Just ordered a 7970 - how to configure?

[topbanana]

What are the best drivers and so on? My current graphics card is about 4 years old, I haven't been keeping track at all of the latest stuff. I'm quite excited to see the difference

 

[arc@css]

I don't have personal experience of these cards, but I think the 12.11's are the ones you want. Enjoy.

 

[Addicted]

12.11 latest beta, job done.

Always the latest driver.

 

[topbanana]

Woohoo, installed the driver in advance, sad or what!

Thanks chaps

 

[tommybhoy]

Don't forget to install the latest Caps too(yes they are used for single gpu's too).

' New profiles added to this release:
- Crysis 2: Resolves performance issues seen in CrossFire mode
- Darksiders 2: Resolves screen flickering seen in CrossFire mode
- Max Payne 3: Resolves Menu flickering when Anti-Aliasing is enabled through the Catalyst Control Center
- FIFA 13: Improves CrossFire performance, and improve single GPU performance
- Project C.A.R.S.: Resolves screen flickering seen in CrossFire mode
- Natural Selection 2 - Resolves Menu flickering when Anti-Aliasing is enabled through the Catalyst Control Center'

12.11 Beta and Caps:

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/Pages/radeon_win7-64.aspx

 

['Wes]

I hope you uninstalled your previous drivers and used driver fusion to delete any remaining entries, and then you installed the 12.11 Beta 7 drivers and 12.10 CAP 1 application for your 7970.

 

[spoffle]

I hope you uninstalled your previous drivers and used driver fusion to delete any remaining entries, and then you installed the 12.11 Beta 7 drivers and 12.10 CAP 1 application for your 7970.

This isn't actually necessary.

 

['Wes]

This isn't actually necessary.

Better to be safe than sorry when installing a new GPU.

 

[psychodil]

Better to be safe than sorry when installing a new GPU.

+1

Far to many people are complacent and just install over old drivers, and then complain if they have issues.

 

[weehamish]

TBH i dont think it will matter, i have an Nvidia card with AMD catalyst running, 0 problems.

Im sure there can be conflicts but its unlucky to get them.

 

[spoffle]

Exactly, I think it's scare-mongering a bit really.

People have AMD and nVidia drivers working together no problem.

 

['Wes]

Exactly, I think it's scare-mongering a bit really.

People have AMD and nVidia drivers working together no problem.

I do it if i'm installing a new GPU, but if it's a driver or a CAP for my current GPU, then i just install over them.

 

[kration]

Don't forget to install the latest Caps too(yes they are used for single gpu's too).

' New profiles added to this release:
- Crysis 2: Resolves performance issues seen in CrossFire mode
- Darksiders 2: Resolves screen flickering seen in CrossFire mode
- Max Payne 3: Resolves Menu flickering when Anti-Aliasing is enabled through the Catalyst Control Center
- FIFA 13: Improves CrossFire performance, and improve single GPU performance
- Project C.A.R.S.: Resolves screen flickering seen in CrossFire mode
- Natural Selection 2 - Resolves Menu flickering when Anti-Aliasing is enabled through the Catalyst Control Center'

12.11 Beta and Caps:

http://sites.amd.com/us/game/downloads/Pages/radeon_win7-64.aspx

Apologies for a noob question, but what are Caps?

And how do I download them for my Gigabyte 7870?

If I download the latest 12.11 catalyst drivers will that do the job?

 

[Orcvader]

Woohoo, installed the driver in advance, sad or what!

Thanks chaps

But they installed for your current GPU (if it's AMD)... they only install the 7970 when it's actaully present in the system.

Windows 7 and 8 is fine handling multiple GPU drivers. You can just leave the old ones there. I've done this and had no problems.

 

[topbanana]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I've learned a lot finding out about Caps etc. I didn't even know this was a thing. You'd think it should sort it all out for you.

Anyone use Radeon Pro? I've seen refrences to microstutter but don't know what it is.

 

['Wes]

No need for it anymore tbh, it was used for it's ability to add application profile(s) for numerous games which Catalyst Control Center (now known as AMD Vision Engine Control Center) didn't have, and also to force a game profile to improve crossfire compatibility and performance (which i used for Crysis 2 when it was released, using a Bioshock profile when i had crossfire), but whilst AMD Vision Engine Control Center doesn't have the latter feature, it does have the adding application profile(s) feature.

 

[topbanana]

Thanks.

Well it's arrived, and it's the size of a small family car, but whose idea was an 8 pin PCI-express connector??

 

[Robes]

Apologies for a noob question, but what are Caps?

And how do I download them for my Gigabyte 7870?

If I download the latest 12.11 catalyst drivers will that do the job?

Catalyst Application Profiles

Just basically games specific tweaks. And no, you have to download the CAPs separately from the link above.

 

[Addicted]

Thanks.

Well it's arrived, and it's the size of a small family car, but whose idea was an 8 pin PCI-express connector??

Well if a card needs more power than a 6-pin can provide - what would you suggest?
Having 3x 6-pin's would just be retarded.

And FYI - both connectors on my Lightning are 8-pin!

 

[thenewoc]

As I'm new to a 7970 too, I was confused as to what to install if wanting to use 12.11 Beta so I checked with AMD. Their reply stated that the 12.11 Beta also contains the CAPS so if you wish to use the Beta then that is all you need to install. Waiting on a bit more info relating to the .NET version though, as to its relevance.