AMD Radeon driver updates via Steam

[A5]

Uhhh big deal? Drivers are already updated through Windows Update. All of my computers with integrated graphics use ATI graphics, and they all update through Windows Update. All of my dedicated cards are Nvidia and they all update through Windows update. Both my gaming computer and my media computer downloaded new Nvidia drivers through Windows Update last week.

The Windows Update drivers are typically far behind the latest release. It doesn't really matter for integrated stuff, but for discrete cards you really should be using the drivers from the NV or ATI website.

 

[MrK6]

Yep, I see it as a two-way street. Unawares steam users will get the benefit of improved drivers (stability/performance) that they might not have otherwise realized was available to them AND AMD will get feedback from steam regarding driver instability issues.

Basically we all get to benefit from steam giving AMD access to a huge testbed of reportable results from driver upgrades. AMD will be able to identify driver issues more quickly because their reported statistics will be much higher, steam isn't about to lose money and clients over buggy AMD drivers so steam will be in the customer's corner driving AMD to improve drivers rapidly.

(kinda like a pseudo-WQHL process)

Exactly, and man I hope it works like this. The deciding factor here will be if AMD gets its act together and gets out drivers that are flawless (i.e. don't break things that were working fine before). If they can couple in a nice "new driver report - here's what's faster!" page for the layman as well, they'll sell it. It's all about execution.

 

[Qbah]

So... the 10.9 is out. I am running 10.8 now and have Steam, obviously. Yet no update is downloading (like for regular games). No popups for new drivers. No nothing. Steam had a client update yesterday but still no change. 10.9s were supposed to be the first driver set to be available through Steam. Anyone?

 

[40sTheme]

Tried it, worked beautifully.
I <3 Steam

 

[Dribble]

Seems a bit pointless. For joe bloggs who doesn't have a clue windows update should work fine. For those in the know they probably have picked the version they want because it works best with their card and don't want auto-updating to the latest version.

 

[Pantalaimon]

they want because it works best with their card and don't want auto-updating to the latest version.

You do know that it's not auto-update, right?

 

[poohbear]

Oh god where can I disable that once and for all? Thank you, but I don't like playing the guinea pig for new driver releases..

They're WHQL certified for what its worth. They hardly ever break things, the updates are usually minor, everything else stays the same.

anyways, no need to disable it as its not an auto update.

 

[happy medium]

This is good for the noobs.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I like it. Don't see any downside to it. I just go to the nvidia site and get mine about every six months. Ati is getting their sh#t together.

 

[ShawnD1]

Just out of interest what are the latest versions on windows update?

Nvidia control panel says it's using 258.96
Latest non-beta on Nvidia's site for this card is 258.96

Nvidia says the driver was posted 2010.07 (July).19
That would mean there's about a 1-2 month lag before it shows up on Windows Update for this particular driver.

 

[Qbah]

So it's not done automatically. You have to click Steam on top and then "Update AMD Video Drivers...". Steam will then automatically detect your current one, see if there's a newer one, download it and then you can press "Install Now". Then it automatically selected Express Install and did everything. No extra stuff was added though (like some game promotions). So it went smooth and painless

 

[MrK6]

So it's not done automatically. You have to click Steam on top and then "Update AMD Video Drivers...". Steam will then automatically detect your current one, see if there's a newer one, download it and then you can press "Install Now". Then it automatically selected Express Install and did everything. No extra stuff was added though (like some game promotions). So it went smooth and painless

Same, I tried it as well and no issues so far, although I really didn't do much after. I'll post again after a week to see if any bugs popped up.

 

[WelshBloke]

Nvidia control panel says it's using 258.96
Latest non-beta on Nvidia's site for this card is 258.96

Nvidia says the driver was posted 2010.07 (July).19
That would mean there's about a 1-2 month lag before it shows up on Windows Update for this particular driver.

:\ Wierd, windows update never updates my GPU drivers to anything newish

 

[Skurge]

Well, the 10.10 drivers were released today. Steam downloaded them in the background like most other updates, but didn't install them. So they were there ready if I needed or wanted to install them.

I think they handled this well.

 

[manimal]

Well, the 10.10 drivers were released today. Steam downloaded them in the background like most other updates, but didn't install them. So they were there ready if I needed or wanted to install them.

I think they handled this well.

Ya very simple and effective. +1 steam