God dang finally! As a Minecraft player, it's been such a chore to have to turn off various AA settings (MC does not support AA or AF), and then back again for other games. I also play some older games with super-sampling on.
This feature is long overdue. It's so overdue that while i'm thankful it's finally here, it makes AMD look pretty silly to have made us all wait so long...
It is strange that only a few people use the RadeonPro tool. This tool offers app profiles for ages and is the best thing for AMD users.
You are able to tweak the settings in a very detailed way. For example it manages to disable win7 aero when starting a game or forcing high process priority........ It is really great.
Thus, I couldn`t care less about the new setting.
You really should try RadeonPro tool yourself. (Damn, I sound like a sales person;-)
I'm converted! RadeonPro is a must-have app. So many options, and it's how profiles really should be handled. I also like being able to put triple buffering on for D3D games.
The problem is they have been consistently failing with new releases for years, particularly on high-end systems with CrossFire, and realistically that's not going to get fixed by just "trying to do better with driver updates".
Custom application profiles have been need since the introduction of CrossFire and SLI, but only NVIDIA has done that until now. I suffered through poor CF support with X1900, HD 3870, HD 4870, and HD 5870, so I know what I'm talking about here. Now I run a single high-end GPU (GTX 580) on my gaming rig, and I've been so much happier with new releases. While in theory my CF 5870 solution is faster, the reality is that for most games the 580 wins out in consistency.
In my opinion, you wanted that bed (i.e. CF or SLI), when you bought it. Now lie in it and don't stress out people with your superficial 1st World problems...
What's that for a reply exactly? This entire SITE is dedicated to squarely first-world issues and products. If you want to sing this tune, go sing it elsewhere.
What you just said does not make any sense. You are saying AMD has failed (at something, which you don't mention) and this is somehow some last straw attempt to fix things?!
The point of being able to make custom profiles is so that we can tweak each game the way we like it. Some game engines do better with some settings than others. There is no such thing as "one setting to rule them all" because each game engine is designed differently, and therefore settings will effect them differently. While nVidia/AMD can have issues with certain games individually, each game engine has more global issues that effect both card makers.
On top of this, some games get old but are still played. Settings that were valid 2 years ago won't be now. Like I said, i now run Super-Sampling on some games and still get 60fps. Do you honestly expect AMD to update old game profiles for me? No, but now i can.
Just because you fail to see the point, does not mean there isn't one, or some.
Crossfire has, and always will be, a trailing rip-off of SLI. There's no room to argue that nVidia ripped-off SLI from 3Dfx because the implementations were completely different (only 3Dfx's last Voodoo5 5000-6000's were actually digital SLI, all early implementations were analoge alternating scan-lines)
Crossfire clearly takes the SLI recipe but doesn't deliver a refined product. Microstutter, driver issues, compatibility, and performance are worse across-the-board on ATI Crossfire products.
-nVidia SLI has virtually no microstutter, where ATI products need a three-way configuration to eliminate it.
-ATI drivers have improved, but still show signs of the Rage-days. Features are missing, game compatibility is always poor at launch (Battlefield 3 is a good example) and I wouldn't consider them UNIFIED like nVidia drivers (you can still install a nVidia driver and it will support a Geforce 2 MX, ATI drivers stop at X1300)
-There is no room to argue that nVidia puts more effort into SLI profiles than ATI. No room. Currently over 400 games are supported by SLI, ~130 games are supported by Crossfire.
-Performance speaks for itself. SLI is faster in every situation comparable cards are teamed when compared to comparable ATI Crossfire cards.
Yes, 3 cards does pretty much pull AMD back to the same level as NVIDIA, however it's not too outlandish to expect NVIDIA cards to suffer more in one or two titles than AMD ones.
"-ATI drivers have improved, but still show signs of the Rage-days. Features are missing, game compatibility is always poor at launch (Battlefield 3 is a good example) and I wouldn't consider them UNIFIED like nVidia drivers (you can still install a nVidia driver and it will support a Geforce 2 MX, ATI drivers stop at X1300)"
if you had a GeForce 2 MX system, I think you'd be a little annoyed downloading 61MB for the last ForceWare drivers made for such cards... in 2006. I will point out that the current GeForce drivers (285.62) support down to the GeForce 5 FX Series and not the GeForce 2 MX. In any case, if you wanted older ATI drivers, you could just locate them online. It's really not an issue.
"-Performance speaks for itself. SLI is faster in every situation comparable cards are teamed when compared to comparable ATI Crossfire cards."
AMD cards scale just as well if not more so with the 6-series cards. The aforementioned link shows SLi and CrossFire scaling in the same article.
Wow, This comment takes the face palm of the day reward...
Dude, you don't HAVE to tweak for the best performance, but of course you won't get the best performance. Most games all I have to do is set the resolution and in game settings, Or do you expect AMD to somehow do that through the drivers for you ????
