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I hate getting drivers from AMD...

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Hostile

Gawd
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Feb 24, 2004
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Is it just me or does AMD go out of their way to make getting their drivers as confusing as possible?

They just released the 11.5a hotfix but the only place it's mentioned in the driver page is under the "top support articles". If you use their driver select menus it just takes you to 11.5 with no mention of the hotfix...

If you go to the link for the hotfix they don't say if you have to install 11.5 first, or if the hotfix can be installed as a standalone driver package.

It's like this with every driver release.

If you go to the main "Game" page of the AMD site they have the 11.2 driver listed under the "What's new" section. Seriously?

I really, really hate their site.
 
Did you even read my post? I'm well aware how the menus for driver selection work...

Just like I said, no mention of the hotfix.
 
never really had a problem getting stable drivers. hotfix drivers i just google.


GoldenTiger said:
You actually try it? Doesn't work. Read the post before replying... ATI/AMD's site just makes it plain annoying to track down their drivers.
Click to expand...

works for me. and i can get to my driver in 3 clicks. Amd.com > support > pick your OS
 
risqu3 said:
never really had a problem getting stable drivers. hotfix drivers i just google.




works for me. and i can get to my driver in 3 clicks. Amd.com > support > pick your OS
Click to expand...

This entire post is so full of fail I don't even know what to say...
 
GoldenTiger said:
You actually try it? Doesn't work. Read the post before replying... ATI/AMD's site just makes it plain annoying to track down their drivers.
Click to expand...

I am sorry, but you would be completely stupid not to be able to find drivers on either Nvidia or AMD sites in a few mouse clicks.
 
Reaper you have missed the entire point of my original post. Please stop posting in this thread.
 
Okay, if you can't figure out how to find the 11.5a or whether or not you need 11.5s installed first (it should be pretty obvious from the driver size) that your problem. IIRC AMD/ATI usually only wants people to use the hotfix if they need it, otherwise they want you to use the WHQL drivers. Thus the WHQL are super easy to find.


On the other hand, I have no idea WTF is with the game site and the 11.2s. That's kinda stupid.
 
Uberbob102000 said:
Okay, if you can't figure out how to find the 11.5a or whether or not you need 11.5s installed first (it should be pretty obvious from the driver size) that your problem. IIRC AMD/ATI usually only wants people to use the hotfix if they need it, otherwise they want you to use the WHQL drivers. Thus the WHQL are super easy to find.
Click to expand...

The name "hotfix" implies that the driver is a "critical" fix for an existing version, not an entire replacement. But if someone is downloading a new driver and the hotfix is a complete replacement than it should be the default download file- not an obscure link only found one page of the entire website.
 
Hostile said:
The name "hotfix" implies that the driver is a "critical" fix for an existing version, not an entire replacement. But if someone is downloading a new driver and the hotfix is a complete replacement than it should be the default download file- not an obscure link only found one page of the entire website.
Click to expand...

This thread seems to be mainly about you making incorrect assumptions about the way the drivers should work and then getting pissy when reality doesn't match up.

AMD's drivers have never required any previous version to be installed, hotfix or not.

Hotfix drivers are not a complete replacement for the WHQL drivers. They are meant to address specific issues with certain games and/or certain hardware. If you have a game and/or hardware that is addressed by the hotfix then great, otherwise it's not for you. Downloading the hotfix drivers for hardware not covered by the hotfix could potentially cause additional problems.
 
Hostile said:
Reaper you have missed the entire point of my original post. Please stop posting in this thread.
Click to expand...

My post was directed at Goldentiger who said it was really annoying trying to track down drivers on the AMD site.

Second thing, hotfixes are beta drivers released to address specifc issues that come up before the release of the WHQL drivers. If you don't know you need the hotfix then you don't need it, the fixes will be included in the next official driver release. They offer no support for the hotfix drivers and you install them at your own risk.

But it sounds mainly like you don't understand the terminology involved, and this isn't a problem that the AMD site can solve.

Edit:- Wow, that's two threads now where me and Gotnorice have agreed with each other!, what is the world coming to??
 
GotNoRice said:
This thread seems to be mainly about you making incorrect assumptions about the way the drivers should work and then getting pissy when reality doesn't match up.

AMD's drivers have never required any previous version to be installed, hotfix or not.

Hotfix drivers are not a complete replacement for the WHQL drivers. They are meant to address specific issues with certain games and/or certain hardware. If you have a game and/or hardware that is addressed by the hotfix then great, otherwise it's not for you. Downloading the hotfix drivers for hardware not covered by the hotfix could potentially cause additional problems.
Click to expand...

