I get this question a LOT: "Why hasn't Intel released WDDM drivers for the 915 integrated graphics chipset? I can't run the fancy visual effects in Windows Vista, like Aero Glass, without one!"
People hardest hit by this issue include virtually all Tablet PC and UMPC users, along with lots and lots of people using laptops with that particular Intel integrated graphics chipset. I personally have two systems, a Lenovo X41 Tablet PC and an Asus R2H UMPC, that are affected. The Intel Software Network forum is full of complaints, rants, and even veiled threats on the topic - implying that we, Intel, are sitting on the driver, or not releasing it for some unknown reason (most speculate that it's because we want to force people to upgrade to a newer, more powerful graphics solution).
In this video, I sat down with Intel's Chuck DeSylva, right after he gave a presentation at GDC 2007 on the topic of optimizing your games to take advantage of the Intel G965 graphics chip. I asked him the million dollar question: Why are there no WDDM drivers for Intel 915 graphics?
Watch the video for the answer. It's about 3.5 minutes long, and weighs in at 22MB if you want to download it directly.
The short version (if you're impatient): The WDDM Vista driver spec came out long after the 915 design was complete and in production, and even though it has advanced features like Pixel Shader 2.0, there is a missing hardware feature, called the Hardware Scheduler, that 915 lacks, and without that, it doesn't meet the WDDM spec from Microsoft, and we (Intel) can't release a WDDM driver for it.
There. It's done. I hope that answers your questions. Please link your friends and associates to this video/post for the "definitive" answer.
As always, we're open to your feedback, so please feel free to post a comment, respond in the ISN forums, or contact me directly if you have any more questions or issues.
Comments
Can the 915 do Aero glass?!?
YES it can. And in fact, it did. During the early Vista stages (aka Longhorn), I did run on my 915 based TabletPC with the full Aero glass support. It required a small change in the registry to force the DWM to skip hardware detection but, since the 915 supports DX9 and pixel shader 2.0b, everything ran fine and surprisingly smooth.
Honnestly, I don't think Intel is completely fair with this issue. Maybe they could release an *UNSUPPORTED* WDDM driver that would allow people interested in "taking this risk" to enjoy Aero glass on their 915.
Anyhow, the point is it DID WORK and should.
hi there,
cyberknight, in the 52xx builds aero was still being done via software... not in hardware as in the final version of vista/longhorn. still there are rumours about people using a 945 driver with the 915 and aero working.
josh, could you please provide an explanation what this "hardware" scheduler thing is, you're talking about (and what it actually does)?
cheers guys, keep calm :)
Josh above all thanks for this post. I understand the issue fully and support intels decision in not making the official wddm driver (and I do have a laptop with i915 intergrated).
There are solutions to make Aero work on i915 with forcing Lakeport WDDM drivers (I know its not quite a correct or safe move yet still...) and a few other hacks exist too. Consult with google with those.
But if Intel makes a beta driver or sth to make it work they could release the source to the community. I belive there are some talented people out there who would uptake this task and work on unofficial versions of the Vista Aero Intel i915 drivers.
This would not only make the i915 users happy, it would return their trust in Intel and also it would solve the official WDDM spec problem.
No matter what in Intel I trust. Its a shame that the product currently cant do what it trully can because of the term which Microsoft layed down upon us.
Roland, I would like to see some tangible facts concerning your assertion about Aero being done in software. I have serious doubts that it was the case since the "glass" effect (with the blur and false reflection) was most certainly done using pixel shaders. Obtaining this effect with software rendering is not likely possible to get in real-time (I mean more than 30fps) on a 1,73MHz Pentium M.
Now, for the "hardware" thing, he was probably talking about the DWM "proposed" requirement for "interruptibility" that is to be implemented by GPU in DX10. I think there is a lot of confusion in this area.
If this whole "hardware" thing is true, then, someone should explain why an ATI Radeon 9550 (which is DX9 and shader 2.0b) is Aero glass capable.
I still don't think Intel has told the whole story yet.
I really really wish that intel will provide the beta drivers for 915 Chipset that fully comply to make Aero & Glass version in Vista. Or else, I have totally no idea what should I do with my laptop which is using Intel 915 Video chipset. Intel please ....
I ran the registry hack for the betas and my 82915 could run aero glass, so why in the world would they not release some patch if not a driver to allow glass on 915s?
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Ok, guys i915 cannot run Aero,
So Why my laptop runs many GAMES just fine ? Aren't they too much superior in graphic demand than the stupid Aero ?
Give me a break !
i understand a bit about computers . . more than the average 15 yr old any way but what i dont understand is that ive brought a brand new Advent 7104 laptop at a bargin price . . . it came with the intel graphics card everyone is going mad abowt . . . and it wont run counterstrike right or half life at anything above 30 fps i even got an extra gb of ram so its got 1.5 gb of ram .. any way lil off topic but i spent 499 or however much it was on vista ultimate edition and i cant run it with full effect because of some stupid graphics card . . . i spent about £1000 on this laptop just to get it to normal standard and intel keep confusing me with this im gunna ask the question that has been asked a million times over but i keep getting mixed messages . . . IS THE MOBILE INTEL 915GM/GMS,910GML PHYSICLY CAPABLE OF RUNINIG THE AREO GUI if so please tell me if the lakeport driver will run on the retail version of vista
i have spent my life savings on getting a laptop and getting more ram etc .. and it all seems for nothing please shed soem light on this subject because i am reali frustrated
sorrry i forgot to mension my laptop has : 1.7GHz pentium M processor would this mean also there is no hope ? because wen i had vista on my laptop before it seemed o.k but im onli 15 ive onli learnt what i no from work experiance and forums . . .
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