Cat 8.8 Beta review (Powerplay 2.0 working)

[kryptobs2000]

I don't doubt what GAR says, and in opposition, I don't doubt what any of you say either, but it all equals blarg ablarg ablarg.

[STaRGaZeR]

No, that's not correct. The activity factor (ie. what parts of the chip are in use) is also a major part of the power equation (for dynamic power consumption).

Assuming that the drivers control PowerPlay (which controls clock gating as well), it could be possible that the new drivers tweak the clock gating parameters much more aggressively than the previous drivers, assuming that ATI provided opcodes to do this.

Yeah you're 100% right, but we're supposing a situation where the active parts of the chip are the same. I'm saying that with this driver nothing changes: same frequency as before (the one selected in the BIOS), same voltage as before (the one selected in the BIOS and measured with a DMM) and same power consumption as before, tested with Volterra's amp meter via Everest and Gigabyte Odin's Power Tuner software (I know, it's crap, but does its job VERY well).

To all in general and those who believe in magic drivers in particular, read this thread carefully: http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33928416

Drivers tell the card when it should use the 2D profile and when it should use the 3D profile. But 2D and 3D profiles (clocks and voltages) are stored in the BIOS, so the card will only use what it is in the BIOS. The 'PowerPlay is broken, we will fix it in the next drivers' thing was that the driver sometimes didn't change from 3D profile to 2D profile after exiting graphics intensive applications, so the card remained at 3D clocks. This was fixed in the Cats8.7, so the card now always uses the 2D profile when it's at idle. But still, the profile it uses is the one stored in the BIOS, that can't be changed by drivers. So if you're waiting some kind of reduced idle clocks or reduced voltage at idle in future driver releases you won't find it, never. The only thing that had to be fixed (the card remained at 3D clocks) is already fixed. The only solution to lower power consumption is a BIOS flash with less voltage and/or lower clocks in the 2D profile. I have now the BIOS that has an idle voltage of 1.203v instead of 1.263v, and NOW and ONLY NOW that it is specified in the BIOS' 2D profile the card sucks less power.

If this driver fixes something in Crossfire mode is because one or two of the cards didn't go to 2D mode at idle before, and now they do it. The same happened to single cards before Cats8.7 remember? Now it's the time for fixing dual cards it seems.

The only thing you can do via software is to use Overdrive, that somewhat forces custom clocks and custom voltages (voltages through editing and XML file, very small gains, check the fan fix thread for more info) but ONLY in load mode, it does nothing at idle. Another option is to use ATITool or Rivatuner, but that's only for clocks and they still don't have support for the RV770. AMD GPU Clock Tool works just fine.

[Toysoldier]

Yeah i use drive cleaner and driver sweeper, i get 20k in 3dmark 06, and 13k in vantage, its not my rig, its the drivers, are you using vista 64?

Yes, I'm using Vista x64.

I'm gonna try the 852 ones out and see what happens.

[dunn2953]

ok GAR made an over generalization, cant you all look past this and realize that his fiance is hot... though GAR im not gonna lie i liked the old pic better

[GAR]

ok GAR made an over generalization, cant you all look past this and realize that his fiance is hot... though GAR im not gonna lie i liked the old pic better

lol, thanks

[Jamesrt2004]

lol, thanks

may i ask is your vista a pirated "optimized" version also

I had alot of problems with one of those and just made my comp break every month basically

was x64 too then tried a different version and was absolutely fine

[Blackstare]

I installed them and got a 600 point bump in vantage...

[GAR]

may i ask is your vista a pirated "optimized" version also

I had alot of problems with one of those and just made my comp break every month basically

was x64 too then tried a different version and was absolutely fine

I'm a MS partner through my business, its 100% legal, i have legal keys to all MS software.

[r4st4m4n]

I also had all kind of problem with the 8.7 (8.6 hotfix was fine though). I had random crashes in GRID, atitool artifacting at stock speed after a while and CCC running in background but impossible to see it ... Even after several uninstallation, sweeping and reinstallation I would have a problem or another.

It might be something with my XP installation (although I've never had anything like that with my previous 8800GT), but I refuse to reinstall the OS every time I update my VGA driver ...

So finally, I uninstalled all ATI drivers/software, installed only the driver and installed Ati tray tool to replace CCC, works like a charm

[RaZz!]

I also had all kind of problem with the 8.7 (8.6 hotfix was fine though). I had random crashes in GRID, atitool artifacting at stock speed after a while and CCC running in background but impossible to see it ... Even after several uninstallation, sweeping and reinstallation I would have a problem or another.

It might be something with my XP installation (although I've never had anything like that with my previous 8800GT), but I refuse to reinstall the OS every time I update my VGA driver ...

So finally, I uninstalled all ATI drivers/software, installed only the driver and installed Ati tray tool to replace CCC, works like a charm

you're able to run atitool with your 4870? is there a beta i've missed? as atitool isn't working with my 4850

ont: 8.7 works flawflessly here, as well as 8.6!

[kryptobs2000]

ATI Tool works with any DX8 (maybe it's 9?) card. You just can't control the clocks with the 4800's should be able to artifact test still.

[golfjam]

No probs here. The only difference is my Vantage score. Besides that, it all plays the same.

[fellix_bg]

Now, guess the 10 million dollar question, by looking at this:


Original filemane.


Renamed executable.

All the drivers, before this 8.8 beta, were Ok with the performance in FurMark.

