ATI Radeon 9200 and no per pixel borders

If your Radeon 9200 or 9250 won't do the per pixel thing here's how you do it.
step 1 uninstall all ati software, catalyst control center, control panel and 5.9 drivers.
step 2 reboot.
step 3 find your original driver disc that came with your card install drivers only (choose custom install) don't install the control panel.
step 4 open windowblinds choose a per pixel skin and your away!.
don't ask me why (no idea) this works for me and master KOL he's got the 9250.
good luck.
14,009 views 22 replies
Reply #1 Top
Yep works here
Reply #2 Top
I have a Radeon 64m DDR ViVo which equates to something like a 7200. WinFX was able to turn on per pixel. How do I do that manually?
Reply #6 Top
It appears there is no way around it. I found that updating with online drivers, even one version above the 7/19/2003 version on my CD, breaks it again. Did ATI perhaps change the API for accessing alpha blending in later drivers? Kind of stinks that I can never update the driver without breaking per pixel support. Can't afford a new card right now, so I guess I'll be stuck for the time being. Interstingly enough, it does work fine on a 9700 Pro with the latest drivers and Catalyst Control Center (I have one, but my new ASROCK MB does not like it-swapped with the kids' computer).
Reply #7 Top

Those with 9200 cards who have this problem should contact ATI tech support and request they fix it.

There is nothing we can do in WB to work around this as if the drivers have no support then we cannot add it for them.

9500 cards and later have no problems with it.

Reply #8 Top
I sent an email to them, assumed it was them. Upon further reading I do see they point out that older versions with new drivers will be installed for 9200 and earlier All-In-One and VIVO cards. I suspect they have abandoned these cards. Probably had hardware changes in newer cards that new drivers support, but can not support in older hardware.
Reply #9 Top
i actually did contact stardock, and they told me that they couldn't do anything because they won't resolve issues involving beta software
Reply #10 Top
Eazy peeps with my 9200 pro it seemed to be the control centre that was the problem I found if you lower your screen res per pixel was supported, but you do get the black borders around screen edges (ugly)
my driver properties
driver date 02/06/2003
driver version 6.14.10.6360
hope this is useful

edit google search found http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/win/41518
Reply #11 Top
Those are the very old drivers. Unfortunately, they are not very optimized so there is a pretty good hit on GUI performance.

While I can understand ATI saying they won't look at something that affects another beta app, my point to them is that they obviously changed something in how alpha belnding is handled by the drivers for 9200 and earlier cards and they need to either catch up or tell others what they changed. They probably won't, they like to bundle drivers and catch as many cards with a single driver as possible. I think they might have to alter specific card set drivers to address this and won't be willing... but who knows.
Reply #12 Top
The latest release of the Catalyst 4.x series (4.12) works well with transparency. You can get it at

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=1328

The release is from December 2004. This is fairly recent. I doubt the later Catalyst utilize the 9200 to its fullest...
Reply #13 Top
thanks for your find, this did work for me only problem is that the titlebar in every window, where the font is, is slightly blurred out, any ideas?
Reply #14 Top
Called ATI Sales yesterday in Toronto, spoke with someone named Mike at the call-center (888-974-6728). I called to ask if my D850GB Intel mobo with 512 RAMBUS RAM would be compatible with what card at minimum $$ to get per-pixel rendering, 3D, etc. He/they suggested either 9600 XP or X700 Pro. So happens this morning's paper had flyer from ______ listing X700 Pro at 1/2 price! Under a c-note! It seemed to me to be possibly the 'best buy' [evidently avail in either AGP or PCI Express form factor]
Reply #15 Top
The latest release of the Catalyst 4.x series (4.12) works well with transparency.


Does it allow per pixel at res of 1280x whatever, for me 9200 SE Catalyst 5.8 per pixel is fine up to 1152x864 anything 1280 by and no per pixel.
Reply #16 Top
The latest release of the Catalyst 4.x series (4.12) works well with transparency. You can get it at

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=1328 Link

The release is from December 2004. This is fairly recent. I doubt the later Catalyst utilize the 9200 to its fullest...


cool, at least I have more updated drivers.
did you tried one of the first CATALYST 5.xx??? I tried from 5.10 to 5.7 and they didnt work.
Reply #17 Top
i think its a bug in the drivers for 9200

im using omega drivers base on the latest cat. my laptop default res is 1400x1050.
im so use to it, then setting any lower makes everything out of place.

this is what i did to get a semi working per pixel running.

set below 1152x864, per pixel works.
then i set to 1400x1050. per pixel only works for folders.

i guess thats better then nothing.
hope someone has a real fix for this problem.
Reply #18 Top
did some heavy testing and found out something.

9200 cant use Catalyst 5.x above for per pixel to work for every res.

so the latest driver for 9200 is Catalyst 4.12. per pixel will work even with 1600x1200

TESTED from Catalyst 2.2 to Catalyst 5.11

you can use Omega Driver which are tweaked Ati drivers. you can download them @ NGOGQ.com
http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=Files&go=cat&dwn_cat_id=14
Reply #19 Top
The latest release of the Catalyst 4.x series (4.12) works well with transparency. You can get it at

Link Link

The release is from December 2004. This is fairly recent. I doubt the later Catalyst utilize the 9200 to its fullest...


cool, at least I have more updated drivers.
did you tried one of the first CATALYST 5.xx??? I tried from 5.10 to 5.7 and they didnt work.


Ill try the 4.12 ones right away , thanks
Reply #20 Top
No , those made the show hidden icons thingy on the bottom right scroll extremely slow... Additionally , I think there was a problem with the card put in there , so I pulled it and went back to the Intel 865g on board graphics , and all is fine again. No Biggie . Ill be happy with what I got in the mean time
Reply #22 Top
yeah this works for me- just do what he said, set ur res to 1280xZ or z being 1024 or less, and apply it. then go into blinds and reapply ur skin