CATALYST 3.8 available

*CATALYST maker* · Oct 8, 2003, 02:01 PM

Hi there,

I am very proud to announce the most significant software update in ATI’s history. Today we are making available to all ATI owners CATALYST version 3.8. This version of CATALYST includes the following software updates:
· RADEON™ display driver 7.94
· MULTIMEDIA CENTER™ 8.7
· HydraVision™ Basic Edition 3.25
· Remote Wonder 2.1
· Linux driver update

Quick link to the XP driver <http://www.ati.com/home/online/CatalystXPdriver.html>
This is also the first web posted driver that supports the brand new RADEON 9800XT . As always CATALYST provides the ultimate in Innovation, Performance and Stability.
Innovation:
CATALYST™ 3.8 features upgrades, expansions and innovative solutions to 3D applications, multimedia, game play and home entertainment that deliver the ultimate in visual experiences. New features include:
· OpenGL and D3D tabs combined into one <C

ocuments and SettingstmakedonLocal SettingsTempRar$EX00.135Output3.htm>
· Game Profile Feature
· CATALYST™ Uninstaller
· MULTIMEDIA CENTER™ Update
· New ATI 3D Tab Layout
· SMARTSHADER™ Effects
· VPU Recover
· ATI OVERDRIVE
· HYDRAVISION™ Basic Edition
· TV Overscan

Performance:
Although the focus of the driver release was features there were some performance improvements noted as follows:
As with most CATALYST™ releases, the performance has increased. The HyperZ enhancements in CATALYST™ 3.8 provide performance improvements to applications that use the Z-buffer in certain ways. Tomb Raider frame rates improve as much as 20%. Giants - Citizen Kabuto also runs significantly faster. Other titles may also be improved.

Stability:
As always CATALYST delivers fixes to stability. Some examples are as follows
· Setting the main OpenGL slider in the ATI 3D tab to quality no longer results causes games to run in 16bpp mode Setting (This resolved issue was placed first on the list at the request of the Rage3D moderator GI Bro - who insists that it is a rater significant fix ;-) )
· the Landscape details to Perfect in the game IL2 Stumovik Forgotten Battles no longer results in the system not responding during the track playback
· Playing the game Tiger Woods with the game options set to 1280x1024 32bpp and graphic parameters set to high, no longer results in the game failing to respond after the scorecard is displayed
· Setting the game Flight Simulator 2004 to display at 1024x768 or 1280x1024 followed by starting a new flight results in the menu being flipped just before the new flight is about to begin
· Setting the display to 800x600 32bpp 100Hz followed by enabling triple buffering no longer results in display corruption when playing CounterStrike
· The correct ATI board name is now display in the configuration window of the game Serious Sam 2
· A dark screen image and texture corruption is no longer seen when playing the game Project A3
· Running the game eRacer with clone mode enabled no longer results in corruption on the secondary display during the opening introduction
· Playing the game Midnight Club 2 with the default setting no longer results in the texture coordinated being corrupted. This issue occurred under Windows XP with an ATI RADEON™ 7500 installed
· Fog issues have now been resolved in the game Neverwinter Nights
· Image corruption is no longer noticed in the game Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness. This issue was known to occur under Windows XP with an ATI RADEON™ 9000 series installed
· Playing the demo game Midnight Club 2 under Windows XP with the default modes enabled for the game no longer results in the fog being missing from the game
· Playing the demo game XIII under Windows XP with an ATI RADEON™ 9500 or 9800 series card installed no longer results in texture corruption when moving the mouse around the game area
· When updating to current or future CATALYST™ releases your current color control panel profiles are no longer lost
· Setting the main OpenGL slider in the ATI 3D tab to quality no longer results causes games to run in 16bpp mode
· Disabling Extended Desktop when two display adapters are connected to four Displays no longer results in corruption on one display
· Help file is now available for brightness of TV under Windows XP with a RADEON™ 9800 series card installed
· The large desktop resolution setting are no longer displayed in the Setting tab once large desktop has been disabled
· Selecting the 3D screen saver during DVD playback when the display resolution is set to 1280x1024x16bit no longer results in display corruption being noticed on the overlay
· Repeatedly switching between a Full Screen DOS session and the window desktop no longer results in corrupt horizontal red lines on the CRT
· Entering the screen saver tab in the display properties and selecting 3D Flying Objects followed by entering standby mode no longer results in the Windows 2000 operating system rebooting
· The ability to extend the desktop while playing an MPEG file is now resolved
· The system no longer reboots when playing NEC dvd4 after changing the display from extended mode to clone mode
· The ATI Problem Report Wizard is now functioning properly under Windows XP
· The ATI RADEON™ 8500 no longer suffers from a Direct 3D performance decrease when the Windows XP desktop resolution is set to 32bpp
· Setting the display resolution to 1152x864 32bpp under Windows XP and playing an MPEG or AVI file no longer results in display corruption on the TV output
· Texture banding issues under OpenGL is now resolved

Thanks everyone and enjoy
Terry Makedon
Sr. Software Product Manager

toddsmack2k · Oct 8, 2003, 02:04 PM

Guys get em they are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Davidgt · Oct 8, 2003, 02:05 PM

WOOHOOOOOOOOO D/L NOW thanks terry!

