950GMA (with graphics drivers made for Windows Vista or 7) is WDDM compatible, and works with Aero and takes advantage of VRAM emulation.
You could opt to install drivers made for Windows XP instead though on Windows 7, giving you near-same performance as you would find in XP. XP drivers are not WDDM compatible and thus, can run out of VRAM (if the game for some reason surpasses 256MB), can bring the system down if the driver crashes (because non-wddm drivers run in Kernel Mode), and cannot emulate TnL (so no CS:S or TF2 and etc). Personally, I would only install WIndows 7 if you plan on using the modded drivers for vista/7. I use XP right now because most of my games run better in XP and don't need TnL. And with Aero, you can choose to have it close down when you start a game, and start back up after the game closes (right click a game shortcut > properties > compatibility > turn off desktop composition > apply > ok) On Fri, May 28, 2010 at 11:55 AM, Philo <[email protected]> wrote: > bumppp > > Isn't GMA 950 suitable for the WDDM compataible? If not theres a > chance of me sticking to Window XP. > I only wanted to use Window 7 for games :\ and maybe more stuff i > suppose. > But didn't you say you could install Window XP Display Tool or > something and unistall the Vista/7 display tool? > Would that make all games able to work NEARLY as fast as XP? Or would > certain errors come up? > So theres a message to either install Aero or not when I get the OS > disc? Or anyway to install it and use if for surfing and other stuff > and then changing it or disabling manually while going gaming? > > On May 27, 5:27 pm, Philo <[email protected]> wrote: >> Isn't GMA 950 suitable for the WDDM compataible? If not theres a >> chance of me sticking to Window XP. >> I only wanted to use Window 7 for games :\ and maybe more stuff i >> suppose. >> >> But didn't you say you could install Window XP Display Tool or >> something and unistall the Vista/7 display tool? >> Would that make all games able to work NEARLY as fast as XP? Or would >> certain errors come up? >> >> So theres a message to either install Aero or not when I get the OS >> disc? Or anyway to install it and use if for surfing and other stuff >> and then changing it or disabling manually while going gaming? >> >> On May 26, 8:24 pm, Espionage724 <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> > Well, every OS has it's own graphics architecture, and needs specific >> > drivers to go with that system. Windows XP has its own drivers, as >> > does vista, and 7. Vista and 7 are nearly the same, so they can use >> > the same drivers on some devices (including Display Adapters, or >> > Graphics Cards). >> >> > Vista and 7's graphics drivers use WDDM (windows display driver model) >> > and XP uses XPDM (xp display model i guess). >> >> > Vista and 7 can support WDDM, LDDM (longhorn display driver model, I >> > guess for vista beta), and XPDM. XP however only supports XPDM. >> >> > Vista and 7, when you do the rating thing, it only tests the graphics >> > card if it's WDDM compatible. And to be WDDM compatible, it must first >> > off be a standard Vista or 7 graphics driver. If the driver is not >> > WDDM compatible, the test will throw a 1.0 for Graphics and maybe >> > gaming performance (even if the XPDM driver is 100x better and stable >> > then WDDM) >> >> > As for the drivers, 9xxssf is famous for the Alpha and Sigma drivers, >> > which are modified drivers for the 950GMA and 965 (x3100). These >> > drivers only work under Vista or 7, because they use WDDM (could be >> > wrong on this, but I know the drivers only work under Vista or 7). >> >> > And Aero is a system-wide theme I guess. It uses the Desktop Windows >> > Manager, which I assume controls how Aero is rendered on-screen. >> >> > Aero can take up LOTS of video memory, and because of this, video >> > memory is emulated. This feature is only available in WDDM drivers, >> > which is why XPDM drivers cannot use Aero (even if your card has 10GB >> > of video memory somehow). >> >> > On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 11:13 AM, Philo <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > Ahh right I get it now! But I dont get the Vista or 7 graphic drivers. >> > > Hmm where can I find window graphic drivers? What is the difference to >> > > Vista and 7 (Gaming performance is better I know :D) >> >> > > Modded Window 7 Drivers?? >> >> > > Isn't Aero a theme? >> >> > > On