Right on schedule, AMD has launched this month's revision of its Catalyst software suite, available to download now from game.amd.com.
The release, version 8.8, brings the Radeon display driver up to version 8.522, and provides two new features; Hybrid Graphics Support for Windows XP, and new Avivo video options in the Catalyst Control Center.
As always, there's a long list of resolved issues for multiple operating systems, but AMD hasn't this time provided a list of performance improvements. We wouldn't, therefore, anticipate the usual boost in FPS.
The two new features are detailed by AMD as follows:
Catalyst Control Center: New Avivo video features
This release of Catalyst™ introduces new Avivo video features:
- Dynamic Gamma/Contrast correction, available on the ATI Radeon™ HD 4800 Series, improves video image quality by delivering more vivid colour in content with sharp contrasts and scenes with low and bright images.
- Improved video presets, available for the ATI Radeon™ HD 3000 and ATI Radeon™ 4800 Series, delivers a newly optimised video presets that users can select depending on what kind of video content they are viewing.
- Windows XP support: Edge enhancement, which adjusts the level of sharpness of video content and Noise Reduction, which removes ghosting artifacts while preserving details of the original video. The new slider controls can be found in the All Settings page of the Avivo Video tab found in the Catalyst™ Control Center
Hybrid Graphics Support for Windows XP
This release of Catalyst™ introduces Hybrid Graphics support. Hybrid Graphics delivers a significant 3D performance boost for systems featuring an AMD 780G/780D integrated graphics motherboard and an ATI Radeon™ HD 3400 Series or ATI Radeon™ HD 2400 Series graphics accelerator. It also provides support for up to four independent displays.
For a complete breakdown of what Catalyst 8.8 has to offer, including all the resolved issues, please refer to the official release notes (PDF).
Thanks to shadowmaster for flagging the new release!
Useful links
Download Catalyst 8.8
Catalyst 8.8 release notes (PDF)
