AMD Catalyst 12.6 (8.980.0 May 22) AMD Official BETA

[Mustang]

Windows 7/Vista

 

Windows XP

 

With the release of the AMD Catalyst™ 12.6 Beta driver (“Catalyst”), AMD would also like to announce that we are moving away from our Monthly Catalyst release plan. Our goal is to ensure that every Catalyst release delivers a substantial benefit to our end users; as we have today with the release of the Catalyst 12.6a Beta. We will still continue with the Catalyst naming convention; Catalyst: Year.Month. You just won’t see a new driver every single month. We are confident that this will only benefit the end user; you’ll only need to upgrade to a new Catalyst driver, when it makes sense.

 

We would also like to announce the introduction of our new AMD Issue Reporting Form. We made a number of improvements to the older Catalyst Crew Feedback form, making it more comprehensive, ensuring high quality feedback. Feedback is very important in every product company’s life, especially in our fast paced environment. This is not just a check-box for us – we take these reports very seriously. We will review every report posted here and investigate every issue encountered. Please use this form whenever you encounter something worth mentioning.

 

Resolved issue highlights of the AMD Catalyst™ 12.6 Beta:

 

• AMD Radeon™ HD 7900, AMD Radeon HD 7800 Tri-CrossFire™ configurations + Eyefinity BSOD when launching a DirectX application.
  
• AMD Radeon HD 7900, AMD Radeon HD 7800 Eyefinity/Multiple Display configurations BSOD when using desktop applications.
  
• AMD Radeon HD 7900, AMD Radeon HD 7800, and AMD Radeon HD 7700 cards hang when system goes to sleep.
  
• Tearing on Eyefinity configurations when different display connector types are used.
  
• Poor Elder Scrolls: Skyrim CrossFire scaling seen in AMD Catalyst 12.4 (back to CrossFire scaling found in AMD Catalyst 12.3).
  
• AMD Catalyst Control Center – intermittently missing Overdrive page.
  
• AMD Catalyst Control Center – missing GPU Activity gauge.
  
• AMD Radeon HD 7900 CrossFire Configuration – system hang after cinematic in Call of Duty: Black Ops.
  
• Crysis 2 -random system hangs when run in DirectX 9 mode.
  
• Heroes and Generals: Blocky corruption in scenes with smoke effects when run in DirectX 11 mode.
  
• Disabled HDMI audio when the connected HDTV is powered Off/On.
  

Feature highlights of the AMD Catalyst 12.6 Beta:

Dual Graphics enhancements – new application profiles

Supported Dual Graphics configurations:

 

 

 

 

AMD Accelerated Processors for Desktop PCs

• AMD Radeon HD 7660D (A10-5700)
  
• AMD Radeon HD 7560D (A8-5500
  Notebooks with AMD Accelerated Processors
  
• AMD Radeon HD 7660D (A10-4600)
  
• AMD Radeon HD 7640G (A8-4500M)
  
• AMD Radeon HD 7520G (A6-4400M)
  New profiles have been added for the following game titles:
  
• Diablo 3
  
• Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
  
• StarCraft 2
  
• Portal 2
  
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare
  
• Call of Duty Black Ops
  Future Catalyst releases will continue to add Dual Graphics support for additional titles
  

Build Info:

DriverVer=05/22/2012, 8.980.0.0000

8.98-120522a-139735E-ATI

Edited May 31, 2012 by Mustang

[JG14_Smil]

EyeInfinity fix about tearing with different screens is very interesting.

 

(added later)

 

Yes, the EyeInfinity/different monitor stopped tearing in my quick test. I am also very glad about the fix for the HDMI Audio driver loading repeatedly when HDTV was not turned on. One more night of work, then five days off for testing :)

Edited May 31, 2012 by JG14_Smil

[AussieM8]

Hi,

 

This would be great, but AMD take you on a journey promising support until they get sick of you and don't want to help anymore and then choose to ignore your emails and just keep sending a generated response like the one below hoping you will go away.

 

I have been emailing AMD about the Flashing White Boxes with the 69xx cards since the 13/1/2012 and have sent at least 8 emails to AMD about this. below is four of the last emails I received from AMD.

 

8/5/12

This is an automatically generated email, please do not reply.

Dear Customer,

Your Service Request has been received and will be processed shortly. Depending on the nature of your inquiry, further automated messages with additional instructions might follow.

Service Request:8200468382

We thank you for your patience.