May 25, 11:40 pm, Espionage724 <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> I mean that if you play a game that runs fine in XP for instance, you >> > >> will probably notice a slowdown in Vista or 7. You would only >> > >> experience this slowdown (if any) with Vista or 7 graphics drivers. >> >> > >> If you install XP graphics drivers in VIsta or 7, you will get nearly >> > >> the same performance in the game you had in XP. >> >> > >> For instance, I install WIndows 7. I have modded drivers for windows >> > >> 7. I try running WoW. I get 15 FPS. I uninstall the modded drivers and >> > >> install XP graphics drivers in windows 7. Then I run WoW, I get >> > >> 20-30FPS. >> >> > >> Also when you install Windows 7, you could tell if you have Aero or >> > >> not turned on by looking at the taskbar for instance, if it's glassy >> > >> and transparant, then you have aero. If it's a solid blue bar, its >> > >> off, and probably cannot be enabled. >> >> > >> On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 11:45 AM, Philo <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> > So your saying if I wanted to play a Window Vista or 7 (as a example) >> > >> > game and played it in Window XP mode I will get these error etc? >> >> > >> > How do I know if my system don't support aero and a non-WDDM driver, >> > >> > so my bluetooth,webcam and sim card modem can be effected?? >> > >> > I don't undersyand the last part 'if you already have it turned on >> > >> > when you go to install XP drivers, it will turn it off for you.' >> >> > >> > On May 24, 10:14 pm, Espionage724 <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> >> No no running in XP or 7 isn't illegal. I mean't that if a game were >> > >> >> to send a gfx instruction that wasn't compatible, it would be an >> > >> >> illegal operation because the graphics hardware won't know what to do >> > >> >> with that instruction, and it would crash. >> >> > >> >> Also you could use GMABooster to see what your clock speed is at the >> > >> >> moment. You could change it if you wish also. >> >> > >> >> And if your system doesn't support Aero, or if its using a non-WDDM >> > >> >> driver (any XP driver for instance) it won't allow you to even select >> > >> >> Aero. If you already have it turned on when you go to install XP >> > >> >> drivers, it will turn it off for you. >> >> > >> >> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:55 PM, Philo <[email protected]> >> > >> >> wrote: >> > >> >> > So I guess I just have to change theme then its all good in the >> > >> >> > hood? >> > >> >> > Or I could just close down explorer while gaming (: >> >> > >> >> > So your saying that running in window xp on window 7 is illegal? >> >> > >> >> > Alright! I pretty much understand the Tnl bit now! >> > >> >> > Oh btw, anyway how to check my graphic card speed (400mhz etc)? >> > >> >> > Dont recommend GMABooster ^_^, as I wanna see if it works or not >> > >> >> > since >> > >> >> > my friends in real life tried it and they saw an 20+ fps increase >> > >> >> > on >> > >> >> > whatever game they played! >> >> > >> >> > On May 24, 9:33 pm, Espionage724 <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> >> >> Well, Aero is turned on by default if your card meets the >> > >> >> >> requirements >> > >> >> >> of WDDM, has 128MB of vram, and something else I think. You could >> > >> >> >> change your theme to basic though, or even classic. So Aero isn't >> > >> >> >> forced, but it looks quite nice. >> >> > >> >> >> User Mode drivers, they communitcate with your hardware >> > >> >> >> indirectly. >> > >> >> >> Theres a technical description of it on Wikipedia, but pretty >> > >> >> >> much, >> > >> >> >> Kernel Mode drivers directly communitcate with hardware, >> > >> >> >> resulting in >> > >> >> >> faster performance, but if your graphics card recieves/performs an >> > >> >> >> illegal action, it will crash the entire system with a Blue >> > >> >> >> screen of >> > >> >> >> death (BSOD). >> >> > >> >> >> User mode drivers communicate with something else before going to >> > >> >> >> the >> > >> >> >> hardware, and this stops BSOD's, but because it has to communicate >> > >> >> >> with something else, it also reduces performance. >> >> > >> >> >> Windows 7 Modded drivers, theres 2 sets, Alpha and SIgma. Sigma >> > >> >> >> is for >> > >> >> >> 965, Alpha is for 950GMA. 1 = 32-Bit OS, 2 = 64-Bit OS. >> > >> >> >> So for a 950GMA on a 32-Bit