AMD Catalyst 12.8 WHQL Software Suite Released

[btarunr]

AMD released the first WHQL-signed Catalyst drivers since June. Catalyst 12.8 WHQL is the first unified Catalyst driver certified for Windows 8, its release follows the RTM version of the operating system being available to enterprise and industry customers, ahead of the October 26 consumer retail launch. The driver introduces target-independent rasterization (TIR), an efficient new Direct3D rendering path. The driver also works to improve GPU power consumption. A suite of Windows 8-exclusive features, including native stereo 3D support and unified video API are included. Catalyst 12.8 WHQL also introduces performance-improvements specific to games, including up to 25% performance increase in Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, 10% in Dirt 3, 6% in Batman: Arkham City, and 3% in Battlefield 3. Several game-specific bugs were patched.

DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst 12.8 WHQL for Windows Vista, 7 and 8 (64-bit), Windows Vista, 7 and 8 (32-bit), Windows XP (32-bit), Windows XP (64-bit)

The change-log follows.

Features:

• 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:
  o AMD Eyefinity technology
  o OpenCL
  o OpenGL
  o Unified Video Decoder (UVD)
  o AMD Dual Graphics
  o AMD CrossFire technology
  o AMD Overdrive
  o AMD Catalyst Control Center
  o Vision Engine Control Center

Performance highlights

• 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

New and updated CAPs

• The Secret World (DX11): Resolves corruption seen in HUD/options when running in CrossFire mode on the AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series
• TorchLight 2 - Improves single GPU performance, and disables CrossFire due to incompatible support when running in a Multi-GPU configuration
• Spec Ops: The Line: Improves CrossFire performance
• Hawken: Improves CrossFire performance

Resolved issue highlights

• 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

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[ChristTheGreat]

I installed them yesterday, Just tested D3 lol. I'll have to test Crysis 2, BF3 and Dirt 3.

But they seems fine.

 

[Hardi]

"Over/underscan settings are correctly restored on system reboot"

finally

 

[Mistral]

Neat, downloading now.

Where and how can we bug AMD for some Tribes: Ascend optimization? That game should be running much faster than it it now.

 

[Prima.Vera]

[*]TorchLight 2 – Improves single GPU performance, and disables CrossFire due to incompatible support when running in a Multi-GPU configuration

I LOLed here! laugh:

 

[Phusius]

3dmark11 won't boot up now ever since i installed and reinstalled 3dmark11.

 

[Atom_Anti]

3dmark11 won't boot up now ever since i installed and reinstalled 3dmark11.

For me 3Dmark11 working, but 3DMark2001SE ain't .

12.7beta wasn't faster?

 

[t_ski]

Are these the WHQL version of the 12.7 beta's?

 

[ThE_MaD_ShOt]

These don't support 4xxx and lower cards but do support win xp. hmm the irony. That and you have to have a 5 series or higher card to get win 8 drivers. Crapola

 

[fullinfusion]

And should I waste my time downloading these? probably another waste of time.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Where are the 12.9 beta ??

 

[chief-gunney]

crashes my firefox on battlelog regularly

 

[Mistral]

I LOLed here! laugh:

Worried that Crossfired Rad 5450's won't be able to run Torchlight 2 at 1080p with 4xSSAA? I for one would like an actual release date for the game.

 

[fullinfusion]

This Amd driver blows! 3Dmark 11 don't work period, and it fucked with Avast and broke its updater.

Reverted back to 12.4 and everything works again.

Cant wait to dump this red shit once and for all

 

[Mussels]

"Over/underscan settings are correctly restored on system reboot"

finally

wanted to post exactly that. thank god its fixed at last.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Looks like some solid drivers from AMD.

 

[Mussels]

so it breaks useless benchmarks, and useless antivirus? awesome, i'm so in for this driver

 

[erocker]

3DMark 11 is working fine here.

 

[m1dg3t]

Are these good to go on 5xxx series cards? I know, I know. But I'm feelin' kinda lazy

Cheers!

 

[Jaffakeik]

Just installed clean copy with deleting old drivers with sweeper,but if gave out error that there was some problems with installation,and catalyst wont run

 

[InnocentCriminal]

I'm getting good reports from my 6950*. My friend with a 7570 said "it feels better" and two others (one with a 6850 another with a 5850) both said they've received improvements.

Pretty pleased with 12.8.



3DMark11 working fine here as well.

 

[the54thvoid]

I just over install new drivers (don't bother with uninstalling old ones). Don't have any problems.

3DMark11 ran fine and so has BF3 and DayZ still runs.

No issues here.

 

[Melvis]

CCC tells me that these drivers are now out and to update to them....but i use a HD48XX :shadedshu

 

[Phusius]

3dmark11 won't boot up now ever since i installed and reinstalled 3dmark11.

This Amd driver blows! 3Dmark 11 don't work period, and it fucked with Avast and broke its updater.

Reverted back to 12.4 and everything works again.

Cant wait to dump this red shit once and for all

For some odd reason the default install folder for 3dMark11 was changed to program folder non-x86, so I just moved it over and it is working again, wasn't an issue with 12.8 at all afterall.

 

[Alvy Ibn Feroz]

Great driver. Works great without any problem.