catalyst 4.8 avail.

[CaiNaM]

release notes: here
driver: here

 

[PrayForDeath]

Geometry Instancing This release of CATALYST introduces the support of Geometry Instancing. This new feature provides assistance when a game has to render many objects where the geometry is highly similar. Geometry Instancing allows the VPU to create multiple objects from a single geometric model, rather than passing an entire new model for each item on the screen. This increases the rendering speed of images such as leaves, or grass.

Looks promising (especially for RTSs)
Benches?

 

[NYHoustonman]

I haven't done any benchmarks yet, but Doom 3 doesn't feel any different :\...

 

[Megatomic]

Per the release notes I don't see anything compelling in these drivers, not enough to make me go through the rigamarole of uninstalling the old drivers, running DC in Safe Mode, and reinstalling the new drivers. Especially with CAT 4.9 coming in 2 weeks with **crosses fingers** the new control panel and the improved OGL drivers (for Doom3).

Did I miss something?

 

[Bar81]

4.9 isn't coming in two weeks and it doesn't feature a new control panel nor will the OGL drivers be anything but marginally improved. ATI have stated that 4.9 is likely a mid September release and that the OGL improvements will come sequentially over a period of time rather than in one big shot. Also, as far as ATI has indicated the new control panel is being reserved for Cat 5.0

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Bar81
4.9 isn't coming in two weeks and it doesn't feature a new control panel nor will the OGL drivers be anything but marginally improved. ATI have stated that 4.9 is likely a mid September release and that the OGL improvements will come sequentially over a period of time rather than in one big shot. Also, as far as ATI has indicated the new control panel is being reserved for Cat 5.0

I've got something to back up my post with...
Taken with a grain of salt of course, but TheInq has been known to be right some of the time. What do you base your post on? Please provide a link...

 

[zephyrprime]

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman
I haven't done any benchmarks yet, but Doom 3 doesn't feel any different :\...

I think a game has to be written to take advantage of it.

 

[CoreZman]

Last night I struck out with both the 4.8's and 4.9 betas. 4.8's gave me horrible artifacting in Doom3 timedemo demo1 and 3DMark03 bombed at Trolls' Lair, whereas with the 4.7's this was never a problem. When I tried the 4.9 betas, I got blue screen of death . I used Driver Cleaner in safe mode and followed the instructions for Cat driver removal found on Rage3D forums very closely. I ended up having to go back to the 4.7's. Anyone have an idea of what I'm doing wrong? My system specs are:

A64 3200+ retail @ 2.5GHz - 42 deg celcius @ idle, 48 @ load
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1GB Crucial PC3200DDR @208MHz
MSI RX9800XT 412/730

 

[Bar81]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: Bar81
4.9 isn't coming in two weeks and it doesn't feature a new control panel nor will the OGL drivers be anything but marginally improved. ATI have stated that 4.9 is likely a mid September release and that the OGL improvements will come sequentially over a period of time rather than in one big shot. Also, as far as ATI has indicated the new control panel is being reserved for Cat 5.0

I've got something to back up my post with...
Taken with a grain of salt of course, but TheInq has been known to be right some of the time. What do you base your post on? Please provide a link...

Interesting. My info is based on several unofficial updates I've read. Then again, you may be right. It's all speculation at this point.

 

[VIAN]

The pic of the driver looks so sexy... ohh.

 

[Megatomic]

That control panel screenshot is pretty damn trick isn't it? I hope it looks like that when it is released to us wolves.

 

[Jayavarman]

The release note says:

"Doom3 improves considerably more (as much as 12% on some product configurations) as a result of the same software efficiency improvements"

So I was like oh yeah baby. After I installed the new drivers and ran the Timedemo Demo1, I get ZERO improvement. Running at 1024x768 at High detail I get 45 FPS with Cat4.7 and I get 44.9 - 45.2 with CAT4.8. Yeah big improvement alright.

