ATi CAT 3.8's due out on Wednesday :)

[Pete]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
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.

The furor over nVidia's cheats/degradations/code replacements over the past few months should show you that generally, you're not going to see anywhere near a 20% increase "across the board" with a mere (legitimate) driver update, especially not for a more straight-forward (relatively simpler to program for) card like ATi's DX9 series. The FX line can certainly seem to benefit from better drivers, as it uses what appears to a more unusual/complicated design, but even so, 20% across the board is really unlikely. In some apps? Yes. Across the board? I doubt nV or ATi will produce a driver so poor that it can realize such huge gains in current games.

ATi driver devs have said the DX9 series has some room for shader speed improvement, but nothing dramatic. ATi's DX9 performance seems pretty optimal as is. Now it's nV that needs to get its drivers into shape.

 

[Wedge1]

I would like to see the ability to disable OpenGL conformant texture clamping. It would eliminate the black seams in the skyboxes of certain Quake 3 maps.

 

[DarknRahl]

Originally posted by: 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.

This first feature would be _really_ usefull. (This goes for any vid card maker) So many games these days hate certain features whilst others deal with them fine. I play several different games and they all require settings to be changed or they don't work, full stop or crawl along with settings that don't effect the other ones. Damn dodgy game coders. 8)

 

[TheMouse]

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.

An equally clocked 9700non pro IS a 9700PRO.

rogo

You guys are contradicting eachother

I stand with rogo

 

[jiffylube1024]

I guess we will see tomorrow what all the fuss is about. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Noid]

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

They were included in the 3.6's.
(along with the 3dmark fixes)

Quote
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: MrPabulum
I'm less concerned about performance increases, and more interested in two things:

1.) Specific settings for each game on my system

... ^^^^ ... Rage3d tweak will allow you to program your ATI card settings to different games.

 

[BFG10K]

Hopefully the 16 bit issues and the NOLF mouse lag will be resolved.

 

[boyRacer]

i don't see it...

 

[InlineFive]

I can't wait for them to get released! I hope the website doesn't go down in a DDoS attack from all the people accessing it. That's happened before for different software makers.

-Por

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: boyRacer
i don't see it...

I read somewhere that they will be posted at 3 pm EST

 

[ginfest]

Got them right from ATI, no wait or problems d/ling
I've only used the 3.7s since I got my 9800, and never had a problem. I always installed the NV drivers "over the top"-do you guys do the same with the Cats or do you uninstall both the drivers and Control Panel, then reinstall?



Mike G

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Ginfest
Got them right from ATI, no wait or problems d/ling
I've only used the 3.7s since I got my 9800, and never had a problem. I always installed the NV drivers "over the top"-do you guys do the same with the Cats or do you uninstall both the drivers and Control Panel, then reinstall?



Mike G

I just installed the Cat 3.8's myself. I'm currently figuring out how to set up the individual game settings in the drivers.

I always uninstall the old drivers, control panels etc and also delete all of the ATI registry keys, just to be safe.

One think I noticed this driver did is default to 1280X1024 resolution upon rebooting, which might cause problems for some users (only those on low quality 15" CRT monitors really). Looks great for me . Now back to these settings...

 

[sswingle]

Mine defaulted back to the resolution I was previously using, 1024x768. I didn't uninstall the old ones though.

First impressions of smartshader....what is the point. With it set at Classic and running battlefield, everything was a brownish color. Aside from running it at a lan party before everyone hears about it just so they can be like, WTF?!?!?!? I do not see any point in using it.