AMD Catalyst 11.1 & Catalyst 11.1a Hotfix

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AMD has just released the new AMD Catalyst 11.1 drivers for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Linux. You can also grab the new 11.1a hotfix here. In addition to performance enhancements, the new Catalyst drivers have a list of new features including:

The new Catalyst Control Center enables a simplified user experience to help users get the most out of their AMD product
Easily enable 3D settings to enhance game image quality
Setup multiple displays to increase productivity
Adjust power settings to increase battery life
Supports two unique views ��" designed for mainstream and advanced users
User Interface dynamically updates based on available AMD hardware
Support for OpenGL 4.1
Click to expand...
 
I just recently got back into AMD and want to do this right. Do I download 11.1 and THEN 11.1a and install them in sequence or do I can I just download and install 11.1a only?
 
Why is AMD consistently stupid about this? Why release 11.1 and 11.1a at the same time? Just roll 11.1a into 11.1 and only release that one. Then its official, its not confusing and you don't look like a freaking amateur.
 
I am not sure I understand why there needs to be both drivers. But, I am sure someone will explain.

How hard is it really to make ONE driver?

Lot of us 6950/70 owners are using the 11.1a hotfix drivers.
 
Bojamijams said:
Why is AMD consistently stupid about this? Why release 11.1 and 11.1a at the same time? Just roll 11.1a into 11.1 and only release that one. Then its official, its not confusing and you don't look like a freaking amateur.
Click to expand...

11.1 is WHQL, they CAN'T roll a non-WHQL update into it. Lead times are long enough for WHQL that it's in the customer's best interest that the hotfix be released.
 
Should say added OpenGL 4.1 extensions, supporting is a whole other ballgame, of which history tells us AMD is severely lacking in that department.
 
OFaceSIG said:
I just recently got back into AMD and want to do this right. Do I download 11.1 and THEN 11.1a and install them in sequence or do I can I just download and install 11.1a only?
Click to expand...

I am about to install a brand new 6850 card tonight on windows 7 64bit (replacing a geforce 9600gt) and am curious also. My question is since this will be my first AMD card in my current system configuration do I have to download 11.1 and install it, then install 11.1a over it or just the 11.1a from scratch?
 
Bojamijams said:
Why is AMD consistently stupid about this? Why release 11.1 and 11.1a at the same time? Just roll 11.1a into 11.1 and only release that one. Then its official, its not confusing and you don't look like a freaking amateur.
Click to expand...

Its very simple actually... it takes time to get Microsoft's WHQL certifications. It takes so long, in fact, that AMD has usually already isolated several other bugs and produced fixes for them by the time they get the certs from MS. Would you feel better about it if they just held on the newer "fixed" drivers?!

This occurs with NVIDIA drivers as well (particularly around new product releases where the drivers are undergoing heavy optimization).
 
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Pilsner73 said:
I am about to install a brand new 6850 card tonight on windows 7 64bit (replacing a geforce 9600gt) and am curious also. My question is since this will be my first AMD card in my current system configuration do I have to download 11.1 and install it, then install 11.1a over it or just the 11.1a from scratch?
Click to expand...

Just 11.1a from scatch. Basically they have to submit drivers to Microsoft to be approved (WHQL) and Microsoft takes a long time to get back to them. So, what they do is officially release 11.1 to the public, the masses download it. Meanwhile, those that want the absolute latest performance enhancements even if Microsoft hasn't approved them yet, download 11.1a.
 
Ualdayan said:
Just 11.1a from scatch. Basically they have to submit drivers to Microsoft to be approved (WHQL) and Microsoft takes a long time to get back to them. So, what they do is officially release 11.1 to the public, the masses download it. Meanwhile, those that want the absolute latest performance enhancements even if Microsoft hasn't approved them yet, download 11.1a.
Click to expand...

AceCR42 said:
Just install 11.1a.
Click to expand...

Thanks I figured that was the best way but wanted to make sure.
 
Weird I installed the 11.1a and on my catalyst software info page it says Catalyst Version 10.10
 
Ok. The moment of truth.

Does the Mouse cursor lag, and glitched windows 7 loading screen appear in the final build? 11.1 or 11.1a

Someone confirm please.
 
Anyone play Metro 2033? Can you confirm if the outside shadow bug that showed up after 10.9 (10.10 to 10.12) is gone or is it still around?
 
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I installed just the 11.1a, skipped 11.1. I remember 10.10 I had the SC2 pylon bug. I just tested in game and there is no bug so maybe it is mislabeled as 10.10 for me.
 
Can't download the 11.1a hotfix. Just gives me a page unauthorized download page. Had to go to the other thread to download it.
 
just installed 11.1a...CCC says i have Catalyst version 10.12 installed </shrug>
 
I installed the leaked drivers that were linked in the other thread, and CCC version also said 10.12. And I've restarted three times since three days ago. I also didn't get the new AMD Tessellation Factor setting in 3D. What's up?
 
XacTactX said:
I installed the leaked drivers that were linked in the other thread, and CCC version also said 10.12. And I've restarted three times since three days ago. I also didn't get the new AMD Tessellation Factor setting in 3D. What's up?
Click to expand...

restart your computer or change your view to Advance, then it will show up..

CCC version is just the Catalyst Control Center itself, not the driver version.
Since CCC2 first introduce from 10.12, I see no issue with the version on that..
 
So for those installing 11.1 does it show the graphic driver as being 11.1, while 11.1a shows up as 10.12 driver base?

