ForceWare 81.85

[biostud]

 

[the Chase]

Nope- I've been hoping to come across one but no luck yet....

 

[JRW]

I just recently built my first AMD rig and 81.85 were the first drivers I installed on it. Everything is running great but im curious which games ,if any, show improvement on dual core cpu's with 81.85 vs. previous drivers.

 

[lifeguard1999]

THG Review of 81.85 drivers (single core)

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: lifeguard1999
THG Review of 81.85 drivers (single core)

Thanks but ya.... those arent dual core results.

 

[lifeguard1999]

Firing Squad Quake4 Review - Uses single & dual core & 81.85 drivers.

 

[mikester]

So using the X2 3800+ as an example, it was about 15% faster than the single core equivalent (3200+) on Quake4. I wish they had compared the 81.85 drivers to a previous version so we would know if the drivers contributed to those gains.

 

[lifeguard1999]

Originally posted by: mikester
So using the X2 3800+ as an example, it was about 15% faster than the single core equivalent (3200+) on Quake4. I wish they had compared the 81.85 drivers to a previous version so we would know if the drivers contributed to those gains.

I agree.

 

[Fallengod]

Thats a great example. Amazing how little difference the cpu makes. Makes me reasoning for keeping an OC'd 3200 that I got for $115 over an x2 even greater.

Still though. It seems like x2 drivers have more room for optimization. I guess wait for better drivers or games made for dual cores? I dont see how a x2 3800 and a 3200 venice perform the same heh. Youd think even though their stock clock is the same, that the x2 would be able to go a bit faster.

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: modempower
Thats a great example. Amazing how little difference the cpu makes. Makes me reasoning for keeping an OC'd 3200 that I got for $115 over an x2 even greater.

Still though. It seems like x2 drivers have more room for optimization. I guess wait for better drivers or games made for dual cores? I dont see how a x2 3800 and a 3200 venice perform the same heh. Youd think even though their stock clock is the same, that the x2 would be able to go a bit faster.

Once you see how well an X2 multitasks you wont question which cpu is better

 

[Fallengod]

I dont question which is better. X2 is obviously better. I question which has a better price/performance ratio.

Also, I do plan on going dual core, but I am almost sure it will be a DC opteron when I do. Also wont be buying one till they are around $200 so... Whichever dual core makes it to around $200 first. That will be the cpu I buy. :beer:

Originally posted by: JRW

Originally posted by: modempower
Thats a great example. Amazing how little difference the cpu makes. Makes me reasoning for keeping an OC'd 3200 that I got for $115 over an x2 even greater.

Still though. It seems like x2 drivers have more room for optimization. I guess wait for better drivers or games made for dual cores? I dont see how a x2 3800 and a 3200 venice perform the same heh. Youd think even though their stock clock is the same, that the x2 would be able to go a bit faster.

Once you see how well an X2 multitasks you wont question which cpu is better

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: lifeguard1999
Firing Squad Quake4 Review - Uses single & dual core & 81.85 drivers.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/quake_4_cpu_performance/images/amdlow.gif

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/quake_4_cpu_performance/images/amdhigh.gif

So basically running at low specs the X2 outperforms the FX-57 with 81.85 and at high end the videocard is the limiting factor. So even as gaming CPU the X2 beats the FX-57.

 

[imported_Rampage]

Its too bad for ATI supporters that they dont have dual core driver support.

I guess the whole better driver support thing on the NV side of things isnt such a myth.

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: biostud
So even as gaming CPU the X2 beats the FX-57.

Well we can't reach this conclusion with confidence and I wouldn't say that out loud but many games point this direction. Who knows? We don't see many benchmarks with dual cores compared to FX57s, and I have repeatedly searched for FX57 users to compare results. It makes sense though since that would be a bad promotion for FX-57 sales To me FX57s today are for hardcore benchmarkers and that's it. I can't justify the $$$ for its purchase today by any means.Dualies have the advantage of multi threaded drivers that give them a nice boost for now in many games till SMP games appear. Sometimes this boost helps to reach the levels of FX-57 or even surpass it in games like Doom3 and Quake IV that they obviously love and utilize the dual core power through the drivers.