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With four months of ATI CatalystTM driver blogs under our belt, we are seeing a steady engagement from the community via this blog site. Please keep up the comments and suggestions and we will endeavor to answer as many as we can. So, without further ado – let me introduce the ATI Catalyst 9.7 Driver Release!
Please report all driver related issues here.
*If you are having technical issues with your graphics card or are in need of driver support, please use the proper channels to submit those issues here.*
Marketing sound bite: ATI Catalyst 9.7 – AMD’s first official unified Windows 7 / Windows Vista Microsoft WHQL certified graphics driver for the Windows 7 RTM
ATI Catalyst 9.7 driver is AMD’s first official unified WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certified graphics driver designed for Windows 7 RTM (Release to Manufacturing) as well as Windows Vista. Being able to have a single unified driver can enable power users to continue to support their existing OS while also experiencing the great new features of Windows 7 while running dual OS’s.
In a previous blog I highlight my own personal experience but for the purposes of this blog here are the Windows 7 highlights:
- Superior gaming performance when compared to previous Microsoft OS’s using either a single GPU configuration or ATI CrossfireXTM technology configurations
- Superior stability via AMD’s WHQL certified and unified Windows 7/Windows Vista graphics driver
- Leadership in Innovation with support for all the Windows 7 WDDM 1.1 features and ATI CatalystTM features with current ATI RadeonTM HD 4000, HD 3000 and HD 2000 series of products.
Marketing sound bite: ATI CatalystTM 9.7 – ATI CatalystTM Control Center – Enhanced user interface
When our customers provide feedback, we listen! Case in point, we have received feedback that the Catalyst GUI needed a refresh, some parts of the GUI were not efficient and required a makeover, AMD listened and delivered.
In this new beta version of CatalystTM Control Center we have a newly redesigned user interface to enhance usability and end user efficiency, which includes a newly designed Desktops and Displays Manager which will enable users to quickly configure and arrange their displays. Most of us power users have multiple monitors and as such, this will help with the frustrations of multi monitor management, especially with scenarios where a laptop is removed from a docking station prior to sleeping and returned prior to sleeping. ATI CatalystTM 9.7 has full support for Hydravision under Windows 7.
We have designed in a new streamlined look where the settings and controls are now found in the new “Graphics” and “Options” drop down menus allowing users to very quickly select different tabs and adjust the desired settings.
All of the above enhancements to ATI CatalystTM Control Center are supported under Windows 7 and Windows Vista. This beta version is the first in an exciting transition for CCC and we await feedback!
Marketing sound bite: ATI CatalystTM 9.7 – ATI Video Converter update – support for Windows 7
With the introduction of CatalystTM 9.7, we are introducing support for the ATI Video converter under Windows 7 32-bit and Windows 7 64-bit versions.
With the massive explosion of mainstream consumption of HD video, owners of ATI RadeonTM HD 4800 and ATI RadeonTM HD 4600 series of graphics cards can now take advantage of the video conversion tool found in the ATI CatalystTM Control Center under Basic View. Using this video conversion tool, users can benefit from substantial performance improvements when transcoding video files.
Game Optimizations: ATI CatalystTM 9.7
Our test system configuration is:
| AMD Phenom II 940 (3.0GHz) |
| Asus M3A79-T(790) |
| 4GB DDR2-800 5-5-5-18 |
| Windows VISTA Ultimate SP1 64bit |
This month we are seeing a further performance increase with Crysis and Lost Planet Colonies as compared to ATI Catalyst 9.6. Following are some of this month’s highlights. Detailed release notes are available for most of the game optimizations; I have simply picked a few to highlight in this blog.
- Crysis – performance gains at ‘very high’ quality presets increase by up to 8% on ATI Radeon HD 4800 series products.
- Lost Planet Colonies – performance increase of up to 7-11% when 8x Anti-Aliasing is used on the ATI Radeon HD 4800 series products
And last but surely not least, my favorite community: Linux® ATI CatalystTM 9.7
This month’s release has support for the following new operating systems:
- RedFlag DT 7.0 production support
To download the full release notes, click here.
See you next month!
Cheers!
