixes the issue of not being able to throttle to default clock in Windows Desktop so please use this driver instead of the Acer Download (187.XX) which has the problem.
This driver is recommended.

Issue For Aspire 4530 Owners on Windows 7

Please take note when installing NForce Drivers
Make sure your Add/Remove Nvidia Driver has the entries below:

Use the 15.45 NForce Drivers I advised (Can be downloaded on Guru3d.com) DO NOT USE 15.37 NForce Drivers from Nvidia except for the AHCI Storage Driver from 15.37.
Note you get SMU Driver and PCI System Management Drivers, otherwise you get a Fatal Machine Check error occasionally in Windows 7 Event Log, you won't see any BSOD but the error log will be there .
In conclusion use the Storage Drivers from 15.37 and SMU and PCI System drivers from 15.45.

Update:
Please update the Storage Driver from 15.51 (from Guru3D) the driver from 15.37 causes occasional freezing issue.

nForce Drivers For Windows 7

New nForce Drivers 15.45 for Windows 7 is out

Download it here

Includes

• Ethernet Driver (v73.10) WHQL
• Network Management Tools (v73.13) "Sedona"
• SATAIDE Driver (v11.1.0.30) WHQL
• SATARAID Driver (v11.1.0.30) WHQL
• RAIDTOOL Application (v11.1.0.30)
• SMBUS Driver (v4.69) WHQL
• SMU Driver (v1.71) WHQL
• GPU Driver (v186.34) WHQL
• PhysX (v9.09.0428)
• Away Mode Driver (v6.0.6000.111) WHQL
• Installer (v7.53)

Only SMU Driver, SM BUS Driver and Away Mode Driver installs for Aspire 4530 as SATA Drivers have to force installed via Device Manager.

Upgrading Driver from 186.03 to 186.24

I just updated the Nvidia Drivers for my 9100M G from Nvidia Released 186.03 to Nvidia Beta 186.24.

Here are the new Windows Experience Index Scores

Nvidia Released Drivers 186.03

Nvidia Beta Drivers 186.24

Also I felt the display was better looking, brighter more vibrant (well can't really benchmark, this could be my eyes too).
Anyway I recommend this driver for Nvidia Users.

Acer Aspire 4530 nForce Drivers

Edit: New nForce Drivers

Check out the link here

Note only use the SMBus and PCI Drivers in this download.

Many Acer Aspire 4530 including mine did not come with nForce mainboard driver pre-loaded into the default disk image so I have uploaded the driver for Vista here.

It comes with Nvidia SATA Harddisk Controller driver as can be seen below


The new option AAM stands for Automatic Acoustic Management

1. It slows down your harddisk in exchange for a quieter and possibly longer lasting Harddisk
2. 128 is the lowest setting (Quiet) while 254 is the highest (Noisy)
3. As you can also see the harddisk controller supports Automatic Free Fall Protection however it isn't enabled because my Harddisk WD BEVT doesn't come with a Free Fall Sensor

If you upgrade to a harddisk that has a free fall sensor, Free Fall Control can be enabled

Alternatively
You can download the nForce driver from Nvidia Website
It contains

• Ethernet Driver (v67.86.2) WHQL
• NAM (v.67.93)
• Sata/IDE Driver (v10.3.0.42) WHQL
• RAID Driver (v10.3.0.42) WHQL
• RAIDTOOL (v10.3.0.42)
• SM Bus (v4.69) WHQL
• SMU (v1.61) WHQL
• GPU Driver (v178.33) WHQL
• AwyMode driver (v.6.0.6000.107)WHQL
• Installer (v6.14)

When installing you can install all of them but make sure you exclude the display driver as you are better off getting the newer 185.20 version from laptopvideo2go

Only the Beta driver offered by Nvidia website and the Beta Driver 185.20 from laptopvideo2go support CUDA and PhysiX at the same time

nForce 760i SLI
nForce 740i SLI
nForce 720i
nForce 730i, GeForce 9300, GeForce 9400

Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Version 2.26

Realtek 2.26 Drivers are out
Download them here

Nvidia PhysX Update

NVIDIA PhysX System Software WHQL

Version:	9.09.0428
Release Date:	June 03, 2009
Operating System:	Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
Language:	U.S. English
File Size:	39.2 MB

Download here

Atheros Wireless LAN

For those who do not wish to use Windows Xp Wireless Zero Config here is an alternative.

Edit:

New Release Atheros Driver Version 7.7X (WHQL) (Vista only) Atheros WLAN v7.7.0.319

New Atheros Client Utility for Vista here Version v7.7.0.231

After installation a utility will appear in the Control Panel

Here are some screenshots:

Choice of 3 types of Atheros Wireless LAN Drivers:

1. Modded Atheros Driver (Non-WHQL)(Vista & Xp)

Obtained from LaptopVideo2go

1. Atheros Driver Version 7.7X (WHQL) (Vista only)
   

Obtained from LaptopVideo2go

1. Atheros Driver Version 7.6X (WHQL) (Vista & Xp)
   

Obtained from Atheros.cz and Microsoft Updates

How To Optimize Your Touchpad (Update)

Update:

You can now enable advance gestures on older touchpad.

