AMD "Never Settle" 12.11 Driver - benchmarks are in!

[3DVagabond]

:snip:

So it's me! I'm the evil one who's ruining apoppins life! I'm the one who poisoned you on AMD cards! It's me remembering what apoppin did that's the issue! I'm so evil!

One thing I don't recall is apoppin asking for forgiveness. I would have no problem overlooking what he's done if he asked. Other people can't do that for him. I personally don't carry any animosity towards him. I just think he's a biased reviewer. His tantrums don't actually bother me.

No need for a truce. I'm not at war. You like ABT, I see no value in the site.

 

[blastingcap]

An echo chamber such as ABT is not healthy. Look at how juvenile ABT forums are all all the ridiculous emoticons and animated GIFs, looks like a teenage forum board out of 1996 or something.

And Mark "apoppin" enables it. Yes, HE is an enabler and also has a distorted view of history, including his repeated thrashing of the "Never Settle" name when NV had the even-worse "Compromise is for Losers" slogan (I know NV had that slogan because I have that T-shirt, which I've been too embarrassed to wear in public). http://source.ncix.com/lp3/nvidia_sb/ca/index.html

It seems everyone he disagrees with he brands an AMD shill, which is ridiculous. RS writes a lot (to put it mildly) but he's a shill for pointing out what every reviewer has also pointed out? Even the historically NV-leaning reviewers have said that especially after 12.11beta, it's getting hard to recommend GTX cards at their current price levels on a pure gaming performance level. (Obviously if you need CUDA/PhysX, you should go NV.)

Would you consider me a shill as well? Here's a shocker for you then: I own zero shares of AMD and don't work for and am not affiliated with AMD in any capacity, past or present, yet even a neutral person like me does not like people who stir up trouble for no reason (hi Balla). It's trolling and you don't have to be an AMD affiliate to not like troll threads. Capice?

Full disclosure: I have owned and currently do own NVDA stock (which I had hoped would improve with the rise of Tegra/Tesla, but damn it, Wall St. doesn't see it that way yet). But I don't lose objectivity when it comes to gaming performance. As a shareholder, I *love* how NV fans continue to eat up GeForce cards despite the lower price/perf, and I *love* how little money NV has to spend on should-have-been-midrange GTX 6xx cards, especially stock models with dinky heatsinks and cut-down PCBs and lame voltage control. More money, more profits. But as a gamer, I can't resist cards that pay for themselves via mining. If it weren't for mining it would be a tougher call, but mining made it a no-brainer. If NV had been far better at mining than AMD cards, rest assured I'd have racks of NV GPUs instead of AMD GPUs.

It IS possible to separate emotions from purchase decisions or whatever. Not everyone who says Radeons offer better value are "shills." In fact the data is very difficult to argue with--that unless you really need CUDA/PhysX etc., AMD seems to offer more price/perf in GeForce right now. Just as NV undercut the initial price of 7970s, AMD has lowered their prices even more and taken back the price/perf crown. So quit calling people shills just because they disagree with you, especially when the data backs them up. If you want to make rational arguments like how the 12.11betas seem rushed to market and how people are reporting all sorts of problems with them, please go ahead. I upgraded and then soon downgraded from 12.11betas due to possible instability, but I don't have time to debug it or whatever right now because I'm busy building two rigs right now... but I will be the first to caution people about adding instability just for a mild bump in performance. (But then again I'm on a 79xx so it's easy for me to say that; I understand that those on weaker cards who play BF3 may want to put up with instability anyway.)

 

[NIGELG]

I would've liked Radeon cards much better if it were not for the likes of you putting out such a negative and malicious vibe surrounding Radeon cards.

Wow.....you let forum posters determine whether you like a brand or not.

How about value for money and independent reviews?

 

[BoFox]

-snip-

Animated GIF's are juvenile? Sheesh, that's the point of being a gamer. You're basically in an animated, pixellated environment that is ..... "fun" to be in. All gamers are juvenile, and you are not? I love the animated GIF's, and I'm a gamer!

Wow.....you let forum posters determine whether you like a brand or not.

How about value for money and independent reviews?

I *do* like Radeon cards. :thumbsup:

It's just hard to not let this annoying "whine" influence my like for Radeon cards. Even the most loving mother can only stand an obnoxious whine for so long..

Alrite, I'm off to play with the boys for tonight, getting ready to brace for the hurricane..

