Catalyst 5.1 and FS2004

wpritch · Jan 18, 2005, 10:31 AM

I have used all versions of Catalyst,Unian,Omega,et al, with essentially the same IQ in MS FS2004. The latest ATI drivers however (5.1) have the poorest IQ of any versions. The FS2004 settings have been tweaked to work in all the prvious versions, but unfortunately, the performance of 5.1 is substandard.

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4HT, 3066 MHz (5.75 x 533)
Motherboard Name Asus P4G8X (5 PCI, 1 AGP Pro, 4 DIMM)
Motherboard Chipse Intel Granite Bay E7205
System Memory 2048 MB (DDR SDRAM)
Video Adapter RADEON 9700 PRO (128 MB)
Video Adapter RADEON 9700 PRO Secondary (128 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon 9700 Pro (R300)
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 191T(Digital)

Spyre · Jan 18, 2005, 02:35 PM

Pics ?

miguelpp · Jan 18, 2005, 05:51 PM

Hi, yesterday I tested quickly in FS2004, and didn´t noticed any loss of IQ. I´ll test them tonight carefully. The first impresions were positive...
I´ll let you know.
Regards.

wpritch · Jan 18, 2005, 11:14 PM

I use max settings in FS2004 except for mip mapping set at 4. My ATI settings for 3d are AA 6X and and AF 16X (normal ATI CP). These settings have served me fine in all versions of the drivers, even when I used CCC. I have deinstalled and reinstalled and same results. I normally uninstall, reboot into safe mode, search for any ATI remnants, use Driver Cleaner, RegSupreme, and do a manual search of the registry to clear thing out.

wpritch · Jan 19, 2005, 12:06 AM

The install that produced the texture corruption was the high-speed (combined driver and normal CP) package. Today I downloaded and installed low-speed (separate driver and CP) package . Installing the driver without reboot, followed by the normal CP install.
FS2004 now is operating normally. Possibly the combined package is missing some lines of code in the ".inf" files.

OldBuzzard · Jan 19, 2005, 06:26 AM

wpritch,

Since I have the ability, with HyperOS 2002, to clone systems, I cloned my current FS2004 system that has Cat 4.12 and installed 5.1 on the cloned one. With that, all it takes is a simple re-boot back and forth between the two systems to make a side by side comparison.

With that in mind, I looked at the IQ in both versions at the same settings you are using, and I can see no difference in IQ at 1024x7678x32 and at 1600x1200x32 resolutions.

I used the 'high speed' download, and had no problems. It could be that your original D/L had a bit of corruption. It's happened before for some people, and a re-download and re-install of the newly downloaded file has cured their problem.

Also, you really didn't give us much information to go on. All you said was that it was poor IQ. How about something specific. Just where did you notice it, and what did you see/not see? If you provide that I will try to look at the same areas.

wpritch · Jan 19, 2005, 07:06 AM

Thanks buddy. Sitting on rwy 36 Meigs, typical Chicago scenery. buildings etc have a great degree of jagged testures. You are right, possibly some corruption in the download.I also reinstalled other versions of cats, unians, omega, and all worked fine. As I mentioned, I then installed the separate packages of 5.1 and everything is fine. Normally I save my FS9 cfg as a backup, then after I install a new card, remove the the FS9 cfg and let fs2004 find the card again. I then put all my settings back to normal, edit the fs9 cfg for old modules etc. Thanks for the help, I am another "old buzzard."

Ripsaw · Jan 19, 2005, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpritch

The install that produced the texture corruption was the high-speed (combined driver and normal CP) package. Today I downloaded and installed low-speed (separate driver and CP) package . Installing the driver without reboot, followed by the normal CP install.
FS2004 now is operating normally. Possibly the combined package is missing some lines of code in the ".inf" files.

Hmmm..... I too downloaded the high speed version, the single file download. I think I will give 5.1 another chance. I think I will download the low speed version, the multiple file version, reinstall and re-evaluate.

wpritch · Jan 20, 2005, 05:33 AM

As a test, I downloaded the complete package with old control panel, and everything was fine. I then uninstalled, and downloded the separate packages, this time bad quality. I also notice that a poor install you will get the Microsoft warning that these files have not been tested, do you want to continue. In addition, a check with ATI Tray Tools will reveal that Catalyst A.I. is off.

If you install either of the packages and do not get the Microsoft warning, I believe you will have a good install. If using ATI Tray Tools, and it reveals A.I is on, I believe this is an additional confirmation of a good install.

