ATI drivers suck...(actually they don't, and haven't for a long time)

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: Nickrand
dug777, no offense but i'm sure i'm not the only one who is getting sick of your anti-nvidia, pro ATI posts lately. Ya, ya, ya we all know you have a 660gt and it sucks, but do we need to hear about it 500 times?

I suggest that you also post something about Rollo's pro-Nvidia threads.

This way you would be fair and square.

 

[JBT]

I don't think ATI drivers suck at all, all the games work well but I do PERFER Nvidia drivers much more. I just like the way they work more. I have used the CCC and the plain old CC and they both annoy me.
One thing I REALLY like about the Nvidia drivers are the custom resolutions that you can add. ATI hads no such feature..

 

[Ackmed]

Saying ATi's drivers suck is as silly as saying AMD's run hot enough to burn down your house. Both are not true anymore, things can change.

Both NV and ATi have very good drivers, both have some bugs and areas where they can improve on.

 

[flexy]

i personally am not a friend of CCC even with a pretty ok PC..i just hate bloat. I use always the drivers without CCC and ati tray tools for the rest.

Anyway...i am with ATI since the 8500 came out....and MAYBE the first few drivers YEARS ago w/ the 8500 'sucked'....but ATI does a helll of a job with releasing drivers monthyu and listen to people and their drivers are good for a long time already.

the statement "ATI drivers suck" is on the same level as "VIA chipset sucks"...."AMD sucks"....etc Totally unsubstantiated blah blah from n00bs who just echo myths

 

[BenSkywalker]

I've tried all of my currently installed games which is around 50 and currently the only issues on 5.10 are a flashing HUD in GLQuake and also Spearhead/Breakthrough not launching (that's actually an application issue so technically it doesn't count). So really it's only GLQuake. LOL.

So only one game that you have installed has trouble with basic rasterization? For ATi that is certainly saying an awful lot.

This is a far cry to random reboots, stuttering and pausing I experienced in numerous games on a 6800U which are known issues, especially the notorious DEP issue which took close to nine months to be fixed through official channels and was never officially admitted to by nVidia.

Point me to a beta ATi driver that solves the problem I've been having and I will be more then happy to use it. WHQL never has meant anything anyway.

Why do you read through their driver fixes for a change?

I do, it only takes thirty seconds or so every six months so why not? I also read through the ATi release notes waiting for some day when they may decide to get off their lazy @sses and fix a bug they have known about for years.

The fact that you can't replicate problems on your prehistoric nVidia hardware running ancient games means precisely nothing.

To the most frothing at the mouth fringe fanatic the world has ever seen perhaps not. I ask for noone to jump through hoops to reproduce the bugs I'm talking about- and without fail everyone has tried it has had to do nothing but start the game. I'm not asking for them to chase down some obscure bug relating to a very sloppily built PC, I'm talking about a clearly obvious fix for a direct failing of their drivers.

Here's the list from just 81.85 which incidentally includes yet more examples of nForce crashes, the kind you were denying in the other thread because you couldn't replicate them:

The ones they were talking about were supposedly three years old. Given that the hardware I was trying to replicate them on was less then three years old.... never mind. It is far too technical for you to understand, requiring the ability to count to three and read a calendar..... it's too much to expect of you I know

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Rollo
Errrr- who says ATI drivers suck?

It's not me, and you can bet if they did in my experience with them, I would be posting it?

Think about that a moment- has anyone ever seen me not post about an issue with ATI?

I don't see the point of this thread. I think everyone here pretty much knows drivers are pretty comparable for a XP gamer.

you know, i know it, and anyone with a degree of common sense knows it, but it's an oft repeated claim that for Xp gaming ATI drivers suck, just look at some of the responses in this thread...I've seen the claim quite regularly recently, and i thought it was time to try and set the record straight, is all.

 

[BFG10K]

So only one game that you have installed has trouble with basic rasterization? For ATi that is certainly saying an awful lot.

That's a beautiful spin you put on it and I expected nothing less from you.

Point me to a beta ATi driver that solves the problem I've been having and I will be more then happy to use it.

I'm sorry but what does that have to do with what you quoted? You quoted my references to nVidia driver issues, references which have absolutely nothing to do with solving your ATi issues. As usual you skirt the issue by ignoring nVidia problems and continuing to lambast ATi.

Pay attention: my comments were about nVidia driver issues.

I do, it only takes thirty seconds or so every six months so why not?

Apparently you aren't comprehending what you're reading then. See that "issues resolved" list? That's a list of officially recognised problems that are known to nVidia. What your prehistoric nVidia hardware can or can't replicate has absolutely no bearing on that list.

