How to fully Uninstall / Remove Drivers

When changing a graphics card, sound card, or network card sometimes removing the drivers properly can be a bit of a pain. It can also be a problem when updating drivers to the newer versions as often the uninstall program will not fully delete all of the driver components and will often cause the new drivers to not install correctly which can cause crashes and sometimes even blue screens of death.

There are a couple of free programs out there though that will help you fully remove the drivers so that when installing the new ones you don't hit any problems along the way.

Firstly you will need to download Driver Sweeper once you have downloaded it simply install it and then leave it until you have started the task of removing the old drivers. (Remember to get the new ones ready on a CD or on your desktop before you remove the old ones)

Once you have decided on which drivers you are uninstalling you need to go to the uninstall panel on your computer. Find the drivers and then right click on them and click uninstall/change. Go through all of the setup program until the drivers are uninstalled.

Uninstall or Change a program window

Once you have removed the drivers that you wanted to get rid of it is time to fire up Driver Sweeper. This program will remove any remaining files/registry entries that were left by the driver uninstall program. Select the names of the drivers that you are trying to remove. In my case it was;

Nvidia - Display
Nvidia - PhysX

Driver Sweeper - Select driver window

Once you have selected the drivers that you are removing (Already removed using the uninstall or change a program window) you need to click analyze. This will scan your computer for any remaining files and registry entries that were connected to the driver. Once it has finished you will find a program panel like this come up.

Driver Sweeper Scan Results

Once you have seen all of the files and registry entries you simply click on the "Clean" button in the bottom right hand side of the screen. Once this task has been performed it is now time to install your new driver.

Thanks for reading, Jack-O-Bytes

Its Official: AMD launches the Radeon HD 6950 1GB Graphics Card

Today was originally supposed to be about the newly released GeForce GTX 560 Ti – NVIDIA’s new GF114-based $250 video card. Much as was the case with the launch of AMD’s Radeon HD 6800 series however, AMD is itching to spoil NVIDIA’s launch with their own push. Furthermore they intend to do so on two fronts: directly above the GTX 560 Ti at $259 is the Radeon HD 6950 1GB, and somewhere below it one of many factory overclocked Radeon HD 6870 cards, in our case an XFX Radeon HD 6870 Black Edition. The Radeon HD 6950 1GB is effectively the GTX 560 Ti’s direct competition, while the overclocked 6870 serves to be the price spoiler.

www.customdesktops.moonfruit.com

Sapphire brings a TV Tuner and a graphics card together in their Radeon 5570 Xtend

Sapphire is keeping the All-in-Wonder series alive to an extant with its latest graphics card suited for home PCs and HTPCs, the Sapphire HD 5570 Xtend TV. The card is a full-height DirectX 11 compliant Radeon HD 5570 which integrates a standard-definition TV tuner. The tuner can scan for, and store channels, you can also program the software to record them at a set time. As a graphics card, it packs 320 stream processors and 512 MB/1 GB of GDDR3 memory over a 128-bit memory interface.

More Details On ATI's New Mobile Graphics Chips

Although Advanced Micro Devices' graphics business unit yet has to release its Mobility Radeon HD 6000-series graphics processing units (GPUs) for notebooks, the first details about the post-next-generation mobile graphics adapters - which will be sold under AMD Mobility Radeon HD 7000 brand - has been published by a web-site.

The Mobility Radeon HD 7000 family of  graphics processors is projected be made using 28nm process technology, but at this point it is unknown which of the chips will be made at Globalfoundries and which will be made at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. It is also unclear which new features will be supported by the new line of mobile GPUs compared to the predecessors, but it can be suggested that they will use VLIW4 architecture stream cores like the Radeon HD 6900 "Cayman" does.

Some of the ATI Mobility Radeon graphics processors will enter production in Q4 2011, but some will only be ready in Q2 2012. The information seems to be in line with AMD's typical approach to start manufacturing of mobile GPUs about one quarter after desktop graphics chips with similar architecture. Potentially, this means that AMD will only be able to release some of its 28nm desktop GPUs only in Q1 2012.

Donanimhaber web-site claims that the Mobility Radeon HD 7000 family will consist of at least four graphics cores named after different places in London, England. It is noteworthy that the family, provided that the information is correct and full, will not include a low-end GPU with 64-bit memory bus. The absence of such chip is logical, given high performance of graphics processors inside AMD's accelerated processing units (APUs) that will power notebooks for performance-minded customers.

