The AMD ATI Radeon Experience

[Scougar]

I worked in a desktop support team for 2500 developers and some of the builds we would have to put together could take 4 days of software installs before being dropped of with one if the devs for 'tuning' before taking the image so I understand what the OP is saying.
But, if you want to test if hardware is working try a fresh build and install the latest drivers etc and see how things go. If it works ok after that then you know its an image problem and can create a fresh image.
If you do have to recreate your build, I would recommend you test your build now & then to ensure everything is still working and take the odd mid-build creating image just incase theres a problem.
OP: Your tone is really bad and you don't make yourself an easy person to help. Years of suffering/ working in support has taught me to ALWAYS be nice when asking for help/ support, people are much more likely to want to help.

You should see the PC refresh we had. Took about 3 months to get the builds right, which is what I was eluding to in my reply about being machine specific installations. What it all comes down to is that it can be more than JUST the drivers. It might be the lack of windows updates, patches, fixes (from MS), dot net installation, an old directory hanging around and many other things.

He still hasn't answered critical questions like, do those drivers work fine for games on a fresh install with nothing else on the machine? Also, since he was having issue's with slots on the board, it could EASILY be BIOS problems, or a crap motherboard for example.

I had an Asrock board, and whilst it was good for the money I had to alter many BIOS settings to get gfx cards stable. Blaming the drivers isn't always the way.

Even if it is the drivers, that is why I asked for specific problems he was having and with WHICH SET, so he could compare to other people. We simply have not had those answers yet.

 

[FireShadow]

You are right, I could do some real diagnostics and get to the heart of the issue.

But I will wait until my new PC arrives (and works) first so there is no financial risk to me.

Days lost to this PC have already cost me thousands in lost income.

Thanks for the helpful posts etc.

 

[blackninja]

Maybe Radeon GPUs are good, but the driver software is NOT

There is no such thing as a WORKING Radeon driver.

Each version has its own bugs ... you have to decide which set of bugs you can live with.

This means the advice "don't upgrade your GPU driver unless you need to" doesn't really work ...

... because there is ALWAYS something wrong - you are forced into trying each driver version (and hotfix) as it is released - just in case you get lucky.

My computers always have a small Boot volume so I can Ghost my boot partition in 5 minutes.

This means I can jump forwards and backwards between Catalyst versions without too much bother:

- Use Catalyst uninstaller (except for the versions which give bsod)
- Restart into Safe Mode
- Use Phyxion.net DriverSweeper to clean up the mess left by the uninstaller
- Restart Windows
- Cancel any prompts to install new hardware
- Install (yet another) version of Catalyst

make sure to maintain a spreadsheet as follows:

----------- ----------- --------------------------- ---------
Version Notes
----------- ----------- --------------------------- ---------
Version     Bugs        Notes                       Warnings
----------- ----------- --------------------------- ---------
10.09       moan moan   Do not use uninstaller      
10.10       winge winge Installs OK                 
10.11       ...                                     
10.12       Freezes Windows                         DO NOT USE
----------- ----------- --------------------------- ---------

----------------------- ---------------------------
History
----------------------- ---------------------------
Date                    Note
----------------------- ---------------------------
09:31 11/12/2010        Using 10.09
09:31 12/12/2010        Tried 10.10
09:31 13/12/2010        Rolled back to 10.09
09:31 14/12/2010        Tried 10.11
09:32 15/12/2010        Rolled Back to 10.09
09:32 16/12/2010        Tried 10.12
09:32 17/12/2010        Rolled Back to 10.09
----------------------- ---------------------------

Naturally after dealing with this bullsh*t for 3 years I won't be buying another Radeon.

So far I have had no problems with NVidia drivers. None.

(The reason I use a Radeon now is because the AMD chipset mobo blue screens with an NVidia card ...)

Tough luck ... had issues with both over the years and biggest issue with ati that I have is their driver packaging, drivers themselves are mostly fine. Right now my GTX460s in 2 pcs continuously drop to 410 MHz in games - not good !!!

5970 running sweet though.

 

[Justintime]

Maybe Radeon GPUs are good, but the driver software is NOT

There is no such thing as a WORKING Radeon driver.

Each version has its own bugs ... you have to decide which set of bugs you can live with.
...)

Have had Radeons since the 64mb DDR VIVO aka Radeon 7500, not had any real issues even back then.

These are my main rigs radeons over the years:
7500
8500
9700pro
9800pro
x800xt
x1900xtx
HD4870
HD5850

Not that i am biased, had Nvidia too

TNT
TNT2
Geforce 256
Geforce 2,3,4,6,7 and 8, passed on the 5 series

 

[PapaLazaru]

Never had an issue myself.

Peeps are doing summat wrong somewhere..........

 

[MoRT489]

Never had an issue myself.

Peeps are doing summat wrong somewhere..........

Trying Eyefinity and expecting it to go smoothly was what i did wrong