This is just an OPTION so that if you do set things for one game (like SSAA) you don't have to go and reset the optimum settings for other games each time you play a different game, This makes things EASIER! If you don't want any hassles then DON'T FREKEN USE THE CCC AT ALL the defaults work fine for pretty much any game out there, with reduced image quality and/or performance. Better yet, go play on a console, but don't bitch because AMD just made it EASIER to tweak per game instead of having to do it on a global level.
So, what you want to do is have the hardware read your mind and set the software preferences for you?
These things are already automated as much as they can be, up until the point where the hardware and software have so much power they can run everything perfectly at max specs. Customizable profiles are a must because people view different aspects of what they see as more important - some might run with a lower frame rate for a higher quality image, for example, while others do it the other way around. Only you can decide what is the best way to tune your game (or other app) for you.
Custom application profiles is long overdue! i remember when i switched from Nvidia to AMD i was shocked they didnt have something so rudimentary! The last 3 months have been a mess for AMD in the driver department, to the point wherein they're releasing 3-4 driver versions a month from October- December! Their nomenclature for these driver releases are also a mess, 11.11a, 11.11 CAP drivers, 11.11 preview drivers, 11.11 performance drivers, i mean seriously it was getting absurd! If i had just switched to AMD in the fall of 2011 i'd be totally confused! They dropped the ball big time but hopefully they'll recover in winter 2011/12 and regain their reputation. Otherwise there's always Nvidia to go back to.
Don't use MLAA, if you want a good AA for GTAIV use the SMAA 1.2 injector here: http://mrhaandi.blogspot.com/p/injectsmaa.html much MUCH better quality, and almost no performance hit to speak of. Personally i recommend using the config to start//stop AA use with keycode 145 = scroll-lock.
I'd love to use something like SMAA, but for multiplayer games I wouldn't dare or risk getting banned since this "injects" SMAA into the game code. Though I'm really not sure how this affects the game. Perhaps it only applies a filter above the game layer.
Yes, for multiplayer your best bet is to try and contact tech support with the proper program and ask if it would trigger it, or if it could be added to a whitelist.
This would be an uphill battle, but with enough people interested it could work.
In any case in the future we will see SMAA directly in games, like FXAA and the improved MLAA can be found already.
The way profiles are implemented is clunky at best. Like i wanted to just "tweak" the pre-defined Skyrim profile to force 16x aniso,and it doesn't let you do that, you either override the entire default profile or stick with what AMD has for the pre-defined profile. It would be a lot nicer to be able to load the pre-defined profile first, then just adjust it as needed. The way it is now, you choose pre-defined or you set everything manually.
I'm not biased to red or green either way, but Nvidia definitely does profiles better.
Just as mentioned above , it seems shoehorned in. I don't see how it could have possibly have taken them so long to implement a much needed feature and still not get it quite right.
Don't get me wrong, i love my 6950's , but my wife's GTX 470 still makes me jealous sometimes.
Agreed, its not parity with Nvidia's profiling yet but its a big step in the right direction for AMD. Its just unnecessarily redundant to have to re-create the profile blindly from scratch, which will be the case as long as this remains true:
AT - "Note that this is just a listing of custom profiles, so pre-defined profiles continue to remain hidden."
On a WinXP Pro / HD5770 system, it's been 18-24 months since any version of CCC would install and launch. The drivers install OK, but not the interface.
I once stripped every reference to CCC off the machine and out of the registry, reinstalled for the umpteenth time, and it ran... until the next driver update. Then CCC was permanently broken again. It's not worth the trouble to keep it going, so I do without.
From the forums I know that a number of people have this problem, but AMD is either unaware or the affected user base is too small to address it.
It never was a problem about 2 years ago, then it started, to the point myself at least hesitate a lot before I upgrade any Catalyst because I know there may be much work involved to get CCC up and running and since my HTPC uses AMD HD4850 I need CCC to tweak compliance with my TV, screen size to remove borders etc.
I also have a laptop with AMD HD5650 which I simply haven't upgraded.
My Nvidia boxes, four of them, haven't had a problem and one of them is even Linux happily running latest drivers with control panel and everything. One doesn't even have to restart Windows when installing Nvidia drives these days, robust they are, to say the least. That's why I prefer Nvidia even if the hardware should be inferior.
When you said: "With the introduction of driver enhancements [...] and the widespread use of multi-GPU" I spilled my drink. Where exactly do you live, AnandTech? WHO (TF) are you writing for?
Also: How much drugs does it take to get there?
Your focus on the inferiority-com, sry, enthusiast crowd is all nice and well, but did you consider that this automatically means catering only to "the 1%"?
Imagine, I'm interested in hardware as well! Well, I'm part of the crowd that COULD buy your highly praised ridiculous crap, but intentionally does NOT... Just not the kind of Gargantuan shizzle you keep promoting. I also abhor Multi-GPU setups and overpriced prestige class hardware that bombs in every single aspect except performance but draws too much power, gets too hot, too loud and requires retard-O-class power supplies...
