A Look at ATI's Catalyst Control Center

[Dave Baumann]

http://www.beyond3d.com/siteimages/b3dsmall.gif (http://www.beyond3d.com/misc/ace/)Since ATI introduced their "Catalyst" driver initiative they fairly consistently been making improvements to all areas of their drivers - from 3D performance, to compatibility and stability and the user interface. Today ATI introduces the first version of their completely redesigned user interface "Catalyst Control Center" and Beyond3D takes a look at whats behind the new driver and what features it brings.<blockquote>"ATI's multi-monitor control has, for some time, come in the form of "HydraVision", however that has aged over time and found not to be too user friendly, nor have many of the display controls found other hardware. Catalyst Control Center completely replaces HydraVision with the "Display Manager" and offers a few new modes of operation."</blockquote>Read more here (http://www.beyond3d.com/misc/ace/)

[Guden Oden]

Profiles are nice, but they only go half-way, at least in this release.

Not having profiles activate automatically when an application starts is a serious mistake, also having to create them manually is a bother, especially for those apps that use launcher programs that trigger before the REAL game starts. SW: Jedi Knight is one (ancient) example of that.

Instead, I propose the control center should automatically create profiles for any application that uses 3D acceleration, and that those profiles should be sorted in under some sort of default heading and separated by their exe names and program directories - which are typically indicative of the game name even if the exe name is some cryptic contraction.

The user would merely have to start her/his games, applicatons whatever, and profiles would be ready for later editing and proper naming. Then they would activate - also automatically - whenever the file that triggers 3D runs.

Great idea, huh? :D

Also, it would be neat if ATi could find some way to force adaptive deinterlacing and de-blocking on ALL video, or at least video apps that use overlays.

[Dave Baumann]

Not having profiles activate automatically when an application starts is a serious mistake, also having to create them manually is a bother, especially for those apps that use launcher programs that trigger before the REAL game starts. SW: Jedi Knight is one (ancient) example of that.

Well, all you need to is replace the normal game shortcut with the shortcut you can create with the profile tool (or just launch it from the system stray icon) - when you assocatiate a profile it doesn't just have to be linked to the .exe, but any kind of link ect, so if a game runs something before starting just associate the normal game shortcut link to the profile.

[Richard]

Good article. I'm not terribly excited about the CCC because it uses .NET (I don't even have the runtime installed in this computer) and because for all the promises of smaller driver downloads in the future I just can't really believe them. I use VS .NET at work and I know how bloated apps can become if developers don't go the extra mile to clear out the dross.

I'm a bit disappointed in reading there are (still) performance issues with it when starting windows. I go to the trouble of disabling Windows' services and only install the absolutely required programs and the last thing I need is a big CCC taking up several megs. I'm happy that ATi is keeping the old one for the time being and I hope they fix the performance problems with the new one.

As for the new features, I use the Classic win2k theme so I'm not really fond of skinned apps. I like the improvements to the multi-monitor capabilities. Profiles is a good evolution, but like Guden I wish they'd just catch app namespace at run-time (they keep stuff like hot-key manager in memory, they can put the app catcher instead IMO).

I like the preview windows and hope they'll go a long way to prompt users to experiment like the article mentions. I don't know about the third party plug-ins though. Big manufacturers (like ASUS) like to have their own separate Control Panels but I'd have to wait for the SDK to see if it really lets us flex our muscles.

Anyway, I found a little problem with the article; on the second page, the third image of the Display Wizard opens the second image, otherwise great job Dave.

[phenix]

Will I be able to use the legacy control panel for further driver releases or the new control center is mandatory? I want to wait a few driver releases before I change to new control panel.

[Anonymous]

The System Hardware tab in the Information Center is a joke. If they can't detect most of the stuff, they might as well not display it. Do they really think it's wise to report to AMD users like me that we have an Intel Pentium?

[Guden Oden]

I'd say this thing is NOT ready for prime-time. I set antialias/aniso to 4x/16x, yet these options do not stick in either D3D games or OGL. Also, if the control center is open and running when a game switches to fullscreen, then exited once the game has been ended and then restarted it gets confused about the resolution of the desktop and wants to switch "up" to 800*600 to run properly. It was already running at 1280*1024...

Now I'm off uninstalling this darned thingamajig, it doesn't do a thing the old control panel could not do and it is much slower despite not doing anything other than redrawing some graphic buttons. I shouldn't need a 3GHz processor to click around a totally standard GUI! Not to mention all the diskspace it occupies for doing so little, oh my. :) Hard to believe I used an Amiga with a 14MHz 68000 and 6MB RAM up until '97 and it ran everything just fine! :lol:

[Heathen]

Works fine on my machine and the improved functionality, and better UI, is certainly welcome.