Can anyone confirm that the 11.1a is actually a newer version with additional features, or is it like 10.12's hotfixes where they were based on earlier 10.11 driver versions but just hotfixed in support for the 6900 series etc... I'm ready to update, but I wish AMD would list the exact changes in versions and new features in 11.1a and other hotfixes and build them on newer tech. So far I'm rather impressed with AMD's recent drivers for my uses anyway, so this is a minor niggle.

I always completely uninstall the old before installing the new, so its a bit of an annoyance having to do it frequently.
 
Xaeos said:
So for those installing 11.1 does it show the graphic driver as being 11.1, while 11.1a shows up as 10.12 driver base?

Can anyone confirm that the 11.1a is actually a newer version with additional features, or is it like 10.12's hotfixes where they were based on earlier 10.11 driver versions but just hotfixed in support for the 6900 series etc... I'm ready to update, but I wish AMD would list the exact changes in versions and new features in 11.1a and other hotfixes and build them on newer tech. So far I'm rather impressed with AMD's recent drivers for my uses anyway, so this is a minor niggle.

I always completely uninstall the old before installing the new, so its a bit of an annoyance having to do it frequently.
Click to expand...

11.11a software info

Driver Packaging Version 8.82.2-110119a-112250E-ATI
Catalyst Version 10.12
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1123
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0000
Direct3D Version 7.14.10.0812
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10516
Catalyst Control Center Version 2011.0119.1312.23596
 
Seems like the 11.1 is an older driver than the 10a hotfix drivers. I wish AMD could get it straight.
 
techie81 said:
Seems like the 11.1 is an older driver than the 10a hotfix drivers. I wish AMD could get it straight.
Click to expand...

Please re-read

Fi|th said:
Its very simple actually... it takes time to get Microsoft's WHQL certifications. It takes so long, in fact, that AMD has usually already isolated several other bugs and produced fixes for them by the time they get the certs from MS. Would you feel better about it if they just held on the newer "fixed" drivers?!

This occurs with NVIDIA drivers as well (particularly around new product releases where the drivers are undergoing heavy optimization).
Click to expand...

These 11.1s where probably going through WHQL before the 10a hotfix was released.
 
Ryan45 said:
Please re-read



These 11.1s where probably going through WHQL before the 10a hotfix was released.
Click to expand...

I see. I was irritated to see a performance drop with the 11.1a drivers even though it fixed a cursor issue I was having.

Thanks for pointing that out.
 
Weird.

Driver Packaging Version 8.812-110104a-111988C-ATI
Catalyst Version 10.7
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1114
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0000
Direct3D Version 7.14.10.0806
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10428
Catalyst Control Center Version 2011.0104.2155.39304

Just installed 11.1 / 11.1a Profiles today (From the official AMD page.). Uninstalled all, rebooted to safe mode, driver sweeper, rebooted to normal, installed, rebooted, installed profiles, rebooted.

EDIT: Above info is from a vanilla 11.1 non-hotfix installation. I see what I did there.

Installing hotfixes from [H]ard link like a good boy should from now on.
 
HERE IS MY DRIVER INFORMATION I HAVE NOT UPDATED TO 11.1 YET RUNNNING 10.12A ON A 6970


Driver Packaging Version 8.79.6.2-101215a-110532E
Catalyst&#8482; Version 10.11
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1094
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0000
Direct3D Version 8.14.10.0795
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10315
Catalyst&#8482; Control Center Version 2010.1215.2136.38682


YOU GUYS NEED TO SETTLE DOWN WITH THIS CRAP AND TROUBLESHOOT YOUR OWN DAMN MACHINES PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!
 
123Lanoix said:
YOU GUYS NEED TO SETTLE DOWN WITH THIS CRAP AND TROUBLESHOOT YOUR OWN DAMN MACHINES PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Sounds like you could use a bit of your own advice.

Who's having problems? I was just saying it was weird that other people's CCC is showing a diff driver version.
 
OpStar said:
Do these have the ability to turn off Catalyst AI?
Click to expand...

11.1 It showed up and could be disabled.
11.1a it shows up as: Texture Filtering Quality ( Performance / Quality / High Quality ) with the option for ( Enable Surface Format Optimization ) checkbox unchecked by default.
 
xSystemFailurex said:
Sounds like you could use a bit of your own advice.

Who's having problems? I was just saying it was weird that other people's CCC is showing a diff driver version.
Click to expand...

I dunno i have not had any issues with the drivers either.
 
Pawz2142 said:
Anybody having issues with their 5970 with 11.1
Click to expand...

Overdrive/overclocking is still a no go with dual displays, otherwise it seems alright. I think I'm going to be kicking the 10.5a set until my card turns to dust though..
 
Sorry I haven't read through the thread, but wanted to comment I loaded the new drivers on a backup pc and noticed 2 new out of 3 AMD services loading automatically at startup. I don't like crap loading at startup so I set them all to "manual". The new services are "fuel" and "reservation manager".
 
DrNick said:
Overdrive/overclocking is still a no go with dual displays, otherwise it seems alright. I think I'm going to be kicking the 10.5a set until my card turns to dust though..
Click to expand...
That's because when overclocking, most 5xxx series BIOS implementations will vary memory speed when the card goes through it's various power states in 2D.
The solution is to use Radeon BIOS Editor, change ALL profile settings to have the same memory clock speed, and burn that BIOS to your card. That does solve the problem.
Happy overclocking.

This thread has more detail on the matter:
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1134005
 
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