I you took a look at the steam hardware survey, you would have spilt your drink as well. Maybe in your little enthusiast dream world where each car is either a Ferrari or a Hummer (there is no alternative!), this kind of inefficient crap plays a role...
What I find disgusting is the fact that you actively promote acting like some brain-damaged consumer who wastes like there is no tomorrow. In case the earth gets inhabitable, we'll just whip out the spare... sooo, about time for my monthly GPU upgrade!
Giving sensible recommendations like that time old adage that buying around the ~150€ price point every two generations will generally set you up with enough performance to easily match any multi gpu setup from that same generation plus side benefits is lame.
Testing middle class hardware that rules @ price/performance or energy/performance is really BORING, isn't it?
And being sensible is bad for sensationalism, isn't it?
So, please keep on writing about 1500W power supplies, quadruple GPU setups and 999€ Octacore CPUs - as general IQ* is falling, interest should be on the rise.
*This also means there will be a huge need for moar! VIDEO reviews among the well-off illiterate few (aka spoilt brats). Keep that in mind.
They talk about this stuff because high-end hardware drives page views. There is plenty of coverage of "middle-class" hardware when appropriate (I assume you missed the low-end system builder guide a couple weeks ago?), but the high-end, bleeding edge stuff is more interesting to discuss because it shows where the mid-range hardware is going to be in a year or two.
You need to relax - the internet is not "srs business".
The fact is, multi-card setups are not "just for the rich" these days; there have been viable options for improved performance over single card solutions that end up costing more than the dual card setups, and that has lead to a wider acceptance and use of the technology amongst those that pay attention and aren't prejudiced against it.
If you have an existing card that doesn't quite measure up, it can be a good idea to put a second one in it to get a huge boost in performance at a relatively small cost, certainly cheaper than buying a better card that offers 50-100% more performance, which you can easily get from a dual card rig these days.
I wouldn't exactly call Steam users a definition of who gamers, or PC users, are. Frankly, though I've had a Steam account since their early days (came "free" with a video card purchase, back when their was actually a subscription fee) I considered their service low quality for most of that time. It is now a decent way to buy your games and keep them upgraded, though I still don't use it unless I'm forced to. I'll be honest, I think of most Steam users as low-tech gamers who have no clue what kind of video card they even have in their system, and if they do know, it's because they think that having a high end card gives them a bigger, uh, head, and makes them a superior gamer just because they have the card.
Steam never asked me my opinion about anything. If they have an idea what I'm running on one of my computers, it's because I had to use Steam to install Duke Nukem Forever and the gathered the info in the installation process.
Your post is one of the most narrow-minded pieces of garbage I've ever read on Anandtech. Frankly, I don't know why you ever bother to read anything, judging by this post, your mind is already made up and you severely edit whatever you read to see only what you want to see in order to stay pissed off and feel superior to the rest of us. Your idea of Anand and the site is so far off the mark it lives in loony town.
Just to offer the opposite side of the arguement: SLI/CF of similar performance still uses more power (my 550W PSU from Silverstone isn't even certified to run anything above 2xHD4850. I have a HD5770 and adding a second one would void my warranty and they do not guarantee functionality, whereas I can use any single-GPU high-end card I like). CF/SLI only offeres a better package if you don't mind the driver headaches, increased head/noise and micro-stutter. CF/SLI will depend on the kind of mainboard you have. Only 8x8 oder 16x16 can make the solution really viable. If you drop down to 16x4 you will lose about 10-30% performance last time I checked. Add the cost of the mainboard feature to the cost of SLI/CF cards and you get closer to a real comparison.
"Steam never asked me my opinion about anything. If they have an idea what I'm running on one of my computers, it's because I had to use Steam to install Duke Nukem Forever and the gathered the info in the installation process." You can always opt out of steam collecting any info on you. Just FYI.
Speaking of "retardo-power-supplies", try taking your tongue out of the wall socket. There. Much better. (Admittedly, I was impressed by your ability to continue typing while the high-voltage Tesla arcs were streaming off the ends of your shock-upright hair.)
True, consoles are less of a hassle. But then you get stuck with poor graphics, poor controls (For many game types), no customization, no modding, and the annoyance of playing with little kids online.
This is all optional unless you're running multiple cards (or are insane about IQ). On a single card system in good running order, nearly every game is just load and run.
Good for you. I like my PC, customization, functionality, versatility, upgradeability, superiority any day of the week. Also, I'm not really stupid, so I can handle it just fine. :P
Nobody is going to argue a single GPU is more efficient, for the same reason two of anything in life doesn't more than double efficiency.
But I SLI'd my GTX460 with a used one I purchased off eBay for 90 bucks making my setup on par with a GTX580 in Battlefield 3.
