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Please Update HD 3000 Windows 8.1 Driver to Fix Blurry Text and Font Issues

VNguy13
Beginner
4,139 Views

Hi,

I'm having blurry text and font rendering problems with my HD 3000 IGP ever since I installed Windows 8.1 retail.

The blurry text and font rendering issues was not present in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Preview, I highly suspect it's that ever since Microsoft tried to fix the blurry text and font issues in Windows 8.1 RTM/Retail from customer complaints, older hardware such as the HD 3000 IGP which do not have newer drivers from Intel are getting these issues now.

The last driver update from Intel for the HD 3000 IGP was released August 18, 2013 for Windows 8.1 Preview and before the release of Windows 8.1 RTM and Retail which now has blurry text and font rendering issues with the HD 3000 IGP.

I hope to god Intel looks into the matter and releases an updated driver to fix the blurry text and font rendering problems for the HD 3000 IGP (and any older hardware for the matter that also has this issue) on Windows 8.1 RTM/Retail and adds support for WDMM 1.3 for Intel 2nd Generation IGP on Windows 8.1.

I recently just bought a Intel 525 SSD as an upgrade to my older Intel 310 SSD for Windows 8.1 and would be very disappointed if Intel does not fix these blurry text and font rendering problems for my Intel 2nd Generation IGP on Windows 8.1, this would in result ultimately discourage me from buying Intel products in the future if the graphics problem is Windows 8.1 is not fixed.

Thanks,

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25 Replies
DArce
Valued Contributor III
1,845 Views

Here at Intel we truly appreciate your feedback. Our software support and engineering group is working on future generations of this software that may enhance its compatibility with new operating system platforms such as Windows* 8.1. We cannot provide an estimated time for this to happen, but your feedback for sure is important and will be forwarded to higher levels of support.

Thank you one more time for your interest in our products and how to improve their range of support.

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VNguy13
Beginner
1,845 Views

Thanks for the reply,

Please do forward the message you higher levels of support to get the issue resolved with blurry text and font rendering issues for the 2nd Generation HD 3000 IGP on Windows 8.1.

Here's a description of the problem on my laptop:

Windows 8.1 text blurry most notably in web browsers like IE11, Firefox and Chrome. Particularly when scrolling on the desktop, Metro UI and web browsers.

When I change the scaling as a temporary fix to the blurry text problems via Control Panel > Personalization > Display > then checking 'Let me choose one scaling level for all my displays', it seems to fix the blurry text problem but the whole display does not look as sharp somehow; I suspect by doing so I'm reverting back to the Windows 7 style of scaling because from what I understand Windows 8.1 is suppose to have better scaling built in for mobile and higher resolution displays.

Also, checking 'Let me choose one scaling level for all my displays' results in font rendering errors both on the desktop, Metro UI and browsers where the text is not displayed correctly and is replaced with straight lined color blocks (sometimes a square block) and flashes a little like it as problems with the refresh rate and resolution scaling,

Here is my system specs if it could to help make resolving the issue a faster an easier process for the hardware/driver development team:

Windows 8.1 Pro (Retail)

Lenovo IdeaPad Y570 (BIOS 2.10)

Intel i7-2670QM

Intel HD 3000 + NVIDIA GT 555M

Crucial 8GB

Intel 525 120GB

HGST Travelstar 1TB

Centrino 7260

Thanks again,

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PVone1
Beginner
1,845 Views

Note that there is very similar issue with HD3000 Windows 7 driver version 9.x confirmed by multiple customers having Lenovo notebook with HD3000 graphics (X220, T420, W520). It might be a clue that Lenovo machines are affected (only ?).

The issue can not be deteced by a PrintScreen and posting a screenshot, it is somewhere on driver/hardware level. A macro picture of physical notebook display must by taken by a camera to see it. It affects internal notebook display only, external DisplayPort output is not affected by the blurriness.

The only known workaround is to revert back to older 8.x driver. BIOS update does not help.

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JErns
Beginner
1,675 Views

Hello Intel,

are you willing to solve / solving this issue, i.e. restore clarity of display as it was with the 8.x drivers?

This is really a pain since all our Laptops need to get stuck on win7 because of that.

Best Regards

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Mx1
Beginner
1,845 Views

hi, any news on that? I have the same issue with 9.x driver on win7/8/10. Old 8.x driver is fine on Win7 and only this one is not blurry.

