Wednesday, June 16th 2010
AMD Unveils ATI Catalyst 10.6 WHQL Software Suite
AMD released the latest version of its ATI Catalyst software suite, version 10.6 WHQL, which provides drivers and system software for ATI Radeon GPUs (HD 2000 series and above), AMD 7-series and 8-series chipsets, and ATI Theater multimedia processors. The new version packs pays attention to video-acceleration, and packs two new features that improve video output quality, official support for Adobe Flash 10.1 GPU acceleration, official support for OpenGL 4.0 and GL 3.3, a wide range of game-specific performance increments, and the usual load of bug fixes.
To begin with, Catalyst 10.6 adds GPU-accelerated video de-blocking (a feature that helps improve quality of upscaled videos), and mosquito-noise reduction, which helps improve quality of lossy video formats. Although ATI was first to be out with a GPU driver that packs OpenGL 4.0 ICD, it was only in the form of preview drivers. Catalyst 10.3 provides official support for OpenGL 4.0, a graphics API technologically comparable to DirectX 11, compatible with Radeon HD 5000 series GPUs. It also adds OpenGL 3.3 support.
DOWNLOAD: ATI Catalyst 10.6 WHQL for Windows 7/Vista 64-bit, Windows 7/Vista 32-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, Windows XP 64-bit
Details about game-specific improvements follow.
To begin with, Catalyst 10.6 adds GPU-accelerated video de-blocking (a feature that helps improve quality of upscaled videos), and mosquito-noise reduction, which helps improve quality of lossy video formats. Although ATI was first to be out with a GPU driver that packs OpenGL 4.0 ICD, it was only in the form of preview drivers. Catalyst 10.3 provides official support for OpenGL 4.0, a graphics API technologically comparable to DirectX 11, compatible with Radeon HD 5000 series GPUs. It also adds OpenGL 3.3 support.
DOWNLOAD: ATI Catalyst 10.6 WHQL for Windows 7/Vista 64-bit, Windows 7/Vista 32-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, Windows XP 64-bit
Details about game-specific improvements follow.
- 3DMark Vantage
o Overall scores improve up to 5% on a single ATI Radeon HD 5970 - Batman: Arkham Asylum
o Performance improves up to 5% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series products
o Performance improves up to 10% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5970 configurations - Aliens vs. Predator DirectX 11 Benchmark
o Performance improves up to 4% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series products
o Performance improves up to 10% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5970 configurations
o Performance improves up to 3% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series products - Company of Heroes - DX10
o Performance improves up to 7% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series products
o Performance improves up to 5% with single card and CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5970 configurations - DiRT 2 - DX9
o Performance improves up to 10% on single card ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series products
o Performance improves up to 10% on single card ATI Radeon HD 5970 configurations
o Performance improves up to 4% on single card ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series products - The Chronicles of Riddick - Assault on Dark Athena
o Performance improves up to 15% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series products
o Performance improves up to 13% on CrossFire and single card ATI Radeon HD 5970 configurations
o Performance improves up to 8% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series products - World in Conflict
o Performance improves up to 6% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series products
o Performance improves up to 8% on CrossFire and single card ATI Radeon HD 5970 configurations - Wolfenstein
o Performance improves up to 18% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series products
o Performance improves up to 18% on CrossFire and single card ATI Radeon HD 5970 configurations
o Performance improves up to 11% on CrossFire ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series products
154 Comments on AMD Unveils ATI Catalyst 10.6 WHQL Software Suite
Similarly I'm not frustrated, so how you are figuring that I am is beyond me! But yes my knowledge of 5000 series cards and AM2/3 setups is quite limited. I only recently had the money for a computer upgrade and had been previously using a S939 A64 X2 and x1950 Pro. So forgive me if I haven't heard of a metal plate that when coming out of 3D clocks manages to generate heat, throwing the GPU into a clock throttling mode which degrades performance, causing issues for users with multiple cards and 120Hz display... :rolleyes:
--------------------------------------- (Had to make this line to let EastCoast know that anything beyond it, isn't in reply to anything he has said)
My original intent of this post was to mention that for me, Cat 10.6s are allowing my 5770s to run at 157/300 again. Although I've also had some stability issues as well... When I first installed the drivers, the multiple screen flickers ended up with one of them staying heh The PC wasn't frozen, as I was able to initiate a restart via keyboard shortcuts. Almost immediatly after Windows loads, the computer randomly restarted. Thinking perhaps in relation to me lowering some voltages earlier today, I brought them back up again; however, upon Windows loading again, random restart. I must admit though, both happens when I had opened up Afterburner to check what the clocks were. This last time I hadn't and so far it is OK. So we'll see how long that lasts... :ohwell:
-replying to me
-discussing the drivers
That way when I reply to you, separating the 2, the conversation flows better.
