AMD Catalyst 12.11 Performance Analysis

[cadaveca]

I just go to control panel, right click the AMD install manager, select change and uninstall all AMD software.
Theoretically it should be enough.

Yes, when installing a WHQL, sure.


However, this thread is about the beta?


For a beta, you must get rid of left-over stuff, like overdrive profiles and such, maybe some registry keys. I always remove driver as you say, but before reboot, I manaully delete AMD folder on C:\, and then remove AMD/ATI listings in the registry under the "SOFTWARE" sections of each main heading. Then I reboot. Not much more than a normal install, really, but I found it fixes issues with Overdrive when swapping cards, so now I do that each and every time I change drivers. ATIMAN and all that other stuff aren't needed, IMHO, unless perhaps you run full AMD rigs, which I do not.

 

[erocker]

I can say that I have my very own driver un-install method, dunno if that's what got things worknig for me or not, however

No. It seems to be a common occurrence with reference 7970's and these drivers.

ATIMAN and all that other stuff aren't needed, IMHO, unless perhaps you run full AMD rigs, which I do not.

I agree. It is easy to use though in case there is a problem. I've literally tried everything. AMD is aware of the problem as I linked earlier.

*In response to your comment below, I just don't get it. I compared the 12.9 beta's and these 12.11 beta's profiles and they are identical. I don't think it's the profiles.

 

[cadaveca]

No. It seems to be a common occurrence with reference 7970's and these drivers.

Just looks like minor profile issues to me though. Oh well, it'll get fixed at some point, I imagine.

 

[Novulux]

Over 10k graphics score on performance preset of 3dmark11 after overclocking my HD 7870.

 

[Rahmat Sofyan]

I wonder, how much improvement for HD 7990 with this Driver?

 

[Mussels]

I wonder, how much improvement for HD 7990 with this Driver?

considering the card doesnt officially exist... (only as a powercolor custom made card)

 

[kiddagoat]

Maybe it is just me but now when I goto watch videos with these drivers installed... the picture is zoomed in almost like double the size of what it used to be.

My eyes might be playing tricks on me but the videos seem really distorted and clipped now.

 

[Rahmat Sofyan]

considering the card doesnt officially exist... (only as a powercolor custom made card)

Yeah, I knew..I'm just curious since this driver only made for HD 7000 series, it'll be big surprise if this driver can improve unofficial HD7990 performance and moreever can match gtx 690 in some bench maybe...

 

[Widjaja]

Yes, when installing a WHQL, sure.


However, this thread is about the beta?


For a beta, you must get rid of left-over stuff, like overdrive profiles and such, maybe some registry keys. I always remove driver as you say, but before reboot, I manaully delete AMD folder on C:\, and then remove AMD/ATI listings in the registry under the "SOFTWARE" sections of each main heading. Then I reboot. Not much more than a normal install, really, but I found it fixes issues with Overdrive when swapping cards, so now I do that each and every time I change drivers. ATIMAN and all that other stuff aren't needed, IMHO, unless perhaps you run full AMD rigs, which I do not.

I went straight for the WHQLs first because I do not clear out the registry of profiles etc.
Unfortunately the problems appeared on my card, so i went to the 12.11 betas hoping I would not get the same result which I did.

So I did my usual uninstall and am now back on 12.8 with no graphic issues what so ever.

I guess I'll give the 12.11s a go when they are officially released as WHQL.

Either way I have reported the issues I have been having since the 12.10s and mentioned the same result in 12.11 beta

 

[matthew_eli]

Hi guys, I've a strange problem with GPU-Z: I installed 12.11 beta3 driver on Win8 Pro x64 RTM and it's what I got:

I guess it'd be a bug on the dedicated memory amount since I think it'd no possible...

Please, let me know!!!

 

[W1zzard]

where is the issue with memory ?

 

[matthew_eli]

Hi! is in the (dedicated) memory usage: 0 MB, you see?

 

[W1zzard]

Hi! is in the (dedicated) memory usage: 0 MB, you see?

that means that 0 mb of the dedicated memory is currently in use. seems correct to me. try running the render test (? icon next to pcie) or some 3d app to see it go up

 

[matthew_eli]

mmmhh, there'd be something strange...with the 12.8 WHQL installed, also without using the 3D render test, I've seen a dedicated memory usage of about 50 MB. BTW, here is the memory usage during 3D render test:

 

[UbErN00b]

Over 10k graphics score on performance preset of 3dmark11 after overclocking my HD 7870.

I find this hard to believe, my OC 7950 only scores 8.5K with a 4.5ghz 2500k do you have a SS?

 

[BigMack70]

I wonder, how much improvement for HD 7990 with this Driver?

It improved similarly to the 7970, I think. I'm running 7970 CF which is basically the same as the 7990s out there, and I'm seeing 5-15% improvements across the board in performance, which is really awesome.

I'm just super excited I can play The Witcher 2 with ubersampling at long last... that was half of my excuse to buy a second 7970 and I've been really upset that it wasn't working

Also @James888 - thanks for the tips! Didn't really mess with my hashrate (still @ 1250 MHash/s) but it reduced the level of artifacting I'm seeing. Didn't get rid of it completely, but definitely reduced it so that it's less annoying.

Also, my 2 cents about the clocks - I'm not experiencing any problems... cards clock themselves just fine at idle 2D and at load. Maybe it only affects reference 7970s?

 

[Boneface]

Is anyone having problems running MOH with these drivers and a 7970, I cant do full screen with them, drop to 12.10s and all is good lol!

 

[Novulux]

I find this hard to believe, my OC 7950 only scores 8.5K with a 4.5ghz 2500k do you have a SS?

I was only referring to graphics score, not the total. Of course, your processor is significantly better.
If you are referring to graphics score, here is my normal usage OC before I bumped it up, as free accounts can only have 1 score recorded.
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/4728854

 

[t_ski]

Has ATI fixed the idle clocks for multi-monitor setups yet?

I have three monitors and the main card will now idle at 500 and the 2nd and 3rd cards will shut down when idle. This didn't happen on the 12.4's I was running before these.

 

[leopr]

Impressive results:

7970 @ 1230/1700 [CAT 12.8]:




7970 @ 1230/1700 [CAT 12.11]



So right now we can consider the 7970 GHZ as the fastest single-gpu graphics card ?.

 

[Cool Mike]

I have a 7990 Devil 13. I will download tonight.

 

[MetalRacer]

Thanks for the review Wizz!

Heres an interesting tidbit: Cat 11.12 on LN2 = Cat 12.11 on Water.
http://www.hwbot.org/newsflash/1836...atalyst_11.12_on_ln2__catalyst_12.11_on_water

 

[t_ski]

Probably the best part of these drivers for me so far have been the power management actually working to shut off the second and third cards in the system. If I'm not gaming this makes the loop much cooler and brings my idle temps way down.

 

[Jurassic1024]

Thank you AMD Catalyst team!!!

 

[Blau&Gruen]

Informative review to the point. Thx.

Question:

Why is Shogun2 tested on without antialiasing? I have taken notice of this already in your review of Sapphire's HD 7950 Vapor-X.