[RaZz!]

ATI Tool works with any DX8 (maybe it's 9?) card. You just can't control the clocks with the 4800's should be able to artifact test still.

hum, atitool isn't even starting here

after i've run it, my cpu usage jumps to 100%, but atitool won't open. even if i wait for a few minutes... mh..

[Rammsteiner]

Actually, judging by your sig i can tell you are a AMD fanboy, as drivers progress for the 4800 series, this is with vista 64 and crossfire, things get worse....and if you read my comments, i always say this is my own experience, and i dont care for yours or anyone else, because im the one with the issues, i dont need to hear how nice your drivers and computer is, the fact is you dont have an identical setup as mine, and dont tell me some B/S like reinstall your OS, this is all with brand new OS install. And like i said, from MY OWN EXPERIENCE i have had no issues with nvidia in vista 64, prior to this card i had plenty of nvidia cards for 2 years running vista 64.

First off, read a post before you go nuts.

I didnt ever say my system, either hardware and/or software way, is better than yours.

Why can people say they think AMD drivers suck, but if I say that I think nVidia's drivers does lack some serious/easy interface Im an AMD fanboy? Way to go there.

Also, Ive no 'n clue what the hell you're talking about regarding re-installing OS. Besides that, goodluck with getting support if you only accept help from someone with only your setup and software.

As I said, way to go man

[saki_bomber]

I used an nvidia card on vista 64 for 1 1/2 years without issues, from my exp. nvidia has better drivers. I can sit here and name 20 issues i have had with ati, but i cant think of 3 from nvidia, good hardware is nothing without better drivers.

i have never ever had a problem with ati drivers, with any card, with any configuration. looks like you may have more issues than you think.

[GAR]

i have never ever had a problem with ati drivers, with any card, with any configuration. looks like you may have more issues than you think.

Like i said in the other posts, i can care less if you have no issues, or how much you want to make love to ATI, i posted my results and your comments are just adding b/s to this thread, if you cant offer a helping hand, just stay out, no one cares for your opinion, now go donate money to ati since you love them so much.

[GAR]

First off, read a post before you go nuts.

I didnt ever say my system, either hardware and/or software way, is better than yours.

Why can people say they think AMD drivers suck, but if I say that I think nVidia's drivers does lack some serious/easy interface Im an AMD fanboy? Way to go there.

Also, Ive no 'n clue what the hell you're talking about regarding re-installing OS. Besides that, goodluck with getting support if you only accept help from someone with only your setup and software.

As I said, way to go man

Wow, people lately here have been amazing me. I'm not gonna say anything, ur not worth getting banned over, you have something to say to me, my AIM is to your left, feel free to contact me.

[Rammsteiner]

Like i said in the other posts, i can care less if you have no issues, or how much you want to make love to ATI, i posted my results and your comments are just adding b/s to this thread, if you cant offer a helping hand, just stay out, no one cares for your opinion, now go donate money to ati since you love them so much.

, it more looks like you're on an anti-AMD rage then trying to make a conclusion out of any remark:

It's a problem with your setup and not a 'usual' AMD problem?. Anyhow, did you try anything like switching the cards (top<-->bottom)? Or into other PCI-e slots perhaps? Anything in BIOS which allows you to change PCIe lanes for PCIe slots?

[Rammsteiner]

Wow, people lately here have been amazing me. I'm not gonna say anything, ur not worth getting banned over, you have something to say to me, my AIM is to your left, feel free to contact me.

Like I care if you get your self banned or not. I use no chatting programs, so badluck.

Check this, also, is your CPU OC'd? maybe you're simply CPU bottlenecked although I dont think so, it might be.

[Cooper]

Chill out guys.

tbh GAR with constant Catalyst problems you experience I seriously doubt they are caused by display drivers. Believe me or not but display drivers failure may and in the cases you've described often is caused by something different.
I do hope you'll find that cause and get it fixed.

[GAR]

Chill out guys.

tbh GAR with constant Catalyst problems you experience I seriously doubt they are caused by display drivers. Believe me or not but display drivers failure may and in the cases you've described often is caused by something different.
I do hope you'll find that cause and get it fixed.

I have since removed one card, World in conflict now works, it was a crossfire problem, so it seems most of my problems are caused by crossfire, i have since sold one of my 4850's and got myself a 4870 for a good deal which should be here by thursday, i have an extra 4850 which is clocked at 725/2250 through bios stock voltages only bump in fan speed, one speedy card by itself as well.

[postumus]

same GAR, i have an oc'd 280gtx and I like it. I was thinking of going w/ a CF setup since I have a x38 board, but the issues always scare me, not to mention thermals. A 4850/70 or 260/280 i think is the way to go depending on your budget.

[GAR]

same GAR, i have an oc'd 280gtx and I like it. I was thinking of going w/ a CF setup since I have a x38 board, but the issues always scare me, not to mention thermals. A 4850/70 or 260/280 i think is the way to go depending on your budget.

Yeah, seems like crossfire has much more issues than i thought.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Yeah, seems like crossfire has much more issues than i thought.

CF was giving me problems for a while too, I kept reinstalling drivers a lot until one day I did a full clean using Ati expressUnInstall and drivercleaner, and once installed 8.7, boom worked like a charm. I think you need to spend a bit more effort fixing your drivers before you condemn them. they weren't messed up in the first place, and its usually poor re-install procedure that causes issues