Opinions on Catalyst 3.6 drivers.

TerraMex · 07-17-2003, 12:01 AM

Has anyone tryed the new catalyst 3.6 ?
(ATi drivers, for the ones from outerspace...)

Any comments/experiences?

I'm just curious if anyone had a similar "tale" . As mine is just plain simple. It causes my w2k* to loose stability. It crashes completely (no BSOD , just stops responding) without any fair warning**. It can die on opening a simple program just like explorer after boot , or it can run a benchmark without problems and the die on me when i open Opera afterwards. Very weird stuff. Either way, it eventually crashes within a short period of time.Anyway, i reverted to the 3.4 and respective control panel , and no more crashes .

So my general impression is : "Catalyst 3.6: Instant Instability, add an OS."

*Windows 2000 professional with SP2 and post patches. No sp3 ou 4 here (they are less stable , and i had them both on another rig for testing , and sp4 has a really nice spyware package. Besides , I dont really want the FBI or Microsoft to know if i like blonds or brunettes in my porn... if i saw any *cough*. )

** Fair warning = BSOD.

PS: feel free to move the thread to a more proper place if required.

MadDogMe · 07-17-2003, 03:32 AM

My PC is a pornfree zone

. I hav'nt tried the 3.6's yet, they were fast on the tail of the 3.5's were'nt they?...

xerka · 07-17-2003, 09:19 AM

I just installed 3.6 on my 9500 and am having better luck with it than the old stock ones. With the old ones I would get alot of really weird freezes while playing splinter cell, but I haven't had one yet. One thing I got rid of was the ATI multimedia player. It was just annoying and seemed to screw things up. Oh yeah I am on XP SP1.

airspirit · 07-17-2003, 10:50 AM

Unfortunately, the ATi drivers are designed for the service packs. I hate the spyware too (and block anything through my firewall that looks suspicious), but I'll sell my soul for stability. I haven't had any issues ... YET.

TerraMex · 07-17-2003, 03:02 PM

>Unfortunately, the ATi drivers are designed for the service packs

I was afraid of that.

Assuming you're right (and it makes sense) , that 3.6 release is sp3 or sp4 dependent , it would explain the weird behavior. However I'm not really that confortable with sp4 on this machine.

Nevertheless , for the time i got it to actually work (and it ran a couple of games and benchs) , i didnt see a considerable performance boost to compensate changing the service pack.

... well, i could do it and just block a few port on Tiny, but i'm a lazy bastard.

airspirit · 07-28-2003, 04:04 PM

Update: I have been experiencing more instability as of late with these new drivers both on my 9500 Pro and 9800 Pro. I've rolled back to the earlier version. Screw these buggy drivers ... I'll wait until the next one. Maybe it just doesn't jive with my OCs, but that shouldn't matter IMHO.

TerraMex · 07-29-2003, 12:25 AM

Small Update too :

I did a clean install of windows 2000 , fully pached to SP4 (and all the "crap" in between, including .Net and a few other ) , and with the usual stuff installed (psp, office , acad , etc) . No problems whatsoever with the 3.4 catalyst.

Installed the 3.6, hoping the lack of SP4 was the reason for the instability on the previous install (Sp2) , but no, it has the exact same simptoms. I'm assuming it's the drivers , and reversed to the 3.4 (best stability yet).

Found another interesting bug with ASE (All Seeing Eye). Trying to resfresh some (only happens with a few) Enemy Territory servers causes windows 2000 to stop responding , but not always. It's almost like he received a DoS. Doesnt happen with other games (q1, q3 , UT , UT2k3, Steam and HL based mods - NS, CS, TFC , or RTCW itself).

Never happend with my GeForce, and i played a bit of ET with her. So, again, i'm assuming its something with the ATi drivers, which is plain weird.

@Airspirit

I've tested with the default settings, and OC settings.

I've OC'ed my 1700+ , and the 2x256mb kingston (its value ram, but very good) to very agressive timing (2-2-2-5 at 2,7v) and them back to the default, and the same with my 9700 (default and OC - 340/310) , and had always the same problems with stability with the 3.6 installed.

I've also tested the DNA drivers, and the Omega , all based on the 3.6, and had the exact same stability issues.

Score another one for nVidia.

ndtinker · 07-29-2003, 10:22 AM

Is it just me or was ATI was supposed to be making better drivers?

So far they're cards are the most awesome I've ever used, but the blasted things are buggy simply for bad coding? Come on, ATI! Get on the ball! I never have liked ATI drivers but I figured I'd give the 9700 a chance and cardwise it was a good choice, but I'll take my nVidia drivers back anyday.