So basically I have a GTX580 for a 90 dollar investment, opposed to $300+. There are various reasons people run SLI, not just to take two ultra-high-end cards to get higher performance than any single GPU can achieve.
If you had a brain, you'd think before you type nonsense, but seeing you can't do simple math and clearly have no SLI/Crossfire experience, either, I won't overwhelm you with more facts.
He's kind of right. Waiting six months will usually net you a single card solution similar to the price and perf you find in a dual card setup. I can say this, because I have owned multiple crossfire and SLI boards over the years. I have yet to see the value in purchasing two cards, but then I don't have a need for an e-penis. I stay a bit behind the curve, there's little point in purchasing brand new untested hardware.
The rest of the paragraph is fine and justified but:
"AMD outright blew the launch of Rage by posting a faulty driver"
Give credit where it's due, ID blew the launch of RAGE, that crapware did not run well on launch on either brand and, who's responsibility was to do proper QA testing before launch??
Certainly not AMD's.
This is just what needed, publishers and developers blaming it on drivers for mediocre and rushed products and review sites just playing along.
Um, it was almost a competitoin to see which community was more "outraged" by faulty AMD drivers at release: RAGE and Battlefield 3. id is not spotless, but the crazed response by AMD -- shooting out bad hotfixes 2 times in a row -- is pretty bad (wrong versions of OpenGL DLL both times). I sat it out until 12.1 Preview, and glad that I did. It meant that RAGE sat installed uselessly on my HD for a month and a half, but I have plenty of games to finish so no biggy for me.
There was a large update via Steam for RAGE, so as I said, id was also responsible. But the game was not playable until AMD came through. The good news is that the game is now stable, and yes, it's a lot of fun. The smack-talk from the mutants is hilarious. The hype cause by the huge development time for idTech 5 engine *is* overblown. The game is pretty, but it's no quantum leap over various other engines like CryEngine, Frostbite, etc. Where RAGE really shines is in the world the artists have created. A refreshing new world to explore like Bioshock was at release. Let's face it, id is no longer king, but is still a player among the AAA big boys.
Installed the XP version of 12.1 Preview Drivers. Finally, I have RAGE goodness on my Mac Pro 8-Core 2.93 GHz under Boot Camp. But the Catalyst Control Center is not the version shown in this article. I'm guessing that the version shown was coded for Aero GUI and they haven't done the CCC GUI for XP (if they ever will). No serious complaints here. Also got a 10% FPS boost in Crysis.
Note: I was pretty careful to uninstall everything AMD/ATI including a couple of runs of DriverCleaner, and keeping the system isolated from the Internet during the entire process (auto-updates). Tonight I'll re-launch the installer and see if in "Custom Install" there is an option for CCC, and what version it wants to put up, just to make sure.
DDO has no profile and I just added a second 4890 to my system. (I know.. Old.. But still providing great framerates so I just added a second because I got a good deal)
anyway, I setup a custom profile in 12.1a and didnt see any difference at all. AMD system monitor only reports 1 card working still.
am I out of luck with the 4 series or am I doing something wrong? I linked the profile to "dndclient.exe"
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59 Comments
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james.jwb - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
God dang finally! As a Minecraft player, it's been such a chore to have to turn off various AA settings (MC does not support AA or AF), and then back again for other games. I also play some older games with super-sampling on.This feature is long overdue. It's so overdue that while i'm thankful it's finally here, it makes AMD look pretty silly to have made us all wait so long...
burner1980 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
It is strange that only a few people use the RadeonPro tool. This tool offers app profiles for ages and is the best thing for AMD users.You are able to tweak the settings in a very detailed way.
For example it manages to disable win7 aero when starting a game or forcing high process priority........ It is really great.
Thus, I couldn`t care less about the new setting.
You really should try RadeonPro tool yourself. (Damn, I sound like a sales person;-)
james.jwb - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
will have a look, but as the article said, it's nice to be able to have it in the driver.james.jwb - Thursday, December 22, 2011 - link
I'm converted! RadeonPro is a must-have app. So many options, and it's how profiles really should be handled. I also like being able to put triple buffering on for D3D games.Excellent stuff, thanks for the recommendation.
IceDread - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
In the end I always end up tweaking to get the best performance, but I do not want to do that.Custom profiles, it should not be needed. I do not view it as a treat. I see it like Amd has failed and gives the customer more to manage.
Since they have failed however, it's preferable to have some better tools at hand...
JarredWalton - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
The problem is they have been consistently failing with new releases for years, particularly on high-end systems with CrossFire, and realistically that's not going to get fixed by just "trying to do better with driver updates".Custom application profiles have been need since the introduction of CrossFire and SLI, but only NVIDIA has done that until now. I suffered through poor CF support with X1900, HD 3870, HD 4870, and HD 5870, so I know what I'm talking about here. Now I run a single high-end GPU (GTX 580) on my gaming rig, and I've been so much happier with new releases. While in theory my CF 5870 solution is faster, the reality is that for most games the 580 wins out in consistency.
