AMD Catalyst Software Suite 11.1/ Radeon Video Card Drivers

AMD’s award-winning ATI Catalyst graphics and HD video configuration software delivers unprecedented control of performance and visual quality with ATI Radeon™ graphics processors. Certified by Microsoft® Windows® Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL), ATI Catalyst drivers for Windows 7®, Vista® and Windows® XP operating systems deliver stable performance and push the limits of innovation with advanced user-oriented features.

This is the latest AMD’s industry leading software suite, Catalyst™. This particular software suite updates both the AMD Display Driver, and the Catalyst™ Control Center. This unified driver has been further enhanced to provide the highest level of power, performance, and reliability. The AMD Catalyst™ software suite is the ultimate in performance and stability.

Precision controls for power users. Tweaks for gamers and video enthusiasts. Simple wizard-assisted setup, easy multi-monitor configuration, and ultra reliable operation for working professionals. New user or seasoned expert, AMD Catalyst puts you in charge of The Ultimate Visual Experience™.

• Industry-leading performance. ATI Catalyst boosts graphics performance with every new monthly release, including enhancements for popular Direct3D and OpenGL game titles.
• Innovative and exciting features. ATI Catalyst includes the ATI Catalyst Control Center™, delivering innovative features and unprecedented control of performance and visual quality with ATI Radeon graphics.
• Robust stability. ATI Catalyst drivers for Windows Vista and Windows XP are Microsoft WHQL-certified, and include rigorously tested Linux drivers to deliver the industry’s most stable and reliable graphics performance.
The AMD Catalyst software suite 11.1 contains the following:
* AMD display driver version 8.812
* HydraVision™ for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7
* Southbridge/IXP Driver
* AMD Catalyst Control Center version 8.812
Caution: The Catalyst™ software driver and the Catalyst™ Control Center can be downloaded independently of each other. However, for maximum stability and performance AMD recommends that both components be updated from the same Catalyst™ release
Caution: The Catalyst™ Control Center requires that the Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 be installed. Without .NET version 2.0 installed, the Catalyst™ Control Center will not launch properly and the user will see an error message.
The latest version of the Catalyst™ software suite is designed to support the following Microsoft Windows platforms:
• Windows 7 32-bit version
• Windows 7 64-bit version
• Windows Vista 32-bit version
• Windows Vista 64-bit version
• Windows XP Professional
• Windows XP Home Edition
• Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Release Notes
Download your selected driver from AMD website
Download Selected AMD Graphics Drivers & Software

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RTM Build 7601.17514.101119-1850

Microsoft continuously improves Windows 7® and Windows Server® 2008 R2 by providing ongoing updates while working with software and hardware vendors to deliver application compatibility and hardware compatibility improvements. Service Pack 1 (SP1) is another vehicle through which Microsoft provides operating system improvements to customers.
SP1 is an update to both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that, along with improvements delivered to users via other channels, addresses feedback from our customers. As with previously released updates, SP1 contains changes that are focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards. SP1 also continues to improve upon the IT administration experience. SP1 is not intended to be a vehicle for releasing new features; however, some existing components do gain slightly enhanced functionality in SP1.

Service packs also help ensure that your systems are up-to-date. Updates to the Windows operating system, including updates released with bulletins from the Microsoft Support Response Center, will be reviewed and built only for currently-supported service packs. Installing the latest service pack ensures customers have the maximum support lifecycle for their investment.  Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 will include previously released updates and will deliver a number of powerful new features for Windows Server 2008 R2 for virtualization and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). New techniques in memory management with the addition of Dynamic Memory functionality, as well as the ability to deliver full-fidelity graphic experiences in remote and virtualized environments with RemoteFX™, enable organizations to realize the greatest possible potential from their infrastructure. The resulting increase in efficiency and functionality allows for accelerated server consolidation, a more powerful virtualized desktop infrastructure, and an increased return on technology investments.

The impact of SP1 on the Windows 7 client operating system is considered to be minimal. Included changes are expected to address minor usability issues in specific scenarios, as outlined in this document. While Microsoft always recommends that users deploy the latest service pack as quickly as possible in order to maintain the best levels of support, security and user experience, we are strongly recommending to customers and partners that deployment of SP1 should not be considered a blocking issue for the adoption of Windows 7.  In other words, organizations do not need to wait for SP1 to begin receiving the value of Windows 7 today as we don’t anticipate the SP1 for Windows 7 to be substantial.
The Windows 7 SP1 package will help keep your PCs and servers on the latest support level, provides ongoing improvements to the Windows Operating System (OS), by including previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 platform based on customer and partner feedback, and is easy for organizations to deploy a single set of updates.

