AMD delivers highly anticipated Catalyst driver update 15.7 WHQL

By Brad Jones July 9, 2015

AMD Radeon R9 295X2 review full 1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

AMD has released WHQL-certified Catalyst driver update 15.7. While users might have had their complaints about the pace of AMD’s update schedule compared to longtime rivals Nvidia, there’ll be very few disappointed by the set of features and fixes on offer here.

At long last, AMD has listened to the pleads of its user-base and implemented Crossfire support for FreeSync-enabled monitors. FreeSync is AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s G-Sync, which synchronizes the refresh rates of your display and your graphics card, a practice that can help eliminate screen tearing.

We’ve seen plenty of monitors with FreeSync support released over the past several months, but users on Crossfire multi-GPU setups haven’t been able to take advantage of the functionality. That changes with the release of this update, which is sure to please owner of rigs that will see technology made available for use thanks to these tweaks.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming

Another major focus of this update is AMD’s preparations for the launch of Windows 10 later this month. For the time being, Windows 10 support caters to the Technical Preview, but the patch notes specify that another update will bring this in line with the final release when Windows 10 officially launches on July 29.

Gamers working with less powerful systems also have good reason to grab this update, as it extends the reach of AMD’s Virtual Super Resolution and Frame Rate Target Control to some older pieces of hardware from the company’s back catalog. The former allows for a wider field of view and smoother edges, and the latter can offer some sizable advantages to performance, according to a report from PC World.

The new updates to AMD’s Catalyst 15.7 WHQL drivers are available now. Users can download the latest update via the Catalyst Control Center.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

Computing

FreeSync vs. G-Sync

Acer Predator XB2 review hero game.

If you’ve ever experienced screen tearing in a PC game, you know how annoying it can be -- an otherwise correctly rendered frame ruined by gross horizontal lines and stuttering. You can turn on V-Sync, but that can be detrimental to system performance.

Nvidia and AMD have stepped up to solve the issue while preserving frame rates, and both manufacturers have turned to adaptive refresh technology for the solution. That often leads to a very obvious recommendation: If you have an Nvidia GPU, use G-Sync. If you have an AMD GPU, use FreeSync.

Computing

What is FreeSync? Here’s everything you need to know

asus shows off their new rog gaming monitors at ces mg279q wqhd front display angle 2

Tearing occurs when your monitor won’t refresh as quickly as the game’s frame rate. For players who deal with this issue regularly, it can quickly ruin the gameplay experience. There is a way to sync your refresh rate to your GPU rendering, but you’ll need to use FreeSync to do it. This program might be completely unknown to some, but using FreeSync shouldn’t be too complicated. Here's how to do it.
What is AMD FreeSync?
Notice the misaligned elements of the left-hand frame? Although this screen tearing is simulated, it displays the effect screen tearing can have on a game. AMD

FreeSync allows AMD's graphics cards and APUs to control the refresh rate of a connected monitor. Most monitors default to 60 refreshes per second (60Hz), but you'll also see monitors that refresh 75, 120, 144, or even 240 times per second.

Computing

Best printer deals: 10+ cheap printers on sale as low as $79

An HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e all-in-one printer rests on a white table with plants and a thumb drive beside it.

Even though going digital has become easier than ever, there is still a need to print, especially if you're a small or medium business. Luckily, the world of printers hasn't slowed down at all in the past few years, so whether you need to print character sheets for your D&D campaign or receipts for your business, there are a lot of printers to pick from. In fact, some of the best printer brands on the market have a lot of solid options, including in the budget range for those who don't need a ton of printing. And while it may be hard to find a good deal on the best printers, we're pretty sure our collection of deals will get you pretty close.
Canon Pixma TR4722 -- $79, was $99

While it isn’t one of the best all-in-one printers, it’s certainly one of the most affordable. There’s something to be said about a printer that can come in at such a low price yet still offer quality printing. This printer will work well in any home, apartment, or dorm room setting. It even goes beyond printing and is capable of making copies, scanning, and faxing. It connects easily to your devices with built-in wireless connectivity, and it can print at a rate of about nine pages per minute monochrome and four pages per minute color.