I will just post the link as I am too lazy to type 
As of now almost all Synaptics Touchpad support multitouch (even legacy ones) thanks to Synaptics who decided to include multi touch support even for legacy Touchpads.
You need to update the drivers to 15.0.13 then use this guide to optimize the settings

The information below is outdated refer to the above.

New features : Disable touchpad when USB Mouse is attached.

I think some of you have seen the synaptic icon on your taskbar but don't really care what it does.
In this blog I will show you how to properly configure it so that it will perform even better for you

Firstly, Synaptic Touchpad software is consistently updated
You won't get the latest version from Official Synaptic Website
However you can get it at laptopvideo2go
Let me clarify Synaptic Touchpad Software is universal there is no specific version to install
As long as you have a touchpad on your laptop the latest version will always be compatible to your laptop if you haven't install it, install it now.

• Firstly Right Click on the Synaptic icon in the taskbar
• Select Pointing Device Properties
• Select Pointer Options Tab
• Set the Pointer Speed bar as shown below

The above picture is just a gauge
The optimal setting should be the when you drag your finger from the top of the touchpad to the bottom the cursor should traverse from the top to the bottom in one single motion

---

Next Check that Tapping is enabled as shown below
When tapping is enabled when you touch the touchpad twice quickly at the same spot is acts like a double left click
When you touch once it acts as a single left click

After you do this it effectively replaces your left mouse button

---

Next we shall set the most comfortable setting for the touchpad

Set both bar to as low as possible because

• I don't think people rest their whole palm on the touchpad while using it
• It makes your touchpad more responsive and you no longer have to apply any pressure to it. You just need to rest the weight of your finger on it
• Latest version of Synaptics Software will not detect invisible movements and move your cursor randomly

---

Next we shall explore additional features

Enable Virtual Scrolling as shown below

It will allow you to scroll up and down, left and right by dragging your fingers in the regions shown below

Adjust the size of the scroll region

---

Next we shall find a Alternative Right Click Button for convenience
Do the following

This will create a "new" right click button as shown below
To Right Click simply tap the region once

Adjust the size of your "Right Mouse Button"

The new configuration will need some getting use to but you will no longer need to apply pressure to the touch pad for normal usage

If you get use to this you will not need to use the right mouse button hence less likely of spoiling it

If you require finer control you can always fallback on the buttons
In conclusion don't be lazy, the default setting on Synaptic Touchpad sucks to get comfortable settings for use, experiment and find the setting you are most comfortable with.

---

AMD Processor Driver and Dual Core Optimizer For WinXp

Important

Laptops using AMD Processors which is operating on Windows Xp please note you have to install the following:

AMD Processor Driver Version 1.3.2.0053 for Windows XP & Windows Server 2003 (x86 and x64)
Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination to match the instantaneous user performance need. This package is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD processors on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP2 x86 and x64 Editions.

And

AMD Dual-Core Optimizer Version 1.1.4 (Mirror Download)
The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer can help improve some PC gaming video performance by compensating for those applications that bypass the Windows API for timing by directly using the RDTSC (Read Time Stamp Counter) instruction. Applications that rely on RDTSC do not benefit from the logic in the operating system to properly account for the affect of power management mechanisms on the rate at which a processor core's Time Stamp Counter (TSC) is incremented. The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer helps to correct the resulting video performance effects or other incorrect timing effects that these applications may experience on dual-core processor systems, by periodically adjusting the core time-stamp-counters, so that they are synchronized.

It is required to save power and reduce the thermal exhaust

The reason it is required is at the time of Windows Xp release these Drivers were not included

Windows Vista users just need to install AMD Dual-Core Optimizer Version 1.1.4

There has been some question if AMD Dual-Core Optimizer is really needed.

This is what I found out in the Readme.rtf in AMD Dual-Core Optimizer :

---Improvement and Fixes---

Version 1.1.4

* Fixed installation issue on Windows Vista.

---System Requirements---

* Microprocessor: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processors

This software installs and operates under the following operating systems

* Microsoft® Windows® XP

* Microsoft Windows Server 2003

* Microsoft Windows Vista

The rationale is if it was not needed in Vista why would they fix it?

A Good Place To Get Acer Drivers

Here is a link to Acer Drivers.
It is far better than the previous ftp links.
Both 32bit and 64bit are available.

Aspire 4530 AHCI Driver Installation for Window Xp

I found a Solution for loading AHCI drivers for Windows Xp when installing Windows Xp on Aspire 4530

• Download this AHCI Driver and extract it into a Floppy Disk or Thumbdrive (Untested).
  
