Some Noob questions about AMD Catalyst, please help!

**Demxsr** · April 1st, 2012, 04:24 AM

I got a new gamming rig about 3 weeks ago. It’s running 2 HD7770’s in crossfire with 7 Home Premium 64 bit. The computer has run well except for AMD software related stuff. Also before I go any further I think it’s important to note that I’m not super familiar with all this GPU tuning / maintenance and things of that sort.

The first time I booted it was running Catalyst 12.1, and I was prompted to update to 12.2. So I did. During the update the screen went black with the white blinking line in the top left of the screen, and just stayed there after a long time. So after restarting and a couple of blue screens, I was able to uninstall Catalyst and the display drivers, and go back to the system working with 12.1 (which I installed with the disk the cards come with).

12.3 comes out… I try to update to that and the same exact thing happens. So I uninstall Catalyst and all the drivers related to it. Upon restart I notice that without catalyst installed my computer recognized that its running 2, 7770s. So I start up a game and it works nicely. In fact, with graphics maxed (like they were when play w/ Catalyst), I’m running 200-250 FPS. With Catalyst I would only be running up to 140 MAX.

Why are games running better without Catalyst, and is it safe for my cards?

After reading a bit I had turned ULPS off in the registry (did this while I had Catalyst 12.1), and when I had Catalyst I had clocked the cards up 10% to 1.1 Mghz (not sure if its still set there). I tried installing the monitoring software from AMD and it won’t let me install it because I need a .NET Framework and when I installed overdrive to see if I could get additional information there it just blue screened me. And would continue blue screening me right at start up until I booted in safe mode. The automatic fan speed is also working without Catalyst. Also without catalyst Im not getting weird rainbow color textures flashing and flashing buttons here and there in Starcraft II and Swtor.

Also is there a place that I can update the display drivers ONLY without getting Catalyst, since up to this point that just crashes my computer and puts it on the black screen with the blinking line FOREVER!

Any help is greatly appreciated,
Thanks

**stroyal** · April 1st, 2012, 11:18 PM

Welcome to TechIMO!

Until the gamers come on, I can answer a few things.

You don't need Catalyst , at all.
Drivers can be down loaded separately.

If you are not over clocking, or need any of the tweaks, in Catalyst, drivers, are all you need.
I haven't looked a it in a while, but AFAIK the only way it can effect performance, is with over clocking.

I think there are some bugs in recent versions of catalyst, and I also think there is a fix.

Usually you want the newest drivers, but if newer ones are not working for your setup, using older ones is perfectly expectable.

Same goes for Catalyst.

Edit
.NET Framework is just another program @ windows update.
There is no reason not to install it, you will eventually come across other programs that use it.
They will become more common.

**Demxsr** · April 1st, 2012, 11:41 PM

thanks for the reply.

I haven't found a place to update the Display driver ONLY for my 7770's. When i search for the drivers it always brings me to the download page for Catalyst 12.2 or 12.3, which i assume includes the newest drivers for my cards. But since i can't instal Catalyst, is there a place that you know of where i can get the Display driver only? I'm quite certain I'm running the release drivers. Im not running into any FPS issues with any games, its just blinking UI / Text, and blinking discolored terrain blocks in some games. I'm assuming this is a driver issue, which is why i want to latest version of Catalyst... but i can't seem to get it to instal without the system freezing / crashing.

**stroyal** · April 1st, 2012, 11:42 PM

I see AMD doesn't make it easy.
The install program, must give you the option of not installing Catalyst.
Also try the card manufacturers sight, I prefer their drivers, even though they are usually the same.

My HD3850 is the exception.
Sapphire has the only drivers, that work right.

**stroyal** · April 1st, 2012, 11:51 PM

12.2 and up supports 7770

AMD Catalyst 12.2 drivers bring support for 7900 and 7770 series - Graphics - News - HEXUS.net

If you uninstall Catalyst, that should not uninstall drivers, they are separate things.

**Demxsr** · April 1st, 2012, 11:52 PM

Well I just have a AMD Radeon 7770, so doesn't that come straight from AMD, a reference card i think?

**Demxsr** · April 2nd, 2012, 04:49 AM

At AMD Radeon's site i can't find the display driver by itself they all seem to be coupled with Catalyst. the installation of Catalyst is what is causing all the issues, getting stuck on the black screen with the blinking cursor in the top left

**stroyal** · April 2nd, 2012, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by Demxsr

At AMD Radeon's site i can't find the display driver by itself they all seem to be coupled with Catalyst. the installation of Catalyst is what is causing all the issues, getting stuck on the black screen with the blinking cursor in the top left

Not an expert, but I would assume drivers, as Catalyst, can only effect it if it is over clocked.

AMD, hasn't made video cards on quite a while, they only make the chip.
It had to be made by one of the video card manufacturers.

Don't you have the choice, not to install catalyst, when running the install program?
If not just uninstall Catalyst, after, the drivers, won't be unstalled. That usually has to be done in Device Manager.

Last, I don't believe it is Catalyst.
I suspect drivers.

**bigBonehead** · April 2nd, 2012, 09:57 PM

Revo Uninstaller will remove the CCC, without touching the GPU driver...

The free version works great!

**Demxsr** · April 3rd, 2012, 02:49 AM

well to clarify, my issue isn't with uninstillation with CCC. The problem is installing it. I want the latest version of CCC (12.3), so that i have the latest drivers (which come with it), because i have several graphics issues showing in games. Newer drivers should fix this, if not in this version, hopefully one down the line.

The problem is every time i try to install any version of CCC, half way through the screen goes black with the blinking white cursor in the top left and just stays there.

I can't find the updated display drivers for my cards on their own. They are all interlaced with CCC and as far as I've been able to see, it installs as a bundle. You can't install CCC and display drivers separately.

**stroyal** · April 3rd, 2012, 10:31 AM

Still waiting for the graphics card manufacturer.

You could try driver cleaner, after uninstalling everything to do with the card, and start over.

I would be surprised if Catalyst is a problem, especially if you don't make any changes in it.

The driver itself, must be the problem.
As well as I have read on several sights, there was a recent bug, and a fix, is out.

**Demxsr** · April 11th, 2012, 06:59 AM

Yes you are correct, the drivers are the issue. i found out how to instal the drivers by themselves and while i was installing those drivers, the screen blanked again. Still haven't figured out the fix though.

**stroyal** · April 11th, 2012, 04:25 PM

It is still early for these drivers, and Nvidia is pretty good about keeping the updates coming.

**Demxsr** · April 13th, 2012, 10:01 PM

so you think i should just toss these cards and go with Nvidia?

**stroyal** · April 13th, 2012, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Demxsr

so you think i should just toss these cards and go with Nvidia?

No.
I answer so many posts, I had a brain freeze, and forgot what card we where talking about.

You never said who the manufacturer is, as AMD doesn't make cards.

Until you try their drivers, you haven't tried all sources.
They are usually the same, but as I said, my HD3850, only works on the manufactures (Sapphire) drivers, not AMDs.

AMD will come out with updated drivers, if that is the problem, eventually.

If you can afford another card, go for it.