With Microsoft readying a Release Preview of its upcoming Windows 8.1 operating system; AMD jumped in with a specialized Catalyst driver. Windows 8.1 features an upgraded display driver model, WDDM 1.3, which lets users take advantage of a few new features. GPUs based on AMD's Graphics CoreNext architecture will be supported by Windows 8.1 over WDDM 1.3, while older VLIW4 and VLIW5-based GPUs (Radeon HD 6000 series and older), will be supported over older WDDM 1.2 based drivers.

Windows 8.1 brings some enhancements to PC graphics, with support for Microsoft's own standardized wireless display technology; 48 Hz dynamic refresh rates for video playback, V-sync interrupt optimization, video conferencing acceleration, and a new instruction to the DirectX 11.1 API, named "tiled resources." Like the operating system itself, AMD's Windows 8.1 Preview Catalyst driver is a beta, and its use comes with no warranties. Microsoft expects to launch Windows 8.1 later this year, reportedly available as a free upgrade for current Windows 8 users.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst Windows 8.1 Preview Driver

Lists of AMD GPUs supported by WDDM 1.3 and WDDM 1.2 follow.

AMD GPUs and iGPUs supported by WDDM 1.3:

• AMD Accelerated Processors (Kabini & Temash) for Desktop, Notebook or Tablet PCs:
• A4-1200, A4-1250, A4-5000, A4-5100, A4-5150, A6-1450, A6-5200, A6-5250, A6-5350, E1-2100, E1-2200. E1-2500, E1-2600, E1-2650, E2-3000, E2-3100
• AMD Accelerated Processors (Richland) for Desktop or Notebook PCs: A10-5700, A10-5745M, A10-5750M, A10-5757M, A10-5800B, A10-5800K, A8-5500, A8-5500B, A8-5545M, A8-5550M, A8-5557M, A8-5600K, A6-5345M, A6-5350M, A6-5357M, A6-5400B, A6-5400K, A4-5145M, A4-5150, A4-5300, A4-5300B
• AMD Accelerated Processors (Trinity) for Desktop or Notebook PCs: A10-4600M, A10-4655M, A10-4677M, A10-5700, A10-5800B, A10-5800K, A8-4500M, A8-4555M, A8-4557M, A6-4400M, A6-4455M, A6-5400B, A6-5400K, A4-4300M, A4-4355M, A4-5300, A4-5300B
• AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series, AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series, AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series, AMD Radeon HD 7400 Series
• AMD Radeon HD 8000M Series
• AMD Radeon HD 8000G Series
• AMD Radeon HD 8000D Series
• AMD Radeon HD 7900M Series, AMD Radeon HD 7800M Series, AMD Radeon HD 7700M Series, AMD Radeon HD 7600M/7500M Series
• AMD Radeon HD 7000G Series
• AMD Radeon HD 7000D Series
• AMD FirePro S10000
• AMD FirePro W9000, AMD FirePro S9000
• AMD FirePro W8000
• AMD FirePro W7000, AMD FirePro S7000
• AMD FirePro W5000, AMD FirePro R5000
• AMD FirePro W600
• AMD FirePro M6000 Series
• AMD FirePro M4000 Series
• AMD FirePro M2000 Series

AMD GPUs and iGPUs supported by WDDM 1.2:

• AMD Accelerated Processors (Llano) for Desktop or Notebook PCs:
• A8-3870K, A8-3850, A8-3820, A8-3800, A8-3550MX, A8-3530MX, A8-3520M, A8-3510MX, A8-3500M, A6-3670K, A6-3650, A6-3620, A6-3600, A6-3430MX, A6-3420M, A6-3410MX, A6-3400M, A4-3420, A4-3400, A4-3330MX, A4-3320M, A4-3310MX, A4-3305M, A4-3300M, E2-3000M, E2-3200
• AMD Accelerated Processors (Brazos) for Desktop, Notebook or Tablet:
• C-30, C-50, C-60, C-70, E1-1200, E1-1500, E2-1800, E2-2000, E-240, E-300, E-350, E-450, Z-01, Z-60
• AMD Radeon HD 6000 Series
• AMD Radeon HD 5000 Series
• AMD Radeon HD 5000M Series
• AMD Radeon HD 6000M Series
• AMD Z-Series APU
• AMD FirePro A320 APU, AMD FirePro A300 APU
• ATI FirePro V9800. AMD FirePro V9800P
• ATI FirePro V8800
• AMD FirePro V7900, AMD FirePro V7900 SDI
• ATI FirePro V7800, AMD FirePro V7800P
• AMD FirePro V5900
• ATI FirePro V5800, ATI FirePro V5800 DVI
• AMD FirePro V4900
• ATI FirePro V4800
• AMD FirePro V3900
• ATI FirePro V3800
• ATI FirePro 2460, AMD FirePro 2270
• AMD FireStream 9370, AMD FireStream 9350
• AMD FirePro M8900 Series
• AMD FirePro M5950 Series
• AMD FirePro M7820 Series
• AMD FirePro M5950 Series
• AMD FirePro M3900 Series