Zandramas · Oct 8, 2003, 02:07 PM

These drivers are wicked!!!!

Anemotion · Oct 8, 2003, 02:10 PM

opps double post

***Zardon*** · Oct 8, 2003, 02:10 PM

XP all in one mirrored on DH download server here

And remember to check out our review of these drivers here.

Anemotion · Oct 8, 2003, 02:11 PM

in shock at the impresive list of feature's if they were advertised it would be like,

Cat3.8s For When Perfection Is Not Enough.

Wow very impresive thanks everyone at ATI the support for your cards has been great so far keep up the great work ^_^

Can't wait to install these

oh my first post here to

Hello Everyone

***Zardon*** · Oct 8, 2003, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anemotion
Wow these look impresive thanks everyone at ATI

Can't wait to install these oh my first post here to

Hello Everyone

welcome to Driverheaven !

AiS|Gil-galad · Oct 8, 2003, 02:12 PM

Here is my Catalyst 3.8 Comparison.

http://www.amd-insight.de/tests/graf...vergleich_eng/

Rasta Monsta · Oct 8, 2003, 02:13 PM

Hmm, no comments?

Grated · Oct 8, 2003, 02:14 PM

Thank you very much!! they really look good, tested them in Collin McRae 3 and at least there it works good

Just wondering one thing: when making 3D profiles, do you always have to go to that 3D tab to change the profile, or is there any other way?

Greetz

Exxtreme · Oct 8, 2003, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the drivers.

How about the "linux-surprise"?

Eman Resu · Oct 8, 2003, 02:14 PM

Great Driver set

Already downloaded and installed. I'm gonna play a bit with them right now

riles9262 · Oct 8, 2003, 02:16 PM

is the cat-uninstaller program basically the same as spike's drivercleaner (for ati side)? more or less efficient?

oglsmm · Oct 8, 2003, 02:19 PM

Mirrored at http://www.mikerosoft.ca... or the download page over here http://www.mikerosoft.ca/modules.php...ownload&sid=18

Nice looking!

oglsmm

TwistedMetal · Oct 8, 2003, 02:22 PM

Ok, where is OVERDRIVE? I don't have that tab and neither does my friend. I got a 9700 Pro and he has a 9600 Pro.

***Zardon*** · Oct 8, 2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TwistedMetal
Ok, where is OVERDRIVE? I don't have that tab and neither does my friend. I got a 9700 Pro and he has a 9600 Pro.

only available on XT.

DocterDee · Oct 8, 2003, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Just wondering one thing: when making 3D profiles, do you always have to go to that 3D tab to change the profile, or is there any other way?

yeah seems so. That makes this Feature fully useless. rTool is faster reachable and those 3 clicks for the AA and AF settings are not much.

Datagg · Oct 8, 2003, 02:31 PM

2 words.....

KICK ASS !!

Lezboy · Oct 8, 2003, 02:38 PM

Thank you Terry. Good job. Much improved punctuality of all features of catalyst set over last release greatly appreciated!

**MIG-31** · Oct 8, 2003, 02:42 PM

for me at this moment havn't tested that much yet but so far better than 3.7.

the smartsshader effects are very strange thing to impliment.try the rgb cycle option thought i were on drugs when first seen it in operation.

Exxtreme · Oct 8, 2003, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DocterDee
rTool is faster reachable and those 3 clicks for the AA and AF settings are not much.

You can double-click a rTool-Profile to apply the settings of this profile.

jcastill · Oct 8, 2003, 02:49 PM

I love this drivers, I helped out in these LOL

mreman4k · Oct 8, 2003, 02:50 PM

Do not use SmartShader: Classic w UT2003....itll crash...then envoke VPU recover setting everything to software rendering....LOL...I would know.

Thats for me anyways...

Otherwise than that....great job on these Catalyst...they are really streamlined and simple to use! Best set ever!

DosCervezas · Oct 8, 2003, 02:51 PM

One question about this particular "known issue"

"Quake III or Half-Life engine games remap the arrow keys to the shift key when the Num Lock is enabled. This issue will be resolved in an upcoming CATALYST™ release. "

If I disable the Num Lock will my arrow keys then work or do I have to press shift to get the arrow keys to work? I don't use the arrow keys much in-game, but do have them bound to a few obscure features. Just want to make sure I can work around this issue. Again, thanks for the drivers!!!!!!!!

tdd · Oct 8, 2003, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by riles9262
is the cat-uninstaller program basically the same as spike's drivercleaner (for ati side)? more or less efficient?

I have the same question. Will the uninstaller clean out the old 3.7 drivers? DH 3.8 review seems to say it does but doesn't come right out and say it.