(obviously I'm having issues too.)

golovko · 07-29-2003, 10:59 AM

I'm running windows XP with the catalyst 3.6 on my 9500 Pro and my system is rock solid, I've had no problems whatsoever.

iroc409 · 07-29-2003, 11:23 AM

if i remember right, i'm running 3.6 on xp pro with a 9700 128mb pro. it runs pretty good... but i'm still getting a crazy system stutter (brief lock) every so often. not sure if that's video related. also, halflife locks sometimes, or dies. it could be video related, generally if i'm lucky enough to get an error report, it just says the hl launcher died. i think some of the issues were due to heat, but it still does it, so i'm not sure...

TerraMex · 07-29-2003, 11:46 AM

>(obviously I'm having issues too.)

Can you elaborate on that?

>if i remember right, i'm running 3.6 on xp pro with a 9700 128mb
>pro. it runs pretty good... but i'm still getting a crazy system
>stutter (brief lock) every so often. not sure if that's video related.
>also, halflife locks sometimes, or dies. it could be video related,
>generally if i'm lucky enough to get an error report, it just says
>the hl launcher died. i think some of the issues were due to heat,
>but it still does it, so i'm not sure...

The issues i've had are windows 2000 related. No XP here, ever. It's one of those OS i'll jump completely, just like Me . Doesnt pay, imo, compared with 2000pro. Unless you're a Mac fan ...

Anyway, the HL problems with the ATi drivers are very well known. I'm willing to bet a considerable amout of money that your problems are due to the drivers. Try using the netgraph in CS and you'll be in lag land , fps drops to 20 +/- , which is a bug ATi already apologized. There's actually a patch for that, unfortunalty not for everything.

@Airspirt

I forgot to ask in the previous post : You rolled back to which version ? 3.5 ?

cristoff · 07-30-2003, 03:18 PM

Mine are fine with 3.6 and win 2000 pro and sp4

07-17-2003, 12:01 AM	#1
TerraMex Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portugal, Europe Posts: 870	Opinions on Catalyst 3.6 drivers. Has anyone tryed the new catalyst 3.6 ? (ATi drivers, for the ones from outerspace...) Any comments/experiences? I'm just curious if anyone had a similar "tale" . As mine is just plain simple. It causes my w2k* to loose stability. It crashes completely (no BSOD , just stops responding) without any fair warning*. It can die on opening a simple program just like explorer after boot , or it can run a benchmark without problems and the die on me when i open Opera afterwards. Very weird stuff. Either way, it eventually crashes within a short period of time.Anyway, i reverted to the 3.4 and respective control panel , and no more crashes . So my general impression is : "Catalyst 3.6: Instant Instability, add an OS." Windows 2000 professional with SP2 and post patches. No sp3 ou 4 here (they are less stable , and i had them both on another rig for testing , and sp4 has a really nice spyware package. Besides , I dont really want the FBI or Microsoft to know if i like blonds or brunettes in my porn... if i saw any cough. ) ** Fair warning = BSOD. PS: feel free to move the thread to a more proper place if required. __________________ "we need more cowbell."

07-17-2003, 09:19 AM	#3
xerka Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 107	I just installed 3.6 on my 9500 and am having better luck with it than the old stock ones. With the old ones I would get alot of really weird freezes while playing splinter cell, but I haven't had one yet. One thing I got rid of was the ATI multimedia player. It was just annoying and seemed to screw things up. Oh yeah I am on XP SP1. __________________ Folders: I've given up folding

07-17-2003, 10:50 AM	#4
airspirit Been /.'d... have you? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,986	Unfortunately, the ATi drivers are designed for the service packs. I hate the spyware too (and block anything through my firewall that looks suspicious), but I'll sell my soul for stability. I haven't had any issues ... YET. __________________ #!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;} mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;} {sleep;} finger: permission denied

07-17-2003, 03:02 PM	#5
TerraMex Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portugal, Europe Posts: 870	>Unfortunately, the ATi drivers are designed for the service packs I was afraid of that. Assuming you're right (and it makes sense) , that 3.6 release is sp3 or sp4 dependent , it would explain the weird behavior. However I'm not really that confortable with sp4 on this machine. Nevertheless , for the time i got it to actually work (and it ran a couple of games and benchs) , i didnt see a considerable performance boost to compensate changing the service pack. ... well, i could do it and just block a few port on Tiny, but i'm a lazy bastard. __________________ "we need more cowbell."

