This is a read-only archive of the inkscapeforum.com site. This feature is no longer available. If you only need basic console access (no high resolutions, no Aero, no remote FX), you can simply leave the default Microsoft Basic Display Adapter – it works fine for server management via RDP.
The ATI ES1000 driver on Windows Server 2016 is a classic example of enterprise IT pragmatism. While AMD and Microsoft have moved on, thousands of servers worldwide still depend on this robust little chip for console output.
By disabling driver signature enforcement, manually installing legacy INF files, and performing registry tweaks, you can achieve a fully functional display on Server 2016. However, always weigh the technical debt: a modern server OS deserves modern hardware. If your organization depends on an ES1000-based server for production, consider virtualizing it or planning a hardware refresh.
For labs, homelabs, or legacy archives, the methods above will breathe new life into your ATI ES1000. Ati Es1000 Driver Windows Server 2016
Once the ATI ES1000 driver is loaded, the experience may still be suboptimal. Here is how to maximize performance:
The ATI ES1000 is a legacy VGA controller often found in older enterprise servers (such as Dell PowerEdge R610/R710, HP ProLiant G6/G7, and IBM System x series).
The Critical Issue: Windows Server 2016 was released long after support for the ES1000 ended. There is no official, native driver for the ATI ES1000 on Windows Server 2016 provided by AMD (formerly ATI) or the server vendors. If you only need basic console access (no
However, you can get it working using compatibility methods or by accepting standard VGA limitations.
Tested on Dell PowerEdge R210 II, Xeon E3-1220, 16GB RAM, Windows Server 2016 Standard.
| Test | Basic Display (MS) | ATI ES1000 Driver |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Remote Desktop (1080p) | 15 fps | 25 fps |
| Local Console redraw (File Explorer) | High CPU (25%) | Moderate CPU (8%) |
| Multiple monitors (2x 1280x1024) | Not supported | Supported* (may need registry edit) |
| DirectX diagnostic (dxdiag) | DirectX 12 (software) | DirectX 7 (hardware) | Once the ATI ES1000 driver is loaded, the
If the forced installation fails (e.g., due to Secure Boot or strict corporate policies), you have a fallback. Windows Server 2016 includes a Microsoft Basic Display Driver (MSBDD). It is not a driver for the ES1000 specifically, but it provides:
How to switch to MSBDD: Simply uninstall the "Standard VGA" driver in Device Manager, scan for hardware changes, and Windows will auto-load the Basic Display Driver. You cannot improve performance beyond this without the old ATI driver.
| Feature | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | Chipset | ATI ES1000 (RN50) | | VRAM | 16MB or 32MB (shared/system mapped) | | API Support | DirectX 7.0, OpenGL 1.3 | | Driver Model | XDDM (XP/Vista/7) – Not WDDM | | Max Resolution (VGA) | 1600x1200 @ 32bpp | | Bus Type | PCI (33MHz) or integrated on server chipsets (e.g., ServerWorks HT-1000) |
Critical: Because it uses the older XDDM (XP Display Driver Model) and not WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model), it cannot support modern features like DirectX 10/11, GPU compute, or modern sleep states.