No this thread is about AMD's lack of providing sufficient information on their website and not organizing information in a logical manner.
 
Hostile said:
No this thread is about AMD's lack of providing sufficient information on their website and not organizing information in a logical manner.
Click to expand...

AMD has always stated that hotfixes need no additional drivers to be installed and that you should only install them if you have the specific combination it's fixing. Otherwise get the WHQL ones which are super easy to find.

Your making a mountain out of a molehill.
 
You know whats a real pain in the ass? Getting to the video card forum. I mean there are so many subforums listed that its impossible to find it. The worst part is, once I find it (in the jungle of other nonsense subforums) I actually have to click something. I should be able to just mentally think "take me to the forum with the highest amount of stupid threads", and it should take here.
 
lloose said:
You know whats a real pain in the ass? Getting to the video card forum. I mean there are so many subforums listed that its impossible to find it. The worst part is, once I find it (in the jungle of other nonsense subforums) I actually have to click something. I should be able to just mentally think "take me to the forum with the highest amount of stupid threads", and it should take here.
Click to expand...

You know what else is real hard? Reading all these posts. All the text is right there, but I actually have to read it. Ugh, I hate that!

Thread title should be "How sandy is your vagina?"
I almost had to bring my sandals to get through this whole thread.
 
Hostile, I'm 100% with you. What makes matters worse is that they don't have the latest 11.5a hotfix posted (May 13). :mad:

Similar to Gigabyte, Asus, and MSI, they simply can't post or update their links to the latest. That is why I have to resort to Google searches, manufacturer links (Intel, Realtek, etc.), third-party sites (Station-Drivers) to get a hold of the latest drivers/BIOSes.
 
TheGamerZ said:
You know what else is real hard? Reading all these posts. All the text is right there, but I actually have to read it. Ugh, I hate that!

Thread title should be "How sandy is your vagina?"
I almost had to bring my sandals to get through this whole thread.
Click to expand...

I know right. Its like a desert island. I almost tripped over a coconut. Don't want to know what "tree" it fell out of.
 
Just so the OP knows, the Hotfix drivers are the same as Nvidia's BETA's, they aren't meant to be used unless you have the specific problem that they are meant to address.


And for all of those that whine about Hotfixes being so fast out after a WHQL, usually the fixes didn't made it in time for the WHQL certification process, that starts quite some time prior to release, so they are put as a different set of drivers, that is all.


In any case, if you do the standard process, click Release Notes, and in Release Notes you will be able to choose Latest Catalyst Hotfixes.

Of course if you go directly to http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx as someone else pointed out, you can see AMD Catalyst 11.5a Hotfix on Top AMD Support Articles.
 
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lloose said:
You know whats a real pain in the ass? Getting to the video card forum. I mean there are so many subforums listed that its impossible to find it. The worst part is, once I find it (in the jungle of other nonsense subforums) I actually have to click something. I should be able to just mentally think "take me to the forum with the highest amount of stupid threads", and it should take here.
Click to expand...
I guess this is why some people resort to posting a help thread in Genmay.
 
Guys I have to agree with the OP 100%. I'm shocked at all the flaming he's getting but I've always noticed that anytime someone says anything bad about AMD it's torches and pitchforks here in the forum. I pray one day all of this useless fanboyism will end. A lot of reputable members here are flaming and bashing the OP when IMO he's 100% right.

I switched to AMD from an nvidia setup when the Cayman cards came out. Their site sucks ASS plain and simple. YES you can click the drop downs but there are tons of things a newbie to their stuff could be very confused about. E.G. Do you use the hotfix or the driver in the driver section? Do you install the driver with CCC or without CCC? What's CCC? Do you have to install the Hotfix over the driver? What's a Cap for? What if you need the hotfix and you go to download the driver and you can't even find the hotfix there!! As far as you know there is no hotfix. There isn't even a reference to the hotfix where you download the regular driver. (They should have a link next to 11.5 that says hotfix available) Problem solved

None of this can be found in an easy way. I mean you have to go to different sections and read FAQ's etc..

BTW I know all the answers to the questions I posted above, it's just silly to assume the entire internet will know them too when they go there to download the stuff. Their site needs a major overhaul and simplification.
 
Lord_Exodia said:
Guys I have to agree with the OP 100%. I'm shocked at all the flaming he's getting but I've always noticed that anytime someone says anything bad about AMD it's torches and pitchforks here in the forum. I pray one day all of this useless fanboyism will end. A lot of reputable members here are flaming and bashing the OP when IMO he's 100% right.