Windows 7 SP1 will help you:
- Keep your PCs supported and up-to-date
- Get ongoing updates to the Windows 7 platform
- Easily deploy cumulative updates at a single time
- Meet your users' demands for greater business mobility
- Provide a comprehensive set of virtualization innovations
- Provide an easier Service Pack deployment model for better IT efficiency

In order to download and install the Windows 7 SP1 you must currently have a Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 7 already installed. If you have previously installed the Windows 7 SP1 Beta on your machine, you must uninstall the beta before installing the RTM.
Windows 7 SP1 is available for installation in the same languages made available at original launch of Windows 7.
Homepage - http://www.microsoft.com
Size: 537 MB
Download Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RTM (32-bit)
Download Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RTM (64-bit)

Download Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RC (32-bit)
Download Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RC (64-bit)
Download Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RC DVD-ISO (1.8 GB)

AMD to Introduce Three New Bulldozer-based APUs in 2012

AMD is going to extend in Fusion strategy in the following years, the company planning to migrate all its processors to an APU (accelerated processing unit) design in 2012, when the company also wants to introduce the first Bulldozer processor with integrated graphics.
 Not so many details are known at this point about these upcoming CPUs, but an AMD roadmap does reveal a few interesting tidbits of information that give us a short glimpse into the future.

As you most certainly know by now, 2011 will mark the introduction of the Bulldozer and Llano architectures.

However, these are only the first step in AMD's renewal strategy that calls for an entire line of new chips to be unveiled in 2012.

Starting with the mobile segment, 2012 will see the introduction of the Krishna and Wichita APUs that feature one to four enhanced Bobcat cores and an integrated DirectX 11 GPU.

These chips are meant to replace the just introduced Zacate and Otario APUs, and are built using the 28nm manufacturing process.

Moving to the mainstream and performance notebook space, the yet to be released Llano chip will be replaced by the Trinity APU, which features two to four cores as well as DirectX 11 graphics.

However, unlike its predecessor, Trinity will be based on the Bulldozer architecture, further increasing the IPC of the chip.

In the desktop space, Bulldozer is also set to make a splash as two of the three chips to be launched will be based on this architecture.

Dubbed Komodo and Trinity, these chips feature 8 and 2-4 cores, respectively, and come with DirectX 11 compatible GPUs.




Both of them are built using a 32nm manufacturing process.

The third desktop chip following to be launched by AMD is destined to be used in AIO and small form factor PCs, and packs 2 to 4 enhanced Bobcat cores as well as DirectX 11 graphics.

Other details are not available at this time, but it seems like it all depends on the performance level delivered by Bulldozer, early reposts suggesting AMD's upcoming architecture could be as much as 50% faster than present-day Core i7 processors.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 close to release

An update to Windows 7 released yesterday has given a strong clue that a final release of the first service pack for the operating system isn't too far away.

According to a Microsoft support page, the imaginatively-named KB976902 (Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 installation software feature update) makes changes to the operating system's servicing stack, needed to install and remove software updates, language packs, optional Windows features, and service packs.

''This update is necessary to successfully install and to remove any service packs to all versions of Windows 7 and on Windows Server 2008 R2,'' the page reads.

As Neowin forum user +TCLN Ryster pointed out, the very same update was required for installation of beta and release candidate versions of Service Pack 1, which would suggest that a finished version of the service pack is nearing a public release. Microsoft has promised that SP1 would be made available in the first half of this year. A public beta was released in July last year, followed by a release candidate in October.

Some Neowin forum users have reported that the update only appears after installing all other available updates and checking again after a restart.

Along with various bug fixes, Service Pack 1 will bring dynamic memory support to Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2, allowing administrators to pool all memory available on a physical host and dynamically distribute it to virtual machines running on that host as needed. RemoteFX will add enhanced desktop virtualization aimed at giving remote users the same experience as those sitting at a workstation.

Given Microsoft's fondness for releasing service packs on either a Monday or a Tuesday - Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 were both released on Tuesdays, XP Service Pack 1 on a Monday - the soonest Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is likely to be available is January 18.

Businesses can continue to use a blocker tool released in November last year until they are ready to deploy Service Pack 1.

AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6000 Series Is Half HD 5000 Rebrands

AMD have put details of their AMD Radeon HD 6000M range online, a series of products designed for use in mobility products.

The range extends from a single SIMD equipped HD 6300M through 6400M, 6500M, 6600M & 6700M, 6800M and 6900M.

All the GPU's are based on ATI's Terascale 2 technology, and some improved as seen in the 'Barts' architecture used for the Radeon HD 6800 series. All the chips support DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.1 and OpenCL 1.1, with the requisite drivers. UVD 3 support is a mixed bag; some have it, some don't. This is because the 6300M, 6500M and 6800M are rebrands of the Radeon Mobility HD 5400, 5700 and 5800.

The speeds and feeds bounce around a little, with the top of the range 6900M appearing very similar to a Radeon HD 6850 - once again, AMD are using their second tier desktop part as the top mobility part; no Mobility Cayman this time. Hopefully people won't be surprised by Radeon HD 6900M performance being so different from Radeon HD 6970 performance, despite the same numerical marketing number.

