Ati 8.6 Official (Improvements & Problems)

[CrackerJack]

I've done some test with the beta release just this mourning. I'll be doing more test's with these drivers.

ATI 8.6 (http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx)

Release Notes (https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/gamesite/Catalyst_86_release_notes.html)
New Features
Catalyst™ 8.6 introduces the following new features:

OpenGL Adaptive Anti-Aliasing Custom Filters support
OpenGL CrossFireX™ (QUAD) support - 3 or 4 GPUs in CrossFire™ mode
Catalyst Install enhancement - No reboot required after Catalyst upgrade install
OpenGL Adaptive Anti-Aliasing Custom Filters support
This release of Catalyst™ introduces Adaptive Anti-Aliasing Custom Filters support for OpenGL applications for the ATI Radeon™ HD 3000 Series, ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 Series of products. Using the Edge Detect Custom Filter, users can enable 12X and 24X Anti-Aliasing. Selecting 4X Anti-Aliasing plus selecting the Edge Detect filter delivers the equivalent of 12X Anti-Aliasing. Selecting 8X Anti-Aliasing plus selecting the Edge Detect filter delivers the equivalent of 24X Anti-Aliasing.

OpenGL CrossFireX™ (QUAD) support - 3 or 4 GPUs in CrossFire™ mode
This release of Catalyst™ introduces CrossFireX™ QUAD support for OpenGL applications. Users with any combination of a ATI Radeon™ HD 3870, ATI Radeon™ HD 3850, and ATI Radeon™ HD 3870 X2 graphics accelerators running with 3 or 4 GPUs will be able to run in CrossFireX™ QUAD mode (when used in a CrossFireX™ compatible PC).

Users are also able to run in CrossFireX™ QUAD mode while running in extended desktop mode on the Windows Vista desktop.

Performance Improvements
The following performance gains are noticed with this release of Catalyst™.

3DMark Vantage:10 to 15% gains across all Radeon™ HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products, with larger gains in specific cases.

Call of Duty 4: Performance increases across all Radeon™ HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products, with gains as large as 35% in specific maps.

Call of Juarez DX10: Performance increases between 2 and 9% across all HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products.

Company of Heroes (DX10 version): Performance increases between 4 and 10% across HD 36xx and HD 34xx products.

Lost Planet (DX10 version): Performance increases by 1 or 2 fps across all HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products, creating in some cases up to 20% increase.

Lost Planet (DX9 version): Performance increases between 2 and 20% across all HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products.

Prey OpenGL: 3-5% gains across HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products.

Quake 4 OpenGL: Up to 8% increase across all HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products.

Shadermark 2.1: Minor improvements across all HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products, with the largest gains appearing on HD 3650 (up to 9%)

ViewPerf 10: Substantial performance improvements across several of the sub-tests, with the largest gains in ugnx (up to 55%), catia (up to 17%) and tcvis (up to 10%) across all of the HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products.




Contains:
Radeon™ display driver 8.501
Multimedia Center™ 9.16 (Windows XP only)
HydraVision™ for both Windows XP and Vista
HydraVision™ Basic Edition (Windows XP only)
Remote Wonder 3.04 (Windows XP only)
WDM Driver Install Bundle
Southbridge/IXP Driver
Catalyst™ Control Center Version 8.6



Let's use this thread for questions and problems.

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

this thread already exists.

[CrackerJack]

_FBi;844116']this thread already exists.

I couldn't find it :confused: where? the only threads i seen are for the beta that was release over a week ago.

[JrRacinFan]

So, this means points in FurMark will increase with dual ATi cards then right?!!

[philbrown23]

w00t! d/l now! gonna run some 3870X2 tests!

[CrackerJack]

So, this means points in FurMark will increase with dual ATi cards then right?!!

