DH Interview with Terry Makedon and Andrew Dodd

Zardon · Dec 9, 2004, 12:11 PM

I recently had a chat with Terry Makedon and Andrew Dodd in ATi regarding Catalyst, they gave some indepth answers to a lot of important questions.

Allan: Terry on driverheaven each month you release a driver poll asking users to rate the drivers from 1-10, can you share in what way this information is used by ATI internally?

Terry: We use that information many ways. First and foremost is to see how successful each release is. Secondly we use this information for our big OEM and AIB customers. They want to see our progress. Third it is used by our bosses to see how big a bonus we get at the end of the year (well not really, but they do look at the date). Here is what my charts look like with the latest data as of the time of this interview. I must admit I’m not happy we went below a 9 rating, and this is something we have to push back up. The last two postings seem to be some of the best of the year. I guess our progress has caused people to set the bar higher for us in the future.

Read the full interview here

patje · Dec 9, 2004, 01:13 PM

Great interview! some good questions asked and aswered.
I'ts nice to see Ati is taking time to talk to the consumers. I'm looking forward to what Catalyst has to offer in 2005!

refraction · Dec 9, 2004, 02:01 PM

very good interview that

its nice to see companies take an interest in the consumer, most companys are on a "get what you're given" term with their customers, where as ATi aim for what we want.

plus in a way i spose we are all beta testers too, finding bugs in the drivers etc to help them improve stability

TJ- · Dec 9, 2004, 02:26 PM

ok well i read all that, wrote a long response clicke post reply and what do u know, white screen, aaaaaahhhhhhhh ... so in a few short words ill just say good interview, i was expecting them to say something about omegas drivers but oh well, well worth the read... (better copy this just in case)

The_Neon_Cowboy · Dec 9, 2004, 03:00 PM

Good read!

Heres what I ask you to do when looking at that chart
look at the dates, look at the Versions

then think of when CCC was being released and the many the dragg thier feet hate it and don't want it they are "MAD" at the drivers for CCC. People giveing the drivers low scores just becouse of CCC . Many with out even useing the drivers!

You guys need to start seprateing the DRIVERS and CCC (control panel) feed backs need to make seprate threads for feed back etc when polls are done

I really don't think you've droped below "9" its just those displeased of haveing issues with CCC and .net makeing s terrable sink. some even signing up in forums across the net just to start "I hate CCC" threads

noko · Dec 9, 2004, 05:32 PM

That was frankly the best interview I've seen all year. Great Job.

ATI giving us hot rodders through OverDrive a full warranty coverage I find pretty awesome and a first. Then the AI goal in giving zero IQ lost or non noticeable I should say with performance improvements is much better then what the competition gives, I always seem to be turning off optimizations on my current gaming card due to poorer or visually degraded IQ. Really looks like these two guys have their act together and giving the ATI community top quality service with ATI products. Hope the best for them and ATI.

Dom · Dec 9, 2004, 08:23 PM

Nice read!

pr0digal jenius · Dec 9, 2004, 08:33 PM

good interview, as usual

Glad to see their determination to bring CCC to it's full potential

Rayder · Dec 9, 2004, 09:15 PM

Great interview. One thing I noticed is that they plan to add "Color Radiance" to CCC.....I imagine that is much like that 'Digital Vibrance' stuff that nVidia has.

I feel kind of special in that I was the one that originally suggested using the word "Radiance" in that setting's title (at least, as far as I know

), if they ever decided to implement such a feature. I called it 'Radiance Level' as opposed to 'Color Radiance', but the operative word is there.

Do I get a prize for that?

j/k

*CATALYST maker* · Dec 9, 2004, 09:28 PM

glad you guys are enjoying this.... I wonder if anyone really read the whole thing carefully. There are alot of hidden gems in that interview, and Im suprised nobody picked up on them yet :-)

Dom · Dec 9, 2004, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CATALYST maker

glad you guys are enjoying this.... I wonder if anyone really read the whole thing carefully. There are alot of hidden gems in that interview, and Im suprised nobody picked up on them yet :-)

I didn't read it at all. I just said it was good because I work here.

Seriously though, Andrew gave away some juicy details on the future of CCC.