Ian “Cabrtosr” McNaughton
Ian McNaughton is senior manager of advanced marketing at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
(4.65 out of 5)
#1 by DarkRadeon - July 22nd, 2009 at 17:44
any arma 2 performance boost?
#2 by xfloggingkylex - July 22nd, 2009 at 23:03
I posed this question last time but never got an answer.
Is ATi actively working on a fix to the “no signal” problem with certain monitors while using a DVI cable?
A little more info, there are a multitude of people who are having problems with “no signal” after installing catalyst drivers on vista, it isn’t a monitor problem as the screen works just fine with Vista’s auto installed drivers. But as soon as you restart after installing catalsyt drivers and reach the vista splash screen, “no signal” comes up on the monitor and it goes into standby as if it was unplugged.
I’d like to think ATi is working on a solution, considering many have made home made solutions by manually installing xp drivers on vista and other such work arounds.
Any word on this Ian?
#3 by Gustavo - July 29th, 2009 at 21:04
@xfloggingkylex,
I also suffered the DVI issue. I couldn’t wait for a solution from ATI so I bought the Samsung 2333 HDTV monitor. Expensive proposition, I know, and something we don’t have to do if only ATI has been more responsive and responsible.
However, Cat 9.7 seems to have solved the DVI issue according to some people in this thread: http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=260&threadid=96981&STARTPAGE=38&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear&#lastunread
While I have installed Cat 9.7 on my system, I have not yet ascertained whether it has cured my particular DVI problem as I’m now using my new monitor. I’ll give it a try this weekend as I am planning, anyway, to use dual monitors. It’s a waste if I’ll just discard a 20-inch widescreen LCD just because of ATI.
#4 by xfloggingkylex - August 4th, 2009 at 22:36
@Gustavo, Thanks for the reply, I’ll have to try as well as I have been using a DVI -> VGA converter, and since it wasn’t in the change log I didn’t think to give it a shot.
Thanks again, hope it works.
#5 by xfloggingkylex - August 5th, 2009 at 09:11
@xfloggingkylex, Just a quick update, this did solve my DVI problem… Now I’m just curious why it isn’t in the release notes as this is possibly the BIGGEST fix in all of catalyst 9.x.
Leads me to think either they accidentally fixed it without knowing, or they are just trying to act like there wasn’t a problem this past year.
Either way, that doesn’t make me as a customer feel secure in my investment (a 4870×2).
Thanks again for the tip Gustavo.
#6 by Heiko - July 23rd, 2009 at 08:22
Can we expect OpenGL 3.1 support soon? OpenGL 3.2 is already around the corner (nvidia’s newest linux beta driver claims to support it already!). And what about OpenCL?
I hope AMD’s support for these standards, which are obviously very important for the non-windows user, will get better in the future (I know you guys have progressed a lot already the last couple of years, but there is still room for improvement).
Another long standing wish from your favorite community is the support for newer kernel versions. If you like bleeding edge software (and who wouldn’t like that, if you also like bleeding edge hardware like the AMD graphics cards!), it is a bit a disappointment if you’re stuck with an older linux kernel (currently 2.6.28 is the best supported by the catalyst driver, while the newest stable version is 2.6.30 already).
#7 by Heiko - July 23rd, 2009 at 13:20
@Heiko,
Installed the new Linux driver and had to try… so tried creating an OpenGL 3.1 context and to my surprise I got it (with the version string reporting that it is BETA). So I guess official support is coming soon?
#8 by Jarde - July 23rd, 2009 at 16:05
I hate new control panel in catalyst control center. Old one was faster to navigate; Y could click directly where Y want to go. in new control panel it takes 2 clicks to get where Y want; first Y have to click graphics menu from top left and then extra click to get where Y want. And there`s no setting to switch old view. There should be an option switch to old views, to give users a choise. Maybe I should try uninstall that version of control center and install older. What Y enginees were thinking when designing new cotrol panel. If there`s a hidden switch to change to old way I would be appreciated to know
#9 by Søren - September 14th, 2009 at 09:29
@Jarde,
Word. The new GUI stinks. I dont mind new stuff, but in this case the new is worse than the old. Seriously, does anyone than the incompetent designer behind this think that its a good idea? Should we replace all buttons in GUI’s with drop down menus? Come on man, use your heads. *presses drop down menu to find the “submit comment” button* pfffft.
