AMD Special Edition Driver: Catalyst Omega

[jackstar7]

Apparently no update needed......:\

This driver seems much more about bug fixes over fps improvements. And there ain't nothing wrong with that.

 

[ZGR]

I was having some black screen on boot issues that required me to recover Windows to an earlier point and reinstall the driver. Running stock clocks for now as I'm not 100% sure why I was getting the black screens. Everything seems fine now.... I think Sapphire TRIXX is not fully compatible with this new update.

 

[Skurge]

This happened to me earlier today when going through their site http://game.amd.com and selecting the driver from the drop down list.

It was cause it actually linked to the Windows 7 driver, and so would only install CCC and stuff like that.

They've fixed the link now, and you should be able to download the correct driver for Windows 8.1.

Link to Windows 8.1 driver: http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop?os=Windows+8.1+-+64

I guess that explains my issue. Thanks.

 

[james1701]

Frame pacing is doing some really funky things with my frame rates on my 7970's. Off on Valley I get 90.7. With them on, I am getting 78fps. Trying 3dMark 11, my physics score drops like a rock. It's too late to play with it now, but it looks like frame pacing might mess with some numbers, and that's how they reduce CPU overhead.

 

[tential]

http://www.computerbase.de/2014-12/...-omega-vergleich/5/#diagramm-rome-2-1920-1080

That is a very substantial improvement in CPU overhead.

Also its strange that AMD's VSR provides a better IQ than NV's DSR without the texture blurring nor the foliage flickering.

Performance wise, no improvements for most games outside a few, its what one expects when marketing says "Up to X%!".

But I'm happy with the new features & bugfixes.

I thought the explanation was pretty easy to understand for the reason why VSR can give better IQ.
I think it was seven explained better on another foreign link on this thread.
Maybe here:
http://www.pcgameshardware.de/AMD-R...pecials/Catalyst-Omega-Test-Download-1144699/

Or the link I quoted from you, but both gave good explanations/images.

 

[Shamrock]

This is my first time having trouble installing drivers.

My experience:

Uninstall 14.11 beta 1
restart
Install 14.12 Omega.
monitor blinks (normal when installing video drivers)
monitor doesn't come back on, and goes into diagnostic mode.
Let's it sit for 30 mins...HAVE to press restart
ATIPCIE.sys is corrupt.
safe mode
Can't install because ATI detection driver not found.
LUCKILY, I can install the DDU uninstall utility in safe mode (after downloading it with my phone, and loading it onto a thumb drive)
RE-install 14.12 Omega
It installs ok, but at the end it notifies me that "Install source not found", but it's working.

 

[Final8ty]

This is my first time having trouble installing drivers.

My experience:

Uninstall 14.11 beta 1
restart
Install 14.12 Omega.
monitor blinks (normal when installing video drivers)
monitor doesn't come back on, and goes into diagnostic mode.
Let's it sit for 30 mins...HAVE to press restart
ATIPCIE.sys is corrupt.
safe mode
Can't install because ATI detection driver not found.
LUCKILY, I can install the DDU uninstall utility in safe mode (after downloading it with my phone, and loading it onto a thumb drive)
RE-install 14.12 Omega
It installs ok, but at the end it notifies me that "Install source not found", but it's working.

Install source not found is the steady video browser plugin, just untick it in future and you wont get that error.

Steady video will still work on videos played on your PC without the plug in but if you really want it for videos played the through the browser http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/AMDSteadyVideoPlugins.aspx

 

[Byte]

I think the OMEGA slogan is throwing everyone off. Not to even think about the modded omega drivers for nvidia/amd. I think its best to think of these as annual Catalyst Xmas Bonus editions.

 

[3DVagabond]

I think omega simply signifies the final driver for the year.

 

[taq8ojh]

Bummer. The one problem I reported when we were asked to months ago by Warsam71 is still there. Interior vertical sync stuttering in Skyrim (forts, ruins, caves) even at 60 FPS. Yeah, I know its a three year old game but millions still play the heck out of it. Been on all three of my AMD cards (HD 7850, HD7950, R9 290) and doesn't affect Nvidia cards at all. Have to use an FPS limiter like RiverTuner Statistics Server to get rid of it. Even with that Radeon cards are never as smooth in Bethesda's games (Oblivion, Fallout3 and NV, Skyrim) as Nvidia cards.

Could you post a video explaining the problem? I don't think I ever experienced anything like that. I have vsync on (and so should you; "ipresentinterval=1" in skyrim.ini) and everything is smooth as long as I maintain 40+ fps.

 

[Red Hawk]

V-sync is automatically on in Skyrim as I recall, unless you specifically disable it in the .ini. There's no option to disable it in the game configuration tool, because the game apparently relies on being vsynced for certain game mechanics to function properly.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Seems like the linux drivers got a pretty big revamp. Ran into some issues trying to get it installed as the dependencies and process are now different. Working through it now, will report back later.