[Pete]

Nice overview, Dave. CCC looks pretty good.

I agree that having it apply custom settings just by launching a game would be much easier, but does even nV offer this? It'd also be very cool if ATi could periodically automatically scan your HD and present a list of installed games that you can tweak settings with. It'd be even cooler if they'll tell you if its preferable to set AA/AF in-game, rather than via the CP. Scanning the HD might be tricky, but maybe if ATi suggests you install all your games in a specific folder (C:/Games, D:/Games, etc.) and lets you specify which folders CCC should check for new games upon Windows startup or the game's installation, that'd simplify the process from ATi's POV.

(FYI, Dave, you forgot a link to this comments thread at the end of the article.)

[Bludd]

Radiance? Awesome. I can't wait for this to be implemented. It is the number 1 feature I missed when I went from a GF3 to a R9800

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ATI and Catalyst Crew!

[Sxotty]

I have to agree with guden on both counts.

First it should automatically aplly them with app, I know you can do a shortcut but it is a pain, and second if you are using All seeing eye or something you have to change it in there as well. It is much better to just work.,

Second it is slow and I wish I hadn't wasted my time yet. To be perfectly fair I did not read Dave's assesment till I already had it installed. I read it before messing about with it and was like "Arg I shouldn't hae installed this" Then I mess about with it and find that it is true I shouldn't have :) Ah well back to the prior existance.

[Tim Murray]

I agree that having it apply custom settings just by launching a game would be much easier, but does even nV offer this?
Wut? Yeah, they do...

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

ATI do it backwards - you make a profile for the game, then launch the profile which launches the game. Maybe they were trying too hard not to do it like Radlinker or Nvidia? Or maybe they didn't want to have some kind of generic app detection running all the time to make it work?

[Tim Murray]

ATI do it backwards - you make a profile for the game, then launch the profile which launches the game. Maybe they were trying too hard not to do it like Radlinker or Nvidia? Or maybe they didn't want to have some kind of generic app detection running all the time to make it work?
It's kinda stupid, though. Nobody wants to change how they launch apps. Nobody. Ever. End of story.

Hint to software designers: If you are not Microsoft and you change the normal way of doing a very simple and very familiar task, you lose.

[Dave Baumann]

Hint to software designers: If you are not Microsoft and you change the normal way of doing a very simple and very familiar task, you lose.

Except this doesn't have to change how you launch an app - you create a shortcut and then you can place that shortcut where your normal app launch is.

[Sxotty]

I use all seeing eye sometimes and sometimes I don't I would have to change many different things. It would be way easier if they used app detection to apply the settings I chose instead.

They said they would start with app detection so hopefully they will do it in the future.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Hint to software designers: If you are not Microsoft and you change the normal way of doing a very simple and very familiar task, you lose.

It's packaged up quite nicely though. Just hit the tickbox that says "desktop app" and you get a shortcut automatically made that runs the profile which in turn runs the app.

Doing it that way does do away with the need for app detection, and gets around the problems app detection has when a game has a launcher that runs other things to get you into the game.

You could even name them the same as the app you want to run and then drag these over as direct replacements for the original launching icons, and even things like All Seeing Eye will work correctly with different games.

[micron]

Hint to software designers: If you are not Microsoft and you change the normal way of doing a very simple and very familiar task, you lose.

Except this doesn't have to change how you launch an app - you create a shortcut and then you can place that shortcut where your normal app launch is.
Nobody seem's to be getting that though :?

[Sxotty]

All seeing eye goes straight to the exe not a launcher. However you could copy the shortcut into allseeing eye, then it would have whatever switches on the command as well. However, I still would rather they just did app detection, it is not inherently evil or something.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

All seeing eye goes straight to the exe not a launcher. However you could copy the shortcut into allseeing eye, then it would have whatever switches on the command as well. However, I still would rather they just did app detection, it is not inherently evil or something.

Then you just attach the exe to the profile instead of the launcher, then tell ASE to use the icon you've just made for that profile. It's really not difficult, and it can't fail the way app detection can and doesn't need anything running in the background.

[jvd]

I'm enjoying it . There are some bugs but nothing huge.

I like the game profiles. It will even replace the old shortcut inside of your startmenu.

The control panel is also simple to use .

