9800 softpatch questions

[dpbement]

I have read about a software patch for RivaTuner that will make the Catalyst Drivers recognize a 9700pro as 9800pro resulting in some speed improvements. I cannot find this patch except a link to some Russian site that I can't read. Does anyone know where this is and whether it works?

[madthumbs]

From what I know, there was a performance boost that they found while creating drivers for the 9800. The boost isn't implemented until they test it (should be included in future drivers).

Check here; http://www.maxdownloads.com/~ian/wizzard/

or here; http://download.guru3d.com/

[dpbement]

I have a 9700pro that I want to apply the softpatch to Catalyst 3.2 drivers to get it to recognize the card as a 9800pro. I use RivaTuner, click on the PowerUsers tab and click on the third icon at the bottom that says "Open patch script". I am using XP so I select the SoftR9x00w2k and it then opens a browser window to find the ati2mtag.sys file I want to mod. I do a search for this file and find it at c:\windows\system32\drivers and it's dated 2/28/2003. I select this and it says the patch was applied succesfully. I reboot. The display properties look no different. I still see 9700pro as adapter type, not 9800. I also do not see Smoothvision 2.1--only Smoothvision II. I am unable to find a single difference to indicate the patch was applied.

In c:\windows\system32, I see ati2mtag.old and ati2mtag.sys. The .sys still has the same date so I don't think it was modified at all. I don't understand. What am I supposed to see when this patch is succesfully applied?

[madthumbs]

As far as I know, the patch is for a hidden feature in the drivers that yields ~10% performance improvement. The improvement was found while developing drivers for the 9800, and has not been tested yet. After applying the patch, did you install the drivers following the instructions to do it through the add/ remove hardware console?

[dpbement]

No. How do I do this? When I select driver properties, I see ati2mag.sys but when I try to update driver it wants an inf file. Not sure what to do. Thanks.

[dpbement]

Found some detailed and idiot proof instructions at:

http://www.icrontic.com/?action=article&id=411&page=1


Here are the results; to say the least I am stunned. :afraid:

Pre-Patch 3DMark2001SE:
1024x768 No AA: 13,404
1024x768 4xAA 16x ANA Q 8,405

Post-Patch 3DMark2001SE:
1024x768 No AA: 13,598
1024x768 4xAA 16x ANA Q 9,226

Wow! Look at this review 9500/9700 review and go to 3DMarks w/AA+ANISO. This config w/9700 Soft9800mod actually beat a 3GHz P4 w/AA+ANISO! All from a software patch! I don't play 3DMark, but how this will affect games (Doom3) can't be negative!
Not sure how much this affects the comparison, but in the review they were using Cat 2.3 drivers. I am using 3.2+mod.


Test System: P4 2.4GHz 400MHz FSB (o/c to 420MHz==>2.52GHz)
512MB PC800 RDRAM
Abit TH7II-RAID
80GB Seagate
2x100GB WD RAID0
Audigy
WinTV PVR-250

[zsynth]

It's much easier to download and install the Omega ATI drivers, it does the same thing. I'm using 'em, they work great. Just have to remove ATI Control panel only, then install Omega drivers, all done.

http://www.omegacorner.com/

[bkswaney]

Just download the new Omega drivers.
It has the softmod built in. :)

They r the fastest drivers out right now. :)

[StealthHawk]

merged the two threads together, so it will be a better reference for others.