Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Retina 5K - AMD Boot Camp Driver failure

I would like to begin a discussion of the Boot Camp Drivers for the AMD video card in the stock Retina 5K iMac. There is a thread that demonstrates what appears to be a successful install of the drivers, and a thread that demonstrates a non-successful install.

A non-sucessful install looks like this:

The drivers tab indicates that driver version 14.200.1002.1002 is installed.

This is the stock Boot camp driver install. The latest beta Catalyst drivers from the AMD website will also return the same results.

I have had conversations with Apple support and it seems there is no official support for Boot Camp after install. They have no useful information beyond blaming Microsoft and/or AMD and acknowledging that there are threads at Apple communities that confirm people are having this issue.

For those of you with the Retina 5K, can you get the AMD Boot Camp drivers to function? If so, what did you do to make it work?

Can you list your specific hardware load out?

I am not concerned about true 5K support in Windows, that is not the issue at this point. The issue is that the AMD Boot Camp drivers will install, but Windows refuses to load them and returns a 'code 43' error.

Retina 5K - 3.5GHz i5, 8GB ram, AMD Radeon R9 M290X 2048MB

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 16, 2014 11:07 AM

217 replies

civelek

Level 1

8 points

Dec 19, 2014 2:04 PM in response to Novelty Condom

I do not know English. Sorry for the short post.

There was no problem with the old iMac graphics card nvidia drivers update.

Who is the source of the problem? apple or amd?

I got to play my new machine. This problem is too big for me.

I am very angry.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 19, 2014 2:34 PM in response to civelek

Are there any specific reasons why the Apple/Bootcamp driver is not sufficient for your needs?

civelek

Level 1

8 points

Dec 19, 2014 2:51 PM in response to Loner T

because the new drive offers 20-30% more performance. This is a very important value. (windows 8.1)

also offers a graphic presets for the games.

AMD automatic detection software found my r9 m295x card. but indicates that support this card. This is ridiculous.

There is no support, why are you selling?

apple, should provide us with new drivers.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 19, 2014 2:57 PM in response to civelek

civelek wrote:

because the new drive offers 20-30% more performance. This is a very important value.

also offers a graphic presets for the games.

Do you have a link which shows the 20-30% more performance? I am curious, not saying that you are incorrect. 😉

AMD automatic detection software found my r9 m295x card. but indicates that support this card. This is ridiculous.

The firmware on the R295 is different than a WHQL R295 card.

There is no support, why are you selling?

Apple can support OSX, but Windows is a different OS, written by a different company. For example, if you installed Ubuntu or Fedora and they did not support all the features of the card, what will you do? Also, I do not work for Apple.

apple, should provide us with new drivers.

AMD/Apple need to collaborate on a driver which will work with R295 and Windows, and provide what you need.

On a R290/iMac5K, I can install AMD drivers without any issues.

Dec 19, 2014 6:22 PM in response to Loner T

Loner T wrote:

Are there any specific reasons why the Apple/Bootcamp driver is not sufficient for your needs?

Yes, because they don't work. Many owners of new iMac Retinas are unable to use bootcamp because the video drivers simply don't work. I understand you don't have this issue, but I can demonstrate video driver failure and replicate the issue on demand. Those of us with this issue are now grasping at anything that might be a solution. For instance: the Omega drivers.

As far as Apple not supporting Windows, I understand that they can't/won't officially do this. We are not asking them to support windows. We are asking them to support the driver set (bootcamp, which includes the video drivers for Windows) that they themselves released and put their name on. As a customer it seems disingenuous for Apple to release drivers that appear to be non-functional for a not-insignificant portion of R5K buyers. Had I known that the drivers didn't work I would have passed on the Retina and purchased a non-retina iMac where the drivers are demonstrated to work.