#10 by Ian McNaughton - September 14th, 2009 at 13:02
Thanks for the feedback, we have collected it all and sent it into the design team for Catalyst…
#11 by Markus - July 23rd, 2009 at 18:25
More important: When will we finally get a driver again that supports the X1000 series? It was announced we would get one each 3 months, so it was due last month.
#12 by Diego - July 26th, 2009 at 22:22
@Markus, Yeah, when??? =/
#13 by Tommy - July 23rd, 2009 at 21:34
how do heck can we download the avivo encoder?
http://www.amdsurveys.com/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D23FD98DA7
that just keep coming up
even when i type everything in
#14 by Tommy - July 23rd, 2009 at 21:37
@Tommy,
lol i had to use a slower web browser named firefox 3.5 hehe am using chrome atm, blazing fast!
#15 by Wilfred Laurier - July 23rd, 2009 at 21:35
Hi Ian, I asked about the status of Catalyst drivers for DX9 generation GPUs in last month’s blog entry on Cat 9.6. Subsequently Cat 9.3.1 was released, but you did say that you would reply back on the blog when you had an internal response to ATI’s DX9 GPU policy.
http://www.pcper.com/comments.php?nid=6855
“Moving forward, these products will receive critical fixes if needed as well as updates on a quarterly schedule rather than the monthly schedule adhered to for current products.”
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Legacy/Pages/radeonaiw_xp.aspx?type=2.4.1&product=2.4.1.3.9&lang=English
“AMD may periodically provide Windows XP and Windows Vista driver updates (for the products listed above) for critical fixes only.”
I was hoping you would clarify ATI’s change in position on DX9 generation GPUs from providing major driver releases on a consistent quarterly schedule as well as critical fixes in between as needed to providing just critical fixes on an indeterminate schedule.
I’ve been perfectly happy with my HD4870 on my current desktop, but it leaves me little confidence on it’s long-term support given what is happening with the X1900XT in my older desktop. What’s most glaring is that nVidia is still providing full support for the 6600GT in my oldest computer through unified drivers with official support for Windows 7 while my newer and much faster X1900XT is already being pushed off to the side by ATI and won’t be receiving official Windows 7 support/drivers. I can understand no longer supporting SM2.0 generation GPUs like the 9700 and X800 but the X1000 series is more similar to modern ATI GPUs with an Ultra-Threaded Dispatch Processor as in all subsequent GPUs and a ring-bus memory controller like the HD2000 and HD3000 series. What’s more, SM3.0 DX9.0c does not seem to be going away anytime soon and even modern leading edge AAA games still list the X1900 as being supported as the minimum requirement. It should be a testament to ATI’s design prowess that the X1900’s performance is holding up so well, but it seems likely that without continued strong driver support, developers will be reluctant to design for it even if the theoretical performance is there leading to premature retirement.
In regards to the previous poll on how often people update their drivers, the majority support monthly updates, which may well be due to the average reader here being an enthusiast. I personally support monthly updates since it’s a distinguishing feature for ATI and great for leading edge GPUs like my HD4870. At the same time, it’d be great for ATI to have the manpower to support a broader range of products.
My suggestion is to divide driver releases into Major releases and Minor releases. Minor releases can occur on a monthly basis, namely Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Oct, and Nov. To reduce workload, they can be focused on a small number of specific high-valued issues/optimizations and specific games and only support the latest generation GPUs, say the last 2 or 3 generations. Testing can also be slightly reduced compared to current monthly Catalyst drivers. The spare manpower can then be put to Major releases that can then occur every three months, namely Mar, Jun, Sept, and Dec. Major releases will combine all the fixes from the Minor releases, support additional older GPU generations (such as the X1000 series), and include more fundamental driver improvements that aren’t just for an individual game, but could benefit say all DirectX or OpenGL games or be for Stream or OpenCL. Major releases can receive much more thorough testing than minor releases, perhaps even better than current monthly Cat drivers, and major releases can then be the definitive full featured stable driver release for people who don’t update as often, for older GPUs and for corporate/enterprise use.
