ATi CAT 3.8's due out on Wednesday :)

[paperfist]

Monday, October 06, 2003
Catalyst 3.8 Update! - 12:02 pm EST - G.I.Bro
I asked Terry if CATALYST 3.8 is still on track for Wednesday, since many people on Rage3D are quite anxious to see this CATALYST update. Here is what he said:

"Yes we are 100% on track for Wednesday. As a matter of fact I can even tell you what time we expect to post.... 3 pm EST is when they should be live. Also we have talked to numerous web sites about the drivers and expect a few articles to come up at that time as well."
So, only 2 more days till your able to get these yourself. Hopefully this will keep most of you satisfied until then!

From: http://rage3d.com/#1065456166

 

[Radiohead]

this is good right

 

[jiffylube1024]

Awesome!!!

 

[Ackmed]

Old news.

 

[Corporate Thug]

any idea of what they are supposed to do/fix?

 

[Ferocious]

I'm still using like 3.3 or 3.4 or something.

I guess I should upgrade with 3.8s.

 

[sswingle]

I just hope they install easier for me than 3.7 did...

 

[mflacy]

WooHoo! 3.8 one week before Max Payne 2. Awesome!

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: shady06
any idea of what they are supposed to do/fix?

Well don't get too excited or anything, but I heard a rumour that among the improvements is an up to ~20-25% performance increase across the board.

Here's hoping!

Edit: what I've heard is the performance increase, and individual game custom AA/AF settings (in the drivers!). That and bug fixes (of course).

 

[Tetsuo]

I'll wait for the Omega 3.8's

 

[1ManArmY]

Don't knock ATI catalyst driver's until you try them, if they don't work for your rig then by all means use the omega's

 

[TheMouse]

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
Don't knock ATI catalyst driver's until you try them, if they don't work for your rig then by all means use the omega's

Dude, I'm sure he wasn't knockin them at all... I'm almost positive that he's like me, and just likes the idea of owning a 9700 pro, rather than a 9500 non-pro

 

[Maddscientist]

I'm almost positive that he's like me, and just likes the idea of owning a 9700 pro, rather than a 9500 non-pro

You mean owning a 9700np since you cant make a 9500np anything other than that? Even with a hefty overclock with the softmod you cant touch pro statis with a softmodded card.

 

[reever]

Originally posted by: Maddscientist

I'm almost positive that he's like me, and just likes the idea of owning a 9700 pro, rather than a 9500 non-pro

You mean owning a 9700np since you cant make a 9500np anything other than that? Even with a hefty overclock with the softmod you cant touch pro statis with a softmodded card.

Even if it is overclocked to exact pro speeds

And CM said these aren't big on performance increases per se, but will include a large amount of bugfixes, which from many people with the drivers already, fix just about every problem they had

 

[grabadude]

Can't wait to install 'em

 

[TheMouse]

darn, i woulda thought an equally clocked 9700 non pro was somewhat close to a 9700 pro

 

[Pete]

Originally posted by: shady06
any idea of what they are supposed to do/fix?

A few things. ATi has said teh next few releases will not be geared toward speed increases, but toward compatability and stability improvements. (So I think jiffylube's statement is ludicrous fantasy. 25% "across the board"? Dream on.) The 3.8's are supposed to include the dynamic overclocking feature for the XT cards. More importantly, they should include app-specific customization tabs, and the ability to switch AF/AA modes from the systray icon. I think they'll mainly make it a lot easier and more intuitive to access and set card features. I think app-specific controls, like Apple has had for a while, will be the biggest feature. Being able to set different levels of AA and AF depending on the game should be a required feature for all cards.

 

[MrPabulum]

I'm less concerned about performance increases, and more interested in two things:

1.) Specific settings for each game on my system
2.) Being able to switch AA/AF on and off without quitting the game. (Hey, you could do it on the 3dfx V5500! )

If I can do just the first, then happiness is a set of Cat 3.8s.

 

[GiBro]

25% increase??? Where the heck did one get those #'s from?!?!?!
LOL

Where do you guys get your info from?? Like, OMG!!

 

[edmundoab]

i remembered ATi mentioning about certain issues being resolved in CAT 3.8
but not so much about performance increase though

 

[edmundoab]

duplicate.

 

[Rogodin2]

An equally clocked 9700non pro IS a 9700PRO.

rogo

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Pete

Originally posted by: shady06
any idea of what they are supposed to do/fix?

A few things. ATi has said teh next few releases will not be geared toward speed increases, but toward compatability and stability improvements. (So I think jiffylube's statement is ludicrous fantasy. 25% "across the board"? Dream on.) The 3.8's are supposed to include the dynamic overclocking feature for the XT cards. More importantly, they should include app-specific customization tabs, and the ability to switch AF/AA modes from the systray icon. I think they'll mainly make it a lot easier and more intuitive to access and set card features. I think app-specific controls, like Apple has had for a while, will be the biggest feature. Being able to set different levels of AA and AF depending on the game should be a required feature for all cards.

I read somewhere on Rage3d or something about the performance increase. I never said it's true, or even that I think it makes sense. It's just a rumour I heard...

I personally doubt this driver update will include a sweeping performance boost, but I think a boost in certain apps (like DX9 titles) would make sense.

 

[1ManArmY]

I thought the soft mod was to be included in the catalyst driver's also.

 

[GiBro]

Originally posted by: 1ManArmY
I thought the soft mod was to be included in the catalyst driver's also.

There will be, but its only for the new XT series of cards.