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PaperNotes · Sep 9, 2007, 12:03 PM

Windows Update is telling me there's a new driver for the MacBook Pro's wifi card. Should I install any driver updates that come via Windows Update or leave drivers untouched until new Boot Camp updates?

Mac User #001 · Sep 9, 2007, 12:58 PM

I'd be more willing to let Apple update an Apple MacBook Pro's wifi card over Microsoft.

mduell · Sep 9, 2007, 03:04 PM

MS is just passing along Atheros/Broadcoms drivers... I'd take the update for everything except graphics drivers.

PaperNotes · Sep 9, 2007, 03:56 PM

Have you tried and tested the new Atheros drivers?

I tried graphics drivers direct from ATI but it looks like Apple and ATI have worked together on keeping this one closed door. The latest Catalyst driver installer recognizes the Boot Camp installation and installs the same driver that came with 1.4. It's not even based on the latest Catalyst!!!! I'm trying to find out how I can drive my ATI X1600 back up to the original 470Mhz spec. Apple's driver on OS X and Boot Camp runs at 311Mhz (Idle) and 410Mhz (Max) according to Power Strip.

mduell · Sep 9, 2007, 05:03 PM

Graphics is a different issue because the Macs need a special video firmware with EFI support.

ATITool will let you change the clockrate on your graphics card.

PaperNotes · Sep 9, 2007, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

ATITool will let you change the clockrate on your graphics card.

Current stable and beta versions don't work on Vista for me. Power Strip is only letting me clock up to the 410Mhz set by Apple and ATI.

ghporter · Sep 10, 2007, 05:53 AM

Back to the issue of the AirPort card drivers, you can go ahead and try them-Windows drivers do NOT impact anything like a card's firmware. If it doesn't work, it's pretty easy to undo-just go to the Device Manager, select the card, and click Update Drivers, then point the file browser to the AirPort driver on your Boot Camp driver disc.

PaperNotes · Sep 10, 2007, 10:41 AM

That's why I have to ask around. I have to know if a driver contains a firmware update as well. If it does then it can't be installed otherwise the device won't speak to the Mac drivers any longer. And also, if a driver update really offers any performance advantage. I'm going to leave the Atheros driver and wait for the next Boot Camp update. Hopefully the then we'll also see ATITool and Omega drivers for Vista that will be safe for Boot Camp use. I'd love to clock my GPU up because the X1600 doesn't come close the generating the heat that the 8600M GT does in the current MBPs.

mduell · Sep 10, 2007, 05:12 PM

New drivers are more likely to be security or stability improvements rather than performance.

PaperNotes · Sep 11, 2007, 12:51 AM

re: ATI drivers

No wonder I still had the same (Boot Camp) Radeon driver after installing Catalyst from ATI's site. ATI says they don't supply any drivers for mobile GPUs.

Catalyst 7.9 came out yesterday and offer a 10% improvement at the low end and much larger improvements on the HD series. Won't install on a mobile chipset though (like in the iMac and MBP). Boot Camp ATI drivers are still based on Catalyst 7.7 which came out last May

markponcelet · Sep 17, 2007, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by PaperNotes

re: ATI drivers

No wonder I still had the same (Boot Camp) Radeon driver after installing Catalyst from ATI's site. ATI says they don't supply any drivers for mobile GPUs.

Catalyst 7.9 came out yesterday and offer a 10% improvement at the low end and much larger improvements on the HD series. Won't install on a mobile chipset though (like in the iMac and MBP). Boot Camp ATI drivers are still based on Catalyst 7.7 which came out last May

You could use Mobility Modder to accomplish this. Worked well for me (though for a June version of the driver, not the most current one). Instructions here.

PaperNotes · Sep 18, 2007, 03:49 PM

Mobility Modder appears to have worked although I am sure the image is grainy now. I will do some tests.

markponcelet · Sep 18, 2007, 04:03 PM

Odd -- I didn't notice any visual difference between the Apple Driver and the June ATI desktop driver. I did notice this grainyness last year when I installed the Omega drivers, though. Which reminds me: you may want to try the Omega drivers if the ATI drivers don't live up to your expectations.

PaperNotes · Sep 19, 2007, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by markponcelet

Odd -- I didn't notice any visual difference between the Apple Driver and the June ATI desktop driver. I did notice this grainyness last year when I installed the Omega drivers, though. Which reminds me: you may want to try the Omega drivers if the ATI drivers don't live up to your expectations.

There aren't any Omega drivers available for Vista. The guy hasn't one any work for months because he is stuck in WOW.

The modded Catalyst 7.9 drivers are a little grainy on the eyes. FRAPS reports a 30% speed drop in some games but I'm not seeing that drop so FRAPS is definitely not reliable. Windows Performance Index is unchanged for graphics. Powerstrip and the ATITool for Vista (beta) aren't playing nice. Otherwise the drivers are stable. That's about the only improvement. Games are a little more stable but no faster. The odd jerk in DiRT and FIFA are gone.