AMD Catalyst 11.8 (Aug 8th) Preview Drivers

(Espionage724) #1

AMD Catalyst 11.8 Preview Driver OpenGL 4.2 (8.88.8 August 8)

AMD Catalyst™ Preview Driver Features:
Full support for the new OpenGL 4.2 specification. High-lights include:
Enhanced support for generic read-write memory and high performance atomics in shaders (EXT_shader_image_load_store and ARB_shader_atomic_counters extensions), allowing advanced graphics algorithms to be implemented.
Increased flexibility in how texture memory is allocated and managed (ARB_compressed_texture_pixel_storage and EXT_texture_storage extensions).
Improved control and access to geometry instancing for improved performance (ARB_transform_feedback_instanced and ARB_base_instance).
Improvements to the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL).
Added control over GPU optimizations related to depth testing (AMD_conservative_depth).
Improved guarantees about the alignment of mapped GPU memory (ARB_map_buffer_alignment).
Build Info:
DriverVer=08/08/2011, 8.880.8.0000
8.88.8-110808a-123505E-ATI

Brink on my Radeon HD 5570 runs at a constant 60FPS without AA and Ambient Occlusion, at 1024x768 (not sure if it’s better or not though, didn’t do a test on it before).

Edit: Shadows and Textures at high, and also this is done at stock clocks (650Mhz/800Mhz)

Minecraft I believe gives an additional 20+ FPS when going from the 11.8 preview 1 drivers to 11.8 preview 2.

Also note, these are “preview” drivers, as they are NOT the final product (in this case, 11.8 Catalyst). I heard that the final product will be released next week though.

(surxenberg) #2

ZOMG SCHWEET.

ill be testing it in a minute and give a feedback as well.

(esomonk) #3

Now I normally get 60 in most places. The exception is maps like Sec tower where long shots still result in a drop to 30 fps. This has been standard across the board. Previously I assumed it was a shader problem where the load on the CPU explodes at a certain distance. Why has everything improved except for the lower limit. Also I was wondering about the performance of defered lighting between ATI and nvidia. There must be a bottle neck. Since depth of field and deferred lighting are both post processing this might be the bottleneck. Maybe nvidia was designed for deferred lighting and ATI simply wasn’t.

(Crispy) #4

Please remember these are preview drivers so have not yet gone through the rigorous testing required for a WHQL-certified release. Results will vary. Based on internal testing (preview 1) we’re not able to recommend these drivers for Brink at this time. We will look at 11.8 again when they are officially released.

(ArkRebel) #5

Never used the 11.8 Preview, switched from 11.7 to 11.8 (final), and this is a awesome driver for Brink imo :smiley:
Framerate raised about 50% im most situations (except the ones where much cpu-power is needed, my overclocked core 2 quad is not that strong) with 6570 1GB Crossfire, same happened to a friend with a 6950 2 GB (AMD also stated some general changes/improvements on OpenGL in 11.8).
If you play Brink and use a Raedon, give 11.8 final a try :wink: