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Mediaman_12 · Mar 29, 2007, 06:45 PM

For all the iMac users. ATI released the latest Catalyst 7.3 driver pack on the 28th of March.
These are NEWER than the ones bundled into Bootcamp 1.2 by Apple
Direct download here

mac128k-1984 · Mar 29, 2007, 10:11 PM

But are they "better?" That is, do we see a marked improvement in speed and/or stability. I'm all for keeping my computer current, but to be honest the last set of video drivers from ATI did not seem to make one iota difference for me. I ran a couple of benchmarks between the delivered drivers (from MS) and ATI's and the numbers weren't really different.

brokenjago · Mar 29, 2007, 10:20 PM

Well, they generally fix bugs and add better support for newer games, in my experience.

ibook_steve · Mar 29, 2007, 10:30 PM

You're talking about using third party drivers in beta software. I'd stick with the Apple-provided drivers if I were you.

Steve

sieb · Mar 30, 2007, 07:00 AM

It doesn't make a difference, your in Windows, and to Windows, you have a PC with an ATI card, so the drivers should work regardless. If not, the install will tell you. Bootcamp being bata has no bearing on the issue. I use Intel's GMA drivers for the onboard video in my Macbook since they are newer. I've noticed most of the drivers in Bootcamp are the stock OEM drivers anyway.

ghporter · Mar 30, 2007, 08:50 AM

Apple knows the particular customizations in their video hardware, and that tells me that they have a better chance of making the drivers with BC 1.2 work better than ATI, which has to aim its drivers at ALL POSSIBLE versions of their cards. I will use the new Boot Camp drivers, thanks.

Mediaman_12 · Mar 30, 2007, 11:16 AM

The ATI drivers that the BootCamp installer places on the driver CD, ARE the regular ATI drivers. They come with the same taskbar 'widget' that launches the same options. Apple doesn't make Windows drivers for the third party GPU that is used in the iMac (I don't think Apple even makes the ATI GPU drivers within OSX), nor will ATI be making 'special' Windows drivers for the iMac.
Although as this is a full driver install, it does enable ALL the settings on the GPU, such as display orientation and all the anti aliasing options.

silver · Mar 30, 2007, 07:32 PM

Thanks Mediaman, installed the new ATI drivers and all is well on a MBP 17".

silver

greenamp · Mar 30, 2007, 08:50 PM

Should be noted, 7.3 is for XP, not Vista.

ghporter · Mar 31, 2007, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

The ATI drivers that the BootCamp installer places on the driver CD, ARE the regular ATI drivers. They come with the same taskbar 'widget' that launches the same options. Apple doesn't make Windows drivers for the third party GPU that is used in the iMac (I don't think Apple even makes the ATI GPU drivers within OSX), nor will ATI be making 'special' Windows drivers for the iMac.
Although as this is a full driver install, it does enable ALL the settings on the GPU, such as display orientation and all the anti aliasing options.

I didn't say they "wrote" the drivers, but they do have input into what is and is not included in what they get from ATI. They also apparently have a testing process for third-party drivers - I say this because if they didn't, they would have probably just said "get new drivers from ATI" instead of providing drivers that are not the latest and greatest. And again, I will go with the drivers Apple provides-in this light I add as a reason that they have probably tested them to make sure they at least don't hurt anything else.