CAT 9.12 vs 10.1 vs 10.6

So can anyone explain exactly what are the differences (gains) between these three?

 

10.6 would have the latest game compatibility fixes?

 

When i upgraded from 9.12 to 10.6 it gave me a 30+ FPS boost in DiRT2... But it also did gave me those darn GSOD's.

 

Lots of optimization updates and fixes. I know for bad company at least, with an ati card I would get extremely long map load times with 10.4, then they fixed it with 10.5, and 10.6 seems to have rebroke it for my old 4850, but I think it's still fixed for the rest.

I would definitely update though. Just got my g73 last night, and think I have it set up the way I want it, including 10.6. I had one GSOD this morning, but after returning the clocks to normal and completely removing power4games, I have yet to have another. Runs great, and best of all, runs cool and quiet. Much improved from my returned e17. Performance is about the same.

 

Introduction - AMD ATI Catalyst Driver Performance Comparison | [H]ard|OCP

 

Ah, thanks for the link!

 

I noted the inclusion of additional resolutions for a host of games. I didn't have 1600x900 with stock drivers, but now I do with 10.6 so I can now run more eye-candy at a lower res.

Also no more micro stuttering in BFBC2, MW1/2 and CSS.

311 point hike with 3DMark Vantage.

Optimization led to lower idle temps too I assume?

 

And is there anyone that has had absolutely no GSODs on the 10.6 drivers?
If so how did you install them (over the stock drivers / on a fresh windows install / after cleaning the old drivers with driver sweeper?)

 

Me me me me me.

Using Ziddy's vBIOS v3 and I've tried overclocks of up to 780/1100 with huge frag sessions of BFBC2 and L4D2. I don't dare go higher because I got GSODs with 800/1100 with stock drivers.

As for installation, I installed Cat 10.6 directly over 9.12. No uninstall, just the basic layman install.

IMO, clean installs cause more problems than they solve when it comes to drivers. My policy is to clean up only after something goes wrong.

 

I've never had a GSOD at stock speed, stock vbios with any driver version including 10.6, so I think they're caused by hardware problems. I install new drivers over old ones and haven't had any problems

 

None here. No modified clocks or vBIOS.

I always uninstall/install Catalyst Driver/CCC from the command line.

1) Open command prompt as administrator
2) Change to ATI driver setup/install directory (e.g. "cd \ATI\Support\10-6_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc\Bin64")
3) Uninstall the current: "atisetup -UNINSTALL ALL -OUTPUT SCREEN" (Wait for it to finish!!)
4) Reboot like it says to
5) Open command prompt as administrator
6) Change to ATI driver setup/install directory (e.g. "cd \ATI\Support\10-6_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc\Bin64")
7) Install the new one: "atisetup -INSTALL -OUTPUT SCREEN" (Wait for it to finish!!)
8) Reboot like it says to

 

I'm stable, even at default clock speeds atm.

 

That seems like alot of work from not using the GUI.

 

Is there any specific thing that would cause a gsod right away if you have that problem?

 

And have you all that said you have never had GSODs expirienced the keyboard missing keystrokes when you have synaptics touchpad driver installed or not?

 

A couple mouse clicks and commands? It's not a lot of work at all compared to failed uninstalls and installs, using a driver sweeper app, etc. The longest step is the reboots (15 seconds max?) but the computer does the work there

The GUI has crashed and not completed uninstalls more than any other install app I've ever used.

Whatever works...

 

Don't know who you're asking, but I have the Synaptics driver installed but I have to disable the touchpad in BIOS to get rid of missed keystrokes.

The so-called "new" driver (newly posted, anyway) from the Asus G73 downloads page is the exact driver I have on my driver/utility disk, so that did nothing for me.

 

This is really sad to hear. I used the exact same synaptics driver version on my d900f and had no missing keystrokes ever. So this is something that only Asus has - probably a conflict with some other driver on the g73jh.. I would expect that if you buy an expensive gaming laptop you wouldnt come across such faults...
And uninstalling the driver is not really a fix since i have to reboot and go into bios every time i want to enable or disable my touchpad...

 

I definitely agree. FWIW uninstalling the driver didn't help me at all - only turning off the device in the BIOS settings works for me. Unacceptable is right!

Fortunately it's extremely rare for me to work without a mouse.

 

I just installed an older synaptics driver without multitouch - v10.1.8 (06Dec07)
and it seams im not missing keystrokes anymore. Can someone perhaps try this out too any confirm its not just a bit of luck now?

 

I'll give it a go since i don't use the pinch-zoom or the scroll features. just PM me the link where you found it. Even i am having missed keystrokes a little too much to ignore.
EDIT: the date says 06dec07 ryte. The G73 was released way after that wasn't it..so it it compatible with the G73??

 

HERE.
Its an older one for vista, but it works for Win 7 too...
I hope its not just a temporary thing for me here since the missing keystrokes have been driving me mad. I mean the keyboard is just something that you use all the time and its a very important part of the notebook that just has to work 100%. I really dont know what Asus is thinking...