MindlessOath · Dec 9, 2004, 11:43 PM

i must say it was a good internview but i was left with wanting a full answer to some questions asked that were not fully answered.

i must also say i was dissapointed with the OpenGL progress, and how its not going to be fully remade from the ground up, this will be ati just keeping up with the API and not really improving.
hey im sure it has to do with buisness and graphs and stuff like that, and a managers call, so i understand it, i just dont like it.

i think you need to also make two charts Terry, one for CCC and one for cat drivers. the drivers are improving from release to release and i have to say they are above 9 for me now, no doubt about it.

however CCC has not convinced me this time around and i feel it performed much better in the previous release's... i hope that the new version will be much better, i dont have any doubts, i have been behind ATI for a long time and i always stand up for ATI when people are obviously not educated about what things are etc.
.net 2.0 will help out but its a while away's and wont see it for some time... make CCC as best u can.

Zardon · Dec 9, 2004, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindlessOath

i think you need to also make two charts Terry, one for CCC and one for cat drivers. the drivers are improving from release to release and i have to say they are above 9 for me now, no doubt about it..

We started doing that in Driverheaven at Terrys request recently, im sure the ATI charts in the future will follow that course.

pr0digal jenius · Dec 10, 2004, 12:20 AM

MindlessOath makes a point about the openGL drivers that until this point I think is invalid/a waste of time.

HOWEVER, with the release of OpenGL 2.0, I think there might be a case for a large push in the OGL department. A compelte rewrite is by no means necessary or worthwhile, but some xtra effort rather then the usual affair would be very much appreciated. The D3D drivers are solid and there won't be any new features there for a while, merely some tweaking here and there, so yes...I too think the OGL driver needs a bit mroe attention.

Warpy · Dec 10, 2004, 12:36 AM

Well that was a great read!

I just got to work, logged onto driverheaven and started reading this interview, then I saw the not so short interview I expected, so I grabbed a coffee and enjoyed the read!

I think it's great that ATI are really involved with the users especially on driverheaven, it's always good to know that the people that design your graphics card and software drivers have a keen interest in the community.

I shall try the new CC tonight, as I have had problems in the past, i have my new rig so I shall give it a shot

Judas · Dec 10, 2004, 01:34 AM

*eyes burning, me tired*... after a painfull read.... good... (my eyes just don't agree)..

Color Radiance.... hmmm..... similare to nvidia's digital vibrance... I think alot peoples wish have bee granted if it is indeed similare.... but i'm still confused.... i find no reason for ATI to have it....

jds1 · Dec 10, 2004, 02:10 AM

great news from ati about ccc. but with overdrive3 i was a little confused,it is going to be only for the x850 and not the rest or some of the features not going to work with the rest. i guess we will find out. all in all it was a great interview, and iam glad that ati takes the communites ideas and info from us. now that is a a very good company.

No_Style · Dec 10, 2004, 02:30 AM

That's some good info from the ATI guys themselves.

I look forward to 5.1~!

***Veridian3*** · Dec 10, 2004, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jds1

great news from ati about ccc. but with overdrive3 i was a little confused,it is going to be only for the x850 and not the rest or some of the features not going to work with the rest. i guess we will find out. all in all it was a great interview, and iam glad that ati takes the communites ideas and info from us. now that is a a very good company.

Correct OD3 is currently X850 (XT +PE) only. When future cards are released i believe they will support OD3 also. OD3 isnt however backwards compatible so the X800 series and lower will continue to use OD2.

Ev!L-aLphA · Dec 10, 2004, 05:58 AM

Awesome interview

very detailed

thanks ati and thanks dh for doing this interview

cant wait till the next big set of drivers

refraction · Dec 10, 2004, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CATALYST maker

glad you guys are enjoying this.... I wonder if anyone really read the whole thing carefully. There are alot of hidden gems in that interview, and Im suprised nobody picked up on them yet :-)

i read it carefully, but i didnt go through it with a fine comb! there does seem to be subtle hints of things to come in there, but as usual, your subtlety went straight over my head

BWX · Dec 10, 2004, 11:16 AM

I love Metallica too (the old songs anyway) Saw them live Rich Stadium 92' What a show, people even died there- crazy.

http://97rock.com/13183.html

Buffalo, NY
Rich Stadium (7/25/92)

