Can't enable Basic Shaders on new laptop

[Gabby Pixelbottom]

I'm posting for a friend who just purchased a new computer for SL (becuase English is a 2nd language for her), here are the basic specs...

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4500U CPU @ 1.80GHz (2394.45 MHz)
Memory: 8073 MB
OS Version: Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit  (Build 9200)
Graphics Card Vendor: ATI Technologies Inc.
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 8850M

For some reason she is unable to enable basic shaders. She has set the graphics to Ultra but under the Shaders checkboxes only Transparent Water, Bump mapping and shiny and Local Lights can be checked, all other shader tick boxes plus Shadows and Water Reflections are grayed out.

Does anyone have sl working with an HD 8850M? It seems to easily meet the minimum requirements.

A Dell technician supposedly installed updated drivers for the video card today so they should be up to date.

I'd appreciate any ideas that might help get her graphics working properly.

Thanks in advance.

[Madelaine McMasters]

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Gabby Handrick wrote:

I'm posting for a friend who just purchased a new computer for SL (becuase English is a 2nd language for her), here are the basic specs...

CPU: Intel® Core i7-4500U CPU @ 1.80GHz (2394.45 MHz)

Memory: 8073 MB

OS Version: Microsoft Windows 8 64-bit  (Build 9200)

Graphics Card Vendor: ATI Technologies Inc.

Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 8850M

For some reason she is unable to enable basic shaders. She has set the graphics to Ultra but under the Shaders checkboxes only Transparent Water, Bump mapping and shiny and Local Lights can be checked, all other shader tick boxes plus Shadows and Water Reflections are grayed out.

Does anyone have sl working with an HD 8850M? It seems to easily meet the minimum requirements.

A Dell technician supposedly installed updated drivers for the video card today so they should be up to date.

I'd appreciate any ideas that might help get her graphics working properly.

Thanks in advance.

---

Hi Gabby,

Have your friend download the GPUUpdate Viewer from the Alternate viewer site...

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Alternate_Viewers

I think that version of the viewer has a GPU table (gpu_table.txt) that's aware of the Radeon HD 8000 family of graphics cards.

Good luck!

[Gabby Pixelbottom]

I did not know about that viewer, thank you so much! She is going to give it a try in a bit.

[Gabby Pixelbottom]

Just an update to say that this seems to be working. My friend tells me that all of the shader options are now available and checked. Thanks again for your help.

[Madelaine McMasters]

Woo hoo, take her out to dinner to celebrate, Gabby. The virtual wine is on me!

;-)

[Nalates Urriah]

Glad you got the problem fixed.

Some times you need more information. You can learn more about which features the viewer will enable based on  GPU Table & Performance.