AMD Software explained

AMD Software
Author:ATI Technologies
Developer:AMD
Released:02.1 / [1] [2]
Latest Release Version:Windows

Unified-Linux
24.10.3[3] /
Operating System:Microsoft Windows
Linux
Platform:x64
Genre:Device driver and management
License:Freeware

AMD Software (formerly known as Radeon Software) is a device driver and utility software package for AMD's Radeon graphics cards and APUs. Its graphical user interface is built with Qt[4] and is compatible with 64-bit Windows and Linux distributions.

Software bundle

Functionality

AMD Software includes the following feature set:

Radeon Anti-Lag reduces input latency. It helps when the GPU is bottlenecking the CPU[5] and is supported in DirectX 9, 11, and 12.[6] Radeon Super Resolution is image upscaling technology similar to FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), but it does not have to be customized for specific games. It works on thousands of games, but AMD recommends using FSR when available.[7] Radeon Boost also uses image upscaling to increase performance, but unlike AMD's other technologies, it does this only at certain times, such as when rapidly moving the mouse. This is interpreted as an action-heavy scene where image quality can temporarily be decreased without much noticeable effect.[8] This only works in supported games.[5] HYPR-RX enables Radeon Anti-Lag, Boost, and Super Resolution. In supported games, this is done automatically according to a user's AMD Software settings; otherwise, it requires some configuration in-game. HYPR-RX requires an RDNA3 GPU.[9]

Radeon Chill lowers performance when the AMD drivers detect idle moments in games and can set frame rate caps.[5] Smart Access Memory enables potential performance boosts on systems that use both AMD Ryzen CPUs and Radeon video cards.[5] Radeon Enhanced Sync reduces screen tearing like v-sync, but it avoids capping frame rates at the monitor's refresh rate. This can reduce the input lag associated with v-sync. This is limited to DirectX 9, 10, and 12.[10]

AMD Link allows users to stream content to mobile devices, compatible Smart TVs, and other PCs with Radeon video cards, enabling them to use their PC and game on them remotely. It can be used both locally as well as over the internet. The client requires a free app, which is available via Google Play, Apple App Store, and Amazon Appstore.[11] Support for AMD Link has been axed in AMD Software releases from January 2024 onwards, citing the availability of alternatives and to focus driver development resources elsewhere.[12]

History

The software was previously known as AMD Radeon Software, AMD Catalyst, and ATI Catalyst. AMD ceased providing 32-bit versions in October 2018.

Supported hardware

AMD Software is targeted to support all function blocks present on a GPU's or an APU's die. Besides instruction code targeted at rendering, this includes display controllers as well as their SIP blocks for video decoding (Unified Video Decoder (UVD)) and video encoding (Video Coding Engine (VCE)).

The device driver also supports AMD TrueAudio, a SIP block to perform sound-related calculations.

Supported products

AMD Software supports the following AMD (and ATI-tradition) product lines targeted at rendering:

The following product lines are probably not supported by AMD Software, but instead by some other software, which (for example) is OpenGL-certified:

Multi-monitor support

See main article: AMD Eyefinity. Starting in Catalyst 14.6 AMD has enabled mixed-resolution support, allowing for a single Eyefinity display group to be created where each monitor runs at a different resolution. The current version may, however, disable any additional display mode and change to a resolution in the one mode available. This feature is made possible through the addition of two new Eyefinity display modes, Fit and Expand, which join the traditional Fill mode. In both Fit and Expand modes, AMD is compensating for the mismatched resolutions by creating a virtual desktop that is of a different resolution from those of the monitors, and then either padding it out or cropping it as necessary.[13]

Before Eyefinity, there was the Windows-only software "HydraVision" (originally acquired from Appian Graphics complete with its development team), a desktop/screen management software mostly providing multi-monitor and virtual-screen management. It has extensive hot-key support.[14]

Video acceleration

Both of AMD's SIP cores for video acceleration, Video Coding Engine as well as Unified Video Decoder, are supported by AMD Software.