Best regards,

AMD Global Customer Care

 

30/3/12

This is an automatically generated email, please do not reply.

Dear Customer,

Your Service Request has been received and will be processed shortly. Depending on the nature of your inquiry, further automated messages with additional instructions might follow.

Service Request:8200468382

We thank you for your patience.

Best regards,

AMD Global Customer Care

 

 

8/3/12

Dear Customer,

Your service request : SR #{ticketno:[8200468382]} has been reviewed and updated.

Response and Service Request History:

We are hoping to have a solution in CAT 12.3

In order to update this service request, please respond, leaving the service request reference intact.

Best regards,

AMD Global Customer Care

 

 

18/2/12

Dear Customer,

 

Your service request : SR #{ticketno:[8200468382]} has been reviewed and updated.

 

Response and Service Request History:

 

This issue has been prioritized for reproduction purposes. Please make sure you have the latest patch.

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/patches/dcs-wh_patch_1.1.1.1_en/

 

In order to update this service request, please respond, leaving the service request reference intact.

 

Best regards,

 

AMD Global Customer Care

 

 

Here are the links to the forum where others have the same problem.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=77371

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=88639

 

 

All I can say is good luck getting help from AMD!

 

 

I as a customer asked for a refund or replacement of my 6950 card seeing that it has a problem AMD can't fix. and guess what! No Reply!

 

AMD statement if you believe it.

We made a number of improvements to the older Catalyst Crew Feedback form, making it more comprehensive, ensuring high quality feedback. Feedback is very important in every product company’s life, especially in our fast paced environment.

 

See link below for consumers rights in Australia

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Consumers/Consumer_guarantees_warranties_and_refunds/Repairs_refunds_replacements.html

 

 

Windows 7 x64, i5-2500k @ 4.4 with Noctua NH-D14 CPU Cooler ,ASRock Z68 Fatal1ty Pro Gen 3

G.Skill Ripjaws 16gig DDR3,, HD6950 2gb, HOTAS

Warthog,Saitek Combat Pedals and TrackIr 5

Using Deadman's Covers and Metalnwood's extension.

Edited June 7, 2012 by AussieM8

[BIGNEWY]

I know how you feel Aussiem8,

 

I did have a crossfire setup, and getting any response from them was a nightmare, customer support, tweating, emails no luck.

 

I gave up in the end and sold my second card, and as soon as I have enough money I will go nvidia for a change.

[AussieM8]

Hey Bignewy,

 

Thanks for your support mate. To say AMD support is pain full is an understatement. I work for a company that has integrity and stand by there products, offer great support and treat there consumers with respect.

 

They don't ignore problems we fix them!

 

Like you my next card will be Nvidia.

 

Cheers

[metalnwood]

Thanks for the update, the eyefinity tearing has pissed me off as it can be too easily visible on large monitors at times.

 

This might even make me do the 7970 upgrade as I wont need to run them all on the displayports and having to shell out another $200 on active adaptors.

[kokoweems]

I know how you feel Aussiem8,

 

I did have a crossfire setup, and getting any response from them was a nightmare, customer support, tweating, emails no luck.

 

I gave up in the end and sold my second card, and as soon as I have enough money I will go nvidia for a change.

 

I have the exact same issues and I really hate AMD giving me the run around. I won't buy AMD again, only Nvidia.

[WildBillKelsoe]

I have the exact same issues and I really hate AMD giving me the run around. I won't buy AMD again, only Nvidia.

 

 

And so am I. I agree with you 100%. I have a HD5650, and so far, the graphics on nVidia middle range cards look way better than ATi (all-transvestite institution :D ). This is my new laptop resolution for the coming purchase.

[metalnwood]

I put in a new 7970 and then installed the drivers. FUBAR! only a complete windows reinstall would get me back on track.

 

Since the reinstall it's all going OK, no more tearing although on the new card I have all monitors on displayport which I think negates the tearing anyway.

[Mustang]

Thanks to asder00 at guru3d

 

AMD Catalyst 12.7 BETA (8.981.2 June 12)

 

http://www.mediafire.com/?03fsp8064mg82m6

 

Build Info:

DriverVer=06/12/2012, 8.981.2.0000

8.981.2-120612a-140817E-ATI

Catalyst: 12.7

CCC: 2012.0612.1301.21376

D3D: 9.14.10.0924

OGL: 6.14.10.11740

OCL: 10.0.938.1

[JG14_Smil]

12.6 beta June 12 was not a good one for me. I went back to 12.6 beta June 4 release, which I found to be better than the late May release 12.6 beta.