I switched to AMD from an nvidia setup when the Cayman cards came out. Their site sucks ASS plain and simple. YES you can click the drop downs but there are tons of things a newbie to their stuff could be very confused about. E.G. Do you use the hotfix or the driver in the driver section? Do you have to install the Hotfix over the driver? What's a Cap for?

None of this can be found in an easy way. I mean you have to go to different sections and read FAQ's etc..

BTW I know all the answers to the questions I posted above, it's just silly to assume the entire internet will know them too when they go there to download the stuff. Their site needs a major overhaul and simplification.
Click to expand...


I agree with you 100%. AMD needs to do some very basic work on their site and with their instructions.

You cannot find simple answers to frequently asked questions easily, and if you come here to ask for some help all you get is a bunch of elementary school bullshit answers and you get treated like trash.

I've had both side's cards and right now I have HD 6950s that I modded, and it's the same old crap with AMDs drivers....no clear cut instructions about anything. I've had Radeons of all sorts from the 2xxx series to today.....their driver section is just not very good.

Yesterday for grins I tried to find SOMEWHERE on their website where they might describe how to connect three cards in Tri-Crossfire........I couldn't find anything. I had to run around to various websites hoping to see a picture of the three card setups.

I also don't understand why AMD continues to call their beta drivers "hotfixes". To me that implies they fixed some little thing or other. It does not imply that it is a full driver version that is installed like every other version.

I guess AMD just expects people to "know certain things".:(
 
I hate the fact that I actually had to click on this thread but then I am happy to read all of the funny responses.......
 
Uhh the entire internet doesn't need to know about lots of things.

Average Joe only has to use the basic WHQL driver to avoid headaches. Not his own headaches, but the headaches he can produce to IT.

IF he has a specific problem in a game, he will google it, and if that specific problem has been solved by a hotfix, it will pop in google, so if you need the hotfix you will know through google, and the link will take you there 90% of the time, and yes Google is finally something that even Average Joe is understanding.


"With or without CCC" => if you don't know what it is, chances are that you won't use it//don't need it. This is true and has always been true, and you are supporting lazyness about clicking 1 more time to the thing called "release notes" for the current driver, and there you can see what is what in the download.

And to Magoo => Support & Drivers => Frequently Asked Questions.
Yes there are many things that can be obscure, but honestly most of the questions//examples you guys are putting out aren't "obscure".

An excemption i would make is the Tri-Crossfire, even though nvidia doesn't have a site with how to tri-sli either.
 
An excemption i would make is the Tri-Crossfire, even though nvidia doesn't have a site with how to tri-sli either.
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This is true..........but.........the motherboard typically sends out a three-way SLI connector.

I mean, mount the cards on the MB and plug in the connector to your three cards, it's even in the manual that comes with the MB.

I mean, damn, AMD has a whole web page/pages for Crossfire and EyeFinity and never do they discuss how to configure their cards.....although it's not hard to figure out......card #1 to card #2 , card #2 to card #3.....

I just don't find AMd as easy or familiar to use as nvidia's.......and I'm not bitching about the lack of 1 click solutions, I don't mind looking.

It's just not as clear cut..........same can be said about nvidia too. I mean they have shit on SLi that was only pertainant to the 6800 series.

I don't think any of what I have read here is worthy of the flaming I've seen.......but I guesss some people are just asshats plain and simple.
Whether you agree or disagree with the OP, there are /is some things on both sites that could be improved and explained better.....and half the people here that act like they are totally in the know, probably aren't.
 
Lol best thread in over a month. The coconut and sub forum jungle analogies pretty much hit the nail on the head. Never had a problem with finding hotfixes/beta fixes whether it be Nvidia or AMD. Not everything needs hold your hand instructions.

edit: took me 1 click to find this elusive hotfix: http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx

hotfix.JPG
 
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I believe the "elusive" hotfix was released last week and was made public in a post on the front page.

It was not until several days later was it on the page your clicker found.

Things are not always as they seem, nor are they always as obvious as you make them.
 
They have always been on that specific page, even the OP mentioned it.

He just wanted some other way to get to them, and to that i would oppose because again, an average joe should NOT touch anything other than WHQL drivers unless he very specifically experiences the problem fixed by the hotfix//beta//whatever.
 
magoo said:
I believe the "elusive" hotfix was released last week and was made public in a post on the front page.

It was not until several days later was it on the page your clicker found.

Things are not always as they seem, nor are they always as obvious as you make them.
Click to expand...

No proof means zero credibility.
 
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