Audio acceleration

See main article: AMD TrueAudio. Some AMD products contain SIP cores for audio acceleration branded AMD TrueAudio. Support for this audio acceleration DSP co-processor is part of AMD Software.

Under Microsoft Windows the support for AMD TrueAudio is codenamed "ACP" (for audio co-processor) and implemented via "ACP user service" (amdacpusrsvc.exe), a background service that helps manage audio tasks in games.

Under Linux, AMD TrueAudio is codenamed "acp" as well: some code regarding this can be found in the /drivers/gpu/drm/radeon directory of the Linux kernel sources.

Power saving

See main article: AMD PowerTune. AMD Software includes support for AMD PowerPlay, AMD PowerTune and AMD ZeroCore Power, AMD's set of technologies to reduce energy consumption in their graphics products.[15]

Supported interfaces

Rendering

The AMD Software device driver supports multiple rendering interfaces, all designed to give the user-space programs, such as video games or CAD software, access to the corresponding SIP blocks.

Direct3D

See main article: Direct3D. Direct3D 12 is available for GCN with version 15.7.1 or higher.[16]

Mantle

See main article: Mantle (API). Only the Radeon Software releases targeting Microsoft Windows included support for Mantle. In 2019 starting with version 19.5.1 it was officially discontinued, in favor of DirectX 12 and Vulkan (built upon Mantle) raise in popularity.[17] Windows users who still wish to use Mantle would have to use older version of drivers (prior to 19.5.1).[18]

OpenGL

See main article: OpenGL. OpenGL 4.5 is possible for TeraScale 2 and 3 with Radeon Software Crimson Edition Beta (driver version 15.30 or higher like Crimson Beta 16.2.1).[19] [20] OpenCL support will be lost, but it can be recovered by copying the relevant files from a previous package like Radeon Software 15.11.1 Beta. Beta drivers do not support HDCP.

OpenGL 4.5 is available for GCN with version 16.3 or higher.[21]

OpenGL 4.x compliance requires supporting FP64 shaders. These are implemented by emulation on some TeraScale GPUs.

OpenGL 4.6 is supported in AMD Adrenalin 18.4.1 Graphics Driver on Windows 7 SP1, 10 version 1803 (April 2018 update) for AMD Radeon HD 7700+, HD 8500+ and newer. Released April 2018.[22] [23]

Vulkan

See main article: Vulkan (API). Vulkan 1.0 is available with Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.3.2 or higher for GCN.[24]

Vulkan 1.1 with Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 18.3.3 or higher.[25]

Vulkan 1.2 with Adrenalin 20.1.2 or higher.[26]

Vulkan 1.3 with Adrenalin 22.1.2 or higher.[27]

Video acceleration

The AMD Software device driver supports multiple interfaces, all designed to give user-space programs, such as GStreamer or HandBrake software, access to the corresponding SIP blocks.

GPGPU

See main article: ROCm.

ROCm

ROCm 6.0 was released on February 14, 2024, and supports the RX 7900 XTX, 7900 XT and 7900 GRE, alongside Radeon Pro W7900 and W7800 graphics cards. Ubuntu 22.04 is natively supported. PyTorch and ONNX Runtime can be used on ROCm 6.0.[28]

OpenCL

See main article: OpenCL. With Catalyst 9.12 support of OpenCL 1.0 was available.[29]

In Catalyst 10.10 OpenCL 1.1 was available.[30]

Catalyst 12.4 Supports OpenCL 1.2.[31]

OpenCL 2.0 driver works since 14.41 for GCN-based Models.[32] This also supports previous OpenCL versions.

TeraScale 2 and 3 chips can use Level 1.2.

Close to Metal

See main article: Close to Metal. Close to Metal was a low-level API by AMD which was abandoned in favor of OpenCL.

Other

AMD HD3D stereoscopic 3D API by AMD.

Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA)

See main article: Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA). With Catalyst 14.1 HSA is possible.[33] AMD main Processor graphic Units and Radeon graphic Card Units work combined.