The positioning and suggested performance and TDPs look as follows:

• Wimbledon - ultra high-end mobile GPU with 256-bit memory bus and with 2GB or 4GB of GDDR5 memory on MXM 3.0 board. Thermal design power of the chip is projected to be 65W or higher. Production of the chip is expected to start in Q2 2012. The chip is projected to offer 25% higher performance compared to code-named Blackcomb product.
• Heathrow 192-bit: high-end mobile GPU with 192-bit memory bus and with 1.5GB - 3GB of GDDR5  memory on MXM 3.0 board. Thermal design power of the chip is projected to be 35W - 45W. Production of the chip is expected to start in Q4 2011. The chip is projected to offer ~30% higher performance compared to code-named Chelsea product.
• Heathrow 128-bit: high-end mobile GPU with 128-bit memory bus for GDDR5  memory. It is likely that the chip will be available both in MXM and discrete versions. Thermal design power of the chip is projected to be 35W - 45W. Production of the chip is expected to start in Q4 2011. The chip is projected to offer ~30% higher performance compared to code-named Chelsea product.
• Chelsea: performance-mainstream mobile GPU with 128-bit memory bus and with 1GB of GDDR5 memory on MXM 3.0 board. Thermal design power of the chip is projected to be 20W - 30W or higher. Production of the chip is expected to start in Q4 2011. The chip is projected to offer 30% higher performance compared to code-named Whistler product. 
• Thames: mainstream mobile GPU with 128-bit memory bus and with 1GB of GDDR5 or GDDR3 memory on MXM 3.0 board. Thermal design power of the chip is projected to be 15W - 20W. Production of the chip is expected to start in Q4 2011. The chip is projected to offer two times higher performance compared to code-named Seymour product.

AMD did not comment on the news-story.

www.customdesktops.moonfruit.com

AMD Mobility Radeon 7000 Series Leaked Before 2011

Shortly after finishing off the top-order of its Radeon HD 6000 series desktop discrete graphics processors (GPUs), AMD is letting out information about its first line of GPUs built on the 28 nanometer fabrication process. The first products carrying the Mobility Radeon HD 7000 series brand identifiers are notebook GPUs in the MXM 3.0 form-factor. AMD is planning an entire lineup top-to-bottom to address almost all mobile computing market segments. At the very low end of course would be its Fusion accelerated processing units with GPUs embedded. On top of that is what follows.

The lineup begins with "Wimbledon", an ultra high-end mGPU. It has a 256-bit wide high-speed GDDR5 memory interface, 2-4 GB of dedicated memory, and 65W TDP. The DirectX 11 GPU will be about 25% faster than "Blackcomb", the Mobility HD 6000 series flagship. This is slated for Q2-2012. Next up is the high-end "Heathrow" mGPU, which has a 192-bit or 128-bit (selectable between variants) GDDR5 memory interface, 1-3 GB of dedicated memory, up to 45W TDP, and 30% higher performance compared to "Chelsea". This is slated for Q4-2011 (this should tell you that Radeon HD 7000 series will be in existence towards the end of 2011).

Going down, there's "Chelsea" itself, with its 128-bit GDDR5 memory interface, 1-2 GB memory, 20-30W TDP, performance 30% higher than "Whistler", production starting in Q4-2011. Lastly, there's "Thames". This mainstream mGPU will have 128-bit GDDR5 with option of GDDR3, 1 GB memory, 15-20W TDP, and 100% higher performance than "Seymour", Radeon HD 6000 series' mainstream mGPU. Production for this starts in Q4-2011, as well.