There are applications in Windows that require 3d accelerated graphics that do not have a counterpart in OSX. The main reason that I got the iMac is because it had been demonstrated on previous hardware that dual booting Windows was a viable option. That is no longer the case, hence the frustration.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 19, 2014 9:03 PM in response to Novelty Condom

Novelty Condom wrote:

We are asking them to support the driver set (bootcamp, which includes the video drivers for Windows) that they themselves released and put their name on. As a customer it seems disingenuous for Apple to release drivers that appear to be non-functional for a not-insignificant portion of R5K buyers. Had I known that the drivers didn't work I would have passed on the Retina and purchased a non-retina iMac where the drivers are demonstrated to work.

If the drivers work for some, but not for others, is it likely to be an environmental issue? If the BC drivers do not install properly/crash repeatedly/have performance issues which cause them to be unusable, a customer has every right to complain, return merchandise, provide feedback. Apple is not being exonerated for such issues. But if there is a 30% performance increase in driver X vs driver Y, Apple has no obligation to support driver X.

There are applications in Windows that require 3d accelerated graphics that do not have a counterpart in OSX. The main reason that I got the iMac is because it had been demonstrated on previous hardware that dual booting Windows was a viable option. That is no longer the case, hence the frustration.

If you can demonstrate the failures to the Apple Genii at an Apple Store, you may be able to return the iMac, or let them fix it. Apple should be on the hook for useability.

It is very daunting to be a loyal customer of Apple (or any other corporation), when language, that follows, is used.

From http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/OSX1010.pdf

C. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE APPLE SOFTWARE AND

SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”, WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT

WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND APPLE AND APPLE'S LICENSORS (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO

AS “APPLE” FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 7 AND 8) HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES

AND CONDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLE SOFTWARE AND SERVICES, EITHER EXPRESS,

IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND/OR

CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR

PURPOSE, ACCURACY, QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.

civelek

Level 1

8 points

Dec 19, 2014 11:38 PM in response to Loner T

ATI engineers are developing new upgrades they are stupid. so do you think?

When you start using apple intel processor first bootcamp publications, gave free the windows operating system.

if you've produced bootcamp, you will continuously update.

apple is using AMD products in the product must support the new upgrade.

or AMD.

it is not strange request. Your responses are strange.

apple: you're gonna use it!

Windows users are not the only source of money.

I want to install new upgrades even just for fun.

Your responses are not the solution to our problem. and does not upgrade my graphics card.

civelek

Level 1

8 points

Dec 20, 2014 12:11 AM in response to civelek

''For example, early buyers of an AMD Radeon™ R9 290X GPU who download and install the AMD Catalyst Omega driver can realize up to 19% faster* gameplay on BioShock Infinite.

Similarly, users of AMD’s advanced APUs like the AMD A10 7850K can achieve up to 29% faster** gaming performance on Batman: Arkham Origins.''

http://community.amd.com/community/amd-blogs/amd-gaming/blog/2014/12/08/a-very-s pecial-edition-driver-amd-catalyst-omega

Description:

This driver is not intended for use on AMD products running in Apple Bootcamp platforms. Users of these platforms should contact their manufacturer for driver support.

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop?os=Windows%207%20-%2064

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 20, 2014 9:41 AM in response to civelek

civelek wrote:

''For example, early buyers of an AMD Radeon™ R9 290X GPU who download and install the AMD Catalyst Omega driver can realize up to 19% faster* gameplay on BioShock Infinite.

Similarly, users of AMD’s advanced APUs like the AMD A10 7850K can achieve up to 29% faster** gaming performance on Batman: Arkham Origins.''

http://community.amd.com/community/amd-blogs/amd-gaming/blog/2014/12/08/a-very-s pecial-edition-driver-amd-catalyst-omega

You are quoting a R290X and asking for R295X upgrade. Why?

On a R290/iMac5K, I can install AMD drivers without any issues.

and you failed to read what I wrote about an R290.

You should carefully read the Apple return policy, and if you are dissatisfied, return the iMac 5K, within the specified policy rules of the regional sales policy where you bought it from.

Dec 20, 2014 9:48 AM in response to Loner T

Companies sell two things: Solutions and good feelings. Apple is historically shown to be very capable of delivering these two products.