[SkateZilla]

12.7 Betas are out

[Mustang]

Check post #10 ;)

[pacotito]

Catalyst 12.6 WHQL released.

[Mustang]

12.6 WHQL has been out for a long time now ;)

 

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=365083

 

however, most users are past that driver and onto the 12.7's like this

 

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/hotfix/catalyst_12.7_hotfixes/catalyst_12-7_beta_windows7_20120629.exe

 

AMD Catalyst 12.7 (8.981.2.0 June 26)

 

This release of AMD Catalyst™ 12.7 Beta includes a number of performance optimizations for the AMD Radeon ™ HD 7900, AMD Radeon HD 7800, and AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series.

 

 

 

Performance highlights of AMD Catalyst 12.7 Beta

• Up to 25% Skyrim
  
• Up to 6% in Crysis 2
  
• Up to 20% in Total War: Shogun 2
  
• Up to 3.3% in Battlefield 3
  
• Up to 6.9% In 3DMark™ 11
  
• Up to 4.8% in Aliens vs. Predator
  
• Up to 6.5% in Batman: Arkham City
  
• Up to 8% in Crysis Warhead
  
• Up to 7.2% in F1 2010
  
• Up to 8% in Just Cause 2
  
• Up to 12% in Wolfenstein MP
  

Feature highlights of AMD Catalyst 12.7 Beta

 

 

 

Diablo 3: Anti-Aliasing support:

• Users can now enable Multi-Sample Anti-Aliasing and Super Sample Anti-Aliasing for Diablo 3 through the AMD Catalyst Control Center.
  

Resolved Issues for the Windows® 7, Windows Vista® and Windows XP Operating System

• Elder Scrolls: Skyrim- screen flickering when in AMD CrossFire™ mode
  Note: This issue was first observed with version 1.6 of Skyrim.
  

Build Info:

DriverVer=06/26/2012, 8.981.2.0000

8.981.2-120626a-141571E-ATI

CCC: 2012.0626.1157.19430

D3D: 9.14.10.0924

OGL: 6.14.10.11740

OCL: 10.0.938.1

[HiJack]

Great Mustang! I got the new HD7970 now so going for the beta is a good thing I think ;)

 

(HJ)

[Mustang]

AMD Catalyst 12.6 BETA (8.97.100.3 July 3) AMD Legacy Driver

 

Win 7/Vista 32Bit

Win 7/Vista 64Bit

Win XP 32Bit

Win XP 64Bit

 

AMD has moved to the AMD Radeon™ HD 2000, AMD Radeon HD 3000, and AMD Radeon HD 4000 Series new driver support model. These updates will focus on resolving application specific issues and critical updates. The reason for the shift in support policy is largely due to the fact that the AMD Radeon HD 2000, AMD Radeon HD 3000, and AMD Radeon HD 4000 Series have been optimized to their maximum potential from a performance and feature perspective.

 

CERT recently approached AMD with information pertaining to what they believed to be a possible video driver vulnerability exposed by non-default settings of the Microsoft® Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET). EMET is a security test tool that allows system administrators to create test conditions to validate correct behavior of system components or indicate potential weak points. The presence of an issue does not necessarily mean that this issue can be exploited in regular operation of a system. The default safety settings of the EMET do not cause the issue in question to occur.

 

The AMD Catalyst 12.6 beta driver for the AMD Radeon HD 2000, AMD Radeon HD 3000, and AMD Radeon HD 4000 Series is designed to resolve a possible video driver vulnerability issue and to minimize the occurrence of system crashes.

 

Build Info:

DriverVer=07/03/2012, 8.970.100.3000

8.97.100.3-120703a-142008E-ATI

[HiJack]

Have AMD development gone on a world tour? No updates for ages :( One should almost suspect they work from Norway and got our 5 weeks of summer holiday! :D

 

(HJ)

[Mustang]

Have AMD development gone on a world tour? No updates for ages :( One should almost suspect they work from Norway and got our 5 weeks of summer holiday! :D

 

(HJ)

 

AMD have recently switched to a quaterly WHQL release schedule (with betas inbetween) we should be due a new driver very soon, infact i've heard rumour it could be this coming week.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Mustang

[Aries]

Tried the 12.7 beta... somehow I started getting BSODs...

...now I'm back to 12.6 with my HD6950 and all is well...

 

Although I noticed a humongous framerate increase with 12.7 in BF3...