Catalyst No More: AMD Announces Radeon Software Crimson Edition

November 3, 2015 Matt Ring News, Video Cards 18

Table of Contents

The Catalyst we have known and love will now be put out to pasture, ushering in an exciting era of new software under the Radeon moniker. The familiar name brings back warm and fuzzy feelings of days gone by, but this software suite is more than just drivers.

More than a month ago, AMD announced the creation of Radeon Technologies Group with industry veteran Raja Koduri at the helm. This group is tasked with integrating all things GPU, including hardware, software, design and more. The first major announcement came today in the form of a new software suite, or “mini graphics operating system” as AMD dubs it.

Enter Radeon Settings

Replacing Catalyst Control Center will be the new Radeon Settings tool. The software will feature a “Gaming” tab, where you can tweak settings and overclocks specific to individual games, in addition to the usual global settings available. Other options will be similar to previous Catalyst suites, but Radeon Settings offers much quicker startup time and easier navigation.

Look for the software to be released before the end of 2015.

Additional features and screenshots are available in the galleries below. All slides and images courtesy of AMD. The first gallery contains a basic overview and high-level features:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The second gallery has a more detailed breakdown:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

For additional information straight from AMD, check out the embedded video:

– Matt Ring (mdcomp)

About Matt Ring 143 Articles
Matt Ring has been part of the Overclockers.com community for 20+ years. He built his first computer at age 12 and has been hooked on computer hardware and overclocking ever since. For the past 10 years, Matt has worked in technology for internet and software companies. These days, Matt focuses on editing and behind the scenes work to keep Overclockers.com humming.

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Avatar of Blaylock
Blaylock

1

7,967 messages 763 likes
#1 Nov 03, 2015

To me when I hear "mini graphics operating system" I hear heavy resource or bloat. I'm hoping I'm wrong. It also sounds like they're incorporating the eVolve software into the driver software. We'll have to wait and see I guess. Fingers crossed that we'll be able to disable some of the features for benching.

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Avatar of EarthDog
EarthDog

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75,641 messages 2,503 likes
#2 Nov 03, 2015

Good points. I am not sure on that front... hopefully its just marketing speak.

At least currently in their driver package, you can choose what to install (which I only install CCC and the driver, nothing else, ever).

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Avatar of Blaylock
Blaylock

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7,967 messages 763 likes
#3 Nov 03, 2015

EXACTLY

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Avatar of 'Cuda340
'Cuda340

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2,853 messages 0 likes
#4 Nov 24, 2015

Radeon Software Crimson Edition Graphics Driver Installer for Windows

Bump.gif

Radeon Software Crimson Edition Graphics Driver Installer for Windows released today

Download AMD Radeon Software

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R
Rydis

Member

877 messages 0 likes
#5 Nov 25, 2015

View attachment 171588

Radeon Software Crimson Edition Graphics Driver Installer for Windows released today

Download AMD Radeon Software

I didn't notice any difference at all from catalyst drivers. Options got a little pretty..but seen nothing in terms of performance or options that actually did anything useful for me

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Avatar of Janus67
Janus67

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17,161 messages 463 likes
#6 Nov 25, 2015

Yeah, overall I don't love it. Configuring game profiles is a little easier as it picks up installed games.

It doesn't pick up my free-sync monitor Hz range properly (says 35-60 fps instead of 90 for some reason).

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Avatar of dyckah
dyckah

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1,844 messages 0 likes
#7 Nov 26, 2015

not a fan of this, going to go back to catalyst asap.
currently run a dual monitor setup, with a third cable going to my TV, have to disable one of my monitors to watch anything on the TV.
with catalyst this was easy, took about 10 seconds.
with this new crimson software, i cant figure out how to do it at all without unplugging one of my monitors...

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Avatar of Joe88
Joe88

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590 messages 45 likes
#8 Nov 27, 2015

I am not a fan of this either, it seems all the stuff is hidden now or removed, also going back to ccc

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Avatar of 'Cuda340
'Cuda340

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2,853 messages 0 likes
#9 Nov 29, 2015

Stumbled across this having my Sunday morning java coffeepaper.gif Have a peek if interested...

AMD's Radeon Software Crimson Driver Released: New Features & A New Look

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Avatar of Janus67
Janus67

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17,161 messages 463 likes
#10 Nov 29, 2015

A warning to people here. I was browsing /r/hardware and /r/amd and there are many people saying they are having issues with fan speeds not working properly after updating to the Crimson drivers. In some cases their cards died.

Upgrade at your own risk. I'll be downgrading back.

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