AMD GPU Services (AGS)

AMD Display Library (ADL) SDK

Operating systems support

Linux

See also: AMDgpu (Linux kernel module).

The main AMD GPU software stacks are fully supported on Linux: GPUOpen for graphics, and ROCm for compute.GPUOpen is most often merely a supplement, for software utilities, to the free Mesa software stack that is widely distributed and available by default on most Linux distributions.

AMD strives at packaging its software for Linux on its own, not relying solely on Linux distributions. They do so by using the amdgpu and amdgpu-pro shell scripts, and provide package archives for e.g. apt and rpm.[34]

Microsoft Windows

Windows supportFrom versionLast versionNotes
x86x86-64
Windows 9x02.1 4.4/6.2 There were some later releases for these operating systems, up to and including a Windows Me build of Catalyst 6.2 released on Feb 9, 2006.[35]
Windows 200002.16.5[36] /7.4[37] Newer Catalyst versions up to 7.4 will work in 2000 unofficially without any modification; later versions may need .inf file editing
Windows XP02.1 14.4 Driver updates and support stopped at AMD Catalyst 14.4 for video cards with support up to DirectX 11 on Hardware, and 10.2 for DirectX 9.0c cards.
Windows Vista7.2 13.12 Driver updates and support stopped at AMD Catalyst 13.12 for video cards with support up to DirectX 11.
Windows 79.3 18.9.322.6.1[38] Driver updates and support were discontinued for x86 operating systems at version 18.9.3, and for x64 at 22.6.1.
Windows 8.112.8[39] 17.1.2/17.7.1 Support for driver updates stopped in 2017, though still possible to install.[40]
Windows 1015.7[41] 18.9.3[42] activesupportx86 driver support was discontinued to focus on x64 only.
Windows 1121.9.1

Starting with version 4.9 (released on 4 September 2004) the Catalyst driver package included the ATI Catalyst Control Center,[43] a new software application for manipulating many hardware functions, such as 3D settings, monitor controls and video options. It shows a small 3D preview and allows the user to see how changes to the graphics settings affect the quality of the rendered image. It also shows information about the card itself and the software data. This application requires Microsoft .NET Framework.

Radeon Software 16.x and higher drops support for TeraScale-based GPU models. Vulkan 1.0 support was introduced in Radeon Software 16.3.2.

Radeon Software 17.7.1 is the final driver for Windows 8.1.

Radeon Software 18.9.3 is the final driver for 32-bit Windows 7/10.

AMD Software 22.6.1 is the final driver for Windows 7 (and Windows 8.1 unofficially); 22.6.1 is also the final driver for GCN 1, GCN 2 and GCN 3 based GPUs