Finally - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
In my opinion, you wanted that bed (i.e. CF or SLI), when you bought it. Now lie in it and don't stress out people with your superficial 1st World problems...A5 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Um OK.Friendly0Fire - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
What's that for a reply exactly? This entire SITE is dedicated to squarely first-world issues and products. If you want to sing this tune, go sing it elsewhere.SlyNine - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Sounds like someone is insanely jealous lol. Whats a matter, you can't afford 2 5870's? poor you.james.jwb - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Wow, just wow...IceDread - Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - link
LOL go cry a river somewhere else.Stuka87 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Wait.. what?What you just said does not make any sense. You are saying AMD has failed (at something, which you don't mention) and this is somehow some last straw attempt to fix things?!
The point of being able to make custom profiles is so that we can tweak each game the way we like it. Some game engines do better with some settings than others. There is no such thing as "one setting to rule them all" because each game engine is designed differently, and therefore settings will effect them differently. While nVidia/AMD can have issues with certain games individually, each game engine has more global issues that effect both card makers.
james.jwb - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
On top of this, some games get old but are still played. Settings that were valid 2 years ago won't be now. Like I said, i now run Super-Sampling on some games and still get 60fps. Do you honestly expect AMD to update old game profiles for me? No, but now i can.Just because you fail to see the point, does not mean there isn't one, or some.
JonnyDough - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Best post.Samus - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Crossfire has, and always will be, a trailing rip-off of SLI. There's no room to argue that nVidia ripped-off SLI from 3Dfx because the implementations were completely different (only 3Dfx's last Voodoo5 5000-6000's were actually digital SLI, all early implementations were analoge alternating scan-lines)Crossfire clearly takes the SLI recipe but doesn't deliver a refined product. Microstutter, driver issues, compatibility, and performance are worse across-the-board on ATI Crossfire products.
-nVidia SLI has virtually no microstutter, where ATI products need a three-way configuration to eliminate it.
-ATI drivers have improved, but still show signs of the Rage-days. Features are missing, game compatibility is always poor at launch (Battlefield 3 is a good example) and I wouldn't consider them UNIFIED like nVidia drivers (you can still install a nVidia driver and it will support a Geforce 2 MX, ATI drivers stop at X1300)
-There is no room to argue that nVidia puts more effort into SLI profiles than ATI. No room. Currently over 400 games are supported by SLI, ~130 games are supported by Crossfire.
-Performance speaks for itself. SLI is faster in every situation comparable cards are teamed when compared to comparable ATI Crossfire cards.
JlHADJOE - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Last I recall, Nvidia bought 3Dfx. It's a bit hard to "rip-off" a feature you already own.silverblue - Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - link
"-nVidia SLI has virtually no microstutter, where ATI products need a three-way configuration to eliminate it."Not quite. NVIDIA still suffers, though not as much as AMD (not ATI, AMD) does:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce...
Yes, 3 cards does pretty much pull AMD back to the same level as NVIDIA, however it's not too outlandish to expect NVIDIA cards to suffer more in one or two titles than AMD ones.
"-ATI drivers have improved, but still show signs of the Rage-days. Features are missing, game compatibility is always poor at launch (Battlefield 3 is a good example) and I wouldn't consider them UNIFIED like nVidia drivers (you can still install a nVidia driver and it will support a Geforce 2 MX, ATI drivers stop at X1300)"
if you had a GeForce 2 MX system, I think you'd be a little annoyed downloading 61MB for the last ForceWare drivers made for such cards... in 2006. I will point out that the current GeForce drivers (285.62) support down to the GeForce 5 FX Series and not the GeForce 2 MX. In any case, if you wanted older ATI drivers, you could just locate them online. It's really not an issue.
"-Performance speaks for itself. SLI is faster in every situation comparable cards are teamed when compared to comparable ATI Crossfire cards."
AMD cards scale just as well if not more so with the 6-series cards. The aforementioned link shows SLi and CrossFire scaling in the same article.
SlyNine - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Wow, This comment takes the face palm of the day reward...Dude, you don't HAVE to tweak for the best performance, but of course you won't get the best performance. Most games all I have to do is set the resolution and in game settings, Or do you expect AMD to somehow do that through the drivers for you ????
This is just an OPTION so that if you do set things for one game (like SSAA) you don't have to go and reset the optimum settings for other games each time you play a different game, This makes things EASIER! If you don't want any hassles then DON'T FREKEN USE THE CCC AT ALL the defaults work fine for pretty much any game out there, with reduced image quality and/or performance. Better yet, go play on a console, but don't bitch because AMD just made it EASIER to tweak per game instead of having to do it on a global level.