[Pete]

The Baron is right. If nV can auto-detect the app and apply your settings automatically, then so can ATi. Having to manually add (to desktop or launch bars) or change (ASE, etc.) various shortcuts is an extra step that we simply shouldn't have to deal with.

Software is supposed to be useful, not extra work. I guess we're one step ahead of hitting up the CP every time we play a different game, but Radlinker was there a frickin' year ago or something. ATi should've gone the extra mile, unless there were valid reasons for not doing so. The biggest one I can think of is their avoision to app detection, but they just said they'll start doing it, so why not at least begin using it in an unequivocally beneficial way (before they start shader swapping like nV)?

[digitalwanderer]

I kind of wish they'd just buy the rights to Radlinker and higher up the maker of it, it'd not only be a good move strategically but PR wise as well.

[Proforma]

Looks a little too much like Nvidia's setup for their video cards, but at least its more userfriendly and open than what they have now.

Very good step forward! At least their software devs arn't run by monkeys.

[sonix666]

The new interface looked cool. But that was about it. My FSAA and anisotropic filtering settings didn't get applied at all in my Half Life mods. The 3D preciew thing is pretty useless, because it uses low resolution textures, so I can't see any difference between anisotropic filtering or not. And the control panel is slow.

It went of my computer withing 10 minutes.

[Demigod]

Hint to software designers: If you are not Microsoft and you change the normal way of doing a very simple and very familiar task, you lose.

Except this doesn't have to change how you launch an app - you create a shortcut and then you can place that shortcut where your normal app launch is.
Nobody seem's to be getting that though :?

I get it but why should I have to do it, my games come with shortcuts already made. on my gt I make the profile and the profile launches when I click on that game shortcut. With my 9800 I create the profile make a shortcut to that profile and replace my normal game shortcut. Ok not much more work but I don’t want to have to do that work, this was meant to make things easier not add steps to get things done

[Dave Baumann]

What happens when two titles have the same executable? (i.e. Counter Strike: Source &amp; Half Life 2)

[Sxotty]

Yes Dave that is the only possible excuse for a reason not to.

But you know what I don't really care, I would rather have the same settings aplied to both. Also when you launch a mod you might do this "quake3.exe +set game ut3" or something they could detect what you wrote in for one thing and get around it, and like I said I would rather have the same settings applied. In any case there is a valid argument I suppose that some people like to spend more time fiddling around, but I don't want to and I want them to make it detect the app and apply the settings that is my personal preference which we are allowed to have even if it doesn't agree with what others think we should have for a preference.

[Dave Baumann]

But you know what I don't really care, I would rather have the same settings aplied to both.

Well, thats you, but given the different nature of the games (one being a fast online multiplayer, the other being a single player) I'd say there would be many users, especially with low end boards, that would have very different settings.

[Richard]

But you know what I don't really care, I would rather have the same settings aplied to both.

Well, thats you, but given the different nature of the games (one being a fast online multiplayer, the other being a single player) I'd say there would be many users, especially with low end boards, that would have very different settings.

And in this situation the "make a custom shortcut that tips the CCC to apply setting x" would come into play. For every other game it just auto-detects.

[Leto]

CCC is terrible.

1. .NET framework, it's enough hassle to install the thing, but why did it activate the annoying Windows Log On screen, when I'm starting the computer up. There's only one user and no password so don't even ask!!!

2. The big ATI CCC flash logo on start up! Thanks for filling my screen up with this bullshit when I just wanna change a few simple settings.

3. The flashy UI doesn't work well with 1024 and 800 resolution the lower part goes under the "Start" bar, (I'm using 2 level start bar).

4. The flashy UI doesn't support 120 dpi screen items (text, buttons, icons). Everything becomes all f'd up, text is missing, very annoying!!

5. The task manager icon can no longer be left clicked to quickly switch resolutions.

6. You can no longer right click the task manager icon and go directly to 3d settings (AA, AF settings etc.)

7. The profile doesn't use runtime detection like Nvidia's.

8. I couldn't find the panel formerly known as "Custom Settings", where you turned on/off Temporal AA, Vsync AA, AF. Note: This might be related to 4.

9. The flashy UI, very little content, very little information, lots of flashy graphics using lots of screen space.

I uninstalled it straight away.

[whql]

1. .NET framework, it's enough hassle to install the thing, but why did it activate the annoying Windows Log On screen, when I'm starting the computer up. There's only one user and no password so don't even ask!!!
Not exactly ATi's issue now, is it? But, this can be removed by installing .net service pack 1.

