ATI released new drivers for their Radeon series of graphics cards.

The latest version of the Catalyst software suite is designed to support the following Microsoft Windows platforms:

• Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit versions)
• Windows XP Professional
• Windows XP Home Edition
• Windows XP Media Center Edition (graphics driver support only)

AMD Desktop Family Product Support for both Windows Vista and XP

New Features

The following section provides information on new features introduced in this release of Catalyst.

OpenGL CrossFire Support Under Windows Vista

Catalyst 7.3 introduces OpenGL CrossFire support for the entire ATI Radeon X1000 product series under Microsoft Vista. Users will see significant performance gains in a number of applications when running in CrossFire mode under Windows Vista.

CrossFire Enhancements for Windows Vista

Catalyst 7.3 includes CrossFire enhancements for Windows Vista that enable the Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR) CrossFire rendering mode by default, enabling performance benefits for all AFR compatible applications immediately (including newly released applications that have not been officially profiled for CrossFire). Future Catalyst releases will add further CrossFire performance gains once new applications have been profiled specifically for CrossFire.

Performance Improvements

Dark Messiah Might and Magic performance improves 12.5% or greater on all Radeon X1000 series configurations when running in CrossFire mode under both the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. Larger gains of 60% or more can be seen on high end products.

Resolved Issues for the Windows XP Operating System

This section provides information on resolved issues in this release of the ATI Catalyst Software Suite for Windows XP. These include:

• Uninstalling the graphics drivers no longer results in some of the files and folders failing to be removed in the Program File folder. Further details can be found in topic number 737-23715
• Hot-plugging an HDMI TV to the DVI port of graphics adapter via HDMI to DVI cable no longer results in the DVI-to-HDMI detection message appearing but then disappearing within 30 seconds or when making a slight mouse movement. This issue may also be experienced under the Windows Vista operating system. Further details can be found in topic number 737-25809
• Extend desktop mode no longer fails to work after rotating the extended secondary desktop to 90 degrees. This issue may also be experienced under the Windows Vista operating system. Further details can be found in topic number 737-25810
• The Microsoft Vista gamma settings set by the operating system is no longer overwritten when launching the Catalyst Control Center 737-25505
• Catalyst Control Center->Basic View: Setting the regional and language settings to German no longer results in corruption being noticed in the Quick Setting->Video Playback->Adjust Video for Room Brightness option found in the Catalyst Control Center. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26653
• Catalyst Control Center: Swapping the primary and secondary display devices no longer results in the inability to change the display resolution. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26655
• Catalyst Control Center: The language is no longer switched for Chinese traditional and Chinese simplified. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26657
• Catalyst Control Center: Setting the language option to Simplified Chinese no longer results in Chinese characters being inconsistent. Further details can be found in topic number. Further details can be found in topic number 737-23708
• Catalyst Control Center->Component Video Properties->Adjustments: The Apply button is no longer greyed out when making adjustments to the Brightness, Contrast, or Saturation sliders. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26658
• Catalyst Control Center: Creating a profile no longer results in the profile shortcut not being deleted from desktop after uninstalling the Catalyst Control Center. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26659
• The Catalyst Control Center now launches under localized version of the operating system when using MS .NET 2.0 IPC. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26660
• The Catalyst Control Center no longer intermittently disappears when running in the background of the Windows XP Professional x64 Edition operating system. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26661
• Enabling clone mode and attempting to launch the Catalyst Control Center by right clicking on the desktop no longer results in the Catalyst Control Center failing to launch. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26664
• Disabling a secondary display device when horizontally stretched desktop is enabled no longer results in the Catalyst Control Center becoming corrupt and unusable. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26665
• Installing a newer version of the Catalyst Control Center over an older version no longer results in the newer version failing to install. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26666
• Catalyst Control Center->Advanced Mode: The Video aspect Help now loads when pressing F1. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26667
• The Help files for video aspects found in the Catalyst Control Center are now up to date. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26668
• Catalyst Control Center->Overdrive: User setting are now retained when making changes to the Graphics Processor and Graphics Memory Statuses. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26669
• Hot-plugging a CRT display device and switching the screen position and size to the right in the Catalyst Control Center, no longer results in the desktop image switching back to the center position when switching to dual mode. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26670
• Flashing is no longer noticed when hot-plugging a CRT display device and enabling extended desktop mode under the Vista operating system. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26671
• Using the hotkey function Fn+F4 to cycle through display options no longer results in the operating system hanging intermittently. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26672
• Using WinDVD to play a DVD title no longer results in the right portion of the display being cut-off and the player image shifting to the left. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26673
• Display corruption is no longer noticed after the Windows XP logo is displayed and prior to the display driver loading. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26674
• Catalyst Control Center->Avivo Video->Theater Mode: Enabling Theater Mode and Clone mode no longer result in the operating system failing to respond when using the hotkey function to switch between display devices. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26675
• Catalyst Control Center->Video->Avivo Quality aspect page: The Pulldown detection option is no longer missing. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26679
• Catalyst Control Center: The HDTV display mode of 1080i30 is now added to the pre-defined and custom modes found in the Catalyst Control Center->Digital Panel Properties->HDTV Support. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26680
• Connecting a display device to the DVI connector no longer results in the display device failing to display a full screen image when setting the display resolution to 1280x720 60Hz. Further details can be found in topic number 737-26681