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I am doing a driver test to see once and for all wich set of drivers works best!

I am testing

Offical Alienware Drivers 7.96
Catalyst 4.2 using DH Mod
Omega Catalyst 4.2

I will install all and run 3D mark03 and put results here!

Please do...

I've been meaning to do just that but between work and the lady friend...not much getting accomplished in the way of benchmarking.

Oh...but I did steal a few mins for the new UT demo...RAD?!

-Craig

As you can see all of the drivers run pretty close to each other and if you plan on sticking with the official dirvers 7.96 you probably arn't missing much but I find the Omegas have a few more options the regular drivers don't have and thus makes them worth installing pluse they doo seem to give a little more performace out of the card although not much. I'm my personal Opinion I reccomend the Omegas. Wich you can get at
www.omegacorner.com
You can get the DHmod tool at (Mods ATI's Catalyst Drivers www.ATI.com)
www.driverheaven.com

The officail drivers you can get from Alienware DUH!

So In conclusion if you have the newest drivers form alineware and are a littel leary of third part drivers you arn't missing much but If you want a littel extra functionality and a sever so slight preformance boost go with the Omegas! The DHmod tool works well but the omegas are about the same and come in a nice uninstallable package!

Side note if you have higher specs than I do you can expect higher numbers in 3Dmark03 or if you over clock all drivers where tested unoverclocked!

As always...

Excellence in completion of greatness. Thanks Goo man! Have one on me.

Now get back to your wife! Its V-day...Mine is yelling at me right now to cook dinner. Love is bliss!

-Craig

Sure will I been Running test runing to wife then saying stuff like I goto go to the bathroom Run another test. So an and so forth got to get going now running out of excuses!

Good job Brain! Ive been wondering what one to use...thx

I'll put my $ on the OMEGAS.

What a great community.

Way to go, Braingoo!

Hooray for useful threads with a point that actually have some value to people!

These drivers rock they made a significant diference in my scores!

If you have not goten them yet go get them NOW!

http://www.omegacorner.com/index_ati.html

I've personally have never much liked the Omega drivers, I know a lot of people swear by them but I don't like them...I consistently score 300 points less in 3DMark03 with the Omega drivers than what I can get with just the regular ATI Driver Package...I use the same set up for both versions of drivers when I test them so I don't know what the deal is with them...

Well, the thing with the Omegas is that they're not designed to give you dramatic increases in framerates or benchmark scores. Instead they're designed for efficiency in apps. For instance, most glitches people have with games/GPU drivers are ironed out simply by using Omega's package.

He (I guess its a he?) designs them for a broad spectrum of app compatibility and for game image quality. Check his site and you'll see some tests he does with standard issue drivers vs his. The Omegas undoubtably look better image wise. He works with the Cats from ATi before they're even released public so I assume he has connections within ATi. From what I'm told, ATi works with him b/c they have so much respect for his progy skills.

-Craig

Craig, I have been to the Omega site numerous times as I like to keep up with what he is doing and what's the latest drivers he has put out...I am sure they are good drivers and I'm not saying nobody shouldn't use them...

All I was saying is that in my case I find no compelling reason to use them especially at a loss of over 300 3DMark points...

That's strange to see such a dramatic drop in performance in benches.

Oh well...stick with what works

-Craig

Hey Braingoo, have you done a test with the CAT 4.4 Omegas yet?