Low performance with new drivers

AndrMr

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Aug 19, 2011
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MB 970 Extreme4
CPU X4 B55
RAM 2x 2GB Hyperx blu 1600 Mhz
GPU Saph HD 5770 512MB GDDR5

Windows 7 64bit Ult SP1 latest updates

I've tried several Catalyst builds, including 11.8 (the latest) and there are some major performance issues when switching to anything above 10.8.

3DMark Vantage (graphics score, performance preset)
10.8 - 9700 / 11.8 - 8000

Crysis (32bit, benchmark GPU x4, very high, 1280x1024, 0xAA, 0xAF)
10.8 - 32 FPS / 11.8 - 27 FPS

UT3 (benchmark tool x3, first map, Dx10, settings 5/5, 1280x1024, 4xAA, 16xAF)
10.8 - 95 FPS / 11.8 - 85 FPS (some drivers managed even 65 FPS)

Resident Evil 5 (variable test, Dx10, 1280x1024, 0xAA, 0xAF, highest settings)
10.8 - 80 FPS (A - renders very well) / 11.8 - 50 FPS (B - no significant problems)

Dirt 3 (Dx11, 1280x1024, Ultra/High Shadows/Reflections/Mirrors, 4xAA, 16xAF)
10.8 - 59 FPS average / 11.8 - 34 FPS average

As you can see there's a huge difference in Dirt 3 and Resident Evil 5.

I'd be happy with 10.8 but it has some issues with antialiasing in Dirt 3 and Borderlands, the text or edges of 2D stuff are pink and the sun in Dirt 3 is also a big pink spot, but only when in fullscreen mode.

I changed drivers using their uninstall option, followed by a reboot into safe mode where I used Driver

Sweeper to clean the leftover DLLs. I've tested 10.8, 10.12, 11.6 to 11.8, all except 10.8 lead to that major performance drop in Resident Evil 5, Dirt 3 or Vantage.

Maybe they come with some new settings ? I tested with default driver settings each time. Install driver, reboot, load tests.

I did manage to score 9900 in Vantage during the early days of the Windows install with 11.8, however Dirt 3 and Resident Evil 5 never ran as well as on 10.8.
 
It could be a catalys setting or something that has a different default setting between versions. Just use the latest driver, its normally the most stable which is more important than high fps. Play with settings if you want higher fps.
 

AndrMr

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Aug 19, 2011
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That's just dumb, I wanna use my hardware to its full potential.

It's really frustrating, it's as if something artificially reduces the FPS. With 10.11 I get 66 FPS average in Dirt 3 benchmark, with 11.x it hits me with 45 FPS as soon as the credits screen shows up, that's a freakin 2D image !
 

_orbital_

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Jun 28, 2008
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than uninstall new drivers and go with 10.11
newer drivers are more meant for newer cards..
 

AndrMr

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Aug 19, 2011
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Anything below 11.4 causes Dirt 3 corruption, it's a known bug and that version fixes it. Newer drivers should optimize stuff even further and certainly not slow stuff down, theyre not just meant for newer cards, look at the 6770 cards for example, those are rebranded 5770's with a better HDMI output, I doubt they ship those with older drivers.