amd_catalyst_driver

Con la consueta puntualità AMD ha reso disponibili per il download i nuovi driver Catalyst, giunti ora alla versione 12.8, che includono, oltre alla certificazione per Windows 8, diversi importanti miglioramenti come l'implementazione della nuova tecnologia denominata TIR (Target-Independent Rasterization) che va a ottimizzare ulteriormente l'anti-aliasing.

Novità anche sotto il profilo dei consumi a partire dalla serie Radeon HD 5000, che ora sono più ridotti sia in modalità IDLE che Full LOAD.

I nuovi driver AMD Catalyst 12.8 sono scaricabili ai seguenti link:

Di seguito la lista delle novità introdotte con i nuovi driver.

Feature Highlights of AMD Catalyst 12.8: Windows 8 support

  • AMD’s first official unified and logo certified driver for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista
  • Target-Independent Rasterization (TIR): TIR is a new rendering path that enables superior anti-aliasing in Direct3D driver applications
  • Native Stereo 3D Support: Windows 8 natively supports stereoscopic 3D gaming and videos via compatible applications
  • Unified Video API: Video playback has been integrated into the DirectX® 11 API, enabling simultaneous video and gaming content. Transcoding performance may also be improved for supporting applications.
  • Optimized screen rotation for rotation aware devices
  • Improved sleep/resume performance
  • Optimized GPU power consumption
  • Major technologies / features also supported under Windows 8:
    • AMD Eyefinity technology
    • OpenCL™
    • OpenGL
    • Unified Video Decoder (UVD)
    • AMD Dual Graphics
    • AMD CrossFire technology
    • AMD Overdrive
    • AMD Catalyst Control Center
    • Vision Engine Control Center

Performance highlights of AMD Catalyst 12.8

  • Up to 25% in Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
  • Up to 3% in Battlefield 3
  • Up to 6% in Batman: Arkham City
  • Up to 3% in Dues Ex: Human Revolution
  • Up to 6% in Crysis 2
  • Up to 15% in Total War: Shogun
  • Up to 8% in Crysis Warhead
  • Up to 5% in Just Cause 2
  • Up to 10% in Dirt 3

Resolved issue highlights of the AMD Catalyst 12.8 driver

  • Over/underscan settings are correctly restored on system reboot
  • Audio is no longer disabled if the connected HDTV Is switched off/on
  • Shogun 2 : Flickering text is no longer experienced
  • Star Wars – The Old Republic : In game cinematic no longer experience flicker when using the arrow keys
  • Dirt Showdown: 8-Ball track No longer hangs with Crossfire enabled
  • Max Payne 3 : A black screen is no longer observed when launching game in DirectX 11 mode with Crossfire enabled

New OS Support

  • Ubuntu 12.04 production support