I ask for noone to jump through hoops to reproduce the bugs I'm talking about- and without fail everyone has tried it has had to do nothing but start the game. I'm not asking for them to chase down some obscure bug relating to a very sloppily built PC, I'm talking about a clearly obvious fix for a direct failing of their drivers.

Again, what does that have to do with you quoted? I stated that your failure to replicate nVidia bugs means nothing and you ignored it and jumped right back to slamming ATi. Are you doing this on purpose or are you not even reading what you quote?

The ones they were talking about were supposedly three years old. Given that the hardware I was trying to replicate them on was less then three years old

So because you can't replicate the problem it doesn't exist? Likewise I bet you can't replicate nVidia's driver fix lists on your ancient hardware either so that must mean they don't exist either? nVidia are liars are they?

 

[BFG10K]

so wth is the point of that?

That's a good question. I really don't know why you posted ATi's bug fix list given I never saw anyone in the thread denying that ATi has problems.

I posted my list because certain nV fanboys can't seem to comprehend the fact that nVidia's driver are loaded with issues.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: dug777
I've owned a gf4 mx440, a 9200SE, a 9600XT, a 9800 pro, and now a 6600GT.

I've never had a problem with ATI drivers (although all the ati cards i have owned have been in the last two years), and since the introduction of the CCC, i can't see how anyone could say the nvidia driver layout/ease of use/helpfulness comes close to touching this...

The CCC clearly lays everything out for you, has an active 3d window so you can see in real time roughly what effect the changes you are making have, and gives people new to the gaming scene a little bit of info on what each setting does, ATI have an excellent theater controls page(video settings page, other than an video overlay settings tab i can't see anything else in the 81.85 drivers in this area), where as nvidia lacks any of these features...the only point you could argue is the layout, and as a veteran of previous nvidia drivers and a long time gamer, even i was a little taken aback when i went to change some driver settings when i first got my 6600GT a month or so ago...

Throw into the regular monthly updates, and ATI drivers are looking pretty awesome to me at least...

I suggest that the belief that ATI drivers suck is a hangover from the days (long gone now) where they did have problems, and of course the fact that many who like to say 'ATI drivers suck' have never used them and merely read someone saying this, and thought 'oooh, another great reason to bash ati (even tho i have no experience/current experience of their drivers )'...

I'm not bashing nvidia drivers here by any means, but i think that this is one preconception of ATI that need to be put to bed, stat.

ATi drivers certainly do not suck...they are in fact very very good...but I still think they're a notch below Big Green when it comes to compatibility.

 

[swatX]

CCC = Bloat . i need something that has a simple interface and appearence doesnt look too bloatish

 

[DeathReborn]

Originally posted by: Duvie
Dug's bias aside...I have to agree with him Nvidia fanboys cannot use the ATi driver issues of the past against them anymore...They are very sound and have been for quite awhile.....

I think Nvidia does better with driver updates and their timliness of them, but ATi has come through eventually and in some issues more so....

As I was using ATI alongside nVidia just a few weeks ago I can safely say I now do not feel like throwing my PC out the window when installing updated drivers. I'll still consider an ATI card in the future but only if the drivers are up to snuff compared with what i'm using at the time.

I do like the monthly driver updates from ATI but I think it's about time both companies had a patching system instead of complete re-installs.

 

[BenSkywalker]

BFG-

I made one comment on nVidia drivers(I haven't ever seen an issue go multi years) in this thread until you jumped in trying to drag this thread down with your trolling. If you want to discuss ATi's drivers feel free, if you want to discuss nV's drivers start another thread.

 

[gsellis]

Gee guys, if you want to complain about video drivers, I will give you one you can complain about. Intel. That is the driver set I had to replace the most for fixes for business applications. You know, simple 2D stuff.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: dug777
I've owned a gf4 mx440, a 9200SE, a 9600XT, a 9800 pro, and now a 6600GT.

I've never had a problem with ATI drivers (although all the ati cards i have owned have been in the last two years), and since the introduction of the CCC, i can't see how anyone could say the nvidia driver layout/ease of use/helpfulness comes close to touching this...

The CCC clearly lays everything out for you, has an active 3d window so you can see in real time roughly what effect the changes you are making have, and gives people new to the gaming scene a little bit of info on what each setting does, ATI have an excellent theater controls page(video settings page, other than an video overlay settings tab i can't see anything else in the 81.85 drivers in this area), where as nvidia lacks any of these features...the only point you could argue is the layout, and as a veteran of previous nvidia drivers and a long time gamer, even i was a little taken aback when i went to change some driver settings when i first got my 6600GT a month or so ago...

Throw into the regular monthly updates, and ATI drivers are looking pretty awesome to me at least...

I suggest that the belief that ATI drivers suck is a hangover from the days (long gone now) where they did have problems, and of course the fact that many who like to say 'ATI drivers suck' have never used them and merely read someone saying this, and thought 'oooh, another great reason to bash ati (even tho i have no experience/current experience of their drivers )'...

