3 Drivers for 1 graphics card??  

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  1. Posts : 47
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (x64) 6.1.7601
       #1

    3 Drivers for 1 graphics card??


    Today I wanted to update my laptop with the newest drivers.
    I have a Dell Vostro 3700.
    So I went to the website of Dell, to the drivers download page, and entered my service tag of my device.
    When I scrolled down to the "Video" section. I noticed something, rather confusing..
    There's seems to be 3 drivers + a driver for my intel chipset..
    Those 3 drivers all refer to my NVIDIA graphics card..
    But..
    They each have a different name at the end..
    I found these:

    Geforce 330M N11P-GE1
    Geforce GT330M-Discrete
    Geforce GT330M-Switchable

    The only thing i know is that I have a GT 330M..
    But apperently, if i get it right, there are 3 version of this same graphics card model?
    When I looked in dxdiag, It also just said "NVIDIA Geforce GT 330M"
    and nothing else like "Discrete".
    Should I not update my drivers at all?
    Or what should I do?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,996
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #2

    I think most will try and download the driver from the Nvidia site first.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #3

    Hi,

    From what I can see,
    - the DISCRETE is for MacBooks
    (Google)

    - the Swichable is for Windows 7 x64 (click the compatibility button in the link below)
    Drivers and Downloads

    So Im guessing its the first one since you use 32 bit? I couldn't find a DISCRETE one on the DELL site - can you post a link for that so we can double check before you do anything?

    Regards,
    Golden
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 47
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (x64) 6.1.7601
    Thread Starter
       #4

    p5bdkw said:
    I think most will try and download the driver from the Nvidia site first.
    Doesnt work..
    I think because my chipset the graphic card is put on is from intel. And not NVIDIA's?
    Don't know.. But he only updates my HD Graphics accelerator..
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 47
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (x64) 6.1.7601
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Golden said:
    Hi,

    From what I can see,
    - the DISCRETE is for MacBooks
    (Google)

    - the Swichable is for Windows 7 x64 (click the compatibility button in the link below)
    Drivers and Downloads

    So Im guessing its the first one since you use 32 bit? I couldn't find a DISCRETE one on the DELL site - can you post a link for that so we can double check before you do anything?

    Regards,
    Golden
    Link
    Underneath "Video" you will have to find the 5 drivers..
    1 for my HD Graphics Accelerator, and then the 3 Geforce ones with an Nvidia N11M-GE1 driver which says "important" and i dont even know what it's supposed to be?..
    Last edited by MiserySyndrome; 14 Jan 2011 at 10:23.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,280
    Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit / XP Home sp3
       #6

    Would you mind posting an expanded view of your display adapter in device manager?
    Thanks. Fabe
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6,879
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
       #7

    From what I can see,
    - the DISCRETE is for MacBooks
    That would be OK if Dell actually sold Macbooks. The discrete driver is for the few models of that laptop they sell that don't have an Intel CPU in them that do not have an integrated GPU in them (integrated into the CPU and not on the motherboard).

    The switchable is for the models that have both the integrated Intel graphics and an added video card (can be either AMD or Nvidia), and contains drivers for both. The laptop uses the Intel when running on the battery or for low power use apps, etc; and uses the Nvidia card for gaming, etc.

    In your case Misery you want the switchable one. That is also why the one from Nvidia failed to install, and even if it did it would break the switching capability.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 47
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (x64) 6.1.7601
    Thread Starter
       #8

    stormy13 said:
    From what I can see,
    - the DISCRETE is for MacBooks
    That would be OK if Dell actually sold Macbooks. The discrete driver is for the few models of that laptop they sell that don't have an Intel CPU in them that do not have an integrated GPU in them (integrated into the CPU and not on the motherboard).

    The switchable is for the models that have both the integrated Intel graphics and an added video card (can be either AMD or Nvidia), and contains drivers for both. The laptop uses the Intel when running on the battery or for low power use apps, etc; and uses the Nvidia card for gaming, etc.

    In your case Misery you want the switchable one. That is also why the one from Nvidia failed to install, and even if it did it would break the switching capability.
    Ok.
    And how do I check if the driver provided on the website isnt the latest one that I have already?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 47
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (x64) 6.1.7601
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Here is the view of my Video Adapters in Device Manager
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 4,280
    Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit / XP Home sp3
       #10

    As stormy13 explained why the different grahics situtations, from looking at your device manager I would say your good to go.
    Fabe
      My Computer


 
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