AMD Releases ATI Catalyst 10.7 WHQL Software Suite

AMD rolled out its latest ATI Catalyst Software Suite today, as expected. The latest release is Catalyst 10.7 WHQL. The Catalyst Software Suite provides drivers for ATI Radeon graphics processors, AMD 7-series chipsets, and ATI multimedia products. Version 10.7 WHQL ironed out an important issue with VLC Media Player, which enabled DXVA2 hardware h.264 video acceleration (with VLC 1.1.1 or later installed), which results in smooth video playback and reduced system resource usage. Important enhancements to the HydraVision technology were also added, such as taking into account bezel compensation when maximizing windows across displays. The new pull-down detection algorithm improves visual quality of certain types of videos. And finally, ATI CrossFireX now supports rotated displays, which was particularly longed for by users of ATI Eyefinity setups that make use of rotated physical displays. A list of performance improvements are also included, pertaining to Borderlands in single and multi GPU modes, with and without AA.

DOWNLOAD: ATI Catalyst 10.7 WHQL for Windows 7/Vista 64-bit, Windows 7/Vista 32-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, Windows XP 64-bit

A list of changes follows.

Performance Improvements:
Borderlands -

• Performance increases 3-5% on ATI Radeon HD 5800 and ATI Radeon HD 5700 series single card and CrossFire configurations when anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering is enabled
• Performance increases 3-8% on ATI Radeon HD 5970 single card and CrossFire configurations when anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering is enabled
• Performance increases 2-6% on ATI Radeon HD 5600 and ATI Radeon HD 5500 series single card configurations when anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering is enabled
• Performance increases 2-10% on ATI Radeon HD 4800 series single card and CrossFire configurations when anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering is enabled

New Features:

ATI Eyefinity - HydraVision enhancements

• Maximizing a window across displays will now take user defined bezel compensation into account
• Automatically adjusts window position when dragging and dropping windows to ensure title bar visibility
• Proper dialog box placement - dialogs do not cross displays, are not hidden behind bezels, and can be designated to be shown on the users "preferred" display

Enhanced Pull-down detection

• The Pull-down detection algorithm has been enhanced for higher visual quality on certain types of video content
• Supported on the ATI Radeon HD 5000 Series

ATI CrossFireX technology - support for rotated displays

• This release of ATI Catalyst enables end users running supported ATI CrossFireX configurations to rotate their displays (single or ATI Eyefinity display configurations) and still enjoy the performance benefits of ATI CrossFireX technology

ATI Radeon GPU acceleration of VLC 1.1.1 Media Player

• Enables GPU acceleration of h.264 video content when using the VLC 1.1.1 Media Player - delivering a better user experience by consuming less system resources
• Supported on the ATI Radeon HD 5000 and ATI Radeon HD 4000 Series of products
• Requires VLC version 1.1.1 and later