Sabresiberian - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
So, what you want to do is have the hardware read your mind and set the software preferences for you?These things are already automated as much as they can be, up until the point where the hardware and software have so much power they can run everything perfectly at max specs. Customizable profiles are a must because people view different aspects of what they see as more important - some might run with a lower frame rate for a higher quality image, for example, while others do it the other way around. Only you can decide what is the best way to tune your game (or other app) for you.
;)
poohbear - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Custom application profiles is long overdue! i remember when i switched from Nvidia to AMD i was shocked they didnt have something so rudimentary! The last 3 months have been a mess for AMD in the driver department, to the point wherein they're releasing 3-4 driver versions a month from October- December! Their nomenclature for these driver releases are also a mess, 11.11a, 11.11 CAP drivers, 11.11 preview drivers, 11.11 performance drivers, i mean seriously it was getting absurd! If i had just switched to AMD in the fall of 2011 i'd be totally confused! They dropped the ball big time but hopefully they'll recover in winter 2011/12 and regain their reputation. Otherwise there's always Nvidia to go back to.piroroadkill - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Basically there's only one thing I want this for, turning on Morphological AA where games don't support AA. I'm looking at you, GTAIV.Revdarian - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Don't use MLAA, if you want a good AA for GTAIV use the SMAA 1.2 injector here:http://mrhaandi.blogspot.com/p/injectsmaa.html
much MUCH better quality, and almost no performance hit to speak of.
Personally i recommend using the config to start//stop AA use with keycode 145 = scroll-lock.
hechacker1 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
I'd love to use something like SMAA, but for multiplayer games I wouldn't dare or risk getting banned since this "injects" SMAA into the game code. Though I'm really not sure how this affects the game. Perhaps it only applies a filter above the game layer.Revdarian - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Yes, for multiplayer your best bet is to try and contact tech support with the proper program and ask if it would trigger it, or if it could be added to a whitelist.This would be an uphill battle, but with enough people interested it could work.
In any case in the future we will see SMAA directly in games, like FXAA and the improved MLAA can be found already.
MTDEW - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
The way profiles are implemented is clunky at best.Like i wanted to just "tweak" the pre-defined Skyrim profile to force 16x aniso,and it doesn't let you do that, you either override the entire default profile or stick with what AMD has for the pre-defined profile.
It would be a lot nicer to be able to load the pre-defined profile first, then just adjust it as needed.
The way it is now, you choose pre-defined or you set everything manually.
I'm not biased to red or green either way, but Nvidia definitely does profiles better.
Just as mentioned above , it seems shoehorned in.
I don't see how it could have possibly have taken them so long to implement a much needed feature and still not get it quite right.
Don't get me wrong, i love my 6950's , but my wife's GTX 470 still makes me jealous sometimes.
MrSpadge - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
"It would be a lot nicer to be able to load the pre-defined profile first, then just adjust it as needed."Totally agreed! Like "If I don't change it, continue to use what you think is good."
MrS
chizow - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Agreed, its not parity with Nvidia's profiling yet but its a big step in the right direction for AMD. Its just unnecessarily redundant to have to re-create the profile blindly from scratch, which will be the case as long as this remains true:AT - "Note that this is just a listing of custom profiles, so pre-defined profiles continue to remain hidden."
Arbie - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
On a WinXP Pro / HD5770 system, it's been 18-24 months since any version of CCC would install and launch. The drivers install OK, but not the interface.
I once stripped every reference to CCC off the machine and out of the registry, reinstalled for the umpteenth time, and it ran... until the next driver update. Then CCC was permanently broken again. It's not worth the trouble to keep it going, so I do without.
From the forums I know that a number of people have this problem, but AMD is either unaware or the affected user base is too small to address it.
erple2 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Does Microsoft even support Windows XP anymore if you're not an enterprise user?Setmose - Sunday, December 18, 2011 - link
Yes. Updates are coming all the time.xeizo - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
It never was a problem about 2 years ago, then it started, to the point myself at least hesitate a lot before I upgrade any Catalyst because I know there may be much work involved to get CCC up and running and since my HTPC uses AMD HD4850 I need CCC to tweak compliance with my TV, screen size to remove borders etc.I also have a laptop with AMD HD5650 which I simply haven't upgraded.
My Nvidia boxes, four of them, haven't had a problem and one of them is even Linux happily running latest drivers with control panel and everything. One doesn't even have to restart Windows when installing Nvidia drives these days, robust they are, to say the least. That's why I prefer Nvidia even if the hardware should be inferior.
silverblue - Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - link
I'm sorry you're getting problems, however my HD4830 driver updates always go without a hitch and without a reboot now I'm using Windows 7.Finally - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
When you said: "With the introduction of driver enhancements [...] and the widespread use of multi-GPU" I spilled my drink. Where exactly do you live, AnandTech? WHO (TF) are you writing for?Also: How much drugs does it take to get there?
Your focus on the inferiority-com, sry, enthusiast crowd is all nice and well, but did you consider that this automatically means catering only to "the 1%"?