Hopefully you can clarify the change in DX9 GPU support from quarterly releases to indeterminate critical fix only releases and suggest a Major/Minor driver release schedule to the powers that be.
Thanks
Wilfred
#16 by Wilfred Laurier - July 29th, 2009 at 21:42
@Wilfred Laurier,
I know my previous post is kind of long-winded and a bit critical of ATI’s drivers, but I’m wondering why it’s taking so long to appear on the blog given I submitted it on July 23rd and there are now comments from July 29th that have been approved? The opening paragraph of this blog does say to “keep up the comments and suggestions” so that is what I’m doing.
In any case, to reiterate/clarify my major/minor driver release suggestion I’m thinking drivers can be divided into 3 classes supporting that newest 7 generations of GPUs. The newest 3 GPU generations get monthly driver releases, the next 2 generations get quarterly driver releases, and the oldest 2 generations get intermittent critical fixes only driver releases.
For example, in the December 2009 timeframe assuming the HD 5000 series is available, my suggestion for support breakdown is as follows:
Monthly Driver Release (Major/Minor driver support)
HD 5000, HD 4000, HD 3000 series
Quarterly Driver Release (Major driver support)
HD 2000, X1000 series
Intermittent Critical Fix Release (Legacy driver support)
X800/X700 (SM2.0b), 9xxx series (SM2.0)
When a new GPU generation is released, the immediate next Major driver release can support 6 GPU generations to get in any last fixes before the oldest GPU is bumped to Legacy Driver Support in the next release. The oldest GPU under Legacy Support will then be completely dropped. Such a system would provide a more consistent and predictable support cycle. Immediate, unscheduled hotfix drivers for any GPU can of course still happen as is currently the case, but would be rolled into the next Major release.
Major Driver
GPU Support: Newest 5 GPU generations
Frequency: Quarterly
Scope: Inclusive of all previous Minor drivers, major fixes targeting multiple GPUs or multiple games, new features, focus on stability
Testing: Extensive
Minor Driver
GPU Support: Newest 3 GPU generations
Frequency: Monthly (included in Major driver in a Major month)
Scope: Optimizations/fixes for specific games or specific GPUs
Testing: Moderate
Legacy Driver
GPU Support: Oldest 2 GPU generations (gen 6 and 7 where 1 is newest)
Frequency: As Needed
Scope: Critical fixes for specific GPUs or games as needed
Testing: Moderate
#17 by Phateon - July 24th, 2009 at 02:35
Can we expect ATI Video Converter for linux soon or this product will be only for windows?
#18 by Max - July 24th, 2009 at 03:11
Can you tell me, how can i install this Catalyst under win7? My video card is HD 3650 AGP 512MB DDR 3.
#19 by Verim - July 24th, 2009 at 03:11
whether the options in Avivo “use automatic deinterlacing” “pulldown detection” “edge-enhancement” and De-noise” have been fixed and work ?
#20 by Video Convert? - July 24th, 2009 at 05:14
re: we are introducing support for the ATI Video converter under Windows 7 32-bit and Windows 7 64-bit versions.
Uhm… not that I can see.
Still no Video Convert option under x64 Windows 7
#21 by Verim - July 24th, 2009 at 07:45
Checked, again does not work on HD, only work on SD.
#22 by The DarkMaster - July 24th, 2009 at 12:07
Still unable to corretly set the 2D/3D clocks to BOTH GPUs on 4870X2 at Windows 7 x64 (only sets clocks to GPU1, GPU2 is on full power all time). This do not have solution? This bug persists from a long time.
#23 by Jeremy - July 26th, 2009 at 01:23
@The DarkMaster,
I am running 4870 X2 Asus Tri Cool and both of my GPU are running 507 / 500 idle… so this problem does not occur on all systems apparently.