Ecstacy of Gold
Creeping Death
Harvester of Sorrow
Fade to Black
Sad But True
Wherever I May Roam
Of Wolf and Man
For Whom the Bell Tolls
The Unforgiven
Shortest Straw
Jason's solo
Kirk's solo
Sanitarium
Master of Puppets
Seek & Destroy
Whiplash
Nothing Else Matters
Am I Evil?
Last Caress
One
Enter Sandman

Vikingod · Dec 10, 2004, 04:25 PM

i would love to see some mobility support as well as CCC support for all radeon cards. Now if we got CCC support for mobility cards, that would be an act of god! lol.
Good interview though, it's nice to see ATI take the time to answer a few questions.

bug77 · Dec 10, 2004, 05:49 PM

Not that great a read. Marketing stuff with some hints about future plans (which may or may not become reality). On the other hand, they couldn't reveal much more anyway...
Keep it up guys. Maybe one day I'll go back to ATi, who knows?

*CATALYST maker* · Dec 10, 2004, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bug77

Not that great a read. Marketing stuff with some hints about future plans (which may or may not become reality). On the other hand, they couldn't reveal much more anyway...
Keep it up guys. Maybe one day I'll go back to ATi, who knows?

sorry to dissapoint man...
But we did say at the beginning of the interview that we are both marketing guys. What else could you expect from us? lol

pr0digal jenius · Dec 10, 2004, 06:10 PM

free cookies

noko · Dec 10, 2004, 06:31 PM

lol, who says hype isn't good. When the R300 series came out it wasn't hyped enough until it hit the streets and everyone's jaws dropped to the ground and the other guys gonads got kicked in.

bug77 · Dec 10, 2004, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CATALYST maker

sorry to dissapoint man...
But we did say at the beginning of the interview that we are both marketing guys. What else could you expect from us? lol

I was not disappointed, but I never thought marketing hype is 'great' by any means. Also, I like to criticise stuff; I think constructive criticism encourages progress.

Dragunov · Dec 12, 2004, 12:16 AM

They only spoke of the x850xt with overdrive, they want to support othrs, but which others?

is it the 9600xt and 9800xt too or which card get a new overdrive?

Greetz

Dragunov

Dom · Dec 12, 2004, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

free cookies

OMG! Please be peanutbutter, please be peanutbutter.

Dec 9, 2004, 12:11 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 177	DH Interview with Terry Makedon and Andrew Dodd I recently had a chat with Terry Makedon and Andrew Dodd in ATi regarding Catalyst, they gave some indepth answers to a lot of important questions. Allan: Terry on driverheaven each month you release a driver poll asking users to rate the drivers from 1-10, can you share in what way this information is used by ATI internally? Terry: We use that information many ways. First and foremost is to see how successful each release is. Secondly we use this information for our big OEM and AIB customers. They want to see our progress. Third it is used by our bosses to see how big a bonus we get at the end of the year (well not really, but they do look at the date). Here is what my charts look like with the latest data as of the time of this interview. I must admit I’m not happy we went below a 9 rating, and this is something we have to push back up. The last two postings seem to be some of the best of the year. I guess our progress has caused people to set the bar higher for us in the future. Read the full interview here

Dec 9, 2004, 01:13 PM	#2
patje Former Mobility Modman Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Belgium / Antwerp Posts: 1,475 Rep Power: 64	Great interview! some good questions asked and aswered. I'ts nice to see Ati is taking time to talk to the consumers. I'm looking forward to what Catalyst has to offer in 2005! __________________

Dec 9, 2004, 02:01 PM	#3
refraction DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 307 Rep Power: 0 $refraction is on a distinguished road$	very good interview that its nice to see companies take an interest in the consumer, most companys are on a "get what you're given" term with their customers, where as ATi aim for what we want. plus in a way i spose we are all beta testers too, finding bugs in the drivers etc to help them improve stability __________________ [color=royalblue]Computer Specs[/color] := [color=royalblue]AMD Opteron 146 2.0Ghz @ 2.9Ghz[/color] = [color=royalblue]1024Mb PC4400 RAM Dual Channel[/color] = [color=royalblue]Gainward BLISS 7900GTX 512mb[/color] = [color=royalblue]SB Audigy 4 [/color]= [color=royalblue]250Gb SATA Hard Drive[/color] = [color=royalblue]Thermaltake Xaser Case [/color]= [color=royalblue]Benq FP91G+[/color][color=royalblue] 19" TFT[/color]
$refraction is offline$