07-28-2003, 04:04 PM	#6
airspirit Been /.'d... have you? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,986	Update: I have been experiencing more instability as of late with these new drivers both on my 9500 Pro and 9800 Pro. I've rolled back to the earlier version. Screw these buggy drivers ... I'll wait until the next one. Maybe it just doesn't jive with my OCs, but that shouldn't matter IMHO. __________________ #!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;} mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;} {sleep;} finger: permission denied

07-17-2003, 03:32 AM	#2
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	My PC is a pornfree zone . I hav'nt tried the 3.6's yet, they were fast on the tail of the 3.5's were'nt they?...

07-29-2003, 12:25 AM	#7
TerraMex Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portugal, Europe Posts: 870	Small Update too : I did a clean install of windows 2000 , fully pached to SP4 (and all the "crap" in between, including .Net and a few other ) , and with the usual stuff installed (psp, office , acad , etc) . No problems whatsoever with the 3.4 catalyst. Installed the 3.6, hoping the lack of SP4 was the reason for the instability on the previous install (Sp2) , but no, it has the exact same simptoms. I'm assuming it's the drivers , and reversed to the 3.4 (best stability yet). Found another interesting bug with ASE (All Seeing Eye). Trying to resfresh some (only happens with a few) Enemy Territory servers causes windows 2000 to stop responding , but not always. It's almost like he received a DoS. Doesnt happen with other games (q1, q3 , UT , UT2k3, Steam and HL based mods - NS, CS, TFC , or RTCW itself). Never happend with my GeForce, and i played a bit of ET with her. So, again, i'm assuming its something with the ATi drivers, which is plain weird. @Airspirit I've tested with the default settings, and OC settings. I've OC'ed my 1700+ , and the 2x256mb kingston (its value ram, but very good) to very agressive timing (2-2-2-5 at 2,7v) and them back to the default, and the same with my 9700 (default and OC - 340/310) , and had always the same problems with stability with the 3.6 installed. I've also tested the DNA drivers, and the Omega , all based on the 3.6, and had the exact same stability issues. Score another one for nVidia. __________________ "we need more cowbell."

07-29-2003, 10:22 AM	#8
ndtinker Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Medina, TN Posts: 30	Is it just me or was ATI was supposed to be making better drivers? So far they're cards are the most awesome I've ever used, but the blasted things are buggy simply for bad coding? Come on, ATI! Get on the ball! I never have liked ATI drivers but I figured I'd give the 9700 a chance and cardwise it was a good choice, but I'll take my nVidia drivers back anyday. (obviously I'm having issues too.) __________________ -=:: Deus Ex Machina ::=- Jackson, TN's ONLY LAN Group http://www.jacksongamingleague.com

07-29-2003, 10:59 AM	#9
golovko Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Purdue University, USA Posts: 141	I'm running windows XP with the catalyst 3.6 on my 9500 Pro and my system is rock solid, I've had no problems whatsoever.

07-29-2003, 11:23 AM	#10
iroc409 Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: midwest side, yo Posts: 596	if i remember right, i'm running 3.6 on xp pro with a 9700 128mb pro. it runs pretty good... but i'm still getting a crazy system stutter (brief lock) every so often. not sure if that's video related. also, halflife locks sometimes, or dies. it could be video related, generally if i'm lucky enough to get an error report, it just says the hl launcher died. i think some of the issues were due to heat, but it still does it, so i'm not sure... __________________ :shrug:

07-29-2003, 11:46 AM	#11
TerraMex Cooling Savant Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portugal, Europe Posts: 870	>(obviously I'm having issues too.) Can you elaborate on that? >if i remember right, i'm running 3.6 on xp pro with a 9700 128mb >pro. it runs pretty good... but i'm still getting a crazy system >stutter (brief lock) every so often. not sure if that's video related. >also, halflife locks sometimes, or dies. it could be video related, >generally if i'm lucky enough to get an error report, it just says >the hl launcher died. i think some of the issues were due to heat, >but it still does it, so i'm not sure... The issues i've had are windows 2000 related. No XP here, ever. It's one of those OS i'll jump completely, just like Me . Doesnt pay, imo, compared with 2000pro. Unless you're a Mac fan ... Anyway, the HL problems with the ATi drivers are very well known. I'm willing to bet a considerable amout of money that your problems are due to the drivers. Try using the netgraph in CS and you'll be in lag land , fps drops to 20 +/- , which is a bug ATi already apologized. There's actually a patch for that, unfortunalty not for everything. @Airspirt I forgot to ask in the previous post : You rolled back to which version ? 3.5 ? __________________ "we need more cowbell."

07-30-2003, 03:18 PM	#12
cristoff Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mass Posts: 185	Mine are fine with 3.6 and win 2000 pro and sp4 __________________ fr33t3chi3

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