3. The flashy UI doesn't work well with 1024 and 800 resolution the lower part goes under the "Start" bar, (I'm using 2 level start bar).
All seem to work with a 2 level start bar at 1024 here, and you can get to the done buttons using the system and "ATI" skins at 800.

4. The flashy UI doesn't support 120 dpi screen items (text, buttons, icons). Everything becomes all f'd up, text is missing, very annoying!!
Try using the system skin.

5. The task manager icon can no longer be left clicked to quickly switch resolutions.
Yes it can - left click, hover over correct device, hover over "Set Desktop Area to" and select resolution.

6. You can no longer right click the task manager icon and go directly to 3d settings (AA, AF settings etc.)
Left click, go to "Catalyst Control Center". It opens at the panel you last left it.

7. The profile doesn't use runtime detection like Nvidia's.
So what?

8. I couldn't find the panel formerly known as "Custom Settings", where you turned on/off Temporal AA, Vsync AA, AF. Note: This might be related to 4.
Errr, sounds like you didn't really try this at all! Did you select "Advanced View" in the views menu? You'll get all the options then.

[WaltC]

CCC is terrible.

1. .NET framework, it's enough hassle to install the thing, but why did it activate the annoying Windows Log On screen, when I'm starting the computer up. There's only one user and no password so don't even ask!!!

Running XP SP2--no problems of any kind (.net 1.1 installed by SP2.) I don't get the logon for aspnet--just boots into desktop normally at normal boot speeds (I may have removed aspnet earlier--can't recall.)

2. The big ATI CCC flash logo on start up! Thanks for filling my screen up with this bullshit when I just wanna change a few simple settings.

Define a Custom View and simply remove the Welcome screen, end of problem from then on.

3. The flashy UI doesn't work well with 1024 and 800 resolution the lower part goes under the "Start" bar, (I'm using 2 level start bar).

4. The flashy UI doesn't support 120 dpi screen items (text, buttons, icons). Everything becomes all f'd up, text is missing, very annoying!!

I don't use that desktop res &amp; dpi, and my Start bar is at the top of my screen--so don't have those problems. Or, as someone else mentioned, use the System Skin for differing dpi.

5. The task manager icon can no longer be left clicked to quickly switch resolutions.

Agreed they could fix this, but right click systray icon and a resolutions menu shows up under your display device, albeit it's inconveniently nested and lacks the refresh-rate control of the old cp.

6. You can no longer right click the task manager icon and go directly to 3d settings (AA, AF settings etc.)

Define Custom View and eliminate all but the no-preview text displays--and then you can right-click the systray icon and go direct to your 3d settings (the new method is faster than the old.)

7. The profile doesn't use runtime detection like Nvidia's.

Since ostensibly you still have to hand-edit your app preferences so that they'll be applied through app detection with the nVidia drivers, I have no idea what the difference is, or the complaint.

8. I couldn't find the panel formerly known as "Custom Settings", where you turned on/off Temporal AA, Vsync AA, AF. Note: This might be related to 4.

Hmmm...your problem is that you just haven't looked for it, then...;) Remember--this is a new cp--things aren't in the same place, obviously.

9. The flashy UI, very little content, very little information, lots of flashy graphics using lots of screen space.

I uninstalled it straight away.

Does everything the old cp did, just differently. You just haven't spent any time with it, imo. It definitely grows on you.

A lot of this reminds me of when telephones were switched from rotary analog dials to digital push-button. Lots of people *hated* the buttons in the beginning--now, you couldn't give them a rotary dial phone...:D

[WaltC]

The Baron is right. If nV can auto-detect the app and apply your settings automatically, then so can ATi. Having to manually add (to desktop or launch bars) or change (ASE, etc.) various shortcuts is an extra step that we simply shouldn't have to deal with.

Software is supposed to be useful, not extra work. I guess we're one step ahead of hitting up the CP every time we play a different game, but Radlinker was there a frickin' year ago or something. ATi should've gone the extra mile, unless there were valid reasons for not doing so. The biggest one I can think of is their avoision to app detection, but they just said they'll start doing it, so why not at least begin using it in an unequivocally beneficial way (before they start shader swapping like nV)?