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Hans_B_Intel
Employee
1,845 Views

Please note that this is an OEM system and drivers should be supported be the manufacturer. You can go to the Intel* download center and try the latest driver for Intel* HD graphics 3000, but please check the note in the Detailed Description section.

 

Intel* HD graphics 3000:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/search?keyword=2nd+Generation+Intel%c2%ae+Core%e2%84%a2+Processors+with+Intel%c2%ae+HD+Graphics+3000/2000 Intel® Download Center

Mx1
Beginner
1,845 Views

i tried the newest version, both from Intel and OEM and still the same issue. Seems I'm not the only one, so could any investigation be done to get it finally fixed and track down the problem?

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Hans_B_Intel
Employee
1,845 Views

I appreciate your feedback, I would will send this to the Intel* development team to see if this could be resolved with a future driver update.

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Mx1
Beginner
1,845 Views

thanks... when I can expect some feedback? If any troubleshooting from my side is needed just let me know. I have no problem to install new/old driver and compare the results.

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Hans_B_Intel
Employee
1,845 Views

Engineering is aware of the issue and they will be posting the newer drivers in the download center when they are available.

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Mx1
Beginner
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Hans_B_Intel
Employee
1,845 Views

We do not have a specifice time frame.

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JErns
Beginner
1,845 Views

Hi,

@Intel: it would be very fine if you can fix this soon, since I only have the possibility to use Win8, and getting headache and serious eye stress from this blurry text.

Would it be in some next release, that you fix this issue? Thanks

Does maybe anyone know if it is possible to use the 8.x drivers also in Windows8? There is no appropriate version to download anywhere, at least I did not find one.

Thanks alot

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Hans_B_Intel
Employee
1,845 Views

Hi,

I have tested a Toshiba satellite that originally had windows 7 and then a window 8.1 was installed. It has Intel HD graphics 3000, but I could not find a problem and there was no blurry text. However, it had an OEM version of the driver. If you can't load the Intel generic or if this does not address you specific graphics issue, the next step is to look for driver support from the OEM.

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Mx1
Beginner
1,845 Views

Hi

you said few posts above that engineeing is aware of the issue, so there must be some issue... and it is.

I can easily repro that with installing 8.x driver on windows 7, and then switch it to 9.x driver. On windows 8/8.1/10 it's always blurry as there is no 8.x driver for these systems. No matter if it's OEM or Intel driver used.

I'm using Lenovo T520.

so the question is: is someone working on this, or not?

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JErns
Beginner
1,845 Views

Hi,

I have a Thinkpad X220 and there the difference between 8.x and 9.x drivers is clearly (or blurry) visible.

With 9.x, all is surrounded by color subpixels, e.g. text is blurry and shimmering red. Using Win7 and 8.x everything is crystal clear.

Regs

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ROBERT_U_Intel
Employee
1,845 Views

All,, jumping in late here and apologize if this has already been covered. .

Just to confirm a couple data points, are you using this driver? 64bit https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24696/Intel-HD-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-7-8-8-1-64-bit Intel® Download Center , 32 bit https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24695/Intel-HD-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-7-8-8-1-32bit Intel® Download Center

Have you run the Clear Type Utility? Open Control Panel, Display, Adjust Clear Type.

Thanks

Robert

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JErns
Beginner
1,845 Views

Hi Robert

Using the one, 64bit. Problem occirs w all 9.x versions I tried.

Yes, cleartype adjusted, does not matter.

Even turning off ct and/or disabling system setting "make nice fonts" (don't know how this is called in English) does not matter.

Of course you see the expected difference of those settings , but subpixels/ blurriness stay regardless of these settings.

Regs

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Mx1
Beginner
1,845 Views

Hi

it's pretty much the same as described here with additonal links:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Windows-8-and-8-1/Intel-Graphics-Driver-9-x-blurry-fonts/td-p/2091039 Intel Graphics Driver 9.x - blurry fonts - Lenovo Community

I have Cleartype completely disabled, as well as "smooth edged on screen fonts" option.

As this cannot be captured with screenshot I made few photos, maybe this will tell you something....

8.15.10.2622:

9.x driver:

all settings are the same on both driver versions....

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ROBERT_U_Intel
Employee
1,845 Views

OK, thanks for the feedback. I am having a difficult time reproducing the issue on the systems I have. I will continue to test and post updates to this thread.

Thanks

Robert

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