http://unfusedjournal.blogspot.com/2010/12/amd-mobility-radeon-7000-series.html

AMD ATI Graphics Card Chip Comparison Table

Chip	Core Clock	Memory Clock	Memory Interface	Memory Transfer Rate	Pixels per clock	DirectX
Radeon 9200	250 MHz	400 MHz	128-bit	6.4 GB/s	4	8.1
Radeon 9200 Pro	275 MHz	550 MHz	128-bit	8.8 GB/s	4	8.1
Radeon 9200 SE	200 MHz	333 MHz	64-bit	2.6 GB/s	4	8.1
Radeon 9250	240 MHz	400 MHz	128-bit	6.4 GB/s	4	8.1
Radeon 9250 SE	240 MHz	400 MHz	64-bit	3.2 GB/s	4	8.1
Radeon 9500	275 MHz	540 MHz	128-bit	8.6 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9550	250 MHz	400 MHz	128-bit	6.4 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9550 SE	250 MHz	400 MHz	64-bit	3.2 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9500 Pro	275 MHz	540 MHz	128-bit	8.6 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon 9600	325 MHz	400 MHz	128-bit	6.4 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9600 Pro	400 MHz	600 MHz	128-bit	9.6 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9600 SE	325 MHz	400 MHz	64-bit	3.2 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9600 XT	500 MHz	600 MHz	128-bit	9.6 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9700	275 MHz	540 MHz	256-bit	17.2 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon 9700 Pro	325 MHz	620 MHz	256-bit	19.8 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon 9800	325 MHz	580 MHz	256-bit	18.56 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon 9800 Pro	380 MHz	680 MHz	256-bit	21.7 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon 9800 SE	325 MHz	500 MHz	128-bit or 256-bit	8 GB/s or 16 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon 9800 XT	412 MHz	730 MHz	256-bit	23.3 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon X300 SE	325 MHz	400 MHz	64-bit	3.2 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon X300	325 MHz	400 MHz	128-bit	6.4 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon X550	400 MHz	500 MHz	128-bit or 64-bit	8 GB/s or 4 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon X600 Pro	400 MHz	600 MHz	128-bit	9.6 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon X600 XT	500 MHz	730 MHz	128-bit	11.68 GB/s	4	9.0
Radeon X700	400 MHz	600 MHz	128-bit	9.6 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon X700 Pro	420 MHz	864 MHz	128-bit	13.8 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon X700 XT	475 MHz	1.05 GHz	128-bit	16.8 GB/s	8	9.0
Radeon X800 SE	*	*	*	*	8	9.0
Radeon X800	400 MHz	700 MHz	256-bit	22.4 GB/s	12	9.0
Radeon X800 XL	400 MHz	1 GHz	256-bit	32 GB/s	16	9.0
Radeon X800 GT	475 MHz	**	128-bit or 256-bit	**	8	9.0
Radeon X800 GTO	400 MHz	1 GHz ***	256-bit	32 GB/s	12	9.0
Radeon X800 Pro	475 MHz	950 MHz	256-bit	30.4 GB/s	12	9.0
Radeon X800 XT	500 MHz	1 GHz	256-bit	32 GB/s	16	9.0
Radeon X800 XT PE	520 MHz	1.12 GHz	256-bit	35.8 GB/s	16	9.0
Radeon X850 Pro	520 MHz	1.08 GHz	256-bit	34.56 GB/s	12	9.0
Radeon X850 XT	520 MHz	1.08 GHz	256-bit	34.56 GB/s	16	9.0
Radeon X850 PE	540 MHz	1.18 GHz	256-bit	37.76 GB/s	16	9.0
Radeon X1050	****	****	****	****	4	9.0c
Radeon X1300 HM	450 MHz	1 GHz	128-bit or 64-bit or 32-bit	16 GB/s or 8 GB/s or 4 GB/s	4	9.0c
Radeon X1300	450 MHz	500 MHz	128-bit or 64-bit or 32-bit	8 GB/s or 4 GB/s or 2 GB/s	4	9.0c
Radeon X1300 Pro	600 MHz	800 MHz	128-bit or 64-bit or 32-bit	12.8 GB/s or 6.4 GB/s or 3.2 GB/s	4	9.0c
Radeon X1300 XT	500 MHz	800 MHz (DDR2) or 1 GHz (GDDR3)	128-bit	12.8 GB/s or 16 GB/s	12	9.0c
Radeon X1550	450 MHz or 550 MHz or 600 MHz	800 MHz	64-bit or 128-bit	6.4 GB/s or 12.8 GB/s	4	9.0c
Radeon X1600 Pro	500 MHz or 575 MHz	780 MHz	128-bit	12.48 GB/s	12	9.0c
Radeon X1600 XT	590 MHz	1.38 GHz	128-bit	22.08 GB/s	12	9.0c
Radeon X1650 Pro	600 MHz	1.40 GHz	128-bit	22.40 GB/s	12	9.0c
Radeon X1650 XT	575 MHz	1.35 GHz	128-bit	21.60 GB/s	24	9.0c
Radeon X1800 GTO	500 MHz	1 GHz	256-bit	32 GB/s	12	9.0c
Radeon X1800 XL	500 MHz	1 GHz	256-bit	32 GB/s	16	9.0c
Radeon X1800 XT	625 MHz	1.5 GHz	256-bit	48 GB/s	16	9.0c