I really don't understand this. Once you *set them up* the Catalysts also "apply your settings automatically." I'm assuming that the nVidia app detection is not telepathic, and that you have to manually edit in your app preferences into the nVidia driver interface so that when the app is run and autodetected your settings will be applied. If the nVidia drivers can guess your preferences and apply them without your having to set them up manually by hand in advance, then please excuse my ignorance...:D

Also, you have several choices of how the apps are launched--you can launch them through your standard shortcut or executable (complete with any command-line parameters for that program you routinely use), or through a custom shortcut the cp will generate for you, or through a launcher program you are used to using--it's your choice and it's *automatic*--once you set it up, of course, in the profile. (I launch my profiles from the systray.) I'm having trouble figuring out the difference you're seeing...?

[ET]

If nV can auto-detect the app and apply your settings automatically, then so can ATi.
But you see, NVIDIA already had a lot of experience detecting apps that are being benchmarked, so adding a UI wasn't difficult. ATI doesn't have as much experience in this. :lol:

[Pottsey]

There is another problem with ATI’s method. Lots of people including me and most of my friend don’t use shortcuts. We use 1 program launcher with a list of games and programs which also bumps up the games priority. This gives a nice speed boost but as far as I can tell it does not work with ATI profiles as there are no short cuts involved.

I like my small window with a list of games and I don’t want to mess around making a load of short cuts.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

I like my small window with a list of games and I don’t want to mess around making a load of short cuts.

Then don't tick the shortcut box. Just use the menu option and run the profile/game from a list in the system tray.

I've seen this sort of thing before when people move from one version of software from another. The same funtionality is there, but people want to have it work in the same way as the old software they are used to, even if the new software does the same job, albeit in a different way.

[Pottsey]

“I've seen this sort of thing before when people move from one version of software from another. The same funtionality is there, but people want to have it work in the same way as the old software they are used to, even if the new software does the same job, albeit in a different way.”

It’s more then that. The problem is what used to be easy on my old graphics card now requires extra clicks. I like the Nvidia and Kyro way where you just do 1 single click on the application and it loads up with your chosen settings.

ATI require us to right click on the start menu go though the profiles, select the one you want then go to the program launcher and load the game up. Then you repeat again for next game. That’s a lot worse then a single click to load a game up. It’s even worse for me as I hide my start menu bar and have 0 icons on my desktop. It’s not hard to unhide the desktop but it’s another extra mouse movements that I didn’t have to do before and not 1 but lots of extra clicks and movements. You also say the same functionality is there what about the global settings for D3D and OpenGL I used to have each set differently now I can no longer do that without spending ages setting up loads of profiles and then missing around switching profiles on and off.

Adding profiles is a good improvement but it needs more work. After all these years ATI should have had profiles as easy to use as PowerVR and Nvidia by now. I like setting up profiles then just forgetting about them.

I don’t think ATI should take out there current method as its good for some people they just need to expand the way profiles work so more people find them usefull.

[Dave Baumann]

ATI require us to right click on the start menu go though the profiles, select the one you want then go to the program launcher and load the game up.

Sorry, I don't get this?

All you do is create a profile, associate an executable with that profile and then select what launch options you want (shortcut on desktop and/or through CCC and/or system tray icon and/or shortcut). If you select to place the activation in the system tray then you right click on the system tray, go to activate profile, select the profile you want and it will set the profile and lauch the application. You don't need to go back to the program launcher as the system tray can be the program launcher.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

ATI require us to right click on the start menu go though the profiles, select the one you want then go to the program launcher and load the game up. Then you repeat again for next game.

See this just goes to show my point. You are so stuck in "I want it to work the way my last software did it" that you haven't looked at how the CCC performs the same functionality.

If you look at how ATI does it, once you have set the profile you want (which you have to do for all software that performs this functionality), you can chose to have a profile (which also starts the required game) on either, or all of:

- The ATI system tray menu
- hotkey shortcut
- desktop icon
- the CCC "profiles" menu

Once you've set a profile to run a game, you *can* have it as a one click menu in your system tray, or an icon selection just as you would normally select the game icon on your desktop.

The fact that you can't see this when it is clearly in the options for making profiles shows that you either haven't looked at the menus properly or you are still thinking about it in terms of your old software.

[Pottsey]

I don’t have any short cuts and my system tray is hidden. It’s the extra clicks and mouse movements to unhide my system tray and activating the profiles that I find unnecessary.

I just think compared to my old cards and what Nvidia do there is room for improvements. New software should cut down on mouse movement and clicks not increase clicks with no benefit.