Yep. But I still don't have crossfire. :banghead: ATI needs to get the head out of there arse.


philbrown23- let's us know what you get.... please

[CrackerJack]

8.5 (FurMark, 3dMark06 & LightsMark07)http://img.techpowerup.org/080618/8.5_1st484.jpg

8.6 (FurMark, 3dMark06 & LightsMark07)http://img.techpowerup.org/080618/8.6_Official(1).jpg


Summary:
Furmark= +3
3dMark06= +3 (+18 with Beta)
LightsMark07= -.1 :p


8.5 (Unreal 3)http://img.techpowerup.org/080618/8.5_2nd463.jpg

8.6 (Unreal 3)http://img.techpowerup.org/080618/8.6_Official(2).jpg


Summary:
Unreal 3
800x600= 0
1024x768= -4
1280x1024= -3

[batmang]

DEFINITELY giving these a shot today.

" Performance Improvements
The following performance gains are noticed with this release of Catalyst™.

3DMark Vantage:10 to 15% gains across all Radeon™ HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products, with larger gains in specific cases.

Call of Duty 4: Performance increases across all Radeon™ HD 3xxx and HD 2xxx products, with gains as large as 35% in specific maps. "

AWESOME.

Is there an easy way to benchmark CoD4 btw?

[EastCoasthandle]

Catalyst Install enhancement - No reboot required after Catalyst upgrade install
OpenGL Adaptive Anti-Aliasing Custom Filters support
:twitch:

[CrackerJack]

Guy's I just got a HUGE performance increase in AquaMark3. Pic's in a sec.

Before (Proof (http://www.hwbot.org/result.do?resultId=742455)) The card was even OC 800/1000
http://img.techpowerup.org/080618/AquaMark3.jpg

After :eek:
http://img.techpowerup.org/080618/AquaMark3_8.6.jpg

Now only if I can get crossfire :( This is my score with Crossfire with default drivers. Here (http://www.hwbot.org/result.do?resultId=743657)
:eek: :eek: :eek:

:toast:

[EastCoasthandle]

Ok, I've replayed The Bog (specifically the area were the tank is broken down) in COD4 and will admit it's very smooth and I am noticing a lot more animation of rochette bullet effects, tires bouncing here and there, etc. I also notice that the AI animation as it walks, jogs along during the heavy gun fight is a lot smoother and snappier then before. This is in the heat of combat mind you. Also, the helo's that come on the scene near the end are a bit faster then before.

No doubt about it, IMO this is by far the best performing driver's I've seen with that game so far. As for frame rates, they have improved but only a few more FPS here and there from what I can tell. What impressed me most is the overall smoothness, improve responsiveness and, I am seeing more in game animation of inanimate objects then I did before.


Edit:
Oh snap, my profile is gone. That didn't happen with other Cat installs. Oh well, no biggie. But guess what folks? I never OC'd my card, I forgot to OV to 858/900 as I usually do :eek:!
Ok, I will try The Bog again but this time with OC 858/900 instead of 743/828.

Edit #2:
Ok, The Bog played much like before, however the frame rates were a bit higher.


Edit #3
Opps, forgot my setup:
1680x1050
all settings maxed using 4xAA, etc
Cat 8.5 I was getting around 45 FPS as lows as 25 FPS in The Bog, where you are defending War Pig
Cat 8.6 I am getting 50+ with lows around 35 FPS in The Bog, where you are defending War Pig

[CrackerJack]

I haven't tested with Blog yet. I like testing with War Pig. Usually i get around 30fps. Everthing set to high at 1280x1024. But i haven't check to see the performance increase yet. I've still got to check Vantages scores also. There should be an increase there. I reading something, that said there around about 10-20% increase. That's pretty good.


But yes, by FAR this is the best ATI drivers.

[dark2099]

I currently am doing some runs with the 8.5's and 8.6's with both vantage and 06, will post me results here.