 

I think they were thinking Arby's

 

10.6 run much hotter, from my experience. and having that 1600*900 options is sweet. wish the Asus 10.1 had them

 

Someone posted in another thread that an installation of just the drivers he didn't have gsod but with ccc he had. I'm thinking of playing with the idea of a full install of asus 10.1 then uninstall just the driver. Then install the 10.6 driver. Wonder if it'll work.

 

I updated from stock drivers to 10.6, basically to improve bfbc2 load times which has worked great ... a big fps increase as well.

On stock biosv204 and just installed the 10.6's straight over the stock drivers.

 

I tried to install 10.6 over the stock drivers, boot up took longer, Furmark crashed and the world imploded.

Did a system restore and all is well again. Asus needs to perform whatever magic they did on the stock drivers on 10.6

 

what 1600x900 option thingy are we talking about?

 

Never had GSOD and used 10.4 and now 10.6.

1- Uninstall ATI drivers
2- reboot in safe mode
3- run ccleaner registry fix
4- reboot in safe mode
5- run drive sweeper and remove any ATI stuff.
6- reboot normally.
7 Install new version of driver.

 

the 10.6 adds 1600*900 as a display resolution in games and desktop

 

For me 10.6 is the best at the moment. Never had any overheating problem. Noticed FPS increase in modern games with 10.6.

 

me too, as of now. but before i had increased temps but when i compare it to stock when i reverted back, they were just the same

 

I don't know if its the 53C weather outside, but my idle temps have gone up by 2C on stock clocks.

Mem IO used to idle 61 and its now around 63. I'm more inclined to blaming one month of use/dust buildup than to blame the vBios/Cat10.6 leading to the increased temperatures.

Downclocking to 200/500 with P4G is a life saver.

 

Ive been updating the drivers as they come out all the way from stock. Ive never GSODed and every release gives my better performance.

If you cant update the drivers without GSOD, rma the laptop.

 

I must ask, were there 2 different versions of 10.6? I was... am confident I downloaded 10.6 a while ago. I had an accident with my drivers, had to uninstall it, and reinstall it again (dled from ati site again), and I'm noticing different settings I've never seen before and an animated video when changing settings. Did anyone else know this or was my drivers just not installed right in the first place?

 

hi how do u find out which cat u how on g73 ??

 

You can add whatever resolutions to whatever driver package you want. After the driver is installed, open up regedit and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\CONTROL\Video

Under that key, there are going to be a bunch of strings. You want to go after the keys that are labeled "0000". Only one of the "0000" keys has a boatload of info in it. It's going to vary from machine to machine which one this turns out to be. That's the one you want to go after. Look for the value called "DALNonStandardModesBCD1". Double click on it and add whatever resolution you like. You also have to add the refresh rate at the end. Save your changes and reboot. You'll now have your newly created refresh rates as an option.

I'll attach a screen shot so you can see what I am talking about, and where mine is.

Hopefully what I just typed makes sense.

 

Yeah, a leaked 10.6 back in march/april, and the officials.

 

I'm unable to upgrade my video drivers from stock to 10.6. I've tried both an install over the stock and completely removing the stock and then installing, both produce unstable results with GSODs and freezes, what do I do?

 

Same as Slone, but stock is stable

 

Wow, I wish I knew this. The update fixed every issue I was having with my 64 bit programs. Awesome.

I have one more question, and it might be a little off topic but does the display adapter under manage read 5870 under device manager for you guys or 5800 series?

mine reads 5800 series and I just want to make sure I installed it correctly. How can I test my gpu?

 

My stock is stable as well, probably should have mentioned that. PM me if you manage to get an upgrade working properly... I've been trying different ways of installing, then running Furmark. If I get a crash I do a system restore.

 

Yes I would RMA it. The laptop SHOULD run with 10.6's no prob.

After 10.4 I think they driver renamed it from 5870 to 5800. So yes, 5800 is normal

 

so I'm running 10.6 .... furmark would cause gsods before even hitting 80C.... (or 10-15 secs at best into).... so in short for some reason (think virus protection of sorts) furmark no longer works.... on 10.6, and haven't gotten a gsod (knock on wood) in any other program... (ran unigine heaven no artifacting even, ran tf2 and ruse beta at pretty much max nothing)... this is all compromise after they wouldn't rma (wasn't a huge deal for me so i didn't push much)

 

Hmm, I wonder where one can get info on the GSOD issues with G73s....

 

Probably "not" below that line across the posts

 

yes Chastity i tried your methods (sry for not stating earlier) and still have issues.... (not flashing v bios though)

 

I had all sorts of instability with the non-Asus drivers, and the v3 BIOS was part of my fix. I suspect that the issue is tied to whatever internal settings were stored when ATI/Asus cooked that vBIOS, and recooking it addressed those issues, plus being aggravated by P4GH. I mean, it's just a tweaked stock vBIOS with Overdrive enabled. You aren't going to lose functionality for using it, but you will gain some battery life and the OverDrive option in CCC.

Have you tried changing the clock speeds? (Sorry if I already asked that to you, I have a lot of threads to keep track of. )

 

yea, try oc your gpu to 705/1100. that worked for me.