 

[BeTomXXX]

Installed 4.8
Before 4.9 Beta

No improvement over 4.9 beta, I suppose there is only an improvement over the 4.7


1024x768: high qualiy, no AF, no FSAA = 52fps

1024x768: high qualiy, no AF, no FSAA, Humus mod = 54.3fps

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: CoreZman
Last night I struck out with both the 4.8's and 4.9 betas. 4.8's gave me horrible artifacting in Doom3 timedemo demo1 and 3DMark03 bombed at Trolls' Lair, whereas with the 4.7's this was never a problem. When I tried the 4.9 betas, I got blue screen of death . I used Driver Cleaner in safe mode and followed the instructions for Cat driver removal found on Rage3D forums very closely. I ended up having to go back to the 4.7's. Anyone have an idea of what I'm doing wrong? My system specs are:

A64 3200+ retail @ 2.5GHz - 42 deg celcius @ idle, 48 @ load
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1GB Crucial PC3200DDR @208MHz
MSI RX9800XT 412/730

there seems to be many issues with r3xx cards and any doom/ogl optimizations....

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: BeTomXXX
Installed 4.8
Before 4.9 Beta

No improvement over 4.9 beta, I suppose there is only an improvement over the 4.7


1024x768: high qualiy, no AF, no FSAA = 52fps

1024x768: high qualiy, no AF, no FSAA, Humus mod = 54.3fps

these are actually older than the 4.9s. they're whql approved, and that means they're several weeks old. one thing tho, i never read anything in the 4.9b notes that said instancing was enabled.

 

[Mem]

4.8s working great for me,however after my reboot, my broadband service provider had a technical connection problem(bad timing) so went down for almost 4 hours lol,lucky I was patient and didn`t blame the ATi drivers .

I did use Driver Cleaner btw in safe mode.

 

[Megatomic]

Mem, are the 4.8s worth the work and time to upgrade to from the 4.7s?

 

[Mem]

Mem, are the 4.8s worth the work and time to upgrade to from the 4.7s?

Megatomic,depends what you are looking for,not a lot of bug fixes,and you can see in the "release notes" actual fixes etc.... however it doesn`t take long to run driver cleaner in safe mode and install them,so to answer your question, if you are happy with 4.7s stick with them,however 4.8s are working fine and do offer some improvements(bug fixes etc) over 4.7s.

You`ll probably have to wait 4 weeks or so for the 4.9s if ATi stick with their 4 week cycle,I`ll be surprised if they are out in two weeks.

 

[Noid]

There is also a new MMC, and WDM capture drivers also.

 

[Bucksnort]

Doom 3 is a bit smoother for me with 4.8 compared to 4.7 . Only thing I noticed with 4.8 is puter will not stay in standby mode. Turns back on in about 15 sec.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman
I haven't done any benchmarks yet, but Doom 3 doesn't feel any different :\...

I think a game has to be written to take advantage of it.

Or maybe a game that uses tons of the same object in the scene at once? There might be 4 or 5 of the same models on the screen at the same time in Doom 3 at the most... Far Cry on the other hand would benefit quite a bit seeing as how it uses so many leaves and so much grass.

 

[Noid]

I'm not experiencing the artifacting on particle texture like the 3.9beta

 

[BFG10K]

I'd expect COD to still be crashing and Descent III OpenGL to be broken on the 9700 Pro.

 

[jim1976]

A nice performance review

 

[NYHoustonman]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: zephyrprime

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman
I haven't done any benchmarks yet, but Doom 3 doesn't feel any different :\...

I think a game has to be written to take advantage of it.

Or maybe a game that uses tons of the same object in the scene at once? There might be 4 or 5 of the same models on the screen at the same time in Doom 3 at the most... Far Cry on the other hand would benefit quite a bit seeing as how it uses so many leaves and so much grass.

I meant as far as the OpenGL performance boost mentioned. Doom 3 feels no different to me.