[erocker]

Crackerjack, did you ever think your cards just might not be able to do crossfire? I don't remember too many companies making the 2900GT, perhaps you should take it up with the manufacturer as it could be a hardware defect keeping you from crossfire?:toast:

[CrackerJack]

Crackerjack, did you ever think your cards just might not be able to do crossfire? I don't remember too many companies making the 2900GT, perhaps you should take it up with the manufacturer as it could be a hardware defect keeping you from crossfire?:toast:

well that's what i thought at first. But then i started to see that everyone is having the same problem. ATI Forums, Sapphire Forums and so on. But even ATI says it's not supported yet. But then again, I emailed ATI. They it was because my board, psu and ram wasn't ATI cerfied...... ummmm that's just bs. There just trying to avoy the problem. But I can still crossfire, but not with the lastest or any drivers other then the default cd drivers.

[dark2099]

I wonder if there would be a way to mod the default drivers from the cd to have all the new features of new ones, just leave the crossfire as is.

[CrackerJack]

I wonder if there would be a way to mod the default drivers from the cd to have all the new features of new ones, just leave the crossfire as is.

tried it. it works, but not stable. :ohwell:

[DOM]

ATI 6.6 :wtf: 8.6 ;)

[dark2099]

That sucks, I think someone really needs to get on ATI's ass for that.

[dark2099]

Here are the comparisons I did of the 8.5 drivers and 8.6, forgot to include CPU-Z and GPU-Z with the 8.5 run, but I'm betting that really won't matter.

[HTC]

Here are the comparisons I did of the 8.5 drivers and 8.6, forgot to include CPU-Z and GPU-Z with the 8.5 run, but I'm betting that really won't matter.

That's quite an increase: WOW :respect:

[dark2099]

I can't wait to have my DDR3 and my 3870x2 all crossfired with the two 3870's I have now.

[CrackerJack]

ATI 6.6 :wtf: 8.6 ;)
opps thanks

That sucks, I think someone really needs to get on ATI's ass for that.

yep,

Yep, these drivers are really helping you. +1384 points just on the GPU.

[batmang]

Damn, impressive. I'm gonna benchmark all the games that are benchmarkable to see how certain games are effected.

[dark2099]

Did a test w/ Fur and got about the same results I have been getting, ~3500.

[JrRacinFan]

Here are the comparisons I did of the 8.5 drivers and 8.6, forgot to include CPU-Z and GPU-Z with the 8.5 run, but I'm betting that really won't matter.

Also, if you notice, the cpu score is lower in the higher overall scoring run. :eek:

[dark2099]

Yup, maybe reworked the drivers some how to run the more CPU intensive tests better, or I don't know, but yea, definitely nice.

[EastCoasthandle]

anyone notice the new look of Cat (those using XP, I suppose). I can now make changes by right clicking on the icon now instead of opening the program. I do not recall being able to do that before (If it was there before I might have missed it).

[dark2099]

Icon is different, and so is the splash screen for CCC.

[HTC]

A 1137 in the GPU score, in Vantage is quite significant.

This seems to be ATI's response to the recent nVidia drivers performance increase.

[EastCoasthandle]

Icon is different, and so is the splash screen for CCC.

Yes, that to. However, the icon looks the same to me...

[dark2099]

Maybe I was unclear, the icon for the installer package changed, other than that, I am not sure what icon you could mean.

[CrackerJack]

Furmark scores won't improve to much with a single card. But you should get a good increase if you have 2 or more gpu's. The problem before was that no body was seeing a improvement with crossfire. But 8.6 should fix it. :)

[EastCoasthandle]

Maybe I was unclear, the icon for the installer package changed, other than that, I am not sure what icon you could mean.

Oh, I see. I thought you were talking about the icon in the lower left of the screen after you install it. :toast:
Yes, the installer icon has changed :)

[CrackerJack]

dark2099- do care to do a furmark test with crossfire and without please

[dark2099]

Ah, didn't bother noticing that, next time I start my rig up I'll check it out. :toast:

EDIT: Which looks like it will be now.

[dark2099]

Not going to bother posting a screen shot since it didn't seem to help at all, score went up a few points.

