ATI driver control centre

[Skybird]

This software is new to me, I always had nVidia before.

I run my screen at gamma 1.3, else it is too dark. However, whenever I leave a running software, a sim, whatever, the desktop is reset to dark gamma 1.0. when I open the control centre, the setting still is 1.3, when I click to reduce or increase it, the screen immediately jumps to a much brighrer setting, like it should be. And way to make that once set value of 1.3 everlasting?

I also cannot see the description of the key shortcut function, as described in the help file, matching what it really does when trying it. The only keyboard command present is the one to start the cointrol centre. I fail to manage to enter new keyboard shortcuts, for example to increase reduce gamma, AA and AF, these wopuld be the most interesting.

Finally I see that my system needs 50% longer time to boot, or shut down with the new ATI software. Returning to desktop after closinga running application also takes longer. I have deleted the former nVidia driver and cleaned the registry manually (not that there was much left).

At this point of time I must say that I do not like the ATI driver a bit, compared with nVidia, it's handling ergonomy is clearly inferior. that card gives good performance, but if the software stays that way, then I must regret to have changed to ATI.

Any help for the questions above, especially concerning the also returning-to-default gamma?

[Gizzmoe]

Don´t use the Catalyst Control Center, it´s a bloated POS. Get the Omegadriver (an optimized ATI driver). Less memory usage, faster boot times, more FPS:
http://www.omegadrivers.net/

Uninstall the CCC, then the driver, reboot, then install the Omegadriver. It uses the "ATI Tray Tool", a very good configuration software.

[Marcantilan]

I´m with Gizz.

Use the Omega drivers

[Skybird]

Doing that now.

[Skybird]

Verdammter Mist.

I deinstalled the ATI driver, and used the deinstallation tool, then cleaned the registry via cclean, then defragged, then rebooted a second time. Then installed the Omage driver, which interrupted the installation for it was not able to find a file that it needed. I had to manualy guide it to the ATI CD (which I did not use before since I had downloaded the latest Catalyst). After long effort, and pausing, and hesitating, the thing was installed,. followed by a hardware assistent m,essage that a hardware had been detected for which a driver does not exist: the Radeon card. Nevertheless, the control panel for the Omega/ATI software worked, I was able to reset resolution and gamma, and enter hotkeys for increasing/decreasing gamma, and enabled use of these (two separate options need to be set, I think). result of this tamtam:

The hotkeys do not work.
The gamma is always reset to 1.0 when leaving a running software applicatiojn, although both application and deskop options have been adjusted and saved (profile) to 1.3

The change to the Omega driver hasn'T corrected anything, but was a pain to install.

I deeply regret to have gone ATI. ATI, whenever I asked, had been marked as "bad software, bad drivers". I have been with nVidia since my first PC, and enver had a singlke problem with drivers, and their handling ergonomy.

I probably ask the store tomorrow to take it back and change it for an nVidia card. Which will cost me even more money. Hardware performance seem to be good, but the handling of the software just is too bad.


P.S. the hardware manager also list a hardware conflict for video streaming device (which I never had before, both the device and the problem). Don't even know what kind of driver this thing just needs. Just the tip on the cake.

[SUBMAN1]

The newer control center does not use the RAM like the old one did. You guys might take another look at it. I run it fine now - total resource usage is only about 3 MB.

-S

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Verdammter Mist.

I deinstalled the ATI driver, and used the deinstallation tool, then cleaned the registry via cclean, then defragged, then rebooted a second time. Then installed the Omage driver, which interrupted the installation for it was not able to find a file that it needed. I had to manualy guide it to the ATI CD (which I did not use before since I had downloaded the latest Catalyst). After long effort, and pausing, and hesitating, the thing was installed,. followed by a hardware assistent m,essage that a hardware had been detected for which a driver does not exist: the Radeon card. Nevertheless, the control panel for the Omega/ATI software worked, I was able to reset resolution and gamma, and enter hotkeys for increasing/decreasing gamma, and enabled use of these (two separate options need to be set, I think). result of this tamtam:

The hotkeys do not work.
The gamma is always reset to 1.0 when leaving a running software applicatiojn, although both application and deskop options have been adjusted and saved (profile) to 1.3

The change to the Omega driver hasn'T corrected anything, but was a pain to install.

I deeply regret to have gone ATI. ATI, whenever I asked, had been marked as "bad software, bad drivers". I have been with nVidia since my first PC, and enver had a singlke problem with drivers, and their handling ergonomy.

I probably ask the store tomorrow to take it back and change it for an nVidia card. Which will cost me even more money. Hardware performance seem to be good, but the handling of the software just is too bad.


P.S. the hardware manager also list a hardware conflict for video streaming device (which I never had before, both the device and the problem). Don't even know what kind of driver this thing just needs. Just the tip on the cake.

Why are you even bothering with the drivers on the CD????

Download the ones on ATI's website - www.ati.com

-S

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Then installed the Omage driver, which interrupted the installation for it was not able to find a file that it needed.

They forgot to include a file (atiicdxx.ini) in the latest release of the driver, but fixed that immediately. You´ve downloaded it from a site that still offers the old archive.

Here you can find the fixed archive:
http://www.3dacc.net/page.php?id=2326

I have had the latest Catalyst and the latest Omega. Both take long to start when starting the centre, both hinder the booting (and shutting down) process of the system.

You are still using the Catalyst Control Center? I said you need to remove it before you uninstall the original driver and before you install the Catalyst driver. The Cat driver doesn´t even support the Control Center IIRC. That would also explain why hotkeys and Gamma settings don´t work properly on your system.

The CCC requires .NET. When you start the CCC it takes a long time to load because it has to load .NET. Just don´t use it, the "ATI Tray Tool" that comes with the Omega driver is a thousand times better than the standard ATI panel. It supports everything the CCC does, plus a lot more.

When you´ve installed the Omega driver start the ATT (icon is on your desktop), after that it´s visible in your taskbar. Right-click the taskbar icon, go to Tools & Options -> General Options and select "Load with Windows". After you´ve changed the gamma settings (Video & Colors) don´t forget to save the profile and also click "Load selected profile at startup".

[Gizzmoe]

Well, don´t blame ATI, you just had bad luck. There are millions of happy ATI customers, just like there are millions of happy Nvidia customers.

If you are interested we can troubleshoot some more...

[Skybird]

No, thanks, I appreciate your willingness to help, but an installation cannot be any cleaner than what I just did today, and I don't see what else could be done. I am very hesitent to use some weired tweaks on my system , you know, since in the early days on XP I had system reinstallations alomst every 4-6 weeks and am absolutely tired of this. So I am sure that it is not becasue of some exotic system configuration that I have. I have one basic and clean and reliable ground installation, and made an image of that to a separate HD, wheneever something went totally wrong, I copy back that image that is 100% troublefree, and I am done. Only working files and eventual driver and Windows updates, and games I bought meanwhile, need to be added. I love Acronis True Image! It's worth not 40 but 400 euros.I meanwhile have deinstalled it all again, cleaned the system and set up an nVidia driver and put in my old FX5900XT again. Everything perfect, everything stable and reliable again. Will avoid ATI in the future, since Google showed me that with exactly the same problems I am far from being alone. Hardware may be good, but judging by what I have seen their software still is inferior, as was the usual criticism years ago.

[SUBMAN1]

Sorry you had problems. From what I read, I think your gamma resetting is being done by the application, not by the drivers. The ATI software is just doing what it is told by the app.

-S