Catalyst Control Center Questions

GAB · Dec 9, 2005, 02:11 PM

A couple of questions from someone who has always used the regular Control Panel. Now that the CCC is the only choice, if I want to use the new drivers, I will be totally new to the CCC. I have often read about the CCC being a resource hog, but does it have to remain running? Can't you just open it, set your display settings, 3D settings, etc. and then close it, like I used to with the regular Control Panel? Then the issue of being a resource hog is irrelavent. Will the CCC keep my settings, after I close it? Also, how can I verify whether I have .Net installed already and what version, other then seeing it in "add/remove programs"? If I wanted to use the new driver with the old Control Panel, do I only uninstall the 5.11 driver, but not uninstall the Control Panel? Thanks in advance for patience with someone who has avoided the CCC up until now, only because of all the negativity I have read. I hope to really like the CCC after taking the plunge.

Kitch9 · Dec 9, 2005, 02:53 PM

I think you need not worry. People on these forums need to remember that the competition between Nvida and ATI is so fierce that neither company will do anything that affects frame rates and performance in any any way.

From what I can see from using CCC is that it frees up any ram it uses when you close it. You can also disable the tray icon and access CCC by just right clicking on your desktop.

If you have the tray icon running you can change pretty much all you need to without going into CCC itself..... I think its ok.

MindlessOath · Dec 9, 2005, 07:08 PM

CCC really isnt that bad. some quirks here and there but its usually due to the system its installed on (ie the clients OS settings and files)...

you dont have to use CCC in fact you can install just the drivers, and if you want to make changes use ATI tray tools or the other vairious tools (loads of them, hey you should try out OMEGA DRIVERS!).

CCC will save all settings, even if you end the processes. CCC usually runs in the background because it has certain features that need to be running in order for people to use them... and shortcut keys etc. they have tuned CCC to make effectant use of the swap file instead of the main memory, this can make things slower, and hog alot of the swap, but overall they have tuned it well.

the first string of problems was that CCC ran a real time AA/AF openGL 'video' (for lack of a better word, basically a small window that showcases a car driving on a road that will show the AA and AF quality in real time). anyways the problem was that this video would be constaintly running and in the background, hogging up resources, this has been resolved.

they should have an option for DISABLEING the HOTKEYS and the various features so that advanced users dont need CCC running and taking up swap and other resources... this would be great... but it cant come default off because of the majority of people that are not smart enough

anyways CCC is really good, and i hope it keeps improving, but for now and probably until vista, i will be using OMEGA drivers or just regular drivers with a 3rd party tool for changing settings (ati tray tools, or ati tool or whatever they are called).

you can check .NET in your control panel -> add remove programs, look for .net 1.1 if you have it thats good, but then you want to make sure you have .net 2.0 also!!!! this will make it run much better... both .net versions can run together so dont worry. to get .net 1.1 you can simply run www.windowsupdate.com but .net 2.0 you will have to search for a link at www.microsoft.com (mabe even goto www.majorgeeks.com).

enjoy

**temeteus82** · Dec 9, 2005, 07:25 PM

BTW, you can use the custom mode to install drives only and use ATT or some other software to change settings

Matth · Dec 10, 2005, 03:17 PM

Just an aside, I think .Net 2.0 does appear in the update site now.

Dec 9, 2005, 02:11 PM	#1
GAB DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	Catalyst Control Center Questions A couple of questions from someone who has always used the regular Control Panel. Now that the CCC is the only choice, if I want to use the new drivers, I will be totally new to the CCC. I have often read about the CCC being a resource hog, but does it have to remain running? Can't you just open it, set your display settings, 3D settings, etc. and then close it, like I used to with the regular Control Panel? Then the issue of being a resource hog is irrelavent. Will the CCC keep my settings, after I close it? Also, how can I verify whether I have .Net installed already and what version, other then seeing it in "add/remove programs"? If I wanted to use the new driver with the old Control Panel, do I only uninstall the 5.11 driver, but not uninstall the Control Panel? Thanks in advance for patience with someone who has avoided the CCC up until now, only because of all the negativity I have read. I hope to really like the CCC after taking the plunge.

Dec 9, 2005, 07:08 PM	#3
MindlessOath DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,121 Rep Power: 0	CCC really isnt that bad. some quirks here and there but its usually due to the system its installed on (ie the clients OS settings and files)... you dont have to use CCC in fact you can install just the drivers, and if you want to make changes use ATI tray tools or the other vairious tools (loads of them, hey you should try out OMEGA DRIVERS!). CCC will save all settings, even if you end the processes. CCC usually runs in the background because it has certain features that need to be running in order for people to use them... and shortcut keys etc. they have tuned CCC to make effectant use of the swap file instead of the main memory, this can make things slower, and hog alot of the swap, but overall they have tuned it well. the first string of problems was that CCC ran a real time AA/AF openGL 'video' (for lack of a better word, basically a small window that showcases a car driving on a road that will show the AA and AF quality in real time). anyways the problem was that this video would be constaintly running and in the background, hogging up resources, this has been resolved. they should have an option for DISABLEING the HOTKEYS and the various features so that advanced users dont need CCC running and taking up swap and other resources... this would be great... but it cant come default off because of the majority of people that are not smart enough anyways CCC is really good, and i hope it keeps improving, but for now and probably until vista, i will be using OMEGA drivers or just regular drivers with a 3rd party tool for changing settings (ati tray tools, or ati tool or whatever they are called). you can check .NET in your control panel -> add remove programs, look for .net 1.1 if you have it thats good, but then you want to make sure you have .net 2.0 also!!!! this will make it run much better... both .net versions can run together so dont worry. to get .net 1.1 you can simply run www.windowsupdate.com but .net 2.0 you will have to search for a link at www.microsoft.com (mabe even goto www.majorgeeks.com). enjoy __________________ 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 9, 2005, 02:53 PM	#2
Kitch9 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	I think you need not worry. People on these forums need to remember that the competition between Nvida and ATI is so fierce that neither company will do anything that affects frame rates and performance in any any way. From what I can see from using CCC is that it frees up any ram it uses when you close it. You can also disable the tray icon and access CCC by just right clicking on your desktop. If you have the tray icon running you can change pretty much all you need to without going into CCC itself..... I think its ok.

Dec 10, 2005, 03:17 PM	#5
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Just an aside, I think .Net 2.0 does appear in the update site now.