Do I need ATi WDM Drivers?

[Codmate]

Hi All,

I recently upgraded my trusty 9800Pro to an X850 XT so that I could play Oblivion with a higher frame rate. The new card does perform *much* better than the 9800 Pro in this game.

After installing the video drivers (the stand-alone ones - not the CCC as I don't like it, I use ATi Tray Tools) I noticed that there were two 'unknown' devices in Device Manager.

This was solved by installing the WDM drivers.
All sorts of other devices (and some codecs too I think) appeared in device manager after installing the WDM drivers.

Almost immediatly I began to have trouble with my soundcard however.
I re-installed the soundcard drivers and now have normal sound back in windows, but in Oblibion the sound is choppy at times.

I've heard that Oblivion is sensitive to strange codecs being installed on a machine and was wondering if I could safely remove the WDM drivers and associated codecs.

I don't capture any video or audio using the card - I just use it as a display card via the DVI output. Will I lose anything by uninstalling the WDM and VIVO stuff?

Also, is anybody using a Zalman VGA cooler (such as the ZM80D-HP) with the X850 Xt - I had one on my old 9800 Pro and can't get used to the noisy new card.

Cheers

 

[rbV5]

WDM drivers only need to be installed if you are going to use the VIVO functions.

 

[Codmate]

Cheers.

Does this mean I'll be OK to run with the two 'unkown devices' in Device manager?

 

[Peter]

These drivers do not make a difference - they're hardware drivers, not media codecs, for the TV or video input facility on AIW or VIVO-enabled cards.

Leave them installed, and rather sort out the ACTUAL problem you appear to be having with your audio drivers.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Codmate
Cheers.

Does this mean I'll be OK to run with the two 'unkown devices' in Device manager?

Yes, unless you want to use your VIVO functions.

 

[Peter]

Until you're actually using these functions, having the drivers installed is just as good as having them removed. You might just as well leave them in a ready-to-use state.

 

[Codmate]

Originally posted by: Peter
These drivers do not make a difference - they're hardware drivers, not media codecs, for the TV or video input facility on AIW or VIVO-enabled cards.

Leave them installed, and rather sort out the ACTUAL problem you appear to be having with your audio drivers.

I wasn't having any problems before installing these WDM drivers though
Also some additional codecs were definitly installed along with them - they are listed in device manager.

 

[Peter]

That might be the case. Uninstalling the DRIVERS won't rid you of those CODECS ... so my point still stands - leave the drivers alone and figure out the ACTUAL problem.

 

[Codmate]

Originally posted by: Peter
That might be the case. Uninstalling the DRIVERS won't rid you of those CODECS ... so my point still stands - leave the drivers alone and figure out the ACTUAL problem.

That IS the CASE , MR CAPITALS

I intend to try uninstalling with the ATi Catalyst removal tool, and hopefully that will get rid of the codecs that I think are causing this problem.

Then I will re-install just the video (and not the problematic WDM) drivers.

This is why I was asking if I absolutly *need* these drivers installed seeing as I'm not using any VIVO features.

 

[rbV5]

This is why I was asking if I absolutly *need* these drivers installed seeing as I'm not using any VIVO features.

and you don't. uninstalling them "fixes" your problem. You don't even need them for VO either, only VI.

You'll have to address it if you want to capture analog video at some point, but it does seem silly to install them now only to have to then figure a workaround for your conflict that you cause by installing them...when you don't need to install them at all.