#24 by Raybear1971 - July 25th, 2009 at 00:32
Why can i not find any drivers to download for the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650? I just purchased this Toshiba laptop with this graphics card in it and can not find any drivers on this site to install so i can try this catalyst 9.7 out
#25 by Rando - July 25th, 2009 at 09:21
i have seen some reviews about HD4870×2… and all of those reviews says that the side-port what is turned OFF at the moment gonna be turned ON sometimes in VIA driver update? and that gonna give much performance? but i dont belive such thing like that… why ATI hasn’t did it yet? But about cat. 9.7 i get over 1 fps more in crysis benchmark:) nice!
#26 by Ultra4870 - July 25th, 2009 at 10:31
Sorry dudes, i only get problems with this driver… loss FPS on FarCry 2… Battelforge is unplayable with X4 or X8 levels of AA, Missing textures… and i get a Blue screen of death playing NFS Undercover, The game Frezees, Catalyst Crashed and Screen appears… roll back to 9.6 until 9.8 appears.. hope you improve the driver, and what happens with Catalyst Skins?? Stardock skins are awesome!
Anyway, keep working AMD people!
#27 by Chris - July 26th, 2009 at 08:54
i just want to say that it will be nice to update the agp hotfix in the same day that a new build is available!
#28 by 0mega9 - July 26th, 2009 at 15:11
I most say, I’ve had a multi-monitor setup for a while. I’ve never a problem… CCC, is top notch. However, for the longest time I’ve been waiting to have some kind of GPU monitoring plug-in, an app I can place on a coner of one of my moniters and see the GPU_Temp., Env_Temp and Usage. It would be nice to have some other features as well… CPU and memory stats…
Any chance you guys can have something like this added for the next update..?
As I do play some computer games; mostly though, allot of us are using programs such as Folding@Home and Seti@Home and I for one would like to know how hard my system is working..! If I should replace a fan of better MOD my “water cooling”.
I’ve tried a few other 3rd party softwares, but I would feel more comfortable with one created by the CCC team.
HINT: rather than having another square layout/window, why not a “Triangular, Left/Right Corners” or even a “Speed Dial” shape window..?
#29 by CAC - July 26th, 2009 at 21:08
Where is the dowload for ATI Video Converter for Windows 7 32bit? I downloaded it from the Vista page 3 times and it keeps giving me an error when I try to install it. There is no download page for it and in your blog you say it supports it… Whats up?
#30 by tibus - July 27th, 2009 at 01:17
Still=ati&linux sucks pls make a real linux driver.
#31 by DeepAnger - July 27th, 2009 at 10:26
Ahhh… finally, a catalyst c*** center evolution….
from bad to worse ! When is this supposed to end ?
Be assured that I have tried CCC before, for example 9.6, it was the proof that even a modern computer with a dual core can slow down to a crawl while you just try to move a slider on that CCC (bad) joke. Are these guys really paid for that ?
#32 by Jimmah - July 28th, 2009 at 19:00
Er, Video Converter “support” for Windows 7?
There appears to be no download for this. Also, clicking the “ATI Video Converter” link within the blod yields an error because the URL is malformed
#33 by lovedATIbutnowihateit - July 29th, 2009 at 08:20
wtf, whats that i spend alot money in my new 4870 graphics card and all what i got from amd is a big power consuming monster where every driver is getting more bad -.-
what is this, can any amd/ati customer some day expect a working driver without lots of vpu recoverys ?
since 9.7 i dont expect any performance improvements like ian sad, the only thing i can recognize is that all my games are slower and slower some doenst work anymore -.-
thx amd thanks alot
#34 by SolidEtherX - July 29th, 2009 at 10:32
Unlike many seeming to have complaints about CAT 9.7. I am suprised.
I use for video- Sapphire (1) 4870×2, mainboard-GigaByte GAEX58-UD5- BIOS f5, Triple channel 6 GB Corsair XMS3 RAM, Intel Core i7 940. O.S. running Microsoft Vista Home Premium SP2.
Catalyst 9.7 works excellent in my system and has improved performance in every game I play, noticably increasing responsiveness if not a definitive marked improvement in the speed department (quite a few do-ecspecially crysis). I play Crysis, Crysis Warhead, FarCry 2,Oblivion,COD series, Spore,assasins creed.
