SbProPE and ATI Graphics Cards

[ShoutingDog]

I just got a 15 to 20 percent increase in framerates in SB Pro PE!

How? I updated to the latest Radeon Catalyst drivers - 7 or 8 point something or other.

MUCHO SURPRISED! :luxhello:

I'm normally loathe to change drivers if the ones I've got work but in this case I had to upgrade.

I didn't upgrade because of SB but for Silent Hunter 4. Got about a 10% improvement in it but when I loaded up SB Pro all I could do was go wow!

I normally run with FSAA set to 2X with Adaptive AA set to performance. AF is set to 4X with HQAF on and wait for vertical refresh set to on. Catalyst AI is set to standard and MipMap quality to performance.

Prior to the upgrade I'd get 32 - 38 FPS now it runs 45 to 53 and occasionally (15% of the time) climbs into the mid 60's. In big scenarios with lots of arty going off and smoke (my 1600 Pro hates smoke and snow textures for some reason) I rarely drop below 25 and almost never below 20 - . And it looks better too. I don't know what the ATI guys did but what ever it was it was RIGHT! :luxhello:

I doubt you'd see that level of improvement with ATI 9XXX series cards (in fact I doubt if upgrading would show any improvement at all and might actually make it worse) but if you've got a 1300, 1600, 1800 or 1900 series and maybe an X700 or X800 do yourself a favor and get the latest ATI Radeon Catalyst drivers and Control Panel (the Control Panel actually loads pretty quickly now - which is one of the improvements mentioned in the release notes).

[ShotMagnet]

Is this a new driver, which can be used with older cards? I have a 9600; FRs look fine, but I do get the occasional bout of lag.


Shot

[ShoutingDog]

Is this a new driver, which can be used with older cards? I have a 9600; FRs look fine, but I do get the occasional bout of lag.


Shot
I've never used anything but ATI cards since Noah was a seaman. Based on many years of experience with them since the X series and 1XXX series came out ATI has pretty much not bothered with updating the drivers for their 9XXX series - even though they say they do (just check the dates on the installed drivers for those boards if you choose to update. The actual drivers are atienvxxx.* stuff and you'll see when they were made).

The big advantage for upgrading drivers if you've got a 9XXX series card is you get the latest Catalyst Control Panel. A very useful tool and the latest is a big improvement over the last one.

[CharlieB]

very disappointed with the 9xxx remarks.

[TopKick]

Yesterday I updated my ATI 9800 Pro card with the latest 7.3 drivers and SB PRO PE runs and looks better than it ever did. Using default card settings, I'm getting between 28-52 FPS and the colors and clarity are much better for some reason.

[CharlieB]

where do I go to get the drivers?

[Jester_UK]

Word of warning if you are also playing Armed Assault:

Don't use the Cat 6.9 or 7.1 or 7.2's.

BIS has announced that with those drivers ArmA suffers from handle leaks (whatever they are!!) apparantly causes problems with shadows and can cause CTD's if I remember what I read on their forums right.

You can read all the details here:

http://www.flashpoint1985.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard311/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=68;t=58542


If you're playing ArmA they suggest using the Cat 6.7's until the next version (7.3) are released and tested.

[TopKick]

Pick up the ATI drivers here. Select the system and card you have and hit go.

http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html

[jlh]

TopKick: Can you tell me where you have the 'Ground Cover' slider set when you get those frame rates? (I have an x800xt and am running the 7.1 drivers.) Thanks!

[dejawolf]

hmm, handles are something windows uses, i think, to make a list of windows in use. so you have a windows handle for each window.

[jlh]

I want to install the latest ATI drivers. The ATI website says to remove the old ATI software with the "Add or Remove Programs" feature before installing the new drivers.

The instructions also say to remove "an entry called DAO" before reinstalling the new drivers. I can't find this entry on the "Add Remove Programs" list.

Is it possible that DAO is not on my computer or just not on the list or what? Is it important to remove it before reinstalling new drivers?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[ShoutingDog]

I want to install the latest ATI drivers. The ATI website says to remove the old ATI software with the "Add or Remove Programs" feature before installing the new drivers.

The instructions also say to remove "an entry called DAO" before reinstalling the new drivers. I can't find this entry on the "Add Remove Programs" list.

Is it possible that DAO is not on my computer or just not on the list or what? Is it important to remove it before reinstalling new drivers?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I'm running with an X1600 Pro and have never seen the DAO thing. If you use the remove ATI software thing that's in the control panel remove programs window that removes about 95% of all the ATI related stuff on the PC and in the registry.

After all the ATI stuff is gone Reboot and don't answer yes to the found new hardware thing when you restart.

Go to wherever you stored the new catalyst file and open it up - all will be fine.

In other words follow the ATI instructions that are on their website, ignore DAO unless you've actually got that showing up and you'll be fine.

[jlh]

Thanks for quick reply.

[TopKick]

TopKick: Can you tell me where you have the 'Ground Cover' slider set when you get those frame rates? (I have an x800xt and am running the 7.1 drivers.) Thanks!

My settings are:

General: 99
Ground: 51
Ground cover: 51

And if you don't have the DAO listed, don't worry about it.

[Fabfire]

Thanks a bunch for the tip, TopKick! The new 7.3 drivers + catalyst software are working great over here... :)