ATI 9700 Pro

[1ManArmY]

I just decided on a ATI 9700 Pro and I play a lot of HL and CS and I want to get the kinks ironed out so I can enjoy the card to the fullest. I hear that the cat 3.1 are the least incompatible so hopefully that will work for me. My new system will not be complete until next week but all of the components have been ordered. I will be playing GR, MOHA, BF 1942, HL, CS RTCW and the new Rainbow 6 Ravenshield.

what do I have to look forward to as far as compatibility with the games listed?
What software applications and games does it ship with?

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
I just decided on a ATI 9700 Pro and I play a lot of HL and CS and I want to get the kinks ironed out so I can enjoy the card to the fullest. I hear that the cat 3.1 are the least incompatible so hopefully that will work for me. My new system will not be complete until next week but all of the components have been ordered. I will be playing GR, MOHA, BF 1942, HL, CS RTCW and the new Rainbow 6 Ravenshield.

what do I have to look forward to as far as compatibility with the games listed?
What software applications and games does it ship with?

I think you're gonna be in kind of a bind. Cat 3.2 kinda broke HL and CS, but its been the best driver set so far for all of the newer games I'm playing. It fixed any remaining stuttering issues for me, and games seem to run smoother and look better as well (I own/play all the games you listed 'cept the RS series). One thing I do remember coming across, apparently Ravenshield is unplayable with Cat 3.1, but fixed with Cat 3.2. I expect Cat 3.3 to fix any HL/CS issues and also provide the 9800pro driver path, just not sure when we'll be getting them. Until then, you'll probably have to decide if you can do without CS/HL or Ravenshield and better performance in your newer games.

As for the software, it depends which 9700pro you bought. I know that some of the different OEMs bundled some nice games and softDVD players with their 9700's, but if you have a retail built by ATi, you'll only get the installation driver disc. It doesn't have anything on it except an old version of ATi's 1-in-4 drivers and RealPlayer, so I wouldn't even bother with it. The only time you'll need it is updating the new DVD decoder, where it'll verify your installation disc. Otherwise, download and install the drivers from the web and make sure to remove any traces of your old drivers using drivercleaner from the link below.

Big List of Drivers and Utilities

Chiz

 

[1ManArmY]

Thanks for your input. Have you used the omega drivers? I think I'll have to go with the 3.2 because it will allow me to play Rainbow 6 Ravenshield along with BF1942 and MOHA. It is a new computer system being built so I wont have to remove any previous drivers unless I start off with 3.1 then upgrade to 3.2. That is what I was trying to determine.
Cooler Master ATC 201B-SX2
Antec True power 480W
P4 3.06
ASUS P4T533-C
512 RDRAM PC 1066
80 GB Western Digital HD 7200 RPM 8MB buffer
Toshiba DVD ROM
Lite ON 52X/24X/52X CDRW
SB Audigy 2 Platinlum
ATI Radeon 9700 PRO
Intel Pro 100 Network Adapter
USB 2.0
56K Robotics v90 modem
Logitech Keyboard and optical mouse
Windows XP Home

 

[Tret]

U just play counter=strike and hl on youtr computer?

 

[1ManArmY]

No but I would like to on occasion if that is the game featured at the LAN parties I attend. I have not been playing anything on the computer because it isn't built yet. Start date is 8 APR 03 when the remaining components arrive.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Tret
U just play counter=strike and hl on youtr computer?

No, he plays lots of other games too.

I would say, if one driver works with most of the games, I would go for that one to start with, and hope that the 3.3's solve HL/CS issues.

 

[Crzyakta]

for HL and CS 3.1, newer games 3.2 got alotta the kinks out...but 3.3 is supposed to be great

 

[GrumpyMan]

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
Thanks for your input. Have you used the omega drivers? I think I'll have to go with the 3.2 because it will allow me to play Rainbow 6 Ravenshield along with BF1942 and MOHA. It is a new computer system being built so I wont have to remove any previous drivers unless I start off with 3.1 then upgrade to 3.2. That is what I was trying to determine.
Cooler Master ATC 201B-SX2
Antec True power 480W
P4 3.06
ASUS P4T533-C
512 RDRAM PC 1066
80 GB Western Digital HD 7200 RPM 8MB buffer
Toshiba DVD ROM
Lite ON 52X/24X/52X CDRW
SB Audigy 2 Platinlum
ATI Radeon 9700 PRO
Intel Pro 100 Network Adapter
USB 2.0
56K Robotics v90 modem
Logitech Keyboard and optical mouse
Windows XP Home

With the exception of a couple of components your system is almost exactly like mine. You're going to enjoy the speed and stability for sure. And I agree that the Cat 3.3 drivers should fix you right up.

 

[1ManArmY]

thanks I'll play around with the cat 3.1's and see if I need to jump to cat 3.2 for Ravenshield

 

[AsianriceX]

Strange...I have a Radeon 9700 Pro and installed 3.2. Half-life and CS works fine for me. What's so bad about it?

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Yea, can someone tell me just what this issue with HL/CS is with 3.2 cats? Only thing I can think of is how the game crashes my computer whenever I try to exit normally with the escape key (have to type exit in console). This doesn't happen all the time though...

 

[1ManArmY]

So would you still reccomend cat 3.2 even though you crash trying to exit CS via ESC Armchair athelete?