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View Full Version : New beta ATI drivers - the next big thing? CATALYST™ v02.4

T2k
04-Nov-2002, 07:24
New set, originated from ATI -> Powercolor -> a card user -> Rage3D... :D

Two important new things:

1. Refresh-fix per display basis - only for DX yet:

http://hrc.webzeppelin.hu/-=DRIVERS=-/v7.79b2-By_T2k!/refresh.JPG

2. Brand new multidisplay options/settings

http://hrc.webzeppelin.hu/-=DRIVERS=-/v7.79b2-By_T2k!/clone.JPG

I haven't tested yet - I don't know it's faster or not.

My speculation: IMHO the next Catalyst version supposed to be an answer after the NV30 announcement (deaj vu... the new Detonator... ;)) - and this is just the first beta...

EDIT: Topic name change
DemoCoder
04-Nov-2002, 07:30
The drivers have a long way to go with respect to DX9. A large amount of DX9 features are missing from the latest beta builds, so I would expect most of the driver releases over the next few months to be dedicated to fixing DX9 bugs and missing features.
T2k
04-Nov-2002, 07:33
Agreed.

What kind of new features do you expect?
Derek Smart [3000AD]
04-Nov-2002, 21:00
The drivers have a long way to go with respect to DX9. A large amount of DX9 features are missing from the latest beta builds, so I would expect most of the driver releases over the next few months to be dedicated to fixing DX9 bugs and missing features.

Like I've said before; they're going to be pissing around with new DX9 features, while leaving existing bugs on the backburner for months to come.

Speaking of which....remember that bug about submitting dissimilar primitives that ATI swore was not a driver problem? Well (a) they never did come back with the info (b) when the latest driver fixed the problem without me having to change a single line of code, they refused to tell me what changed in the driver (even though the bug was fixed).

But, knowing ATI, I implemented the revision (for those boards) nevertheless, just in case. See the RC24 patch release (www.3000ad.com/downloads/bcm/bcmver.html) notes here, to see what I said.
demonic
04-Nov-2002, 21:38
Are the clone mode options only for the R9700 or for all Radeon Cards?

I have the R8500 and the latest beta, and don't get that option :cry:
T2k
04-Nov-2002, 22:35
Are the clone mode options only for the R9700 or for all Radeon Cards?

I have the R8500 and the latest beta, and don't get that option :cry:

Did you switch off the 2nd CRT?
Bambers
04-Nov-2002, 22:37
These the 6200 7.79 drivers?
T2k
04-Nov-2002, 23:07
Yes, it is.
Username
04-Nov-2002, 23:29
Holy shit, RC24?!
MrB
05-Nov-2002, 02:23
The drivers have a long way to go with respect to DX9. A large amount of DX9 features are missing from the latest beta builds, so I would expect most of the driver releases over the next few months to be dedicated to fixing DX9 bugs and missing features.

These are not DX9 drivers from ATI. You won't see any till DX9 is released though they did have a build on the developers site awhile back.

Personally I wouldn't bother with this leak as they are an internal build. The official 7.79 will be arriving shortly.

I do agree with Derek a little on having some bugs/issues being thrown on the backburner for DX9. DX9 is a major priority right now the driver team. Though any evident display bugs that popup I can bring it to the attention of driver PM.

Finding exact causes/fixes for bugs is beyond my scope though.
T2k
05-Nov-2002, 02:51
Actually, it's not a bad leak... :)
I didn't have any problem in the last 24 hours.

BTW is there new clone option for the 8500-line also? Since I've sold my 8500 I couldn't check...
Reverend
05-Nov-2002, 09:35
You should all just wait (patiently). I'm told the 7.80s is scheduled end-November.
Derek Smart [3000AD]
05-Nov-2002, 21:06
Holy shit, RC24?!

LOL!!! My personal goal it to hit RC50 by the end of the week. :D :D :D
T2k
15-Nov-2002, 02:41
So, they're out: ATI CATALYST™ v02.4 drivers - w/ SMARTGART 2, etc...

Our (HRC) mirror:

Radeon-family Driver Control Panel v6.13.10.3041 (http://hrc.webzeppelin.hu/-=DRIVERS=-/ControlPanel-By_T2k!/control-panel-6-13-10-3041-efg.exe) - 4.6MB

Radeon-family Driver v6.13.10.6200 revC for WinXP/2k (http://hrc.webzeppelin.hu/-=DRIVERS=-/-=WinXP=-/Unofficial%20drivers-By_T2k!/v6200C-By_T2k!/wxp-w2k-radeon-6-13-10-6200-efg.exe) - 5.4MB

Radeon-family Driver v4.13.01.9069 for WinME/9x (http://hrc.webzeppelin.hu/-=DRIVERS=-/-=Win9x=-/v9069-By_T2k!/wme-radeon-4-13-01-9069-efg.exe) - 6.1MB

Radeon-family TV/Capture WDM Driver v6.13.10.6168 v1 (http://hrc.webzeppelin.hu/-=DRIVERS=-/TV_Capture_WDM-By_T2k!/v6168_v1-By_T2k!/tv-capture-wdm-6-13-10-6168v1.exe) - 3.2MB

CATALYST™ Version 02.4 Release Notes (http://hrc.webzeppelin.hu/-=Utils=-/TechPapers_&_Presentations/CATALYST-02.4-Release-Notes.pdf) - 161kB, PDF

PS: About performance... ATI promises that

- CodeCreatures score is improved by 20% at 4X AA for 9700 series products (who the hell cares??? :roll: Exactly NV-style... :()

- NASCAR 2002 framerate is up as much as 18% across the entire RADEON products line

- NHL 2002 performance is up as much as 35% across the entire product line (largest gains on RADEON 7500/8500)

- Performance on legacy (dx6 and dx7) apps is improved by as much as 15% for RADEON 9700 Series products
Foodman
15-Nov-2002, 05:03
Hey, performance improvements in actual games. Cool beans for ATI.
Althornin
15-Nov-2002, 07:37
IMO, the best part about this driver release is the PDF along with it that tells us what they fixed...