• Radeon HD 6000M Parts
• HD 6900M
  • 960 STREAM Processors [12 SIMD] @ 580-680MHz
  • 48 Texture Units / 32 ROP's
  • 900MHz GDDR5 (256-bit mem. interface @ 115.2GB/s)
  • UVD 3 / Stereo3D / BluRay 3D
• HD 6800M (Formerly known as Mobility Radeon HD 5800, based on the Radeon HD 5700)
  • 800 STREAM Processors [10 SIMD] @ 575-675MHz
  • 40 Texture Units / 16 ROP's
  • 900-1000MHz GDDR5 (128-bit mem. interface @ 57.6-64GB/s)
  • UVD 2 / Stereo3D
• HD 6600M & 6700M
  • 480 STREAM Processors [6 SIMD] @ 575-675MHz
  • 24 Texture Units / 8 ROP's
  • 800-900MHz GDDR5 (128-bit mem. interface @ 51.2-57.6/s) or
  • 800-900MHz DDR3 (128-bit mem. interface @ 25.6-28.8 GB/s)
  • UVD 3 / Stereo3D / BluRay 3D
• HD 6500M (Formerly known as Mobility Radeon HD 5700, based on the Radeon HD 5500/5600)
  • 400 STREAM Processors [5 SIMD] @ 500-650MHz
  • 20 Texture Units / 8 ROP's
  • 900MHz GDDR5 (128-bit mem. interface @ 57.6GB/s) or
  • 900MHz DDR3 (128-bit mem. interface @ 28.8GB/s)
  • UVD 2 / Stereo3D
• HD 6400M
  • 160 STREAM Processors [2 SIMD] @ 500-650MHz
  • 8 Texture Units / 4 ROP's
  • 800MHz GDDR5 (64-bit mem. interface @ 25.6GB/s) or
  • 800-900MHz DDR3 (64-bit mem. interface @ 12.8-14.4GB/s)
  • UVD 3 / Stereo3D / BluRay 3D
• HD 6300M (Formerly known as Mobility Radeon HD 5400, based on the Radeon HD 5400)
  • 80 STREAM Processors [1 SIMD] @ 500-750MHz
  • 8 Texture Units / 4 ROP's
  • 800-900MHz DDR3 (64-bit mem. interface @ 12.8-14.4GB/s)
  • UVD 2 / Stereo3D

It doesn't seem likely that BluRay 3D will be much of a sticking point, as not many partners will equip their products with 120Hz screens for native support. However, if you were hoping to use your laptop as a sometime HTPC and play 3D BluRay's, you'll be out of luck unless you pick the right model with the right in it.

The rebranding appears to be part of AMD's ongoing strategy to fill in the gaps with new products, aligning their older products into more suitable markets and price points. However, this is being done, on the mobility side, at the expense of consistency and clarity.

Modern computer components lack severely in the 'name it what makes sense' classifications of marketing, with made up model numbers bearing no relation to real world aspects of performance, features or other aspect. Defining and maintaining at least some semblance of an relative performance index helps find a starting point for consumers looking at similar products at a particular price point.

AMD seem determined to make it as hard as possible to see what's what, as we've now got three new mobility GPU's with three rebranded ones, mixed in with new APU model numbers (HD 6200, HD 6300 for graphics) all launching at the same time. Add in the rest of the desktop consumer line up, from the Ultra high-end to the mainstream and value performance, we've got a lot of product to differentiate.

AMD Fusion Already Has Strong Software and Hardware Ecosystem Built Around It

AMD Fusion's platform might have just gone official today, but, as we all know only too well, it's been in the works for a very, very long period of time, and for this reason, the fact that it's actually backed by quite a serious ecosystem (both hardware and software) shouldn't really come as much of a surprise.So, working closely with software vendors, developers and motherboard suppliers, AMD has built a coalition of industry innovators committed to providing devices and applications that leverage the combined x86 computing power and discrete-level graphics performance of AMD Fusion APUs. First and foremost, the coalition includes a variety of middleware and tools providers to offer software development kits that facilitate the use of industry-standard application programming interfaces (APIs) such as OpenCL, OpenGL, Direct2D and DirectCompute. AMD further supports the optimization of software for AMD Fusion APUs with AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing (APP) technology, which helps developers more easily tap into the combined power of the GPU and CPU to accelerate existing applications and create new possibilities in software. Additionally, this select group also includes the developers of a variety of applications that span multimedia, gaming, productivity, web browsing, facial recognition, video conferencing and more, including Adobe, ArcSoft, Codemasters, Corel, CyberLink, DivX, EA / BioWare, Earthsim, Firaxis, Gazillion, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Windows, Nuvixa, Roxio, Sega, Turbine, Viewdle and ViVu. AMD motherboard partners are also innovating around the launch of the first AMD Fusion APUs, as leading original design manufacturers (ODMs), including ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI and Sapphire, have announced integrated APU/motherboard products for the first PC platforms featuring AMD Fusion APUs. “AMD and its partners are leading the way to a new era of computing distinguished by immersive entertainment, outstanding Internet browsing and fast, efficient processing of digital workloads,” said John Taylor, director, AMD Client and Software Product Marketing. “The creation of a robust x86- and GPU computing-based ecosystem to enable these next-generation experiences is the culmination of long-standing collaboration with developers, software and tools vendors, and component suppliers, as well as technology investments made possible by the AMD Fusion Fund,” concluded the company's rep.