WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineers Conference)

Zardon · Sep 8, 2003, 08:20 PM

Microsoft's big conference for hardware vendors and driver developers is called WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineers Conference). ATI was featured in two sessions. Although the presentations may be too technical for average folk it is interesting to note that Microsoft's case study for driver stability involved ATI. Below are links to the two presentations ATI were involved with for anyone who wants much more information on how much effort goes into stability of CATALYST.

1. expand "Device & Bus Design & Drivers". Under "Display and Graphics": Destination "Stability" - Distributed Testing of Display Drivers and ATI Case Study here

2. expand "General Driver Information". Under Driver Quality:
Windows Error Reporting here

Davidgt · Sep 8, 2003, 08:43 PM

nice ppt`s very cool info

*CATALYST maker* · Sep 8, 2003, 09:58 PM

I actually hope people get a chance to read the presentations and ask me any questions they may have. It is very important to understand the amount of work that goes into CATALYST stability.

Zardon · Sep 8, 2003, 10:13 PM

I read over the articles, its very interesting, worthwhile for those wondering, go download !

Mac Daddy · Sep 8, 2003, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CATALYST maker
I actually hope people get a chance to read the presentations and ask me any questions they may have. It is very important to understand the amount of work that goes into CATALYST stability.

I will be certain to review both presentations .. Dled before posting.
Any questions, concerns or feedback I may have ... I will post back here ..

Hey guys our Catalyst Maker is asking for Your questions and concerns here

Lets help a BRO out and come up with some clever and inciteful feedback and questions.
Im currently working on changing over the host of my webspace .. I will review these presentations in greater detail later ..
This won't be The "Daddy's" last post too this thread !!

[size=large]Please Download !! and review

[/size]

PPS: Ohh Terry .. great idea man ... THX

jcastill · Sep 9, 2003, 04:37 AM

-How much information you get from Microsoft crash analysis?
-Does the mini-dumps really help on the driver development?
-Do you mix the feedback page from ATI with the Microsoft reports?
-Any example of a fixed problem that the Microsoft reports helped out in?

Thanks Terry for taking time to answer some questions.

*CATALYST maker* · Sep 9, 2003, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jcastill
-How much information you get from Microsoft crash analysis?
-Does the mini-dumps really help on the driver development?
-Do you mix the feedback page from ATI with the Microsoft reports?
-Any example of a fixed problem that the Microsoft reports helped out in?

Thanks Terry for taking time to answer some questions.

1) Lots. We get all the information from Microsoft about crashes caused by ATI drivers. These crashes are put into "buckets" i.e. things that are a common cause for a crash. We have real time access to the crash database
2) 100%. When Microsoft lets us know of a bucket with a very high incident number we attempt to find root cause of the crash and fix it in the code. This initiative has helped our stability greatly
3) No. Totally different initiatives. The microsoft data is usually crashes with Windows, while the feedback page is usually things users can see and identify easily
4) One example I can think of is that on Hyperthreading Intel Machines up until CATALYST 3.0 there were a large number of crashes. As of CATALYST 3.1 we introduced a driver fix and the number of crashes on Hyperthreading CPU's was reduced greatly. The biggest problem we face is getting 100% of our install base to use our latest driver. We are working with Microsoft to find a way of delivering Control Panel and driver updated together as part of Windows Update.

Good questions!

Zardon · Sep 9, 2003, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CATALYST maker
We are working with Microsoft to find a way of delivering Control Panel and driver updated together as part of Windows Update.

now that is an excellent idea.

patje · Sep 9, 2003, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CATALYST maker
We are working with Microsoft to find a way of delivering Control Panel and driver updated together as part of Windows Update.

Would save you guys a lot of bandwith i guess

no serious that would be a great idea indeed for retail cards.
Is Ati also working on a reference driver to support the mobility product range. Reason why I ask this i because i think it would be easier for ATI and the OEM company to clear out bug fixes. Now having an improved reference driver it should be easier for OEM companys to implement their "own" features like hotkeys etc. Or is all this being done behind the scenes?

Thanks for the time Terry!

*CATALYST maker* · Sep 9, 2003, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by patje
Would save you guys a lot of bandwith i guess

no serious that would be a great idea indeed for retail cards.
Is Ati also working on a reference driver to support the mobility product range. Reason why I ask this i because i think it would be easier for ATI and the OEM company to clear out bug fixes. Now having an improved reference driver it should be easier for OEM companys to implement their "own" features like hotkeys etc. Or is all this being done behind the scenes?

Thanks for the time Terry!

I have been trying unsuccesfully for the last little while to include mobility support in CATALYST. I have had no luck so far, so keep on workign on your modifier

Mac Daddy · Sep 10, 2003, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zardon
now that is an excellent idea.

Indeed

jcastill · Sep 12, 2003, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CATALYST maker
Good questions!

Thanks

When Windows Xp shipped I thought this error report was completely useless but I can see it does work.

Very interesting....

Hope you get the error of the MMC 8.5 (I'll install 8.6 in a couple of minutes)

Thanks again for answering the questions nice mini interview.

Sep 8, 2003, 08:20 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineers Conference) Microsoft's big conference for hardware vendors and driver developers is called WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineers Conference). ATI was featured in two sessions. Although the presentations may be too technical for average folk it is interesting to note that Microsoft's case study for driver stability involved ATI. Below are links to the two presentations ATI were involved with for anyone who wants much more information on how much effort goes into stability of CATALYST. 1. expand "Device & Bus Design & Drivers". Under "Display and Graphics": Destination "Stability" - Distributed Testing of Display Drivers and ATI Case Study here 2. expand "General Driver Information". Under Driver Quality: Windows Error Reporting here

Sep 8, 2003, 08:43 PM	#2
Davidgt Car Audio Guy Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 499 Rep Power: 0	nice ppt`s very cool info __________________ Sales/Support Manager Taraautosound.com wonderful sig by tastyweat

Sep 8, 2003, 09:58 PM	#3
CATALYST maker ATI driver guru Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: ATI, Canada Posts: 678 Rep Power: 63	I actually hope people get a chance to read the presentations and ask me any questions they may have. It is very important to understand the amount of work that goes into CATALYST stability.

Sep 8, 2003, 10:13 PM	Thread Starter #4
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	I read over the articles, its very interesting, worthwhile for those wondering, go download !

Sep 9, 2003, 04:37 AM	#6
jcastill Mexico Man! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Mexico Posts: 87 Rep Power: 0	-How much information you get from Microsoft crash analysis? -Does the mini-dumps really help on the driver development? -Do you mix the feedback page from ATI with the Microsoft reports? -Any example of a fixed problem that the Microsoft reports helped out in? Thanks Terry for taking time to answer some questions.