Issues

On Windows Platforms

On Linux Platforms

See also

Related technologies

Related topics

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ATI makes unprecedented commitment to high-quality, frequently updated drivers and software . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071123153541/https://ati.amd.com/companyinfo/press/2002/4506.html . 23 Nov 2007 . AMD . en-US . October 25, 2022.
  2. Web site: CATALYST (v02.1) FAQ . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20020621171624/http://www.ati.com/products/pc/catalyst/faq.html#2 . June 21, 2002 . ATI . en-US . October 25, 2022.
  3. Web site: Radeon Software for Linux 24.10.3 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . July 12, 2024.
  4. Web site: AMD Graphics, Design & Manufacturing Built with Qt . www.qt.io . 17 December 2023 . en.
  5. Web site: Radeon Anti-Lag. Trevisan. Thiago. PC World. 2021-12-17. 2023-07-03. July 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230703052030/https://www.pcworld.com/article/557806/5-must-use-radeon-features-that-level-up-your-gaming-experience.html. live.
  6. Web site: AMD Radeon Anti-Lag. AMD. 2023-07-03. September 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230908085601/https://www.amd.com/en/technologies/radeon-software-anti-lag. live.
  7. Web site: Your RDNA GPU just got the power to upscale nearly any game with Radeon Super Resolution. Ridley. Jacob. PC Gamer. 2022-03-17. 2023-07-03. July 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230703052024/https://www.pcgamer.com/amd-radeon-super-resolution-drivers/. live.
  8. Web site: Preview: AMD Pumps Up Radeon Software to 'Adrenalin 2020' With Brand New Tech. Stobing. Chris. PC Magazine. 2019-12-10. 2023-07-03. July 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230703052024/https://www.pcmag.com/news/preview-amd-pumps-up-radeon-software-to-adrenalin-2020-with-brand-new-tech. live.
  9. Web site: AMD's HYPR-RX tested: an easy way to cut latency and boost frame-rates?. Judd. Will. Eurogamer. 2023-10-03. 2023-10-04. October 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231003161651/https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2023-amd-hypr-rx-tested-an-easy-way-to-cut-latency-and-boost-frame-rates. live.
  10. Web site: AMD Releases Radeon Software Crimson ReLive 17.7.2. Lambert. Matthew. Bit-Tech. 2017-07-26. 2023-07-03. July 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230703052028/https://bit-tech.net/news/tech/graphics/amd-releases-radeon-software-crimson-relive-1772/1/. live.
  11. Web site: AMD adds PC sharing software to Radeon software, but it comes with caveats. Ridley. Jacob. PC Gamer. 2021-04-20. 2023-07-03. July 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230704020142/https://www.pcgamer.com/amd-link-pc-app-screen-sharing/. live.
  12. Web site: Crider . Michael . AMD ends support for Radeon Link mobile streaming app . PCWorld . 18 April 2024 . en . 26 January 2024.
  13. Web site: Smith. Ryan. May 25, 2014. AMD Catalyst 14.6 Beta Drivers Released, Adds New Eyefinity Functionality & More. AnandTech. July 2, 2014. July 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140701234129/http://anandtech.com/show/8058/amd-catalyst-146-beta-drivers-now-available-adds-new-eyefinity-functionality-more. live.
  14. Web site: HYDRAVISION - For RADEON and Mobile ATI Products. AMD. June 14, 2022.
  15. Web site: Larabel . Michael . November 12, 2005 . ATI PowerPlay . . June 14, 2022 . February 10, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170210060332/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=313&num=1 . live .
  16. Web site: AMD Catalyst 15.7.1 Driver for Windows Release Notes. AMD. April 20, 2018. October 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191020221220/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-15-7-1. live.
  17. Web site: Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.5.1 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . August 15, 2022 . April 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230423031418/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-19-5-1 . live .
  18. Web site: Ridley . Jacob . May 14, 2019 . Farewell Mantle… AMD has ended all support for DirectX 12's API inspiration . PCGamesN . en-US . August 15, 2022 . October 30, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221030134603/https://www.pcgamesn.com/amd/discontinuing-mantle-api-support-radeon-drivers . live .
  19. Web site: AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition (15.30.1025) . AMD . en-US . June 14, 2022 . May 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200511142555/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-15-30-1025 . live .
  20. Web site: AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.2.1 Beta Driver . AMD . en-US . June 14, 2022 . December 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201225111738/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-non-gcn-16-2-1-beta . live .
  21. Web site: AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.3 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . April 20, 2018.
  22. Web site: AMD Adrenalin 18.4.1 Graphics Driver Released (OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.1.70) . Geeks3D . en-US . May 10, 2018 . May 11, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511081017/http://www.geeks3d.com/20180501/amd-adrenalin-18-4-1-graphics-driver-released-opengl-4-6-vulkan-1-1-70/ . live .