Compared to my old method of move mouse to list and single click to launch the game I used to us this new method is a bit long winded. I now have to unhide my system try, move to the system try ATI icon and right click, now move the mouse up and across now find the profile I want out of a load of profiles and click now. Now I have to move back to my program launcher and start the program. You have to do those steps for every single game/program as well. It just seems long winded compared to what I used to do. It would be nice if the profiles auto detected the game so I could go back to a move mouse and single click system.

The other problem with the profiles is you have to spend time looking for the correct profile which is not a problem for regular used games. But I have a good 40+ games installed some of which I don’t use often and I only keep them on for LAN’s. If it’s a game I don’t use often I have to read the list looking for the game wasting more time. I guess I could group games into profiles cutting down on the amount of profiles but then I need a way to remember which game is linked to which profile.

Setting up 40 profiles does not bother me but having to swap between them is a pain. Still its better then no profile support. Auto detecteing Exe's fix's all my problems unless I am missing something else with this new controle pannel?

[Pottsey]

“Once you've set a profile to run a game, you *can* have it as a one click menu in your system tray, or an icon selection just as you would normally select the game icon on your desktop.”
I think you missed it where I said I don’t use shortcuts but a launcher program and I hide my system try and have a blank desktop with no icons. That loading profiles from the system try is a lot of extra mouse movements and steps. Perhaps I should post a screen shot of my desktop.

I dont see any way to get the profiles to work with a simple move mouse once and click once system that I used to use. Not many people have a setup like me but some do and for us the new profiles are not fast to use. They are easy to use just not as fast as they could be.

[Dave Baumann]

Now I have to move back to my program launcher and start the program.

Why? The system tray can be the launcher. :?:

[Pottsey]

“Why? The system tray can be the launcher. ”

I use a launcher that changes the game/program priority. Windows XP by default starts up programs with a priority of Normal. I likes to use between Above Normal or high depending on the program I don’t just use games with the launcher. As far as I know the system tray does not change the priority. If you can change priority that would solve a lot of my problems.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

“Why? The system tray can be the launcher. ”

I use a launcher that changes the game/program priority. Windows XP by default starts up programs with a priority of Normal. I likes to use between Above Normal or high depending on the program I don’t just use games with the launcher. As far as I know the system tray does not change the priority. If you can change priority that would solve a lot of my problems.

So you just use your launcher with the profile/app shortcut that you've made. You have to make a profile/app with whatever system you are using, in order to use it with your desktop commander or whatever it is.

It sounds like you would have the same situation with Nvidia or ATI's system, because you are using some kind of third party menu/launcher utility anyway.

[Pottsey]

”It sounds like you would have the same situation with Nvidia or ATI's system, because you are using some kind of third party menu/launcher utility anyway.”

Don’t Nvidia auto detect when the exe runs like the old PowerVR cards so if I use the launcher and say load up say 3Dmark then the launcher bumps up the priority and the Nvidia drives auto load the 3Dmark profile? I guess I will find out next week when my new cards arrives. I am hoping all I have to do is set up some profiles once in the drivers and that’s it after that is all works automatically in the background and auto changing the profiles. Or have I got how the Nvidia profiles work wrong?

As for ATI I guess my problem doesnt effect that many people.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Don’t Nvidia auto detect when the exe runs like the old PowerVR cards so if I use the launcher and say load up say 3Dmark then the launcher bumps up the priority and the Nvidia drives auto load the 3Dmark profile? I guess I will find out next week when my new cards arrives. I am hoping all I have to do is set up some profiles once in the drivers and that’s it after that is all works automatically in the background and auto changing the profiles. Or have I got how the Nvidia profiles work wrong?

But that's not much different from making a profile in CCC which runs the app and creates a icon (which you can do all at once when you create a profile), and then have your third party launcher run the icon you just made.

It does the same thing in a different way.

[Quitch]

What happens when two titles have the same executable? (i.e. Counter Strike: Source &amp; Half Life 2)

Well since RadLinker allows you to apply settings to an executable AND to create shortcuts which apply settings...

Allow me to say I don't like the application support simply because it isn't as good as what's already out there.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Has anyone with press contacts asked ATI why they didn't do app detection?

[cthellis42]

Just for reference, Dave, using two "whilst"s in the opening paragraph just comes off a bit funky. :wink:

As to the CC itself, I've had no issues as of yet, but haven't gone through too much testing. Need to see what it's made of! Hehe...

[yooyo]

If I setup ATI to work in dualview mode (two separate desktops) is it possible to choose to enable hw acceleration on both heads or only on first or second head.

This is possible with nvidia drivers partially. ie I can choose hw acceleration on primary head or on both heads.

yooyo