"It just works" is a solution that results in a good feeling. In our case we have neither a solution or a good feeling. Quoting legal mumbo jumbo that essentially said they never said it would work, and even if they did know how to make it work they wouldn't have to tell us anyways, is terrible customer service. That is the kind of customer service that drives customers to competitors.

At this point the correct answer to this thread is that there is no solution. Still not a good feeling. A good feeling would be for Apple to acknowledge this issue exists, and confirm they are working on a solution.

I appreciate your willingness to help. I also appreciate the communities's willingness to work together to find a work-around until Apple addresses the issue.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 20, 2014 10:41 AM in response to Novelty Condom

There are many issues with Bootcamp, and this is not the primary one. A consumer also needs to perform due diligence. Apple gives the consumer an ample window (at least in the US, of 14-days-return-for-full-refund) to try-and-buy. It should be used to its fullest to try new products.

It does work with BC-provided drivers, not just the Omega ones, which are not bundled in BC anyway. Apple may address it in the future, if there are enough returns of the i5K for this specific reason, or there is enough feedback from owners of such a machine.

Competitors have exactly identical legalese mumbo-jumbo, which a consumer ignores, till quoted. For example, http://support.amd.com/en-us/warranty/radeon-wonder/step2a or this RHEL document - http://www.redhat.com/licenses/RHL7.2_Standard_Edition.pdf.

AMD has stated and has been quoted in this thread that the drivers are not intended for use on BC systems, yet users want to hammer a square peg in a round hole. Return the system if it is unsatisfactory, which is the best available method to let Apple know your specific "good" or "bad" feelings. Feedback is the second best alternative.

I returned my iMac5k/R295 within 24 hours of purchase, otherwise I was planning to buy at least ten such machines. Now I have one iMack5k/R290 for testing. If it does not work as I need it to, it, too, will go back to Apple.

I understand that software is broken. Yosemite is now at 10.10.1, so software will evolve. The consumer agrees to such limitations.

There is no perfect piece of software, but Apple comes close and it is directly reflected in the loyalty it has (there are many others with stellar products, too. For example, Samsung.).

civelek

Level 1

8 points

Dec 20, 2014 11:33 AM in response to Loner T

because, AMD, one driver writer for cards from the same family.

visit the AMD driver download page, follow these steps.

all include the same driver.

Radeon R9 M2XXX series.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 20, 2014 5:26 PM in response to civelek

civelek wrote:

because, AMD, one driver writer for cards from the same family.

Do the cards have identical firmware?

visit the AMD driver download page, follow these steps.

all include the same driver.

Radeon R9 M2XXX series.

There are no Apple BC drivers on that page, only WHQL certified Windows drivers. Apple BC driver provided by BC works as intended. The Omega driver does not work, and was not provided by Apple. Use the working driver rather than using a driver that does not install correctly. If the Apple-provided driver is not working, let Apple know via the Feedback link I provided earlier, or take you iMack5k to Apple Store or the nearest AASP.

Dec 20, 2014 5:35 PM in response to Loner T

Apple BC driver provided by BC works as intended.

I believe the contention here is that this statement is either false, or you have a far different interpretation of "working as intended" than we do. I can demonstrate that the BC drivers for the video card in the Retina iMac DO NOT WORK for my hardware.

We are considering the Omega drivers because we are grasping at straws. We are trying any hack that might work because the BC drivers DO NOT WORK.

This thread is a dead end. It should be closed and locked. It is derailed and nothing useful will come of it.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Dec 20, 2014 5:59 PM in response to Novelty Condom

Novelty Condom wrote:

Apple BC driver provided by BC works as intended.

I believe the contention here is that this statement is either false, or you have a far different interpretation of "working as intended" than we do.

I have posted screen shots of a R290 successfully installed. kjk has posted his success using a R295 on this thread. In your specific case, my suggestion is to consider the hardware faulty and ask Apple for help/replacement.

We are considering the Omega drivers because we are grasping at straws. We are trying any hack that might work because the BC drivers DO NOT WORK.

Yes, but the expectation should also be commensurate as in 'it might work'. I understand your frustration. Are you still within a reasonable return window for your iMac5k?

Retina 5K - AMD Boot Camp Driver failure