Imagine, I'm interested in hardware as well! Well, I'm part of the crowd that COULD buy your highly praised ridiculous crap, but intentionally does NOT... Just not the kind of Gargantuan shizzle you keep promoting.
I also abhor Multi-GPU setups and overpriced prestige class hardware that bombs in every single aspect except performance but draws too much power, gets too hot, too loud and requires retard-O-class power supplies...
I you took a look at the steam hardware survey, you would have spilt your drink as well.
Maybe in your little enthusiast dream world where each car is either a Ferrari or a Hummer (there is no alternative!), this kind of inefficient crap plays a role...
What I find disgusting is the fact that you actively promote acting like some brain-damaged consumer who wastes like there is no tomorrow.
In case the earth gets inhabitable, we'll just whip out the spare... sooo, about time for my monthly GPU upgrade!
Giving sensible recommendations like that time old adage that buying around the ~150€ price point every two generations will generally set you up with enough performance to easily match any multi gpu setup from that same generation plus side benefits is lame.
Testing middle class hardware that rules @ price/performance or energy/performance is really BORING, isn't it?
And being sensible is bad for sensationalism, isn't it?
So, please keep on writing about 1500W power supplies, quadruple GPU setups and 999€ Octacore CPUs - as general IQ* is falling, interest should be on the rise.
*This also means there will be a huge need for moar! VIDEO reviews among the well-off illiterate few (aka spoilt brats). Keep that in mind.
A5 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
They talk about this stuff because high-end hardware drives page views. There is plenty of coverage of "middle-class" hardware when appropriate (I assume you missed the low-end system builder guide a couple weeks ago?), but the high-end, bleeding edge stuff is more interesting to discuss because it shows where the mid-range hardware is going to be in a year or two.You need to relax - the internet is not "srs business".
Revdarian - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Cool off a bit bro, you are actually coming out looking like the "Militant Black Guy" of the Balls of Steel show.DParadoxx - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Perhaps you should not be browsing enthusiest web sites if that is not your cup of tea.Sabresiberian - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
The fact is, multi-card setups are not "just for the rich" these days; there have been viable options for improved performance over single card solutions that end up costing more than the dual card setups, and that has lead to a wider acceptance and use of the technology amongst those that pay attention and aren't prejudiced against it.If you have an existing card that doesn't quite measure up, it can be a good idea to put a second one in it to get a huge boost in performance at a relatively small cost, certainly cheaper than buying a better card that offers 50-100% more performance, which you can easily get from a dual card rig these days.
I wouldn't exactly call Steam users a definition of who gamers, or PC users, are. Frankly, though I've had a Steam account since their early days (came "free" with a video card purchase, back when their was actually a subscription fee) I considered their service low quality for most of that time. It is now a decent way to buy your games and keep them upgraded, though I still don't use it unless I'm forced to. I'll be honest, I think of most Steam users as low-tech gamers who have no clue what kind of video card they even have in their system, and if they do know, it's because they think that having a high end card gives them a bigger, uh, head, and makes them a superior gamer just because they have the card.
Steam never asked me my opinion about anything. If they have an idea what I'm running on one of my computers, it's because I had to use Steam to install Duke Nukem Forever and the gathered the info in the installation process.
Your post is one of the most narrow-minded pieces of garbage I've ever read on Anandtech. Frankly, I don't know why you ever bother to read anything, judging by this post, your mind is already made up and you severely edit whatever you read to see only what you want to see in order to stay pissed off and feel superior to the rest of us. Your idea of Anand and the site is so far off the mark it lives in loony town.
Death666Angel - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Just to offer the opposite side of the arguement:SLI/CF of similar performance still uses more power (my 550W PSU from Silverstone isn't even certified to run anything above 2xHD4850. I have a HD5770 and adding a second one would void my warranty and they do not guarantee functionality, whereas I can use any single-GPU high-end card I like).
CF/SLI only offeres a better package if you don't mind the driver headaches, increased head/noise and micro-stutter.
CF/SLI will depend on the kind of mainboard you have. Only 8x8 oder 16x16 can make the solution really viable. If you drop down to 16x4 you will lose about 10-30% performance last time I checked. Add the cost of the mainboard feature to the cost of SLI/CF cards and you get closer to a real comparison.
"Steam never asked me my opinion about anything. If they have an idea what I'm running on one of my computers, it's because I had to use Steam to install Duke Nukem Forever and the gathered the info in the installation process."
You can always opt out of steam collecting any info on you. Just FYI.