I'm not bashing nvidia drivers here by any means, but i think that this is one preconception of ATI that need to be put to bed, stat.

yeah

i have used both, though i havent had alot of time to use the CCC bit since i stopped using my 9500pro before they brought that to the table.

but in my opinion, from my experiences with both driver sets, i still prefere nvidia's, not neccessarily (sp?) for the layout or anything but for the speed...its like BAM and im in the control panel changing things round, i remember having to wait a good chunk of time to get the ATI control panel up, and i also remember the ATI drivers/card balnking the screen every time i changed the AA and AF settings.

but with most games now allowing you to change AA and AF on the fly in game, theres actually less and less reason to be going into the control panel.

 

[Tanclearas]

The "Nvidia is better in Linux" comments, while true, do not portray the complete picture.

1) Both companies do have Linux drivers for 2D/3D. It is in 3D performance that Nvidia is really leading the way. ATI continues to improve, but still have a ways to go.

2) Neither company does a good job of supporting VIVO. If anything, ATI is actually ahead in this department, and considering their support of video-in can only be described as "abysmal", you can already tell that Nvidia's support of video-in is simply non-existant. Actually, Nvidia is making video-in support virtually impossible in their newest drivers. The rivatv project provided support for a lot of the video-in chips used on Nvidia cards. Unfortunately, in newer Nvidia (closed source) drivers, they do not permit the rivatv driver to share the card resources. Nvidia's stance is quite unusual. They claim they don't make the VI chip, so it's not their problem to support it. What makes this claim unusual is that you download the WDM driver for Windows from Nvidia! So, the question for Nvidia is, "Do you support it or not?"

As for the Windows side of things, people have their beliefs about many things. Very few people out there know and accept the truth. I see a few of those people here. Both companies have fairly complete support under Windows, and both companies have their share of problems. It's never going to be perfect, no matter which way you go. If you've never had a problem with a particular company's driver, you've just been lucky enough to avoid the specific problems that do exist.

 

[imported_Rampage]

The ATI drivers suck "rumor" wont die because its true.

They are workable and not horrible drivers.. correct.
Are they superior to Nvidia? No way. Not for Windoze/Linux, and they dont top Nvidia in the features department.. nor do they top NV in long-term support, they drop it way before Nvidia does.

I dont see the point to this thread though. Most people know the truth on this issue as you can see from reading peoples posts on Nvidias overall support (linux ect).

You arent going to wipe it out in one day.. only ATI can change public opinion and the facts of the matter here.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Madellga

Originally posted by: Pabster
This is a pathetic thread.

ATi drivers do suck. Always have.

They're much better than they USED to be - but nVidia is still light years ahead. This is all IMHO, so YMMV.

Yes, they shimmer at warp speed !!

Why don't you sell yours to someone who would appreciate it and buy an ATI card, Madellga?

When I look at your rig, the thing I can figure is you're waiting for a X1800XT? You seem to have enough cash to make the switch- why complain?

 

[Josh7289]

dug777, you're sadly mistaken. ATI's drivers DO suck, about 100 times more than Nvidia's, which do NOT suck. ATI lacks 1:1 pixel ratio scaling for digital flat panel display. Nvidia does not. ATI doesn't get my money. Nvidia does.

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: Tanclearas

As for the Windows side of things, people have their beliefs about many things. Very few people out there know and accept the truth. I see a few of those people here. Both companies have fairly complete support under Windows, and both companies have their share of problems. It's never going to be perfect, no matter which way you go. If you've never had a problem with a particular company's driver, you've just been lucky enough to avoid the specific problems that do exist.

Its too bad many people are too ignorant to see the truth in this post.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Ackmed

Originally posted by: Tanclearas

As for the Windows side of things, people have their beliefs about many things. Very few people out there know and accept the truth. I see a few of those people here. Both companies have fairly complete support under Windows, and both companies have their share of problems. It's never going to be perfect, no matter which way you go. If you've never had a problem with a particular company's driver, you've just been lucky enough to avoid the specific problems that do exist.

Its too bad many people are too ignorant to see the truth in this post.

you said it...

 

[kY]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Another myth is that Nvidia releases drivers more often. Heard that recently somewhere and I was all WTF?

s/releases/leaks

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: Tanclearas
The "Nvidia is better in Linux" comments, while true, do not portray the complete picture.

1) Both companies do have Linux drivers for 2D/3D. It is in 3D performance that Nvidia is really leading the way. ATI continues to improve, but still have a ways to go.

What about my lovely Radeon 9500 PRO that crashes 2 minutes in to Quake 3 or even tuxracer? The Linux drivers SUCK, no matter what distro I use.