Reinstalling Win 7 x64. Best Catalyst Drivers for Single Card Set

rakers8

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I recieved a Crucial M4 128 SSD for Christmas (Finally in the SSD WORLD!!) and I'm getting ready to re-install Win 7 64. When my Windows installation is finished, I'm wondering which catalyst package I should install, 11.12 + CAPs or 12.1? I've got a complete AMD system, Asus M4A87TD/USB3 mobo with a Phenom II 1055t processor, so I also plan on installing the chipset/ahci driver as well. Are all those drivers included in the 12.1 package? Or will I have to install additional (optional downloads)?

To be honest, I feel safer installing the latest WHQL drivers but if there are any other non-cfx single 5850 owners out there that say the 12.1's are a significant upgrade over 11.12, I'll make those my default drivers.
I try to minimize my driver installations after a fresh install of Windows.
Also,
Are there any advantage to installing the drivers on the XFX site here: http://xfxforce.com/en-us/Help/Suppo...rial=L4H210445
Or Are they the exact same thing as getting them from AMD.com? It would be cool if they were optimized for XFX cards.


TIA, I'll answer any questions about my setup if you need more information.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

64Phenom IIx6 1055t8 GB G.SKILL 1600XFX RADEON HD 5850
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
64
CPU
Phenom IIx6 1055t
Motherboard
M4A87TD/USB3
Memory
8 GB G.SKILL 1600
Graphics Card(s)
XFX RADEON HD 5850
Sound Card
INTEGRATED
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS VH242H
Hard Drives
WD CAVIAR BLACK 1TB
PSU
XFX 650W
Case
LIAN LI
Cooling
CM HYPER 212
rakers8, welcome to the Seven Forums.

The chipset drivers are usually not included in the beta or preview releases from AMD, but are usually included in the full Catalyst suite. Even if they're not they can always be downloaded from AMD as separate downloads.

As far as the video driver goes, don't have a 5850 but do have a 6850, and haven't had any problems with the 12.1 Preview and if anything seem to be a little better than the 11.12 (smoother, image quality, etc). Getting them from XFX is of no benefit as they will have (if they don't just link back to AMD) the exact same driver as what you get directly from AMD. There is next to zero difference between the drivers from the card manufacturers and AMD, about the only thing the driver from the card manufacturer might have different is their name shows up next to AMD's during the install.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 7 Ultimate x64FX-8350 @ 4.6 GHz so farADATA XPG V1 Series Black 8GB DDR3 1600Sapphire R9 270x Dual-X
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Me
OS
Win 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
FX-8350 @ 4.6 GHz so far
Motherboard
Asus M5A97 EVO
Memory
ADATA XPG V1 Series Black 8GB DDR3 1600
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire R9 270x Dual-X
Sound Card
Xonar DGX w/ Corsair Vengence 1300
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer S232HL Abid
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
120 GB OCZ Vertex 3
500 GB Seagate 7200.12
PSU
Antec Earthwatts 650W Green
Case
Antec Three Hundred
Cooling
Cooler Master 212 EVO
Keyboard
Logitech G510
Mouse
Logitech G500s
Internet Speed
35000/3000
I have that same board in my wifes computer and I also have the M4A88TD-V EVO USB 3
Windows 7 will install most if not all the drivers you need except the USB 3.0 drivers which you can install from the CD that comes with your board. Windows will also find your graphic card drivers and install them but they are not as good as the driver from AMD. Maske sure you install all the Windows updates including SP1 and make sure to install .Net 3 or 4 in order for the ATI drivers to work correctly, once you have all that done then go to the AMD site and download the newest drivers and install them. I use AMD boards and ATI cards in most of my builds and have never had any problems so you should have a simple installation ahead of you.

Also, before you install on your new SSD make sure to check and install any firmware updates for the SSD and make sure to set your HD options to AHCI or RAID mode to get the best performance out of the SSD.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Pro x64AMD FX 4100 4 Core 3.6GHz AM3+16GB G.Skill RipjawsXRadeon 6850
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home build
OS
Windows 7 Pro x64
CPU
AMD FX 4100 4 Core 3.6GHz AM3+
Motherboard
ASROCK 970 Extreme3
Memory
16GB G.Skill RipjawsX
Graphics Card(s)
Radeon 6850
Sound Card
ASUS Xonar D1
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS 23" LCD
Hard Drives
SSD 120GB
WD 750GB Black series
WD 640GB Black series
PSU
700W
Case
Antec 100
Cooling
Hyper 212 Plus
Internet Speed
50MB
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