Dec 9, 2004, 02:26 PM	#4
TJ- DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Infinity Posts: 3,679 Rep Power: 0	ok well i read all that, wrote a long response clicke post reply and what do u know, white screen, aaaaaahhhhhhhh ... so in a few short words ill just say good interview, i was expecting them to say something about omegas drivers but oh well, well worth the read... (better copy this just in case) __________________ new sig comming soon

Dec 9, 2004, 03:00 PM	#5
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Good read! Heres what I ask you to do when looking at that chart look at the dates, look at the Versions then think of when CCC was being released and the many the dragg thier feet hate it and don't want it they are "MAD" at the drivers for CCC. People giveing the drivers low scores just becouse of CCC . Many with out even useing the drivers! You guys need to start seprateing the DRIVERS and CCC (control panel) feed backs need to make seprate threads for feed back etc when polls are done I really don't think you've droped below "9" its just those displeased of haveing issues with CCC and .net makeing s terrable sink. some even signing up in forums across the net just to start "I hate CCC" threads __________________

Dec 9, 2004, 05:32 PM	#6
noko HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Orlando Florida Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	That was frankly the best interview I've seen all year. Great Job. ATI giving us hot rodders through OverDrive a full warranty coverage I find pretty awesome and a first. Then the AI goal in giving zero IQ lost or non noticeable I should say with performance improvements is much better then what the competition gives, I always seem to be turning off optimizations on my current gaming card due to poorer or visually degraded IQ. Really looks like these two guys have their act together and giving the ATI community top quality service with ATI products. Hope the best for them and ATI. __________________ Q6600 at 3.4ghz, 4gb DDRII, PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 , Vista 64, 24" Accer monitor.

Dec 9, 2004, 08:23 PM	#7
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Nice read!

Dec 9, 2004, 08:33 PM	#8
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	good interview, as usual Glad to see their determination to bring CCC to it's full potential

Dec 9, 2004, 09:15 PM	#9
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,160 Rep Power: 71	Great interview. One thing I noticed is that they plan to add "Color Radiance" to CCC.....I imagine that is much like that 'Digital Vibrance' stuff that nVidia has. I feel kind of special in that I was the one that originally suggested using the word "Radiance" in that setting's title (at least, as far as I know ), if they ever decided to implement such a feature. I called it 'Radiance Level' as opposed to 'Color Radiance', but the operative word is there. Do I get a prize for that? j/k

Dec 9, 2004, 09:28 PM	#10
CATALYST maker ATI driver guru Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: ATI, Canada Posts: 678 Rep Power: 61	glad you guys are enjoying this.... I wonder if anyone really read the whole thing carefully. There are alot of hidden gems in that interview, and Im suprised nobody picked up on them yet :-)

Dec 9, 2004, 11:43 PM	#12
MindlessOath DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,121 Rep Power: 0	i must say it was a good internview but i was left with wanting a full answer to some questions asked that were not fully answered. i must also say i was dissapointed with the OpenGL progress, and how its not going to be fully remade from the ground up, this will be ati just keeping up with the API and not really improving. hey im sure it has to do with buisness and graphs and stuff like that, and a managers call, so i understand it, i just dont like it. i think you need to also make two charts Terry, one for CCC and one for cat drivers. the drivers are improving from release to release and i have to say they are above 9 for me now, no doubt about it. however CCC has not convinced me this time around and i feel it performed much better in the previous release's... i hope that the new version will be much better, i dont have any doubts, i have been behind ATI for a long time and i always stand up for ATI when people are obviously not educated about what things are etc. .net 2.0 will help out but its a while away's and wont see it for some time... make CCC as best u can. __________________ ATI Radeon X800XT PE <---- LOOK UPDATED!! AMD Athlon 2Ghz, nforce2, 512mb ddr3500 LINKS U SHOULD KNOW!!!! DriverCleaner - use every time u install new drivers! ATI driver feedback - to report driver problems Tacticalcenter - my Gaming website and forums ATI 3rd party Optimized Driver Compairison

Dec 10, 2004, 12:20 AM	#14
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	MindlessOath makes a point about the openGL drivers that until this point I think is invalid/a waste of time. HOWEVER, with the release of OpenGL 2.0, I think there might be a case for a large push in the OGL department. A compelte rewrite is by no means necessary or worthwhile, but some xtra effort rather then the usual affair would be very much appreciated. The D3D drivers are solid and there won't be any new features there for a while, merely some tweaking here and there, so yes...I too think the OGL driver needs a bit mroe attention.