Radeon X1900 GT	575 MHz	1.2 GHz	256-bit	38.4 GB/s	36	9.0c
Radeon X1900 XT	625 MHz	1.45 GHz	256-bit	46.4 GB/s	48	9.0c
Radeon X1900 XTX	650 MHz	1.55 GHz	256-bit	49.6 GB/s	48	9.0c
Radeon X1950 GT	500 MHz	1.2 GHz	256-bit	38.4 GB/s	36	9.0c
Radeon X1950 Pro	575 MHz	1.38 GHz	256-bit	44.16 GB/s	36	9.0c
Radeon X1950 XT	625 MHz	1.8 GHz	256-bit	57.6 GB/s	48	9.0c
Radeon X1950 XTX	650 MHz	2 GHz	256-bit	64 GB/s	48	9.0c
Radeon HD 2400 Pro	525 MHz	800 MHz	64-bit	6.4 GB/s	40 *****	10
Radeon HD 2400 XT	700 MHz	1.6 GHz	64-bit	12.8 GB/s	40 *****	10
Radeon HD 2600 Pro	600 MHz	800 MHz	128-bit	12.8 GB/s	120 *****	10
Radeon HD 2600 XT	800 MHz	1.6 GHz (GDDR3) or 2.2 GHz (GDDR4)	128-bit	25.6 GB/s (GDDR3) or 35.2 GB/s (GDDR4)	120 *****	10
Radeon HD 2900 GT	600 MHz	1.6 GHz	256-bit	51.2 GB/s	240 *****	10
Radeon HD 2900 Pro	600 MHz	1.85 GHz	512-bit	118.4 GB/s	320 *****	10
Radeon HD 2900 XT	740 MHz	1.65 GHz (GDDR3) or 2 GHz (GDDR4)	512-bit	105.6 GB/s (GDDR3) or 128 GB/s (GDDR4)	320 *****	10
Radeon HD 3450 ^	600 MHz	1 GHz	64-bit	8 GB/s	40 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 3470 ^	800 MHz	1.90 GHz	64-bit	15.2 GB/s	40 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 3650 ^	725 MHz	1 GHZ (DDR2) or 1.6 GHz (GDDR3)	128-bit	16 GB/s (DDR2) or 25.6 GB/s (GDDR3)	120 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 3690 ^	668 MHz	1,656 MHz	128-bit	26.5 GB/s	120 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 3850 ^	670 MHz	1.66 GHz	256-bit	53.12 GB/s	320 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 3870 ^	775 MHz	2.25 GHz	256-bit	72 GB/s	320 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 3870 X2 ^  +	825 MHz	1.8 GHz	256-bit	57.6 GB/s	320 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4350 ^	600 MHz	1 GHz	64-bit	8 GB/s	80 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4550 ^	800 MHz	1.6 GHz	64-bit	12.8 GB/s	80 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4650 ^	600 MHz	1 GHz or 1.4 GHz	128-bit	16 GB/s or 22.4 GB/s	320 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4670 ^	750 MHz	2 GHz (512 MB) or 1,746 MHz (1 GB)	128-bit	32 GB/s or 27.94 GB/s	320 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4730 ^	750 MHz	1.8 GHz	128-bit	28.8 GB/s	640 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4770 ^	750 MHz	3.2 GHz	128-bit	51.2 GB/s	640 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4830 ^	575 MHz	1.8 GHz	256-bit	57.6 GB/s	640 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4850 ^	625 MHz	2 GHz	256-bit	64 GB/s	800 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4850 X2 ^ +	625 MHz	2 GHz	256-bit	64 GB/s	800 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4870 ^	750 MHz	3.6 GHz	256-bit	115.2 GB/s	800 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4870 X2 ^ +	750 MHz	3.6 GHz	256-bit	115.2 GB/s	800 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 4890 ^	850 MHz	3.9 GHz	256-bit	124.8 GB/s	800 *****	10.1
Radeon HD 5450 ^	650 MHz	800 MHz (DDR2) or 1.6 GHz (DDR3)	64-bit	6.4 GB/s (DDR2) or 12.8 GB/s (DDR3)	80 *****	11
Radeon HD 5550 ^	550 MHz	(varies)	128-bit	(varies)	320 *****	11
Radeon HD 5570 ^	650 MHz	1.8 GHz	128-bit	28.8 GB/s	400 *****	11
Radeon HD 5670 ^	775 MHz	4 GHz	128-bit	64 GB/s	400 *****	11
Radeon HD 5750 ^	705 MHz	4.6 GHz	128-bit	73.6 GB/s	720 *****	11
Radeon HD 5770 ^	850 MHz	4.8 GHz	128-bit	76.8 GB/s	800 *****	11
Radeon HD 5830 ^	800 MHz	4 GHz	256-bit	128 GB/s	1,120 *****	11
Radeon HD 5850 ^	725 MHz	4 GHz	256-bit	128 GB/s	1,440 *****	11
Radeon HD 5870 ^	850 MHz	4.8 GHz	256-bit	153.6 GB/s	1,600 *****	11
Radeon HD 5970 ^ +	725 MHz	4 GHz	256-bit	128 GB/s	1,600 *****	11
Radeon HD 6390 ^	550 MHz	(varies)	128-bit	(varies)	320 *****	11
Radeon HD 6850 ^	775 MHz	4 GHz	256-bit	128 GB/s	960 *****	11
Radeon HD 6870 ^	900 MHz	4.2 GHz	256-bit	134.4 GB/s	1,120 *****	11
Radeon HD 6950 ^	800 MHz	5 GHz	256-bit	160 GB/s	1,408 *****	11
Radeon HD 6970 ^	880 MHz	5.5 GHz	256-bit	176 GB/s	1,536 *****	11