(But here's the bottom line
Apoppin really isn't bad, you guys. He's not worth all of this hatred, of this outrageous bashing that has no basis --- all right?!?????? How can I try to say this more nicely? If he's only a small fish who couldn't have spoiled the launch of HD 7970, then why so much trouble to see to it that he is squashed into oblivion?

That's just too much trouble! ABT brings some of the most comprehensive reviews covering the most modern games of any review site out there. That's only ONE of the reasons why I like ABT, and I feel good in supporting his efforts, which in turn also helps me a lot with the Voodoopower ratings - which I hope you gaming enthusiasts do enjoy.

Peace out, and TRUCE to you........ :whiste: ***Singing a nice and mellow tune*** Just be happy and friendly, man!

Just be happy and friendly, man!!

All the good things come, man!

Be happy and be friends as GPU ETHUSIASTZZZZZ!!!

 

[NIGELG]

Didn't have to add you to the ignore list - I simply ignored this nonsense after the first 2 sentences.


I *do* like Radeon cards. :thumbsup:

It's just hard to not let this annoying "whine" influence my like for Radeon cards. Even the most loving mother can only stand an obnoxious whine for so long..

Alrite, I'm off to play with the boys for tonight, getting ready to brace for the hurricane..

(But here's the bottom line
Apoppin really isn't bad, you guys. He's not worth all of this hatred, of this outrageous bashing that has no basis --- all right?!?????? How can I try to say this more nicely? If he's only a small fish who couldn't have spoiled the launch of HD 7970, then why so much trouble to see to it that he is squashed into oblivion?

That's just too much trouble! ABT brings some of the most comprehensive reviews covering the most modern games of any review site out there. That's only ONE of the reasons why I like ABT, and I feel good in supporting his efforts, which in turn also helps me a lot with the Voodoopower ratings - which I hope you gaming enthusiasts do enjoy.

Peace out, and TRUCE to you........ :whiste: ***Singing a nice and mellow tune*** Just be happy and friendly, man!

Just be happy and friendly, man!!

All the good things come, man!

Be happy and be friends as GPU ETHUSIASTZZZZZ!!!

I had no problem with him until he began quoting me and insulting me.

ABT will always be small fries.No need to come here and plug his site.It's a wasted effort.

But if this site is so AMD shill infested and destroyed and crappy according to him why do you ABT loyalists keep coming back here?Isn't your ABT the ideal place in the eyes of the roughly a dozen of you who post there?

Isn't ABT so good you need no other site for the best reviews??

 

[blastingcap]

Didn't have to add you to the ignore list - I simply ignored this nonsense after the first 2 sentences.


I *do* like Radeon cards. :thumbsup:

It's just hard to not let this annoying "whine" influence my like for Radeon cards. Even the most loving mother can only stand an obnoxious whine for so long..

Alrite, I'm off to play with the boys for tonight, getting ready to brace for the hurricane..

(But here's the bottom line
Apoppin really isn't bad, you guys. He's not worth all of this hatred, of this outrageous bashing that has no basis --- all right?!?????? How can I try to say this more nicely? If he's only a small fish who couldn't have spoiled the launch of HD 7970, then why so much trouble to see to it that he is squashed into oblivion?

That's just too much trouble! ABT brings some of the most comprehensive reviews covering the most modern games of any review site out there. That's only ONE of the reasons why I like ABT, and I feel good in supporting his efforts, which in turn also helps me a lot with the Voodoopower ratings - which I hope you gaming enthusiasts do enjoy.

Peace out, and TRUCE to you........ :whiste: ***Singing a nice and mellow tune*** Just be happy and friendly, man!

Just be happy and friendly, man!!

All the good things come, man!
Be happy and be friends as GPU ETHUSIASTZZZZZ!!!

We get it: everyone whos disagrees with you at all is the bad guy and probably Communist to boot. Look, McCarthy,why dont you stay in your abt echo chamber if the truth offends you so much you can't bear to read it. Stop polluting these forums.