Setmose - Sunday, December 18, 2011 - link
Speaking of "retardo-power-supplies", try taking your tongue out of the wall socket. There. Much better. (Admittedly, I was impressed by your ability to continue typing while the high-voltage Tesla arcs were streaming off the ends of your shock-upright hair.)EnerJi - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Of why I switched from PC to Console gaming years ago and never looked back.Stuka87 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
True, consoles are less of a hassle. But then you get stuck with poor graphics, poor controls (For many game types), no customization, no modding, and the annoyance of playing with little kids online.silverblue - Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - link
I had enough of some of those points (the last one especially) with Lineage II on the PC...A5 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
This is all optional unless you're running multiple cards (or are insane about IQ). On a single card system in good running order, nearly every game is just load and run.Death666Angel - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Good for you. I like my PC, customization, functionality, versatility, upgradeability, superiority any day of the week. Also, I'm not really stupid, so I can handle it just fine. :Pjames.jwb - Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - link
noob :)Samus - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Nobody is going to argue a single GPU is more efficient, for the same reason two of anything in life doesn't more than double efficiency.But I SLI'd my GTX460 with a used one I purchased off eBay for 90 bucks making my setup on par with a GTX580 in Battlefield 3.
So basically I have a GTX580 for a 90 dollar investment, opposed to $300+. There are various reasons people run SLI, not just to take two ultra-high-end cards to get higher performance than any single GPU can achieve.
If you had a brain, you'd think before you type nonsense, but seeing you can't do simple math and clearly have no SLI/Crossfire experience, either, I won't overwhelm you with more facts.
JonnyDough - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
He's kind of right. Waiting six months will usually net you a single card solution similar to the price and perf you find in a dual card setup. I can say this, because I have owned multiple crossfire and SLI boards over the years. I have yet to see the value in purchasing two cards, but then I don't have a need for an e-penis. I stay a bit behind the curve, there's little point in purchasing brand new untested hardware.arjuna1 - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
The rest of the paragraph is fine and justified but:"AMD outright blew the launch of Rage by posting a faulty driver"
Give credit where it's due, ID blew the launch of RAGE, that crapware did not run well on launch on either brand and, who's responsibility was to do proper QA testing before launch??
Certainly not AMD's.
This is just what needed, publishers and developers blaming it on drivers for mediocre and rushed products and review sites just playing along.
Setmose - Sunday, December 18, 2011 - link
Um, it was almost a competitoin to see which community was more "outraged" by faulty AMD drivers at release: RAGE and Battlefield 3. id is not spotless, but the crazed response by AMD -- shooting out bad hotfixes 2 times in a row -- is pretty bad (wrong versions of OpenGL DLL both times). I sat it out until 12.1 Preview, and glad that I did. It meant that RAGE sat installed uselessly on my HD for a month and a half, but I have plenty of games to finish so no biggy for me.Setmose - Sunday, December 18, 2011 - link
There was a large update via Steam for RAGE, so as I said, id was also responsible. But the game was not playable until AMD came through. The good news is that the game is now stable, and yes, it's a lot of fun. The smack-talk from the mutants is hilarious. The hype cause by the huge development time for idTech 5 engine *is* overblown. The game is pretty, but it's no quantum leap over various other engines like CryEngine, Frostbite, etc. Where RAGE really shines is in the world the artists have created. A refreshing new world to explore like Bioshock was at release. Let's face it, id is no longer king, but is still a player among the AAA big boys.JonnyDough - Tuesday, December 13, 2011 - link
Agreed. Although I can say I think I have? LOL I buy and sell them constantly. I find a good deal and buy! Can't help it, I'm an addict.undercoverdrunk - Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - link
3rd world success. Got computer... not attached to smart missle warhead.digitalzombie - Thursday, December 15, 2011 - link
Ugh, their new proprietary fglx package sucks, shearing and 3d acceleration is a hit or miss. I hope they address these issues.Setmose - Sunday, December 18, 2011 - link
Installed the XP version of 12.1 Preview Drivers. Finally, I have RAGE goodness on my Mac Pro 8-Core 2.93 GHz under Boot Camp. But the Catalyst Control Center is not the version shown in this article. I'm guessing that the version shown was coded for Aero GUI and they haven't done the CCC GUI for XP (if they ever will). No serious complaints here. Also got a 10% FPS boost in Crysis.Setmose - Sunday, December 18, 2011 - link
Note: I was pretty careful to uninstall everything AMD/ATI including a couple of runs of DriverCleaner, and keeping the system isolated from the Internet during the entire process (auto-updates). Tonight I'll re-launch the installer and see if in "Custom Install" there is an option for CCC, and what version it wants to put up, just to make sure.Setmose - Sunday, December 25, 2011 - link
Never mind. Found 'em. So, all is good in XP. :-)aztec123 - Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - link
still cant play 4k videos with my HD6770, shame on you AMD...Impaqt - Friday, January 20, 2012 - link
DDO has no profile and I just added a second 4890 to my system. (I know.. Old.. But still providing great framerates so I just added a second because I got a good deal)anyway, I setup a custom profile in 12.1a and didnt see any difference at all. AMD system monitor only reports 1 card working still.
am I out of luck with the 4 series or am I doing something wrong? I linked the profile to "dndclient.exe"