Drivers for ati 9700 Pro

[Zputnic]

Hello again, I went and bought myself a radeon 9700 Pro. :)

Anyway, I want to know witch drivers that are the fastest/most stable. I have heard that the omega drivers are faster for games and Ati's are faster for 3dmark. Is this info correct?

I got the catalyst 3.0 and omega 2.3.5.5. but I don't got the card yet so I just want som info on what to do when I am about to install the card.

Thx

edit: added a ? to the topic :D

[Shuki]

first off, if you want top performance, I would do a clean OS install with your new GPU in.

second, you're right about omegadrives for games and official cat 3.0's for 3dmark. I would do a clean OS install, then put on dx9, then install drivers. of course if you're using winxp sp1, it has built in ATI inf files that will auto detect new hardware and not let you cancel out until you delete ATI inf's... thanks again Bill Gates.. :)

[SupaMan]

heh, so ur saying that if i dont give a §§§§ about 3dmark (which i dont), then i should use omegas?

[charlie]

catalyst3.0 sux for 3dmk, use 6218's (2.5)
C

[Crazymofo]

Originally posted by Shuki
first off, if you want top performance, I would do a clean OS install with your new GPU in.

second, you're right about omegadrives for games and official cat 3.0's for 3dmark. I would do a clean OS install, then put on dx9, then install drivers. of course if you're using winxp sp1, it has built in ATI inf files that will auto detect new hardware and not let you cancel out until you delete ATI inf's... thanks again Bill Gates.. :)

Sorry for this, I'm getting a 9500pro tomorrow does everyone concur on this cause man I just friggin cleaned XP last weekend and I am really not up to it again? Also are the drivers the same for all the 9xxx's like nvidia?

[Kurrurrin]

yes, ATi has a unified driver set for the radeons.

[theonetheycall]

IM on a Clean installed of my new PC :) I have the Raddy on, I was going to ask the same question.. so the 2.5 are good?

I want to get whats best for me now.. will the 3.0 do the trick. I can't oc this baby yet, my pump is on RMA and have to use RTL HSF for now.. so for regular use the 3.0 will work OK?

[Shuki]

important to note... the cat 3.0's are for dx9! so if you have/want dx9, then use the cat 3.0's If you sticking with dx8.1, then use the previous versions of the cat's. And the 6218's did in fact do me the best too for 3dmark....

6218 - 9802
cat 2.5 - 9761
cat 3.0 - 9602

BUT!!! for gaming, the cat 3.0's IQ and performance is so much better that I don't care about the loss of 200 points 3dmark! Guess its all about if you want benches or better looking games. And Omegas driver set is based on the cat 3.0a release where there were some stuttering issues with the original Cat's that Omega fixed. ATI has now released the 3.0b set that has also fixed the stuttering in some opengl games.

And why are you doing a complete windows OS install just for newer drivers or to change drivers?? there is a much easier way to get to a place to install radeon GPU drivers CLEANLY without having to reinstall the OS.... head over to www.driverheaven.net and in the radeon win2k/winXP driver forum there is a great guide complete with pics!

[theonetheycall]

well I got DX 9 :/ but im im installing the ones that come with the cd

[Creative]

I thought 6218 were Cat 2.5

:)

[Kurrurrin]

Well, if you are changing from nvidia to ati, its better to do a clean OS install, because the nvidia drivers will probably leaves bits and pieces behind that will mess with the ati drivers. And yes, the Cat 3.0 are dx9 drivers, so use them if you have dx9. Good luck and enjoy :)

[Zputnic]

okey, thx very much, I have to just formated my hdd, but if I use Regcleaner as MrIcee said, wouldn't that get rid of all o the nvidia files, and Im on Win2k of course ;) , not for the performance, just the fact I like it more than win xp =)

[Nohto]

There are a few guides and an actual program that looks like it could be promissing. ATI MAX (http://members.rogers.com/amd_man/) Use at your own risk!!!
Here is a install/uninstall guide from the Rage 3D forums (http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=33656771)

[SupaMan]

Originally posted by Zputnic
okey, thx very much, I have to just formated my hdd, but if I use Regcleaner as MrIcee said, wouldn't that get rid of all o the nvidia files, and Im on Win2k of course ;) , not for the performance, just the fact I like it more than win xp =)

its very hard to completely remove drivers, i'd say its damn near impossible. Regcleaner cannot do it all by itself. I've dont the whole bit, uninstall, reg clean, manual reg clean, and sometimes games still only see my old card. reformat is really the only way.

I am getting my 9700 soon, to replace my GF2pro (think i'll notice a difference? :D). I am going to reformat and reinstall everything.

I havent decided if i want to use the tyan 7.79(cat 2.5?) drivers or the ATi 7.81 (cat3)

[Shuki]

Originally posted by theonetheycall
well I got DX 9 :/ but im im installing the ones that come with the cd

and I'm sure the old drivers that came on that cd are not dx9 drivers.... :(

[Zputnic]

Well I got my 9700 Pro today, I got less FPS in Q3 with my haxxor cfg =(, from 303 to 250 in demo four. But I can play with everything on in 1600x1200 @ 205fps, that is very cool, but still, I was expecting atleast 350fps with my haxxor cfg. well well, can't get everything inthe world now can you?

I've tested the catalyst 2.2 that came with the cd, and now I have catalyst 3.0. It seems very strange to me? To have that low fps in q3 I mean. Any ideas anyone, beqause Im fresh out of mine =(

[Kurrurrin]

It might be because you have AA and AF on. Thats a good thing, because they both increase image quality. And if you are going to run any benchmarks with it, make sure you turn both off first. To do that, go to the ATi control panel and then turn the sliders for them to off in both the DX and OGL tabs. But make sure you turn them back on afterwards, because it is those two features that make the 9700pro really stand out.

[Zputnic]

I have set everything to performance. But I have tested some more now, i get 296fps in 640, and 293fps in 1600, so humm :confused: , a friend of mine got a 9700pro aswell, but he has a 1600+ instead, and he have 400fps with his cfg?, he talked about turning trueform off, but I don't have that in my drivers?

thx

[Kurrurrin]

You do have trueform in your drivers, so don't worry that its not there. Hrmm, let me see what I can dig up for you at Rage3D.com.

[Zputnic]

okey, thx m8 =D

but how do I turn it off if a cant see it in the drivers like everyone else?

[Kurrurrin]

Hrmm, I'm not seeing much else other than suggestions to turn off Trueform. The slider for it should be in the ATI control panel, just check all the various tabs in it for it. And also check the other options available. I also recommend you get a tweaker for it, like the one from Rage3D or the radeonater. Those can help you streamline it and get better performance. Good luck man.

[Zputnic]

okey, hafto have someone come over it seems, beqause I cant find the trueform. I had rage3d tweaker but it didn't do any good so I wasted it =P

thx anyway for the help =)