  23. Web site: Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 18.4.1 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . May 10, 2018.
  24. Web site: AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.3.2 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . June 27, 2022 . April 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210412025806/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-16-3-2 . live .
  25. Web site: Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 18.3.3 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . April 20, 2018 . May 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190501193622/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-18-3-3 . live .
  26. Web site: Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.1.2 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . June 27, 2022 . April 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230411222217/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-20-1-2 . live .
  27. Web site: Radeon Software Adrenalin 22.1.2 with Vulkan 1.3 Support . AMD . en-US . June 27, 2022.
  28. Web site: AMD ROCm 6.0 adds support for Radeon RX 7900 GRE and PRO W7800 . VideoCardz.com . 12 July 2024 . 14 February 2024.
  29. Web site: JEGX . December 21, 2009 . How to Enable OpenCL Support on NVIDIA and AMD Platforms . Geek3D . en-US . June 14, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707040134/https://www.geeks3d.com/20091221/how-to-enable-opencl-support-on-nvidia-and-amd-platforms/ . live .
  30. Web site: Carsten . October 24, 2010 . Industry's first Open-CL 1.1-Driver is public: AMD Catalyst 10.10 . GPU-Tech . en-GB . June 14, 2022 . September 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220904210619/http://www.gpu-tech.org/content.php/140-Industry-s-first-Open-CL-1-1-Driver-is-public-AMD-Catalyst-10-10 . live .
  31. Web site: May 12, 2012 . OpenCL 1.2 supported in AMD OpenCL APP SDK 2.7 and Catalyst 12.4 drivers . Khronos Group . en-US . March 27, 2022 . May 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508171655/https://www.khronos.org/news/permalink/opencl-1.2-supported-in-amd-opencl-app-sdk-2.7-and-catalyst-12.4-drivers . live .
  32. Web site: AMD OpenCL 2.0 Driver . https://web.archive.org/web/20171213193437/https://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/OpenCL2-Driver.aspx . December 13, 2017 . dead . AMD . en-US . June 14, 2022.
  33. Web site: Smith . Ryan . February 2, 2014 . AMD Catalyst 14.1 Beta Drivers Now Available: Mantle, Frame Pacing, & More . AnandTech . en-US . June 27, 2022 . June 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627124950/https://www.anandtech.com/show/7729/amd-catalyst-141-beta-drivers-now-available-mantle-frame-pacing-more . live .
  34. Web site: AMD Repositories . Radeon . en-US . December 30, 2022 . January 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230108103841/https://repo.radeon.com/ . live .
  35. Web site: Catalyst Version 6.2 for Windows ME Release Note. AMD. dead. October 17, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017012816/http://www2.ati.com/drivers/Catalyst_62_ME_release_notes.html. June 27, 2022.
  36. Web site: Catalyst Release Note Version 6.6 . dead . July 17, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717203126/http://www2.ati.com/relnotes/catalyst_66_release_notes.html . ATI . en-US . June 27, 2022.
  37. Web site: BEARWINDOWS - Microsoft Windows 2000/NT 5.0 [Build 2195] ]. Bearwindows . en-AU . February 7, 2020 . February 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227113606/https://bearwindows.zcm.com.au/win2000.htm#36 . live .
  38. Web site: AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 22.6.1 for Windows 7 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . August 4, 2022 . August 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220809001244/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-22-6-1-win7 . live .
  39. Web site: AMD Catalyst Software Suite Version 12.8 Release Notes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121117002732/http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/AMDCatalystSoftwareSuiteVersion128ReleaseNotes.aspx . November 17, 2012 . AMD . en-US . June 27, 2022.
  40. Web site: December 21, 2019 . Adrenalin 2020 on Windows 8.1?. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201207080835/https://community.amd.com/t5/drivers-software/adrenalin-2020-on-windows-8-1/td-p/122955 . December 7, 2020. AMD . en-US . February 24, 2021.
  41. Web site: AMD Catalyst 15.7 Driver for Windows Release Notes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150831065034/http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/AMDCatalyst15-7WINReleaseNotes.aspx . August 31, 2015 . AMD . en-US . June 27, 2022.
  42. Web site: Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.2.1 Release Notes . AMD . en-US . June 27, 2022 . August 31, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831134334/https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-20-2-1 . live .
  43. Web site: ATI Ushers in a New Era of Usability and Customization for PC Graphics. https://web.archive.org/web/20081208082805/http://ati.amd.com/companyinfo/press/2004/4776.html. December 8, 2008. ati.amd.com. June 27, 2022.

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