OS, you would need Alpha 1. Alpha 1 >> > >> >> >> enables the use of Software TnL, and whatever other features are >> > >> >> >> included in the 965 drivers (IncreasedFixedSegment, >> > >> >> >> PipeOptimization, >> > >> >> >> etc) >> >> > >> >> >> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 3:40 PM, Philo <[email protected]> >> > >> >> >> wrote: >> > >> >> >> > 1. The overclocking sounds like a good idea! But after a >> > >> >> >> > experience of >> > >> >> >> > overclocking my laptop and getting it fried, theres no way im >> > >> >> >> > going >> > >> >> >> > back to that experience again! Just in case, but thanks ^_^ >> >> > >> >> >> > 2. I have though of getting the Window 7 Professional! But I >> > >> >> >> > don't >> > >> >> >> > know how to get rid of Aero Theme, unless you mean changing the >> > >> >> >> > theme >> > >> >> >> > into something else! User mode driver please explain as I didn't >> > >> >> >> > completely understand it such the BSOD and what happens then >> > >> >> >> > after my >> > >> >> >> > graphic driver crashes! >> > >> >> >> > Im sure tweaking should help me improve some of framerate like >> > >> >> >> > XP (: >> >> > >> >> >> > 3. Modded 7 Driver? Explain please! & How to get modded 7 >> > >> >> >> > drivers? >> >> > >> >> >> > Thanks, >> > >> >> >> > Philo >> >> > >> >> >> > On May 24, 8:19 pm, Espionage724 <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> >> >> >> 1. Overclocking >> > >> >> >> >> SetFSB works the best. I can OC my 1.6Ghz to 1.8GHz and it >> > >> >> >> >> works out ok. >> >> > >> >> >> >> 2. Use XP graphics drivers in 7 >> > >> >> >> >> This works the best, and may even be the best solution for >> > >> >> >> >> those who >> > >> >> >> >> want Windows 7, but want to play legacy games at XP speeds. >> > >> >> >> >> You have >> > >> >> >> >> no Aero Theme or User Mode drivers however (so if you graphics >> > >> >> >> >> driver >> > >> >> >> >> crashes, you get the BSOD instead of a graphics driver >> > >> >> >> >> restart) You >> > >> >> >> >> may still get a slightly lower FPS in games when compared to >> > >> >> >> >> XP though >> > >> >> >> >> because of other factors, but it would be nearly as fast. >> >> > >> >> >> >> 3. If using Modded 7 Drivers, disable Software TnL >> > >> >> >> >> If your using a weaker CPU, SwTnL will make some legacy games >> > >> >> >> >> go >> > >> >> >> >> slower (Unreal engine 1-2, Blizzard Entertainment games, GTA >> > >> >> >> >> SA) >> >> > >> >> >> >> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 2:12 PM, Philo >> > >> >> >> >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> >> >> >> > Is it possible to use any other programs for GTA SA to >> > >> >> >> >> > improve fps >> > >> >> >> >> > with Window 7, as I think its time to move on in the >> > >> >> >> >> > generation and >> > >> >> >> >> > just stick to the newer OS now! >> >> > >> >> >> >> > On May 24, 11:04 am, "THEfog ." <[email protected]> >> > >> >> >> >> > wrote: >> > >> >> >> >> >> I meant rendering speed on 7 that is lol, i seriously need >> > >> >> >> >> >> to read through >> > >> >> >> >> >> my posts BEFORE I send them lol not after. >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> THEfog >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> On 24/05/2010 7:15 PM, "Espionage724" >> > >> >> >> >> >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> Without TnL emulation at all, WIndows XP would run CS:S >> > >> >> >> >> >> better then >> > >> >> >> >> >> Windows 7. But only 7 can emulate TnL on the 950GMA. >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> And GTA: SA runs way better on XP then 7. >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> On Sun, May 23, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Philo >> > >> >> >> >> >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> >> >> >> >> > RE-EDIT MY RUSHED POST! >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> ... >> > >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> Espionage724 Has A Signature... >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> -- >> > >> >> >> >> >> 9xx SOLDIERS SANS FRONTIERS >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> -- >> > >> >> >> >> >> 9xx SOLDIERS SANS FRONTIERS >> >> > >> >> >> >> > -- >> > >> >> >> >> > 9xx SOLDIERS SANS FRONTIERS >> >> > >> >> >> >> --... >> >> read more » > > -- > 9xx SOLDIERS SANS FRONTIERS > -- Espionage724 Has A Signature... -- 9xx SOLDIERS SANS FRONTIERS