Edited to add: Hah, you can edit your post all you want but I quoted you so there's no running from what you wrote... it exemplifies the bad attitude of you echo chamber guys, and how you react so poorly to other people's points of view. You can try to dodge the 99% of my post that wasn't about animated GIFs if you want, but that doesn't change the fact that the 99% exists. My post wasn't about animated GIFs, it's about the juvenile culture over at the ABT echo chamber, and the butt-shaking animated GIFs is just part of it. If you think ATF is an AMD echo chamber like ABT is an NV echo chamber, why don't you to go HWC, TPU, Hardforum, etc. and see if only ATF thinks Radeons deliver better price/perf right now. The incessant parading of financials and popularity as measured by one specific program is nice and all, but bringing it up ad nauseam in threads that have nothing to do with financials and popularity contests, is ridiculous. This thread is about drivers, for example, but we see examples of people trying to change the subject to favor NV in unrelated areas. Nobody needs to see that kind of crud.

 

[Rhezuss]

I hate the letter Z

 

[thilanliyan]

I can't see everything that goes on here on ATF, but what I have seen so far is rather extreme on the side you seem to be on. I think I can speak objectively since I'm usually in the middle, able to see both sides fairly well.

Which side would that be?

You can see both sides and are objective? What makes you think that about yourself, and yet you see me as being on one "side"?

 

[blastingcap]

The guy just admitted he loves the ABT echo chamber. He admitted that he refused to read what i wrote (yet expects others to read his posts? lol), preferring to do the online equivalent of covering his ears while chanting, "I can't hear you." You should give someone like that all the respect--or lack thereof--that they deserve.

 

[AnandThenMan]

How can I try to say this more nicely? If he's only a small fish who couldn't have spoiled the launch of HD 7970, then why so much trouble to see to it that he is squashed into oblivion?

Who is trying to do this? I have not seen ABT mentioned here at all for months, I totally forgot about the site myself. Just read a couple threads on ABT, the attitude there is absolutely atrocious and ridiculous at the same time. You guys bad mouth this site, members here, mock everything not Nvidia. And play the "everyone is an AMD shill" card constantly without a shred of proof. Truly pathetic. And then there is Balla, the poor misunderstood victim of the big meanies here, especially the admins and moderators. Couldn't be his blatant trolling that was the problem, nope.

I think this thread should be put back on topic before it gets shut down. I'm running 12.11's now have not had any instability issues but have not gamed for more than an hour or two at a time. I have a feeling that AMD is not done eeking out more performance from GCN, the launch performance did seem underwhelming considering the specs. Very strong architecture from AMD this round, best they've ever done IMO.

 

[3DVagabond]

I'm running 12.11's now have not had any instability issues but have not gamed for more than an hour or two at a time. I have a feeling that AMD is done eeking out more performance from GCN, the launch performance did seem underwhelming considering the specs. Very strong architecture from AMD this round, best they've ever done IMO.

Yes. The 7970ge is typically faster than last years duallie, 6990 and is selling for <$400.

NOTE: This is with cat 12.7's With 12.11's it is even faster.

 

[AnandThenMan]

I meant to say AMD is not done squeezing out more performance, just to clarify. :thumbsup:

 

[lavaheadache]

Yes. The 7970ge is typically faster than last years duallie, 6990 and is selling for <$400.

NOTE: This is with cat 12.7's With 12.11's it is even faster.

Isn't it funny that some people claim this gen is lack luster in the perfomance department yet the 7970 pretty much beats out the 6990 and GTX 590 clean and clear in most games? What the heck are people expecting?

 

[blastingcap]

Isn't it funny that some people claim this gen is lack luster in the perfomance department yet the 7970 pretty much beats out the 6990 and GTX 590 clean and clear in most games? What the heck are people expecting?

We've come a long way since launch performance and launch prices.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I meant to say AMD is not done squeezing out more performance, just to clarify. :thumbsup:

I don't think they are done either, and the 3gb of VRAM means these GPU's will stay relevant for quite some time. I bought mine at launch fully expecting it to last for multiple years, and it's looking more and more like that gamble is going to pay off.

 

[MrK6]

I don't think they are done either, and the 3gb of VRAM means these GPU's will stay relevant for quite some time. I bought mine at launch fully expecting it to last for multiple years, and it's looking more and more like that gamble is going to pay off.

I bought early expecting it to pay off from mining, which it already did. However, I wasn't expecting the performance to stay so relevant (for better or for worse). Since there doesn't seem to be much on the horizon and for awhile, this might be the longest I've ever kept a graphics card.

 

[railven]

Hurricane Sandy is threatening to kill me, but I finally installed 12.11 and did my sloth of dailies and yes, I do feel a performance gain, however, I can't quantify it and conclude it is ~20% as TPU reported. It is noticeable, very, and that is enough to make me happy.

