Operating systems supported
The latest version of the CATALYST™ software suite is designed to support the following Microsoft Windows platforms:
Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows Millennium Edition (ME)
Windows 98/98SE through the ME driver
New Features
This section provides information on new features found in this release of the CATALYST™ Display Drivers. CATALYST™ 3.8 adds new features to the ATI Control Panel. Game play, multimedia, and 3D applications are extended with new technologies and customizable environments. CATALYST™ 3.8 features upgrades, expansions and innovative solutions to 3D applications, multimedia, game play and home entertainment that deliver the ultimate in visual experiences. New features include:
*-OpenGL and D3D tabs combined into one
*-Game Profile Feature
*-CATALYST™ Uninstaller
*-MULTIMEDIA CENTER™ Update
*-New ATI 3D Tab Layout
*-SMARTSHADER™ Effects
*-VPU Recover
*-ATI OVERDRIVE
*-HYDRAVISION™ Basic Edition
*-TV Overscan
OpenGL and D3D tabs combined into one
CATALYST™ 3.8 introduces a new user-friendly 3D control panel. The 3D control panel combines the current D3D and OpenGL tabs into one tab called ATI 3D.
Game Profile Feature
CATALYST™ 3.8 provides users with the ability to create 3D profiles so that every game can have its own unique settings. The custom sections of the control panel can now be used to individually configure 3D settings such as Anti-Aliasing, Anisotropic filtering and SMARTSHADER™ effects. These additions allow gamers to activate exciting pixel shader effects in any Direct3D or OpenGL application.
CATALYST™ Uninstaller
CATALYST™ 3.8 introduces a new simple application that removes the CATALYST™ software from the system.
MULTIMEDIA CENTER™ Update
The latest version of the ATI MULTIMEDIA CENTER™ now provides the following new features:
Teletext support within EAZYLOOK™
Fast TVTV™ for PC Integration
File Player Enhancements
MULTVIEW™
EAZYLOOK™ On Screen Information Enhancements
For more information on these new features within the ATI Multimedia Center 8.7 visit:
http://www2.ati.com/drivers/mmc87_Release_Notes.html
New ATI 3D Tab Layout
CATALYST™ 3.8 now provides a single slider within the new 3D tab that allows users to select from different ATI recommended 3D settings. Benefits include the flexibility to adjust the overall performance/quality experience with the main slider.
SMARTSHADER™ Effects
SMARTSHADER™ allows gamers to enable an exciting pixel shader effects in Direct3D or OpenGL applications. SMARTSHADER™ effects delivers the amazing rendering techniques found in pre-shader 3D applications.
VPU Recover
VPU Recover (patent pending) allows the CATALYST™ display driver to reset the graphics accelerator when it is no longer responding to the display driver. Without VPU Recover, a reboot of the system would be required when the graphic accelerator is not responding to the display driver. Depending on the state of the system when VPU Recover is activated, applications that are running may be able to fully recover from the graphics processor reset. If this is not possible, the active application may be closed and the system will return to the desktop. VPU Recover will significantly reduce the number of system crashes caused by graphics hardware hangs. This allows for fewer interruptions and virtually eliminates situations where work can be lost, as well as increasing system stability.
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Note: When the CATALYST™ display driver cannot activate the VPU Recover feature a message is displayed indicating the following: A severe graphics error has occurred. Please save your work, and restart your system.