• When installing Windows Xp when the message "Press F6 to load additional Driver".
  
• Press F6 and Load the AHCI Driver from Disk and Windows Xp should detect the harddrive in AHCI Mode.
  

Nvidia Notebook Beta Driver 181.22

I just remembered there is another Universal Nvidia Driver.
It is highly recommended for those who couldn't find suitable driver from laptopvideo2go
It can be found on Nvidia CUDA development Webpage.
It has the same amount of capabilities as 185.20 however there are a few differences and similarities

• It comes with PowerMizer already enabled
• It is compatible with all Nvidia Graphics Adapters
• It enables PhysX
  
• It enables CUDA
• NO extra Nvidia Display Power Saving Technology
• NO Ambient Occlusion feature
  

Just go to the webpage select your OS and you are ready to go.
Before installing remember to uninstall your old drivers first.

The download size is a hefty 100+MB but thanks to Nvidia Dedicated Download server the time to download the driver is relatively fast.
You don't have to download CUDA SDK and CUDA Toolkit if you are not doing CUDA development

Remember to Delete the folder "C:\Nvidia" after installation.
This folder is used to store the extracted Nvidia Driver after installation you no longer needs it and it wastes space on your Computer so it is best to delete it.

I tested this driver gives the same level of performance as Nvidia Beta Driver 185.20

Enjoy

Edit:

This driver has depreciated please use the latest Nvidia Driver instead.

Nvidia Beta Driver VS Acer Vendor Driver

Recently Acer released a new Nvidia Driver 179.52.

I took this opportunity to test this vendor released driver against the awesome Nvidia Beta Driver 185.20 I have been using until now.

The download size of the Acer Released Drivers is much smaller than the Nvidia Beta Driver.

First I used Windows Experience Index to gauge their performance as I am too lazy to run an actual benchmark =P

Performance
____________________________________________________________________

It is a disappointing 3.7 Aero Performance for the Acer Release Driver.

The Nvidia Beta Driver scored a much better 4.0 Aero Performance

(I didn't know what happened to the 0.1 after the reformat)

Supported Features

_______________________________________________________________________

I tried running a Sample CUDA Program from Nvidia CUDA SDK using both drivers

The Acer Released Drivers failed to render anything at all

While the Nvidia Beta Drivers rendered it excellently

Note: The Acer Release Drivers have yet to support PhysX while the Nvidia Beta Driver supported it

Additionally the Nvidia Beta Driver support new features yet to be seen in the Acer Released ones

For PowerMizer both Drivers supported it except you have to manually enable it in Nvidia Released Drivers sometimes but Vendor released Drivers always come with PowerMizer autoenabled.

Conclusion
_________________________________________________________________

Well it is obvious that those Acer Release Drivers have a long way to go before being able to catch up to Nvidia Beta Releases. (I am not sure about other Vendors but Acer Released Drivers simply cannot make the mark)

Nvidia is right about providing OEM Driver support because Vendors cannot be trusted to release decent drivers.

We can see the same situation happening in ATi except ATi do not bother to release OEM drivers as such ATi drivers suffer from bad reputation in Windows Operating System compared to Nvidia generally.

For those people who own an Nvidia Card in their Laptop please get Nvidia Released Drivers
Continuing to run Vendors Release Driver is almost like crippling yourself on purpose, even though you have spent good money on it in the case of Acer.

So please do yourself a favour and use Nvidia Release Driver instead
(Check if your Hardware is supported by the newer drivers before installing them & try to update all drivers to the latest version to make sure intercompatibility exist)

Edit:

182.20 is no longer the latest Nvidia Released Driver

For the latest Nvidia Released Driver click here

Intel Chipset Drivers

Here is a link containing All Intel Chipset Drivers.

Some Translation:
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4700MHD = GM47 chipset
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD = GM45 chipset
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100 = 965GM & 960GM chipset
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 = 945GM chipset
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 900 = 915GM chipset

The list is in descending order of performance.
(Note the list above only includes Intel Integrated Graphics for other Chipsets, use CPUZ to find the model)

You can also view the chipset model using CPUZ.

Realtek Optimal Driver Settings

The Latest Realtek High Definition CODEC Driver is available here

The following is a guide to optimal driver settings so that

1. The full driver features are utilised
2. The amplitude of the volume is controlled so the speakers do not get damaged
   

First Right Click the Icon Shown below

Choose Playback Device
Select Speakers then Properties Then Check Limited Output
This will prevent speaker damage when the volume is maximum

Next

Switch PC Beep to Zero or Mute it to turn off the annoying PC Beep
Then Ensure the Microphone in Speaker Properties is Muted to remove the annoying static that can be heard some times

Next Right Click the Icon shown below and select Sound Manager


Check Either Full Range Speaker Or Virtual Sound for best sound effects because Virtual Sound refers to headphone sound virtualization


Select the following options to reduce Microphone interference
The Red Cross Should Show if the options are enabled