Aero support on Intel 915 Cards

[Fred Derf Veteran]

this sony vaio has centrino 1.7 ghz, 1024mb ram, integrated dx9 graphics with pixel shader 2.0 and 128mb of non dedicated ram. i hear that some people even with 64 mb graphic cards can run aero... would be angry if intel wont provide a wddm driver for i915.

64MB of dedicated video memory is better than 128mb of non-dedicated memory.

[roadgeek9]

Why would Intel not make drivers? It can only increase their product popularity!?

The Intel 915 is close to not being sold anymore and is probably going to be replaced by Intel 945/955/965 chipsets.

64MB of dedicated video memory is better than 128mb of non-dedicated memory.

Very true, I have a 32 MB dedicated graphics card in my desktop with equal to the performance of my 128 MB i915 in my laptop.

Because they would rather sell you a new chipset and make a new "Vista Aero compatibility" a carrot for it too.

Typical CEO thought "Get Money!"

[Brandon]

64MB of dedicated video memory is better than 128mb of non-dedicated memory.

Actually I thought video memory really didnt matter? Thats why going to a 512MB card does nothing vs a 256mb one

[roadgeek9]

okay, ive tried several registry hacks - with no result. the resolution is 1280x800x32bit. so i have to wait for an updated wddm driver (hopefully) or someone will post a regsitry hack which works for the rtm (hopefully) ;)

ive also added 512mb of ram - with no result. i cant believe that this could be the point... in fact i have 1 gig of ram... these little megabytes cutted by the i915... hmpf.... we will see in rtm.

The registry hacks stopped working as of Windows Vista 5536.

Actually I thought video memory really didnt matter? Thats why going to a 512MB card does nothing vs a 256mb one

There is only a difference in resolution support (a 4 MB card can support 1280x1024x64k, but an 8 MB card can support 1600x1200x16.7M).

PLEASE DON'T REPLY OR ADD TO THIS ENTIRE THREAD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1, 2006 AND NOVEMBER 30, 2006.

Edited November 2, 2006 by linuxfan

[Brandon]

The registry hacks stopped working as of Windows Vista 5536.

There is only a difference in resolution support (a 4 MB card can support 1280x1024x64k, but an 8 MB card can support 1600x1200x16.7M).

so my 256MB card can handle like 190000x1080000

[Fred Derf Veteran]

Actually I thought video memory really didnt matter? Thats why going to a 512MB card does nothing vs a 256mb one

Cards with more video memory can handle more resolutions or more polygons. They are capable of handling more complexity. Some games may eventually require 512MB video cards due to the resolutions and number of polygons/special effects used by the game.

My point, however, was that dedicated video memory (even if it is smaller) will always be preferable over shared (non-dedicated) memory.

[roadgeek9]

Cards with more video memory can handle more resolutions or more polygons. They are capable of handling more complexity. Some games may eventually require 512MB video cards due to the resolutions and number of polygons/special effects used by the game.

My point, however, was that dedicated video memory (even if it is smaller) will always be preferable over shared (non-dedicated) memory.

Very true. I use my computers for corporate use, so I do not need a very high-end graphics card, I only need a 32 MB graphics card to do my work, also I find playing computer games very juvenile.

[roadgeek9]

Cards with more video memory can handle more resolutions or more polygons. They are capable of handling more complexity. Some games may eventually require 512MB video cards due to the resolutions and number of polygons/special effects used by the game.

My point, however, was that dedicated video memory (even if it is smaller) will always be preferable over shared (non-dedicated) memory.

It always is preferred to have an AGP card with 64 MB of memory than an integrated with 128 MB.

[fabbbb]

Here is the official Intel statement

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/cs-023606.htm#5

Q5: Why doesn't the Intel 915 Express chipset family support Windows Vista Aero?

A: The overall graphics architecture and design of the 915 Express chipset family (with Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 graphics engine) was finalized prior to Microsoft releasing details and specifications around the Windows Display Driver Model driver and running the Aero interface. Given this, there are hardware limitations that would limit graphics performance and memory capabilities when attempting to run WDDM on Vista with the 915 Express chipset architecture. Intel addressed these hardware limitations with the desktop and mobile Intel 945 Express chipset families, so Intel provides support for WDDM drivers beginning with the Intel 945 Express chipset family and beyond.

Frankly, this is VERY surprising. My "Mobile Intel® 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family" display adapter can run World of Warcraft in 1920x1200 with satisfying performance and Intel is telling that it can't display a few transparent windows ?... Could someone provide a more detailed explanation here ?

[DrCheese]

Basically its probally missing a few features that make it fully DirectX9 compatible. I would guess that eventually someone will be able to fool the PC into thinking it has those and make some unoffical drivers

[DRTigerlilly]

Intel has simply chosen not to release 915 drivers, as the first poster mentioned, the specs of the 915 to the 945 are almost the same, i think the only difference is the amount of shared memory that it can use.

