Howitzer has posted instructions on the Blender Artists Forums on how to optimize the Blender performance of old ATI cards using an old driver. This has been reported to work really well.
Howitzer writes:
Those of you running old ATI cards or integrated laptop video chipsets rejoice. I believe I have found the best replacement for all ATI cards having the slowdown issue. It is the fastest replacement yet.
Judging by the comments in the thread this seems to be true. Good find Howitzer!
10 Comments
Tried it on my laptop and got another 2-3 levels of multires.
Blender runs on a variety on platforms. It would be nice to get hint in the abstract that this is a windows only subject. (I am running an ATI graphic under OS X ...)
HOORAY!
=D
@LayBack: good point, I updated the title.
To my Radeon 9800 Pro this has same effect as disabling the OpenGL Hardware Acceleration completely with a fake atiogllxx.dll in your Blender folder. In other words backgounds, images and icons work faster and without odd artifacts, but the actual viewing of your 3D model gets really really slow(especially when you turn your view around).
Makes me glad that I'm using a real FireGL card in this computer! ;)
I just downloaded 9050 ATI 64bit drive and much better than 32bit-WoW!
i.m questing ATi is on a war pack with Nivda now. This graphic card 256 MB only cost me $40!
Final Note: don't carry away buying expensive graphic card to improved blender performance
126MB,256MB and 500MB are ok.any higher and you lose your money,
wereaser is completely right. If you look at the openglinfo text, the atioglxx.dll forces blender to use the generic windows GDI software implementation. They are more cpu intensive, but at least you won't run into the ATi bugs.
I've just started to testing this, but seems to be GOOD TIP!!!
Because i have integrated ATI Radeon x1250 on my computer and before this the highlighted items in menu were far away from mouse hovering them! i've tried to set up smaller res. of display to 1360*1024, then it was better but now i can enjoy my fav. 1600 x 1200 res.
I think it must be more known to others who want to start blending as me!!!
I was also thinking about buying new graph. card but now i have pleasure without more money...