NOTE TO Gamingphreek to EDIT post to please update ATI Omega Driver to v2.46 (based on Catalyst 5.6). Heres the link to the Omega Drivers web site:
http://www.omegadrivers.net/
For quick comparsion here are my previous last run of the Halo timedemo (Halo v1.07) when I was running Omega Drivers v2.6 (I had problems with v2.26a).
NOTE: I always run the timedemo 6 times consecutively and average them. Its' also important to note that
the first run of each "batch" of runs is always lower than subsequent runs because none of the data has been cached yet. I'd rather include the slowest result and average it in than throw it out entirely. Also, anytime I change any of the game settings I re-boot, so the timedemo results are not skewed one way or the other by any data being cached from the timedemo being run.
All runs are at 1,280x1,024 with all effects enabled
within the game (Specular, Shadows, Decals, ect) and game settings on "High". That said, with Omega Driver v2.6 I got:
81.92 frames/sec
88.77 frames/sec
89.00 frames/sec
89.08 frames/sec
89.12 frames/sec
89.10 frames/sec
87.83 frames/sec TOTAL
After downloading v2.46 (based on Catalyst 5.6) of the Omega Drivers this evening un-installed v2.6 of the Omega Drivers, re-booted and ran Driver Cleaner 3, defragged my hard drives, then installed v2.46 of the Omega Drivers. Then I ran the timedemo another 6 times. I got:
95.39 frames/sec
104.80 frames/sec
105.01 frames/sec
104.78 frames/sec
104.78 frames/sec
104.68 frames/sec
103.24 frames/sec TOTAL
Thats a 17.5% increase. Not too shabby. Now, I know that some will say "big deal". In another post in the "Video" section blckgrffn said ..."using Halo as a benchmark is, in my opinion, worse than using any synthetic benchmark." I don't think so, since neither Nvidia or ATI is constantly trying to optimize drivers for the Halo timedemo like they are for synthetic benchmarks such as 3DMark and others.
Just thought some forum members would find this info interesting. I'm going to post this info in another thread about v2.46 of the Omega Drivers if it hasn't already been done.