I got them installed alongside wine which is interesting but possible. I just adapted the solution that had been presented for 14.9:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/540780/14-10-wine-and-fglrx-conflict

It still works, except that I created my own local repository:

http://unix.stackexchange.com/quest...repository-for-random-packages-using-a-debian

Everything went swimmingly, it installed without trying to uninstall wine, and . . . the stupid driver defaulted to 1600x1200 (my monitor does not support this res, no matter how many times Catalyst drivers claim that it does), causing the monitor to go out of range. Just like 14.9.

And just like 14.9, xrandr can't open the display, even with -d :0 (if I use that, I get Invald MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 key). At least this time I don't get a segfault at 0x0 at the end of the log file like I did from 14.9. Yay?

Btw this is all under Lubuntu 14.10. I have to wonder if the .run installer would treat me any better than this? Back to Gallium .4 for now regardless.

edit: anyone got 14.12 working in Win10 yet? I haven't had time to try it since I'm still trying to get something other than Gallium running.

 

[Warsam71]

Hello everyone,

First, I'd like to take a moment to thank you for your comments and feedback. As you may know, the Anandtech community played a critical role in September when we asked you to use our special Issue Reporting Form to help us deliver a better driver. Thank you.

Second, our Support Team and the Web Team have made a few tweaks to improve and fine tune the download page. This was the result of the recent comments provided by various communities. Personally, I can’t thank you enough for all the feedback you’re sharing with us.

Third, my colleague Robert Hallock as answered a few questions regarding Catalyst Omega, including VSR, CrossFire support, PLP EyeFinity and few more; you may find the answers here: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1844304 I hope you’ll find the information helpful.

Last but not least, please continue to use our Issue Reporting Form (http://www.amdsurveys.com/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D23A3DE979) to report any issues or bugs you may find. The form is constantly monitored by our teams which in turn allow us to continue to improve our driver.

Thank you again.

 

[Warsam71]

I think omega simply signifies the final driver for the year.

Hi 3DVagabond (everyone),
You are correct. Also, there will be more WHQL drivers released throughout the year in addition to Omega.

As always, I will make sure to post here to let everyone know when new drivers are available for download.

 

[Warsam71]

Hey Warsam71, do you know when we'll get a crossfire profile for Far Cry 4?

Hi Karlitos (everyone),

I'll quote my colleague Robert Hallock: "We have currently disabled CrossFire support for Far Cry 4, as the developer must make additional client-side updates before mGPU will provide a smooth experience"

 

[DarkKnightDude]

Warsam, will AMD add VSR support to 7000 series cards as well?

 

[guskline]

Warsam71: Thank you for the update.

 

[tential]

Warsam, will AMD add VSR support to 7000 series cards as well?

I kind of hope not. Crazy I know, i want an excuse for a 390x lol...

 

[Warsam71]

Warsam, will AMD add VSR support to 7000 series cards as well?

Hello DarkKnightDude (everyone),

The feature is presently planned for the R9 and R7 Series only.

 

[DarkKnightDude]

I kind of hope not. Crazy I know, i want an excuse for a 390x lol...

Why would you hope not? Nvidia's DSR is on Fermi and Kepler cards. I don't see the problem with them putting VSR into their earlier GCN cards.

EDIT: Ah k, thanks Warsam.

 

[tential]

Why would you hope not? Nvidia's DSR is on Fermi and Kepler cards. I don't see the problem with them putting VSR into their earlier GCN cards.

EDIT: Ah k, thanks Warsam.

Like I said, excuse to upgrade! Crazy I know, but now I'll go buy a 390x, assuming it has hdmi 2.0 of course and vsr for 4k.

 

[S.H.O.D.A.N.]

Looks like the drivers have an issue with Photoshop GPU enchantment features. Niche, but might be of some relevance.

 

[Warsam71]

Hello everyone,

I just updated the OP. Note the new section please.

 

[felang]

Hello everyone,

I just updated the OP. Note the new section please.

Thanks for the heads up. If I already installed the driver is it safe to install the Windows update?

 

[Leyawiin]

Could you post a video explaining the problem?

Unfortunately no. The very act of using FRAPS @ 60 FPS to record a video locks the framerate in place and stops the stuttering. My .ini file is stock so vertical sync is enabled by default. Some may have never noticed it. A good example (on my 60Hz monitor) is "Anise's Cabin" near Riverwood and Bleak Falls Barrow. Go to the cellar where there is an enchanting table. Activate it in first person and when the cut scene goes to third person is where the stuttering occurs. In similar lighting situations in caves and forts there are lots of instances where I see it unless I use a frame rate limiter. Again never does it on any Nvidia card I've owned.