Kudos AMD! I'm no longer the red-headed step child in my own house haha.

 

[3DVagabond]

We've come a long way since launch performance and launch prices.

True, true.

It's really interesting, with hindsight, looking at how AMD, nVidia and TSMC must have been wringing everything they could out of the process.

 

[Haserath]

Isn't it funny that some people claim this gen is lack luster in the perfomance department yet the 7970 pretty much beats out the 6990 and GTX 590 clean and clear in most games? What the heck are people expecting?

Then:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7970/28.html

Now:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

 

[Will Robinson]

If you want to find the posters that have been kicked out of here....go check AlienBabyTech...that's where they hang out.
It's a cheap rubbish site whose "leader" is a prima donna and who blames all his misfortunes on AMD "Illuminati" who "secretly" infest forums such as AT and TechReport.
All we ever see is veiled hints at secret manifestos and lists of subversives who apparently are working against him and his site.
Naturally he never,EVER publishes such proof or his "DaVinciCode" lists of paid AMD "shills" either.:thumbsdown:

 

[badb0y]

If you guys go over there and look at the threads, they come here and troll the site and go back there and post about it as if they accomplished something. I totally forgot that site was even around until someone started talking about it here.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

If you guys go over there and look at the threads, they come here and troll the site and go back there and post about it as if they accomplished something. I totally forgot that site was even around until someone started talking about it here.

I don't even care enough to give them traffic checking in on them playing tickle butt with each other over trolling the posters here. Many in VC&G disagree about things at times, but for the most part things remain pretty civil.

From what I see, things only go downhill fast once certain posters show up and thread crap. It's consistently the same people that are taking away from the quality discussions we are capable of having here at the AT forums.

 

[blackened23]

Hurricane Sandy is threatening to kill me, but I finally installed 12.11 and did my sloth of dailies and yes, I do feel a performance gain, however, I can't quantify it and conclude it is ~20% as TPU reported. It is noticeable, very, and that is enough to make me happy.

Kudos AMD! I'm no longer the red-headed step child in my own house haha.

You just posted something positive about team red. Let's not beat around the bush, we know what this means: Obvious conclusion here is that you're an AMD employee, and your girlfriends computer (which uses nvidia) - you are secretly testing that GTX 680 in AMDs labs to find defects. Obviously, no person in their right mind would have the audacity to say something positive about AMD - we all know any and all inviduals who do, work for them. /just joking

 

[blastingcap]

If you guys go over there and look at the threads, they come here and troll the site and go back there and post about it as if they accomplished something. I totally forgot that site was even around until someone started talking about it here.

If you guys go over there and look at the threads, they come here and troll the site and go back there and post about it as if they accomplished something. I totally forgot that site was even around until someone started talking about it here.

Can you imagine Anand Lal Shimpi (who this site is named after; or any Anandtech editors like Ryan Smith, for that matter) acting out like apoppin did/does? Can you imagine Anand going to other sites' forums and advertising anandtech.com repeatedly in subtle-and-not-so-subtle ways and treating people rudely, calling them liars and shills, etc. if they criticize him? And then retreating to his own forums to lick his own wounds with a bunch of yes men, complaining about the other site's forums?

Look at how Anandtech editors behave. Look at how SKYMTL of Hardwarecanucks carries himself at XS forums. Look at how W1zzard carries himself at TPU (and he got a LOT of heat for using old drivers during the initial GTX 480 tests, yet he didn't go off the deep end like apoppin).

And then look at apoppin and how he runs his forums.

I know you're reading this apoppin. During your drama-filled exit from ATF, I defended your neutrality (look up my post history), but after the garbage I saw on your forums very recently, I understand why people call you biased. Worse, you treat everyone who wasn't 100% with you as the "enemy." Come on, you're supposed to be a tech editor and above this. I don't see any other tech editor acting the way you act on forums. Maybe you should follow suit instead of fanning the fanboi flames.

 

[3DVagabond]

Then:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7970/28.html

Now:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Catalyst_12.11_Performance/23.html

According to those charts they must still be doing the magic driver work for the 590. It was 118% of the 7970 but now it's 120%. The 580 has gotten slower though, going from 92% to 86%, which makes sense since the 7970 on 12.8 would have been faster than the 7970 on release. Confusing. :\