The reason for these problems is unknown, possibly a bad installer package from ATI. I have been uninstalling and installing drivers for quite some time, and this is the first set that gave me install problems.

Jan 18, 2005, 10:31 AM	#1
wpritch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Catalyst 5.1 and FS2004 I have used all versions of Catalyst,Unian,Omega,et al, with essentially the same IQ in MS FS2004. The latest ATI drivers however (5.1) have the poorest IQ of any versions. The FS2004 settings have been tweaked to work in all the prvious versions, but unfortunately, the performance of 5.1 is substandard. Computer: Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional OS Service Pack Service Pack 2 CPU Type Intel Pentium 4HT, 3066 MHz (5.75 x 533) Motherboard Name Asus P4G8X (5 PCI, 1 AGP Pro, 4 DIMM) Motherboard Chipse Intel Granite Bay E7205 System Memory 2048 MB (DDR SDRAM) Video Adapter RADEON 9700 PRO (128 MB) Video Adapter RADEON 9700 PRO Secondary (128 MB) 3D Accelerator ATI Radeon 9700 Pro (R300) Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 191T(Digital)

Jan 18, 2005, 02:35 PM	#2
Spyre DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 240 Rep Power: 62	Pics ? __________________ ATI Beta Tester game.AMD.Moderator

Jan 19, 2005, 06:26 AM	#6
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	wpritch, Since I have the ability, with HyperOS 2002, to clone systems, I cloned my current FS2004 system that has Cat 4.12 and installed 5.1 on the cloned one. With that, all it takes is a simple re-boot back and forth between the two systems to make a side by side comparison. With that in mind, I looked at the IQ in both versions at the same settings you are using, and I can see no difference in IQ at 1024x7678x32 and at 1600x1200x32 resolutions. I used the 'high speed' download, and had no problems. It could be that your original D/L had a bit of corruption. It's happened before for some people, and a re-download and re-install of the newly downloaded file has cured their problem. Also, you really didn't give us much information to go on. All you said was that it was poor IQ. How about something specific. Just where did you notice it, and what did you see/not see? If you provide that I will try to look at the same areas. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Jan 20, 2005, 05:33 AM	Thread Starter #9
wpritch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Bad Install 5.1 and FS2004 As a test, I downloaded the complete package with old control panel, and everything was fine. I then uninstalled, and downloded the separate packages, this time bad quality. I also notice that a poor install you will get the Microsoft warning that these files have not been tested, do you want to continue. In addition, a check with ATI Tray Tools will reveal that Catalyst A.I. is off. If you install either of the packages and do not get the Microsoft warning, I believe you will have a good install. If using ATI Tray Tools, and it reveals A.I is on, I believe this is an additional confirmation of a good install. The reason for these problems is unknown, possibly a bad installer package from ATI. I have been uninstalling and installing drivers for quite some time, and this is the first set that gave me install problems.

Jan 18, 2005, 05:51 PM	#3
miguelpp DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: spain Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	Hi, yesterday I tested quickly in FS2004, and didn´t noticed any loss of IQ. I´ll test them tonight carefully. The first impresions were positive... I´ll let you know. Regards.

Jan 18, 2005, 11:14 PM	Thread Starter #4
wpritch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	I use max settings in FS2004 except for mip mapping set at 4. My ATI settings for 3d are AA 6X and and AF 16X (normal ATI CP). These settings have served me fine in all versions of the drivers, even when I used CCC. I have deinstalled and reinstalled and same results. I normally uninstall, reboot into safe mode, search for any ATI remnants, use Driver Cleaner, RegSupreme, and do a manual search of the registry to clear thing out.

Jan 19, 2005, 12:06 AM	Thread Starter #5
wpritch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	The install that produced the texture corruption was the high-speed (combined driver and normal CP) package. Today I downloaded and installed low-speed (separate driver and CP) package . Installing the driver without reboot, followed by the normal CP install. FS2004 now is operating normally. Possibly the combined package is missing some lines of code in the ".inf" files.

Jan 19, 2005, 07:06 AM	Thread Starter #7
wpritch DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Thanks buddy. Sitting on rwy 36 Meigs, typical Chicago scenery. buildings etc have a great degree of jagged testures. You are right, possibly some corruption in the download.I also reinstalled other versions of cats, unians, omega, and all worked fine. As I mentioned, I then installed the separate packages of 5.1 and everything is fine. Normally I save my FS9 cfg as a backup, then after I install a new card, remove the the FS9 cfg and let fs2004 find the card again. I then put all my settings back to normal, edit the fs9 cfg for old modules etc. Thanks for the help, I am another "old buzzard."