Dec 10, 2004, 12:36 AM	#15
Warpy DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,761 Rep Power: 0	Well that was a great read! I just got to work, logged onto driverheaven and started reading this interview, then I saw the not so short interview I expected, so I grabbed a coffee and enjoyed the read! I think it's great that ATI are really involved with the users especially on driverheaven, it's always good to know that the people that design your graphics card and software drivers have a keen interest in the community. I shall try the new CC tonight, as I have had problems in the past, i have my new rig so I shall give it a shot __________________ The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Dec 10, 2004, 02:10 AM	#17
jds1 X800pro Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 16 Rep Power: 0	interview great news from ati about ccc. but with overdrive3 i was a little confused,it is going to be only for the x850 and not the rest or some of the features not going to work with the rest. i guess we will find out. all in all it was a great interview, and iam glad that ati takes the communites ideas and info from us. now that is a a very good company.

Dec 10, 2004, 02:30 AM	#18
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	That's some good info from the ATI guys themselves. I look forward to 5.1~! __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Dec 10, 2004, 05:58 AM	#20
Ev!L-aLphA \| n f e c t e D Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: California Posts: 4,111 Rep Power: 60	Awesome interview very detailed thanks ati and thanks dh for doing this interview cant wait till the next big set of drivers __________________ R.I.P 8/8/04 4/21/08

Dec 10, 2004, 11:16 AM	#22
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,665 Rep Power: 109 System Specs	I love Metallica too (the old songs anyway) Saw them live Rich Stadium 92' What a show, people even died there- crazy. http://97rock.com/13183.html Buffalo, NY Rich Stadium (7/25/92) Ecstacy of Gold Creeping Death Harvester of Sorrow Fade to Black Sad But True Wherever I May Roam Of Wolf and Man For Whom the Bell Tolls The Unforgiven Shortest Straw Jason's solo Kirk's solo Sanitarium Master of Puppets Seek & Destroy Whiplash Nothing Else Matters Am I Evil? Last Caress One Enter Sandman __________________

Dec 10, 2004, 04:25 PM	#23
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,187 Rep Power: 109 System Specs	i would love to see some mobility support as well as CCC support for all radeon cards. Now if we got CCC support for mobility cards, that would be an act of god! lol. Good interview though, it's nice to see ATI take the time to answer a few questions. __________________ *How You Can Help DriverHeaven By Using Digg*

Dec 10, 2004, 05:49 PM	#24
bug77 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: around Posts: 792 Rep Power: 0	Not that great a read. Marketing stuff with some hints about future plans (which may or may not become reality). On the other hand, they couldn't reveal much more anyway... Keep it up guys. Maybe one day I'll go back to ATi, who knows?

Dec 10, 2004, 06:10 PM	#26
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	free cookies

Dec 10, 2004, 06:31 PM	#27
noko HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Orlando Florida Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	lol, who says hype isn't good. When the R300 series came out it wasn't hyped enough until it hit the streets and everyone's jaws dropped to the ground and the other guys gonads got kicked in.

Dec 12, 2004, 12:16 AM	#29
Dragunov DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 316 Rep Power: 0	They only spoke of the x850xt with overdrive, they want to support othrs, but which others? is it the 9600xt and 9800xt too or which card get a new overdrive? Greetz Dragunov __________________ - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 + Zalman 9700 LED - MSI P6N (Nvidia 680i chipset), BIOS: P33 - 2GB DDR2 ram Corsair Dominator 1066Mhz - MSI Geforce 8800GTS 640MB - Creative X-Fi Elite Pro - Seagate 320GB 7200/10 - WD Caviar 750GB - Logitech MX-518 - Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit NL