In fact when we still believed vista to make its appearance sometimes in 2005, the 915 was supposed to be able to do glass, and i in fact recommended to people buying notebooks, that it would be ok, granted, for the most part at the time, it was the only thing that was available.

as a previous poster mentioned, Intel just wants to push their 945/965 chipsets, i really don't know how we can get them to make a wddm driver for the 915 chipset.

Here is the official Intel statement

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/cs-023606.htm#5

Q5: Why doesn't the Intel 915 Express chipset family support Windows Vista Aero?

A: The overall graphics architecture and design of the 915 Express chipset family (with Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 graphics engine) was finalized prior to Microsoft releasing details and specifications around the Windows Display Driver Model driver and running the Aero interface. Given this, there are hardware limitations that would limit graphics performance and memory capabilities when attempting to run WDDM on Vista with the 915 Express chipset architecture. Intel addressed these hardware limitations with the desktop and mobile Intel 945 Express chipset families, so Intel provides support for WDDM drivers beginning with the Intel 945 Express chipset family and beyond.

Frankly, this is VERY surprising. My "Mobile Intel? 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family" display adapter can run World of Warcraft in 1920x1200 with satisfying performance and Intel is telling that it can't display a few transparent windows ?... Could someone provide a more detailed explanation here ?

[andrewhaji]

This really bugs me. If it weren't for this crappy integrated graphics, my system would be getting a 3.9 on the Windows Experience Index. As it is, with my GMA 900, I'm getting a 1.0. Just sad.

The Vista Basic theme looks butt ugly. Since there aren't any third-party visual styles available yet, I'm considering switching to Windows Standard until a half-decent third-party theme is released.

[fabbbb]

This really bugs me. If it weren't for this crappy integrated graphics, my system would be getting a 3.9 on the Windows Experience Index. As it is, with my GMA 900, I'm getting a 1.0. Just sad.

The Vista Basic theme looks butt ugly. Since there aren't any third-party visual styles available yet, I'm considering switching to Windows Standard until a half-decent third-party theme is released.

Yep, same here. You should sign this: http://www.petitiononline.com/intel915/petition.html

Cheers

[roadgeek9]

Yep, same here. You should sign this: http://www.petitiononline.com/intel915/petition.html

Cheers

We all are anticipating the 915 driver, I just looked at Intel's website, it has no driver.

[dirka]

We all are anticipating the 915 driver, I just looked at Intel's website, it has no driver.

don't bother watching their site, aint no driver ever gonna come....Intel can go F themselves in the A. :)

[audilover]

try this guys hope this would help

Ensure that two registry values are set:

a. HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM\Composition set to 1 (32-bit DWORD)

b. HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM\CompositionPolicy set to 2 (32-bit DWORD)

Note: You may need to create the DWM key and the two values if they do not exist.

2. Restart the Desktop Windows Manager Session Manager service:

a. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.

b. Type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:

net stop uxsms

net start uxsms

[00dwan]

doesn't seem to do anything :-(

Edited December 2, 2006 by 00dwan

[Code.Red]

I'm pretty sure that all registry entries relating to getting Aero to work when it's not supposed to were removed by RC1. :/

[Elektro]

Apparently using the Intel Lakeport Driver (WDDM) works for gma 900 cards. Anyone else that can verify if this works for them, and which card (915, 945, etc) they have?

[J400uk]

Where would you get the Lakeport WDDM driver from? I might give this a try over the weekend with my inspiron 1300 if my copy of vista arrives.

[J400uk]

Does Anyone know?????

[MarvnDuran]

The lakeport drivers are the 945 drivers (but nobody calls them that...)

but they dont work with the RTM version.

I started the petition... sent emails to both intel and microsoft and nothing! I even sent it to most major US newspapers and zero... but please sign it.

BTW, I moved to Ubuntu linux yesterday.

I got tired of this crap.

[InternalStorm]

I don't really care about having fancy graphics on my laptop... I mean, it wouldn't run well anyways so what's the point! But hey, if it comes out that's a treat. Let's just hope that there is a work around soon.

[J400uk]

This is so stupid, what can the many 915 owners not get drivers. Just tried to go on the intel forum and this came up:

Not Found: Forum Not Found

The forum you requested does not exist.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

It still isn't officially supported. Intel seems pretty clear that they only care about i945 users and up (at least with respect to Aero).

Q: Is Intel providing support for WDDM drivers for Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 (Intel GMA 900) on Intel? 915 Express chipset-based platforms?>

A: Intel will provide support for WDDM drivers beginning with the Intel? 945 Express chipset family and beyond.

Windows Vista is supported on the Intel? 845G, 865G, 915G Express desktop chipsets and 852/855GM mobile chipsets running XP drivers for Intel graphics. Windows Vista will install on these platforms, but advanced features such as Windows Aero will not be enabled as Vista drivers using WDDM are required for Windows Aero.

http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-023606.htm#3