Catalyst 3.9 frustration - back to 3.7 :o(

[Bill L]

Hi all

Just tried the Cat. 3.9's and had the same problem as with Cat 3.8 namely
appallingly slow WinXP performance. I can't even be bothered to try 3D
performance as the PC is, basically, unusable.

Tried turning off the VPU recovery option (I've seen suggestions that this
worked with Cat. 3.8) and no difference.

The only thing I may need to do is remove the 3.7's before installing 3.9
but installing new Cat's over the old drivers has never caused any problems
before.

Am I doomed to remain with Cat 3.7 drivers from now on (i.e. have the ATI
driver put something permanent in the new drivers which doesn't like my
configuration) or has anyone got any suggestions?

TIA

Bill

Sys spec/config
AMD XP1700+ TB(B) @ 2.1 GHz (10.5 x 200 1.55v)
Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro (Using on-board audio & NIC)
OCZ 512 MB DIMM PC3200
Sapphire 9700 (non-pro) (128MB)

GlobalWin 802 ATX Midi Case
Antec TruePower 330 Watt PSU

Primary IDE Channel
1 x 120 GB Maxtor ATA133 (Master)
1 x 40 GB IBM ATA66 (slave)

Secondary IDE Channel
Liteon 40x12x48x CDRW (Master)
Liteon 16x DVD (Slave)

OtherHW
HP 940C USB Printer
Cannon LiDE30 USB Scanner
Belkin 7 Port USB HUB
Hauppauge WinTV PCI

OS: WinXP Pro SP1

 

[leon]

Hi all

Just tried the Cat. 3.9's and had the same problem as with Cat 3.8 namely
appallingly slow WinXP performance. I can't even be bothered to try 3D
performance as the PC is, basically, unusable.

Tried turning off the VPU recovery option (I've seen suggestions that this
worked with Cat. 3.8) and no difference.

The only thing I may need to do is remove the 3.7's before installing 3.9
but installing new Cat's over the old drivers has never caused any problems
before.

Am I doomed to remain with Cat 3.7 drivers from now on (i.e. have the ATI
driver put something permanent in the new drivers which doesn't like my
configuration) or has anyone got any suggestions?

TIA

Bill

Sys spec/config
AMD XP1700+ TB(B) @ 2.1 GHz (10.5 x 200 1.55v)
Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro (Using on-board audio & NIC)
OCZ 512 MB DIMM PC3200
Sapphire 9700 (non-pro) (128MB)

GlobalWin 802 ATX Midi Case
Antec TruePower 330 Watt PSU

Primary IDE Channel
1 x 120 GB Maxtor ATA133 (Master)
1 x 40 GB IBM ATA66 (slave)

Secondary IDE Channel
Liteon 40x12x48x CDRW (Master)
Liteon 16x DVD (Slave)

OtherHW
HP 940C USB Printer
Cannon LiDE30 USB Scanner
Belkin 7 Port USB HUB
Hauppauge WinTV PCI

OS: WinXP Pro SP1

I have no problem with cat 3.9 and winxp but i uninstall drivers and control
panel and also use driver cleaner to remove remnants.
link below.
http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/

 

[James Riske]

Hi all

Just tried the Cat. 3.9's and had the same problem as with Cat 3.8 namely
appallingly slow WinXP performance. I can't even be bothered to try 3D
performance as the PC is, basically, unusable.

Tried turning off the VPU recovery option (I've seen suggestions that this
worked with Cat. 3.8) and no difference.

The only thing I may need to do is remove the 3.7's before installing 3.9
but installing new Cat's over the old drivers has never caused any problems
before.

Never ever *ever* install new cats without uninstalling the old ones
first, also use the driver cleaner.

http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/

 

[Surnom]

Same here, no problems, even gained a few points in benches.

 

[Bob Cronin]

Never ever *ever* install new cats without uninstalling the old ones
first, also use the driver cleaner.

http://www.driverheaven.net/cleaner/

I never ever uninstall the old ones and never ever had a problem, but of
course I am running with stuff thats about as true-blue Intel/MS as you
can get. I learned my lesson years back when I tried going rogue and
spent my life with no end of minor incompatabilities, enough to drive
you crazy. If you stay with pure Intel and MS stuff, things work as well
as thay're going to (because everyone tests their stuff in that
environment first, I suspect). Fwiw ...

 

[Roj]

Hi all

Just tried the Cat. 3.9's and had the same problem as with Cat 3.8 namely
appallingly slow WinXP performance. I can't even be bothered to try 3D
performance as the PC is, basically, unusable.

Tried turning off the VPU recovery option (I've seen suggestions that this
worked with Cat. 3.8) and no difference.

The only thing I may need to do is remove the 3.7's before installing 3.9
but installing new Cat's over the old drivers has never caused any problems
before.

I'd say you shot yourself in the foot right there.

I uninstall the Display Driver, ATI Control Panel and ATI Software via
Windows Control Panel / Add Remove Programs (no reboots between each
uninstall) and then reboot after the last one. When I come up again,
I cancel the hardware wizard and install the new drivers.

Smooth as glass and no performance hit.

ATI recommends uninstalling the old drivers first - I tend to go with
the vendor's recommendation because they generally know what they're
talking about.

 

[Roj]

I never ever uninstall the old ones and never ever had a problem, but of
course I am running with stuff thats about as true-blue Intel/MS as you
can get.

....which buys you Sweet Tweet.

I learned my lesson years back when I tried going rogue and
spent my life with no end of minor incompatabilities, enough to drive
you crazy.

There are seven machines in my house. Five are AMD. Of the other two
intel-based machines (both P3s), neither use the slow crap intel sells
for motherboards - they're Asus. The Intel machines were also
inherited - intel's price / performance ratio mandated a long time ago
that I wouldn't be wasting my money on them.

If you stay with pure Intel and MS stuff, things work as well
as thay're going to (because everyone tests their stuff in that
environment first, I suspect). Fwiw ...

That may have been true once upon a time years ago - it has long since
ceased to be that way in the industry. For example, Dave Cutler who
is in charge of OS dev at MS is decidedly pro AMD which isn't
surprising considering his lineage (DEC).

 

[Todd Howard]

Try turning your overclock back down ......
TH

I never ever uninstall the old ones and never ever had a problem, but of
course I am running with stuff thats about as true-blue Intel/MS as you
can get. I learned my lesson years back when I tried going rogue and
spent my life with no end of minor incompatabilities, enough to drive
you crazy. If you stay with pure Intel and MS stuff, things work as well
as thay're going to (because everyone tests their stuff in that
environment first, I suspect). Fwiw ...

 

[Bill L]

I'd say you shot yourself in the foot right there.

I uninstall the Display Driver, ATI Control Panel and ATI Software via
Windows Control Panel / Add Remove Programs (no reboots between each
uninstall) and then reboot after the last one. When I come up again,
I cancel the hardware wizard and install the new drivers.

Smooth as glass and no performance hit.

ATI recommends uninstalling the old drivers first - I tend to go with
the vendor's recommendation because they generally know what they're
talking about.
--
Roj

"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
- Ulysses

Some good advice there (apart from the Intel/MS fool). I'll uninstall the
ATI 3.7 drivers completely and let people know how I get on.

But if I need to lower the overclock so that it impacts on performance I'll
stick with the 3.7's (can't afford a new, faster CPU at the mo.).

Cheers

Bill

 

[Bill L]

Some good advice there (apart from the Intel/MS fool). I'll uninstall the
ATI 3.7 drivers completely and let people know how I get on.

But if I need to lower the overclock so that it impacts on performance I'll
stick with the 3.7's (can't afford a new, faster CPU at the mo.).

Cheers

Bill

Yes a complete clean out of Cat 3.7 meant a much better experience and
everything seems fine (only tried the Call of Duty demo so far though).

Bill