@The DarkMaster- My 2nd GPU issue has been solved since last driver (cat 9.6) maybe theres another issue going on there?
And, personally I think the new interface is limited in a good rather streamlined manner. It functions quickly and efficiently from welcome screen to overdrive. I think some users should check some other issues in thier systems before blaming all problems on the catalyst drivers and thier development team.
While I have had issues with some cat drivers, like when I first got my HD2600 PRO AGP in my other rig-it took a while and much tweaking back then I got hotfix 8.1 to work good w/o CCC. Now the 9.6 Hotfix works great CCC and all.
Now they made the removal of previous drivers and the installation of new updated ones so smooth and simple, I update each month, instead of only when absolutely necessary. (of course I read the release notes to see if I do want or need to upgrade that month before I do so) but this month I installed 9.7 release day I and give ATI Catalyst developers a thank you and congratulate you on what I feel is a sucessful release that runs GREAT on my system. Thanx again-SolidEtherX a.k.a Solid Ether
#35 by Simon - July 31st, 2009 at 04:29
Is there a way to get the CCC profiles to remember the destop positions for multi monitors, I have my 2nd monitor on the left and when ever I use the profiles to switch between 1 & 2 dispays it puts my 2nd monitor on the right, if it is a missing feature can I request you pass it to the devs? Other than that the 9.7 drivers are great.
#36 by venomz3 - July 31st, 2009 at 14:43
Why did you staff in this blog removed my post ? I told that I hate new interface the treeview shoud be back.
New catalyst control center is slower to use; Y have to make 2 clicks to get where Y want to go from graphics menu. I dare you to remove this post also.
#37 by venomz3 - August 4th, 2009 at 09:50
@venomz3,
MY older post is visible.. maybe there was long delay
#38 by sebastian - August 1st, 2009 at 14:59
I have issues with catalyst 97. in world in conflict the same that with 9.6. Mi pc is a phenom II 720 ati radeon 4850. With the catalyst 9.5 world in conflict runs in very high with avg fps 50. But with 9,6 and 9,7 only gets in the same configuration 32.. Why is that??¿?¿
#39 by sebastian - August 1st, 2009 at 15:00
Mi So is windows xp sp3.
#40 by system errors - August 2nd, 2009 at 19:17
I have a error. but reset is ok. why ?
#41 by athi - August 10th, 2009 at 05:32
i installed 9.7 on my win7-x64 and it keeps crashing my windows-explorer. after uninstalling 9.7 and using the wddm-drivers from ms no crashes occur anymore. i had these issues with vista-x64 too.
#42 by cuong - August 12th, 2009 at 07:30
When i install 9.7 i can’t run Catalyst Control Center, but i can run it in 9.6.
#43 by Lucy-Serfaklar - August 21st, 2009 at 13:37
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?
#44 by Dave - September 2nd, 2009 at 13:13
The new look for Catalyst Control Center is a look for the worse and it’s clunky feeling to navigate.
How about letting us choose between the old or new views?
For me, the new one has a very cheap look to it, like someone made a generic oversized frame and small amounts of information are the only thing used in it. Everything has excess unused space on the left and right, and it looks like the only reason the window is that size is because the buttons at the bottom are that wide. And we can’t even resize the window to eliminate it and make it look like everything’s actually made to fit in it.
In the end, I simply went back to an older driver since there was no noticeable improvements in performance for me.
#45 by Ian McNaughton - September 3rd, 2009 at 15:45
Your opinion has been noted. Feedback has been given to the internal team, thank you!
#46 by Søren - September 14th, 2009 at 09:24
You ruined catalyst controlcenter (advanced mode) totally. A drop down menu to find the display settings? Epic fail ATI, thats the most stupid and unconvenient way of navigating i have ever seen. Its slow and gives NO overview what so ever. I have even seen koreans (ie in samsung phones) making better gui design. Fix it or i buy nVidia.
#47 by Error Fighter - October 25th, 2009 at 06:57
As to the question about the regular driver upade, my answer is No. I bumped into errors and other problems several times after driver update. So if it works with the currently installed, even older drivers I just leave it this way.