Overall the 10.4 release did not add significant new features, at least not for Eyefinity users. Specifically, it did not release support for 5x1-Portrait mode. Notable new features are enhancements to the ATI Catalyst video playback and Video Transcoding. It specifically added support for the Windows 7 Drag and Drop video converter in the Catalyst Control Center.
March 31st was the embargo date for information about the Eyefinity6 card. Unfortunately, I'm running a little behind schedule on the review. I had hoped to have it ready for today, but real life sometimes takes its toll...
AMD has released the the AMD Catalyst 10.3 update. Below are the updates relevant to Eyefinity gamers:
AMD has released the the AMD Catalyst 10.2 update. Below are the updates relevant to Eyefinity gamers:
CrossFireX & Eyefinity Support - Previous CrossFireX support in Eyefinity was a "White List" where only specifically enabled titles were supported. The new driver support moves to a "Black List" support model. This means that games are supported by default, unless there is a particular issue or barrier to a title. This title would be placed on the "Black List" indicating that it was not supported. Further optimization can be made through the Application Profiles.
At Cebit this week vendors are starting to announce the release of 4GB versions of the Radeon HD 5970. The original HD 5970 was the first "CrossFireX on a single card" board released in the 5000-series line. It was essentially two HD 5870s in one package, with each GPU only having 1GB of VRAM.
ATI announced the long awaited Eyefinity6. By and large the technical specs are the same. The differences are the 2GB of RAM, the six Mini-DP outputs and power consumption. Power has increased from the HD 5870 (188W/27W) to Max 228W and Idle 34W. The box also comes with an array of adapters from Mini-DP to other display types. This thread has started on the subject, and includes a couple of slides from the ATI Press Deck about the release.
ATI announced that "Bezel Compensation" (aka Bezel Management) will be released as part of Catalyst 10.3. Bezel Compensation has long been requested by Eyefinity users, and will be delivered in mid-March as part of the next driver release. We've put up a ATI Catalyst Eyefinity Feature Changelog to track recent and upcoming features for Eyefinity users.
While beta testing some drivers for ATI I found that 5040x1050 was now selectable (rather than the previous and unusable 3840x1024) on my 3x24" Eyefnity setup (with a native res of 5760x1200). Upon asking ATI when this would be released, they informed me it had been released with Catalyst 10.1. Somehow this flew under the radar of both ATI's PR folks, and the Eyefinity users here on the WSGF.
AMD has released the the AMD Catalyst 10.1 update. Below are the updates relevant to Eyefinity gamers:
While there weren't a lot of new Eyefinity announcements at CES (something on Eyefinity6 would have been nice), it was in strong showing. AMD had a strong Eyefinity presence at CES with multiple demo rigs. They were also touting strong Eyefinity support in key titles from 2009 and 2010. Dave Baumann passed along this slide from their latest Eyefinity presentation deck, which outlines a number of those titles (Mass Effect 2 included!).