[DOM]

anyone notice the new look of Cat (those using XP, I suppose). I can now make changes by right clicking on the icon now instead of opening the program. I do not recall being able to do that before (If it was there before I might have missed it).

right cliking the one by the clock/time ?

[EastCoasthandle]

right cliking the one by the clock/time ?

yes that's the one

[entilza]

I've been monitoring my results from 3dmark ever since the 8.1 drivers.

I have yet to see any improvement in 3dmark06, Never have the #'s changed to warrant an increase in % performance.

I am using Windows XP, Vista had similar results.

I have a log of results from 8.1 through 8.6.

However, my system runs great so I have no complaints though.

[imperialreign]

I've been monitoring my results from 3dmark ever since the 8.1 drivers.

I have yet to see any improvement in 3dmark06, Never have the #'s changed to warrant an increase in % performance.

I am using Windows XP, Vista had similar results.

I have a log of results from 8.1 through 8.6.

However, my system runs great so I have no complaints though.

this reminds me . . .

whenever I get around to it, I've been meaning to do a comparison chart for the 1950 cards, from CAT 7.1 to current (yeah, I keep an ongoing CAT archive on my HDD).

[dark2099]

I don't think they're going to work on improving any of the older 3dmark versions since they're old.

[DOM]

yes that's the one

3d settings ?

if thats it, ive been using that since i joined :laugh:

[OverclockedBoo]

Vantage went from P7474 w/ 8.5 to P8259 w/ 8.6
05 & 06 seem to be about the same

Getting ready to test Crysis and BF2142...

[EastCoasthandle]

3d settings ?

if thats it, ive been using that since i joined :laugh:

As I've said before:
I do not recall being able to do that before (If it was there before I might have missed it).

[DOM]

As I've said before:
lol I was suprised you never seen it idk how long its been like that as my 1st cards was a X800XL and then this X1950XT :o

but it is alot easier then waitting for ccc to open

but im going :D by this friday or monday so idk if im going to try out 8.6 :(

[EastCoasthandle]

lol I was suprised you never seen it idk how long its been like that as my 1st cards was a X800XL and then this X1950XT :o

but it is alot easier then waitting for ccc to open

but im going :D by this friday or monday so idk if im going to try out 8.6 :(

Yeah, I've always disabled it for the most part. So when I went snooping around to find what's new I noticed it. Oh well, no biggie. Cat 8.6 has some nice performance improvements. I've seen a few FPS increase in COD4 and Grid.

[DOM]

Yeah, I've always disabled it for the most part. So when I went snooping around to find what's new I noticed it. Oh well, no biggie. Cat 8.6 has some nice performance improvements. I've seen a few FPS increase in COD4 and Grid.

well i dont game much any more dont have money for games lol but cant wait for the new toys now I can run Vantage :p and get higher 3dmark scores :)

ATI always :rockout:

[batmang]

Just finished my testing. Here are the results:

The test setup:
http://img.techpowerup.org/080619/TESTING_8.5vs8.6_setup.jpg

Call of Duty 4 1.6:
http://img.techpowerup.org/080619/cod4_1440x900_catalyst8.5VS8.6.jpg

Crysis 1.2:
http://img.techpowerup.org/080619/catalyst8.5VS8.6_crysis.jpg

Futuremark 3DMark 06:
http://img.techpowerup.org/080619/catalyst8.5VS8.6_3dmark06.jpg

Futuremark 3DMark Vantage:
http://img.techpowerup.org/080619/catalyst8.5VS8.6_3dmarkVantage.jpg

Definitely an improvement across the board. Not so much on Crysis though... surprise. I am surprised to see my score almost reach 8,000.
Not bad for a basically default clocked system.

[CrackerJack]

I got nice 12fps increase in COD4. :rockout:

[wiak]

dont forget latest catalyst has 4800 series support

[batmang]

I got nice 12fps increase in COD4. :rockout:

I got 11! :toast::rockout:

[JrRacinFan]

Nothing but full of VPU recovers on my card. :ohwell: