Published in Graphics

AMD announces new Radeon Software Crimson

by on02 November 2015


Rebranding of AMD graphics drivers and replacement for Catalyst

AMD has announced its newest Radeon Software Crimson Edition graphics driver that will mark the rebranding of AMD's graphics drivers as well as replace the aging Catalyst Control Center with new design.

Just a few months after the major restructuring of the graphics division and creating the Radeon Technologies Group (RTG) placed in the hand of AMD veteran Raja Koduri, we have a first creating from that same group, a completely redesigned AMD Radeon software which promises faster and better software experience, modern design and more interactive and intuitive function, the Radeon Software Crimson.

While Catalyst Control Center was doing its job, AMD wants to show its resolve to focus on bringing better software and drivers and starts by getting rid of the Catalyst branding as with the next drivers release, we will be downloading Radeon Software drivers. To start the show, we will see the new Crimson Edition of Radeon Software which will be a major version followed by minor drivers update versions, marked by existing numbering scheme, year.month (for example Radeon Software 15.11).

AMD and the RTG also noted that drivers updates will be quite similar to what we used to see earlier, with a balance between WHQL and beta driver releases. AMD was also quite keen to note that we won't have to register with an email to download them either.

The new Radeon Software will be bringing the new control panel that will replace current Catalyst Control Center, simply called Radeon Settings. This one will feature a completely new design based on QT framework and bring intuitive navigation, new features with new Game Manager, new Overdrive and new Video, Display and AMD Eyefinity functions as well as, a faster start up.

According to AMD, the new Radeon Settings control panel will not only get a fresh coat of paint with a new brushed metal design but it is also up to 10 times faster than the AMD Catalyst Control Center and starts up in just 0.6 seconds, which is significantly faster than 8 seconds it took CCC to start on the same system.

There will be plenty of new features, including the new Game Manager that will allow users to set per-game profiles, new Overdrive overclocking feature, which will also allow users to set individual overclock settings for each game, new Display features with Eyefinity quick setup and FreeSync settings, and plenty of other additions.

Unfortunately, AMD has been pretty silent on the actual release date but did note that we can expect both the first release of Radeon Software drivers and Radeon Settings control panel sometime in Q4, although we might get a first preview in November.

AMD and the new Radeon Technologies Group is clearly showing that it will focus both on software as well as hardware and for now it looks like it is on a good path.

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