Yes a fin-less piece of metal as a heatsink, while is fitting of the definition, does not work very well as one in most cases :ohwell: What I'm finding strange about these cards, or at least my 5770s, is the voltage they are supplying them with for stable operation. I don't know if when I was going through my overclocks, if it was a coincidence it was stable based on what I was told by someone in another thread who has their 3D voltage for 925MHz at 1.088v since for me low voltage isn't stable now, but I was able to drop my 1.2Vcore down to 1.088 as well and it had been FurMark stable for 20mins... Either way the point is that I think these cards are able to run at a substantially lower voltage than they currently are. I believe they are running 1.1v for 400/1200 right? Which is below 1/2 of their 3D clocks and only .1V more, yet the old 2D clocks (157/300 for my 5770s) is less than 400 yet not 1.0v but .950v :confused: Anyways I found that just by dropping the voltage down from 1.2 to 1.167v (was just a random click really) the load temps dropped a full 3C! That is pretty substantial IMO, for such a little drop in voltage. Point of that rambling is that AMD could've gone a whole number of different routes with the clocks/voltages etc, since they deemed it necessary to go and change the settings for everyone, which clearly had a negative impact for quite a number of people. I too noticed the increase in temperature, which for me is low 30sC with 157/300 clocks (I don't know if it is .950v or 1v right now though), as it at 400/1200 sits around 42-44C :S Again a seemingly low bump in clocks and voltage for a large jump in temps! My 5770s are only GPU cooled, everything else is convection cooled. Which sucks and I had no intent on getting the CUcore cards, but for $120/ea I couldn't complain :p The cooler sucks too, especially at the default voltage, which is why I your pain when it comes to temps.
I'd like to find out what the Mobility HD5870 runs for voltages, since they are quite literally a 5770, except they run at lower MHz!
source
There were a few specific voltages used but I no longer have that thread (perhaps someone will find it). But the end result for users was the ability to overclock slightly higher without having to bump up voltages. This would result in relatively lower temps. But that was all last year and I'm going on memory. So I don't recall all of it. Although I'm only taking a guess those who had problems may have had high leakage GPUs. In which some were able to fix their GSOD, etc with higher voltage, etc. If that's remotely true that would explain this fix for "everyone".
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Wish they included OpenCL support in this version.
I have a 5850 and another on the way... also an x58 setup on the way. So my question is this:
Can I OC my cards a little, say staying at stock voltages (both are ref cards btw), and keep the 2D clocks at 157/300 and 0.950V? Can I, if I wish, downclock it even further if its stable? From what I understand, I can't, but I'm not sure lol :roll:
they still recommended 10.3b,
i have to mod gpu bios to save energy,
max 300gpu-300mem-(---)v,
mid 300gpu-300mem-0.95v,
low 300gpu-300mem-0.95v, (most stable when using 6 display)
and using catalyst profile overdrive when i playing game.
i also notice in windows vista and 7, when u just right click on your desktop, gpu go to max mode. voltage increase to 1.12v.
i have to use MSI after burner to prevent voltage rise above 1v,
but still didnt test yet if this driver capable to drive 5x1 portrait group,
gonna test it now.......
Anyone tried Cat 10.6's with a HD4870x2?
Honestly, I'm not sure what the heck is going on with all of these odd display-related issues on the 5-series cards. I've been a die-hard ATI/AMD user ever since the early Pentium days but when this gets to a point where even I have to put an NVIDIA GPU in my system to work normally something is seriously rotten in Denmark. :wtf: