Catalyst Beta 8.49 Leaked

[Jimmy 2004]

A new beta version of ATI's Catalyst display driver has been leaked onto the internet, although there's very little information about it. The build number is 8.49 (although that doesn't mean too much - this is most likely a beta version of the 8.5 Catalyst which will be released next month) and the driver supports all Radeon 9500 and above cards. The Windows XP version (which apparently works with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS) can be downloaded here, and the Vista 64-bit version can be downloaded from here. There's no Vista 32-bit download available at the moment.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[CrackerJack]

A new beta version of ATI’s Catalyst display driver has been leaked onto the internet, although there’s very little information about it. The build number is 8.49 (although that doesn’t mean too much – this is most likely a beta version of the 8.5 Catalyst which will be released next month) and the driver supports all Radeon 9500 and above cards. The Windows XP version (which apparently works with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS) can be downloaded here, and the Vista 64-bit version can be downloaded from here. There’s no Vista 32-bit download available at the moment.

Source: Station Drivers

i'll test it out

using vista x64 and x32

 

[alexp999]

This has happened before. If its the real deal, looks like ati were working on the next driver while the 8.4's were going through the whql process. I'd love to try em out only I got Vista 32. Considering going to Vista 64 soon though. Hmmm, this could push me into doing it sooner, lol.
Anyone know when/where I can get the Vista x64 media with sp1 integrated from microsoft officially? Cus I can use my 32 bit key.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Silverel]

As I understand it their drivers are worked on continuously. The releases are staggered, and as one is finished, another is in progress, and a the third is started.

x------1-------x
-------x-------2-------x
---------------x-------3-------x

Something like that anyways. There was an article about it a couple months ago that I couldn't be bothered to pull up. 8.5's are probably in some form of testing, and getting ready for polish at this point I'd imagine.

 

[CrackerJack]

so far it looks good, just make sure you choose custom install. not in less you tv wonder and all that crap!

 

[Th3-R3as0n]

Any Performance gain CrackerJack?

 

[CrackerJack]

CCC- 8.1
This is using old drivers, just driver versions were change. that's about it.

Of coarse i lost about 5fps in crysis benchmark.

 

[Jimmy 2004]

That's interesting - can anyone else post some benchies to show a performance drop across the board?

The strange thing is that according to the Driver Packaging Version this should be a more recent release than 8.1 - I'm running the 8.3 driver and my version is 8.47, possibly something that's been overlooked by ATI's developers or simply a hack to make it seem newer.

If it is a fake I'll take it down, but I'll wait a while to see what happens for other users.

 

[CrackerJack]

That's interesting - can anyone else post some benchies to show a performance drop across the board?

The strange thing is that according to the Driver Packaging Version this should be a more recent release than 8.1 - I'm running the 8.3 driver and my version is 8.47, possibly something that's been overlooked by ATI's developers or simply a hack to make it seem newer.

If it is a fake I'll take it down, but I'll wait a while to see what happens for other users.

you might find the interesting. But it wouldn't suprise me if ati just change the ver number without actually change anything.

But yet it installs as 8.1 ccc. It's just a version number change.
This driver ver is 8.490.0.0
8.4 driver ver is 8.476.0.0
That's a big jump just for some beta drivers. I would have to say this is fake or a mod gone wrong

 

[WarEagleAU]

Hmm, now Im not sure if I want to try these with my windows xp 64. I still havent installed the 8.4s yet so then again, I may give these a go...

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

ATi is fawking with teh drivers. They risk alienating their loyal fan base.

 

[zOaib]

gonna try these , the other 8.4 screwed everything up for me in vista , my screen shrinked about 1.5 inches from all corners and sides , even when i select scale screen to monitor size it wud not change , and when i launched games they were moving at 150fps in screen vibrate mode.

 

[kylew]

ATi is fawking with teh drivers. They risk alienating their loyal fan base.

Considering that this is a "leak" i.e, isn't meant for consumers to download and install, it's extremely unlike that the ATi fanbase is going to migrate to NV for even worse drivers

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

Considering that this is a "leak" i.e, isn't meant for consumers to download and install, it's extremely unlike that the ATi fanbase is going to migrate to NV for even worse drivers

To Intel!

 

[kylew]

To Intel!

Intel? They haven't got anything remotely comparable to the discrete GPUs of the mid-higher end. Larrabee is a long way off yet.

 

[HTC]

gonna try these , the other 8.4 screwed everything up for me in vista , my screen shrinked about 1.5 inches from all corners and sides , even when i select scale screen to monitor size it wud not change , and when i launched games they were moving at 150fps in screen vibrate mode.

Same thing happened with me while playing Quake III so i changed to 8.2 (had 8.3 before upgrading to 8.4).

It took a while because the installation was always botched due to an inf file missing but, when repairing it via the control panel / programs and features , it was fixed ... weird ...

 

[Simri]

Now i have testede Catalyst Beta 8.49 on ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT/Windows XP SP2

Unigine 0.4 Sanctuary benchmark result:

Sanctuary Direct3D9 Fullscreen ATI 6.14.10.6783 (ATI Catalyst 8.4)
Sanctuary demo (Default Settings)
FPS: 128.1
Scores: 2715

Sanctuary Direct3d9 Fullscreen ATI 6.14.10.6806 (ATI Catalyst 8.490)
FPS: 138.5
Scores: 2936

Download Unigine 0.4 Sanctuary Benchmark/Demo (Windows/Linux)

OpenGL Test include @ Attach Files (html).

 

[CrackerJack]

Now i have testede Catalyst Beta 8.49 on ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT/Windows XP SP2

Unigine 0.4 Sanctuary benchmark result:

Sanctuary Direct3D9 Fullscreen ATI 6.14.10.6783 (ATI Catalyst 8.4)
Sanctuary demo (Default Settings)
FPS: 128.1
Scores: 2715

Sanctuary Direct3d9 Fullscreen ATI 6.14.10.6806 (ATI Catalyst 8.490)
FPS: 138.5
Scores: 2936

looks like it's working good for you, after doing some looking around. I believe it is a beta, just showing the ccc version. oh well That's why it's called beta

 

[zOaib]

Same thing happened with me while playing Quake III so i changed to 8.2 (had 8.3 before upgrading to 8.4).

It took a while because the installation was always botched due to an inf file missing but, when repairing it via the control panel / programs and features , it was fixed ... weird ...

good to know i am not the only one , makes me feel better =P

 

[Kreij]

I have to laugh every time something is "leaked" onto the internet.
Let's be realistic. Someone at ATI got approval to push the beta driver out to the internet so all the tech junkies would test them and post in forums. Their QA people can just monitor the forums for problems and look into fixes.

Almost every driver release gets "leaked". If they did not want that to happen, you would not be seeing this kind of stuff.

This is not bad, it just would be more up-front if they would just release them as beta and say, "test 'em people".

 

[alexp999]

I have to laugh every time something is "leaked" onto the internet.
Let's be realistic. Someone at ATI got approval to push the beta driver out to the internet so all the tech junkies would test them and post in forums. Their QA people can just monitor the forums for problems and look into fixes.

Almost every driver release gets "leaked". If they did not want that to happen, you would not be seeing this kind of stuff.

This is not bad, it just would be more up-front if they would just release them as beta and say, "test 'em people".

I agree with your last comment but at the same time. Someone updating their computer who doesnt know what they were doing might see the number of the beta and think "thats the most up-to-date". Then when problems arise, they'll be moaning to ATi. This way ATi can get the feedback without people moaning and complaining to them, becuase it is not "them" who have officially released it.

 

[ShadowFold]

So are these worth getting for XP x64 if im enjoying 8.4?

 

[CrackerJack]

So are these worth getting for XP x64 if im enjoying 8.4?

if your happy 8.4, stay with 8.4.

 

[thoughtdisorder]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if "leaked" actually meant putting it out there and seeing what folks like us can do with it.

 

[Nitro-Max]

I think ill wait for the real deal 8.4 is good no major preformance gains but stable and solid as far as bugs go.